USA > Indiana > Miami County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 37
USA > Indiana > Howard County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 37
USA > Indiana > Cass County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 37
USA > Indiana > Tipton County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 37
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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
On the 11th of December, 1862, Mr. Buchanan was united in marriage to Miss Mary C. Buchanan, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (McKillic). Buchanan. The lady is a native of Hollysburg, Pennsylvania, and by her marriage has become the mother of seven children, as follows: Martha Pleas- ant, who was born September 24, 1863, and is the wife of William Randall, of Ambia. Benton county, Indiana, by whom she has one child, Anna R. ; Thomas Blair, who was born October 29, 1865, and is now deceased; Clais- sa Williams, who was born July 31, 1868, and is the wife of William Sharp, of Washington township, Cass county; Edward Bowman, who was born December 8, 1870, married Hattie Brown, and resides a mile north of his father's farm; George Chester, born March 18, 1873; James Judson, who was born July 17, 1875; and Rea, who was born March 24, 1879, and is now in Logansport.
In his political views Mr. Buchanan is a Democrat, and though not a politician in the sense of office-seeking he yet takes a commendable interest in local political affairs, and in the fall of 1882 was elected county commis- sioner, in which office he was continued, by re-election, for seven consecutive years. He was most faithful in the discharge of his duties, and the conti- dence reposed in him is shown by his long service. He belongs to the Pres- byterian church and gives his support and co-operation to every movement and enterprise designed to prove of public benefit. Throughout all the years of his residence in Cass county, since the time when the Indians were his
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friends to the present, he has been the advocate of everything tending to pro- mote the general good and is a valued citizen and honored pioneer, his name being inscribed high on the roll of those who have been instrumental in plac- ing Cass county in her present proud position.
JOHN M. LEACH, manufacturer of brick and ice, and president of the J. M. Leach Natural Gas Company, at Kokomo, has been a resident of this city ever since 1854, and is a gentleman well known to be intelligent, upright, faithful, energetic, enterprising and of good judgment in business affairs, so that he is generally successful in his undertakings. The qualities mentioned are characteristic of the people of Connecticut, the " land of steady habits," whom he represents by descent. He was born in Litchfield county, that state, June 19, 1844, his parents being Elijah C. and Annis B. (Bird) Leach, natives also of the same prosperous state. In the family were two sons, - Charles H., besides our subject.
Elijah C. Leach, was a blacksmith by occupation, came to Kokomo in 1854, erected a sawmill in the vicinity, and later removed into town and engaged in blacksmithing during the remainder of his life, his death taking place in September, 1870, when he had attained the age of forty-eight years. His wife had departed this life in 1868, at about the same age. Both were Universalists in their religious belief. He was a man of public spirit, but of humble pretensions. For a time he served as a member of the city council. He was but six years of age when Daniel Leach, his father, died. The latter was a manufacturer of hats by trade, was of Puritan stock by descent, and had a large number of children. James Bird, the maternal grandfather of John M. Leach, also a native of Connecticut, of Puritan stock, a farmer by occupation, was a captain in the war of 1812, reared many children, and was eighty-four years of age at the time of his death.
At the time of the settlement of the family in Kokomo, it will be noticed, John M. Leach was ten years of age. He therefore obtained his educa- tion mostly here, at the public schools, at intervals assisting his father in the blacksmith shop. After his school days had terminated he engaged in the livery business and continued therein for thirteen years. However, in May, 1863, he demonstrated his patriotism by enlisting in the war for the Union
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He served as a member of the Eleventh Indiana Cavalry, engaged in the battle of Columbia, Tennessee, Franklin, Nashville, and in the campaign against Hood, and during the last year of the war was sent out against the Indians in the west. He was not mustered out until November, 1865, when he returned to Kokomo and the pursuit of the arts of peace.
.Abandoning the livery business, he launched out in the business embrac- ing his present scope of operations, dealing in ice and brick. In 1868 he began the manufacture of brick, and for the last three years he has also been manufacturing ice. He has furnished brick for nearly all the brick structures in the city, - at least eighty or ninety per cent. The quality of his products and his honesty and promptness have insured him a good and lucrative pat- ronage from the inception of his business to the present time.
In the month of December, 1867, Mr. Leach was joined in matrimony with Miss Mary E. Rittner, daughter of Peter and Rachel (Wise) Rittner, and a niece of ex-Governor Joseph Rittner, of Pennsylvania, who was elected governor on the anti-Masonic ticket some time in the fourth decade of this century. Mr. Leach has had two children, -- Nettie R. and Howard H. The former married Mr. H. J. Meck, a druggist of Kokomo, and has a daughter whom they have named Ruth. Mr. Leach lives with this family, as he lost his wife in March, 1875. The residence is at the corner of Home street and Markland avenue. Howard H. married Miss Myrtle Butcher, and in con- nection with his father he conducts the ice factory and superintends the brick machinery.
Mr. Leach is a member of Thomas J. Harrison Post, No. 30, G. A. R. Politically he is a "gold " Democrat. For three terms he served as a member of the city council of Kokomo, representing the first ward for a time and afterward the fifth. In office he has been faithful to the interests of the community and won high commendation.
B YRON POWELL .- Devoting his energies to farming and sheep-raising. Byron Powell still makes his home in Bethlehem township, Cass county. which was the place of his birth and probably will be the place of his abode until he is gathered to his fathers. He is a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of the community. His parents were Jeptha and
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Ruhama (Treen) Powell, who were long numbered among the prominent residents of Cass county. The father was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1818, and followed farming throughout the greater part of his life. In 1836 he removed from the Buckeye state to Indiana, locating in Cass county upon a farm in the midst of the forest. His first home was a log cabin, built of the native timber. Much of his land was covered with a heavy growth of trees, and with characteristic energy he began to clear these away, in order to raise crops. He experienced the usual hardships of the pioneer farmer, and worked early and late to make his farin a productive tract which would yield enough to support his family in comfort. This was accomplished after some years had passed, and he continued his farming operations with good success until about 1871, when he turned his attention to general merchandising in Metea, and also served as postmaster there. He died in 1881 and his wife passed away in February, 1882, at the age of fifty-one years, her birth hav- ing occurred November 17, 1830.
Mr. and Mrs. Powell had a family of ten children, as follows: Byron; Virgil, who carries on farming; Margaret Elizabeth, wife of John A. Fuller, of Logansport; Josiah G., the present auditor of Cass county; Aletta Grace, deceased; Matilda, wife of William Skinner, of Logansport; Lillie D., widow of William Randolph and a teacher in the schools of La Fayette, Indiana; Melsenna and Harry, who died in childhood; and Anson B., a soldier in Company M, One Hundred and Sixtieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry.
Byron Powell was born in Bethlehem township, Cass county, on the 19th of October, 1849, on the old family homestead where he yet resides. His education was acquired during two or three months' attendance at the district schools during the winter seasons and through practical experience and obser- vation in the affairs of life, and it is a question whether the latter was not the more efficient teacher. His training at farm labor was not meager, however. and from boyhood he was an able assistant on the home farm, where he con- tinued to work for his father until the latter removed to Metea. He then assumed the management of the property and on the division of the estate he located upon his share of the farin, erected substantial buildings thereon and has since devoted his energies to the cultivation of the land. The place is well improved, the helds well tilled and its neat and thrifty appear- ance well indicates his careful supervision and progressive spirit.
Mr. Powell was united in marriage to Miss Clara Tilton, who was born 24
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in Bethlehem township, near her present home. Her father, Ira Tilton, was a native of Wayne county, Ohio, born November 4, 1822, and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Adeline Foster, was born in Stark county, Ohio, February 20, 1821. They were married in 1843 and became pioneer settlers of Cass county. Their family numbered seven children, who are now widely scattered, in Iowa, Oregon, Indiana and other western states. Mr. and Mrs. Powell have one daughter, Flora, wife of James M. Buchanan, of Logansport.
Since casting his first presidential vote, for General Grant, Mr. Powell has given his political support unwaveringly to the Republican party, its men and its measures, but has never sought office for himself. He was, however, trustee of his township for five years, and is now deputy postmaster of Metea. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian church and both are widely known in the community, while their well spent lives have won them high esteem. Mr. Powell is known as one of the leading agriculturists of Cass county, and while it has not been varied by exciting incidents or thrilling episodes, it has been at all times true to upright principles, and he has ever been faithful in his duty to his home, his neighbor and his country.
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JOHN W. JENKINS .- The gentleman to a review of whose life we now J turn, John W. Jenkins, township trustee of Clay township, Miami county, Indiana, is one of the substantial farmers of his locality.
He was born in Franklin county, Virginia, November 20, 1845, a son of David C. and Mary (Fielder) Jenkins. The Jenkinses are descended from Welsh ancestry, and the first of the family who came to this country settled in Virginia and Delaware. Gentry Jenkins, the grandfather of John W., was born in Delaware and was by occupation a farmer. He married, in Hali- fax county, Virginia, Mary Davidson, a native of that county; settled there on the Roanoke river and opposite the famous John Randolph farm. Sub- sequently he moved to Franklin county, where he passed the rest of his life and died, his age at death being ninety years. His children were Anderson, Rebecca, Edward, David C., Elijah, Pauline, Pleasant T. and Louisa. David C. was born in Halifax county, Virginia, and in Franklin county wedded Mary Fielder, a native of Bedford county, that state. By trade he
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was a carpenter. He died in Franklin county March 24, 1860, at the age of forty years.
John W. Jenkins, whose name initiates this review, attended the com -. mon schools in his early boyhood, and at ten years of age began to learn the. trade of manufacturing plug and smoking tobacco, in his native county, which occupied his time for five years, following which he was engaged in farm work. At the opening of the Civil war his youth prevented him from enlist- ing. but before the strife was ended he enrolled his name in the Confederate army. He enlisted May 4, 1864, as a private in Company B, Fifth Virginia: Volunteer Infantry, to serve one year or during the war, and remained in the service until he was honorably discharged, one week within the time specified, the war being over. He was with his command in the engagements in which it participated, escaping wounds and capture but suffered great inconvenience occasioned by short rations, and came out of the war in a bad state of health.
At the close of the war Mr. Jenkins returned home and resumed farm work, remaining there a few years. Then he came out west to Indiana and landed at McGrawsville, Miami county, January 24, 1868, and engaged in sawmill work. In March, 1868, he went to Putnam county, this state, and secured employment on a farm, remaining there, however, only a short time and then coming back to Miami county. The next year he went to Missouri, but January 1, 1870, he again "landed" in Indiana, this time in Miami county. In the spring of that year he married and shortly afterward settled in Clay township, Miami county, and in 1872 he bought sixty acres of timber land, on which he settled and which he cleared and improved. This prop- erty he sold and in 1890 bought the eighty acres which he now occupies. This land also he has cleared and brought under cultivation. He now has a desirable farm which, under his careful management, is rapidly increasing in value.
Mr. Jenkins was married March 2, 1870, in Miami county, Indiana, to Miss Mary E. Morris, who was born June 14, 1849, in Franklin county, Vir- ginia. Their children are James B., who died in infancy; John T., born October 13, 1871; Louisa A., May 4, 1874; Melissa J., December 23, 1876; Walter E., October 4, 1880; Charles H., October 11, 1883; George W., October 18, 1885; and William B., June 28, 1885. Mrs. Jenkins is a mem- ber of the German Baptist church.
Politically, Mr. Jenkins is a Democrat and bimetalist, and takes a
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pride in keeping himself posted on the general topics of the day. He was elected trustee of his township in 1886, and held the office continuously until August 1, 1890, and was elected again in November, 1894, his present term to expire in November, 1900. As the incumbent of this office he has been the means of bringing about much substantial improvement, always taking an active interest in building up the schools. He introduced the school library in each district, purchased a substantial book-case and reading table for each school, and each year has added to the school library until there are from five to six hundred volumes in the township. A great interest has been accordingly awakened among the people, as his work has been of permanent value. In all directions he has been progressive. As trustee he has also been the means of building three new school-houses, and of putting down a well at each school-house in the township. Besides, he has had eighteen new bridges built, and the nineteenth is now under way. A large amount of ditching has also been made under his direction. As a farmer, citizen and officer he is held in high repute.
D AVID C. SPRAKER, president of the Kokomo Rubber Company, is a prominent citizen of Howard county who has held one of its highest offices and has enjoyed a life's career which illustrates a high order of intelli- gence, dignity of bearing, nobleness of purpose and a steady aim; for as a business man he has been successful, and as a public officer he has been thorough and faithful, giving satisfaction to all parties in the execution of the embarrassing duties of the position he held.
His parents, Daniel and Martha (Miller) Spraker, natives of Virginia, had nine children, six of whom are now living, namely: Elizabeth E., now the wife of Samuel G. Woodfield, of Nevada, Missouri; Paulina, residing in . Kokomo; Martha, now Mrs. William Power, of Millroy, Indiana; David C., who is the subject proper of this biographical outline; Simeon E., of Wind- sor, Illinois; and Lewis C., of Kokomo.
Daniel Spraker, a farmer, was one of the first settlers of Decatur county, this state. He purchased land near Greensburg, in that county, and reared his family there, and died in 1859, at the age of forty-four years. He was a public-spirited man and an exemplary citizen. As an agriculturist
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he was prosperous: his first purchase of land comprised eighty acres, but at the time of his death he was in possession of two hundred and twenty acres. His widow died in 1860, at the age of forty-four years. They were active members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
George Spraker, our subject's grandfather, was a native of Virginia and of German descent. The family in this country originated in Pennsylvania and New York. The subject of this paragraph was a farmer by occupation, had a large number of children, and died in Virginia at the advanced age of ninety years.
George Miller, Mr. Spraker's grandfather on his mother's side, was also a native of Virginia, a farmer by vocation, and also conducted a distillery for a time. Very early in the settlement of this state he located within its borders. He moved from Decatur county, Indiana, to Iowa, settling in Van Buren county, where he departed this life at an advanced age.
Mr. David C. Spraker was born in Greensburg, this state, and was brought up in Howard county from the period when he was a small boy, attending the Kokomo public schools and later the academy at Thorntown. On starting out in business life he was first engaged in a drug store at New London, where his fidelity and competency kept him for six years. Being then elected county treasurer, he moved to Kokomo and served his term of four years,-from 1880 to 1884; and since that time he has been engaged in trading, manufacturing, etc.
In 1895 the Kokomo Rubber Company was organized and Mr. Spraker was made its president and manager, and in these capacities he is the right man in the right place, for the company is prospering under his management. The scope of their manufacture embraces as specialties mechanical rubber appliances, bicycle tires, etc., and the business gives employment to eighty and sometimes as many as ninety persons.
Mr. Spraker is a public-spirited man, believing in the encouragement of all enterprises that will benefit the community. He is an affable gentleman, has a host of friends and has a bright future before him.
H ENRY W. HOPPE .- America can boast of no better citizens than hosts of her German-Americans, who, though they ever hold dear and sacred their beloved fatherland, are no less devoted to the fair land of their adop-
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tion, and would unfalteringly go forth to do battle for her should the neces- sity for such a course present itself. Nearly half a century ago the gentle- man of whom we write cast his lot with the citizens of Logansport, and dur- ing the intervening years has not only been an interested witness of her Steadily increasing prosperity but has also aided greatly in the happy result.
Henry W. Hoppe is one of four children, threeof whom were sons, whose parents were John and Rebecca (Sturken) Hoppe. He was born in the province of Hanover, Germany, May 28, 1833, and spent his boyhood in that country. When he was about eighteen years of age he decided that he would go to the United States, the fair land of whom he had heard and read so much, and there found a home. He carried out his plan and two years after his arrival in this city he was gladdened by the coming of his parents, in 1853. Here they quietly and happily passed the remainder of their lives, being ten- derly watched over and cared for by their son. The father was a merchant and by trade a book-binder, and taught the mysteries of the craft to Henry W., who worked at the trade in Toledo, Ohio, before coming to Logansport.
Soon after landing in Logansport, in 1852, our subject obtained a posi- tion as a clerk in a dry-goods house. He was very attentive to business and careful of his small earnings, and at the close of two years had sufficient capital to enter into partnership with a Mr. Sturken, and together they opened a grocery on the southeast corner of Market and Third streets. A year later our subject purchased his partner's share, and has since been alone. When he had rented a building for ten years he concluded to buy the prop- erty and in 1866 he erected a substantial three-story brick store, the one in which his grocery has ever since been located. For years he enjoyed the distinction of having the bulk of the trade in his line in Logansport, and during the war he carried on a large grocery in Rochester, Indiana, as well. Begin- ning, as he did, upon a very small scale, his success has been the more remark- able, and reflects great credit upon his business ability. For some years he transacted a wholesale business, in addition to his regular retail trade.
The matter of affording the rising generation the best possible school facil- ities is a subject dear to the heart of Mr. Hoppe, as was shown during the nine years that he served as. a member of the Logansport board of educa- tion, namely, from 1879 to 1888. He has used his franchise in favor of the nomineesand principles of the Democratic party since he was admitted to cit- izenship, but has never sought or desired public office.
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In 1876 the marriage of Mr. Hoppe and Miss Mary Hedde, of this city, was solemnized. Three daughters bless their home, their names, in order of birth, being Mary, Annie and Dora. The parents and daughters are all mem- bers of Saint James' church, German Evangelical Lutheran, of this place. They have a pleasant home and many sincere friends and well-wishers in this community.
H JON. GEORGE EWING ROSS. - For over a score of years this ster- ling citizen of Logansport has occupied a distinctive place among the members of the legal profession of the state of Indiana. His superior attain- ments and ability placed him in the front ranks ere he had been engaged in practice many years, and, indeed, from his initial steps in his chosen pro- fession it was manifest that his success was assured. By nature and acquired knowledge he is pre-eminently fitted for his vocation, as his clear, judicial mind takes in a situation at a glance, rapidly passes in review the arguments pro and con, and renders a swift verdict as to the merits of a case.
The parents of the above-named gentleman are Hon. Nathan O. and Mary (Ewing) Ross, who are represented elsewhere in this volume. George E. Ross in a native of Peru, Miami county, Indiana, born January 15, 1858. He was but fourteen years of age when he entered Wabash College, at Crawfordsville, and there passed the three succeeding years, making rapid progress in his studies. Having completed the sophomore year, he bceame a student in the law department of the Indiana State University, but received his chief instruction from his father. Having passed the requisite examina- tion, young Ross was admitted to the bar April, 1877, when but nineteen years of age.
The first time that George E. Ross came before the notice of the public as a lawyer was in the fall of 1878, before he had reached his majority. The case, that of Harvey versus the People's Bank, was tried in the superior court of Logansport, Mr. Ross appearing as counsel for the plaintiff, while his own father, Judge Dykeman, Winfield, and McConnell were on the side of the defence. Against this array of noted legal talent the taskof our young hero was no light one, as may readily be seen. He made a gallant fight, however, and the jury failing to agree the case was taken to Miami county, on a change of venue; there he was successful in gaining a complete victory for his client.
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The case was then appealed to the supreme court, which also rendered a decision in his favor. From that time on, he made rapid strides forward in his profession, became an able and eloquent speaker and commanded the respect of all. He has always been an earnest supporter of the Democratic party, and in the fall of 1892 became their candidate for the office of judge of the appellate court of Indiana. He was duly elected in November following and entered upon his new, responsible duties on New Year's day, 1893. With credit to himself and friends he continued to discharge the high duty devolving upon him for the next four years, giving up the insignia of his office January 1, 1897. For fifteen or more years he has been the assistant solicitor for the Pan Handle Railroad Company. He has a general practice, and numbers among his clients many of the leading business firms of this county.
In 1877 Judge Ross married Miss Martha I. Boice, of Goshen, Indiana. They have two enterprising and ambitious sons, namely, Nathan O., a graduate of the Columbia Law School, of New York city, a member of the class of 1898, and now doing business in company with his father; and George E., Jr., a pupil in the Howe Military School in Lima, Indiana.
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