USA > Indiana > Miami County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 7
USA > Indiana > Howard County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 7
USA > Indiana > Cass County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 7
USA > Indiana > Tipton County > Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana > Part 7
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In his early manhood James T. Dyar left the state of his nativity and removed to Kentucky, where he followed the profession of teaching. In 1857 he was married and then turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. The following year he removed to Indiana, locating in Howard county, where he purchased a tract of land and developed a farm upon which he placed good improvements. In 1865, however, he sold that property and removed to his present home in Taylor township. His residence is a com- modious and comfortable two-story brick structure, and this is supplemented by substantial barns and outbuildings, affording ample shelter for crops and stock. A fine walnut grove which adorns the place was planted by him and many other improvements make this one of the most desirable farms in the county.
As before stated, Mr. Dyar was married in Kentucky, in 1857, the lady of his choice being Miss Jane Reid, of that state. Her father, John Reid, was a prominent farmer and slaveholder of Kentucky, and she was a lady of superior intelligence and culture. By this union were born four children: Arvilla, wife of Dr. Ault; Arsinoe, who died at the age of twenty years; John E., who was liberally educated and now manages the affairs of the farmstead; and one who died in infancy. The mother of this family passed away in July, 1871, mourned not only by her immediate family but also by a large circle of friends. She was a consistent member of the Methodist
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church and an exemplary Christian woman. In 1873 Mr. Dyar was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Lida Armstrong, a daughter of Daniel and Lavina (Ackland) Markham, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Tennessee. Their marriage was celebrated in Tennessee, and later they removed to Kentucky, where the father died. He was a farmer and blacksmith. After his death his widow removed to Ohio and later came to Indiana, where she remained three years. On the expiration of that period she went to Wichita, Kansas, where her death occurred. In her early womanhood Lida Markham became the wife of Dr. Horace A. Arm- strong, and they had one son, Edward A. Armstrong, who makes his home with Mr. and Mrs. Dyar. The last named was one of six daughters: Louisa, who married a Mr. Cunningham, and after his death wedded J. Davis; Nancy, wife of J. D. Wilson; Lucy, wife of O. Haskett; Mrs. Mildred Craig; Sally, wife of O. M. Davis; and Margaret, wife of William Elliott. To Mr. and Mrs. Dyar has been born a son, James H., his birth occurring June 10, 1881. The parents have a wide acquaintance in Howard county, and are people of the highest respectability whose genuine worth has gained them many warm friends.
W H. HULL, M. D .- The various prosperous towns of Howard county, Indiana, have their full quota of able physicians and surgeons, and among this class of professional men we find, located at Center, the worthy gentleman whose name graces this review, -Dr. W. H. Hull.
Dr. Hull is a native of the "Keystone state." He was born at Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, October 2, 1850, and is a son of George H. and Mary (Stout) Hull, both natives of that state. His father, a blacksmith by trade, and for years engaged in agricultural pursuits, is now eighty-three years of age and a resident of Ohio; his mother died in 1879. The venerable father has long been identified with the Methodist Episcopal church, as also was the mother. Christian Stout, the Doctor's maternal grandfather, was of Pennsylvania birth and German descent, and by trade was a cabinet-maker. In the Hull family were ten children, three of whom died young. Those living are as follows: Mrs. Louisa Walker; W. H., of this sketch; Jesse, a resident of Missouri; George, Kansas; Daniel, Ohio; and Winfield, Oklahoma.
Dr. Hull was reared on a farm in Champaign county, Ohio, near Urbana,
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was educated in the district schools, and remained on the farm until he was sixteen years of age. He then began the study of medicine. His first pre- ceptor was Dr. J. C. Libabridge, and later he continued his studies under the instructions of Dr. J. McDonald and Dr. R. M. Fulwiler, of Liberty, Ohio. He attended lectures in the Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio, where he graduated in the spring of 1881, both in surgery and medicine. Imme- diately after his graduation he entered upon the practice of his profession at West Liberty, Ohio, and continued there until 1883, when he came to Indiana and located in Center, Howard county, where he has since remained and built up a large and increasing practice. His patrons are among the leading citizens of the town and surrounding country. He enjoys the confi- dence and esteem of all who know him, is permanently and pleasantly located here, and has a large and attractive residence, nice office, etc.
In 1876 Dr. Hull was united in marriage to Miss Mary Stout, daughter of Abraham and Caroline Stout, of West Liberty, Ohio. She died in Novem- ber, 1879, without issue. In 1888 the Doctor was again married, the lady of his choice being Miss Fannie E. Maxwell, an amiable and accomplished young woman, daughter of John E. and Elizabeth (Townsend) Maxwell. Her parents were born, reared and married in England, and are now residents of West Liberty, Ohio, where he is a merchant tailor. Mrs. Maxwell is a descendant of the famous Townsend, the cotton manufacturer of England. Of their family, Mrs Hull is the eldest, the others being George, Florence and Nettie.
Dr. Hull is identified with the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias, and several medical associations. Politically, he is a Republican.
JOSEPH B. KUNSE, of Peru, is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Miami county, Indiana, his maternal grandfather, Jacob Brower, having come west from the state of Pennsylvania and after a number of years' residence in Preble county, Ohio, settled in Jefferson township of this county, in 1837. He was one of its most substantial and esteemed. ·citizens.
George P. Kunse, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in: Montgomery county, Ohio, January 25, 1825. His father, George Kunse,.
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and family removed from Ohio to Carroll county, Indiana, where he died when his son George P. was only three years of age. The latter grew up in this state and in Montgomery county, Ohio, and at the age of twenty settled in Cass county, Indiana, and was married here to a daughter of Jacob and Catherine Brower, who, as before stated, settled in Jefferson township in 1837. Both the parents and grandparents of Joseph B. Kunse have long since joined the great majority of the early pioneers in the better land. The Kunses, as the name indicates, are of German origin.
Joseph B. Kunse was born in Jefferson township, Miami county, Indiana, October 1, 1854, and was reared to farm life and educated in the district schools. He continued farming for a number of years after attaining man- hood, until a severe injury to one of his hands permanently disabled him for manual labor. On this account he retired from the farm and since 1885 has been a resident of Peru, where he is engaged in a general loan, abstract, real-estate and insurance business, under the firm name of King & Kunse.
Mrs. Kunse was formerly Miss Margaret Beecher, she being a daughter of William V. Beecher, a well-known pioneer of Jefferson township. To Mr. and Mrs. Kunse two children have been given, a daughter and son. The former, Peach, is a graduate of the Peru high school with the class of 1897. The son is named Chester.
It should be further stated in connection with Mr. Kunse's family history, that he is an only son and that he has only one surviving sister, Mary, wife of John Bell, of Peru. A sister, Emma, died at the age of thirteen years.
W ILLIAM H. THOMSON .- In a history of the prominent and influen- tial citizens of Howard county this gentleman is certainly deserving of mention, for his well spent life, his ability, his loyalty to public duty and his fidelity in private life have all gained him a place among the leading residents of the community. He was born in the city of New York, March 10, 1825, and is a son of Samuel L. and Susan Cushman (Wendall) Thomson, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Boston, Massachusetts. The maternal grandfather, Henry Wendall, was of German descent, although the members of the family who became its founders in America crossed the Atlantic from England, where they had lived for a time after leaving the father-
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land. The Wendalls are a prominent family of Boston and are connected with Charlotte Cushman. The paternal grandmother of our subject was a member of the Logan family of Scotland, which sent its representatives into both Ireland and America.
When a young man Samuel Thomson removed to the west, locating at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He also inspected timber in the south for the gov- ernment and eventually returned to New York city. Subsequently he bought for a firm in Spain. He resided for a time near Syracuse, New York, and then removed to Belmont county, Ohio, opposite Wheeling, West Virginia, where he carried on the milling business. He was a very enterprising and industrious man and engaged in many speculations. About 1847 he removed to Logansport, Indiana, where he died a short time afterward. His wife passed away in Rockport, Indiana, about 1867. They were members of the Pres- byterian church, and in his political affiliations Mr. Thomson was a Whig. In their family were the following named children: William H .; Theodore, a steamboat man, who removed to the south and took an active part with the Confederacy until killed in a steamboat accident on Red river; Adaline E., wife of Colonel McClellan, of Danville, Illinois; John E., who was also in the Confederate service and after the war was connected with the street rail- road interests of Louisville, Kentucky, where his death occurred; Henry W., who was a prominent attorney and citizen of Chicago, where he died; and Mrs. Henrietta G. Kinchelo. The last named and Mrs. McClellan and our subject are the only ones now living.
William H. Thomson accompanied his parents on their various remov- als, and to a limited extent attended the public schools, but acquired the greater part of his education under the guidance of his mother, who was a most cultured and intelligent lady and personally superintended the educa- tion of her children. The independent business career of our subject began by his acceptance of a contract for building a plank road south from Logans- port. He manufactured the lumber for that purpose and satisfactorily com- pleted the work, and afterward, in 1857, he came to Oakford, Indiana, where he engaged in the lumber and grain business and in merchandising. He built a large warehouse, which he conducted until 1866, after which he engaged inthe grain and milling business for some time. He is now practically living retired from business cares, save for the attention demanded by his invest- ments. He owns considerable farming property and has a handsome cap-
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ital, which has been acquired solely through his own well directed and ener- getic efforts.
In 1851 Mr. Thomson married Miss Elizabeth J. Whiteman, a daughter of Abraham F. Whiteman, one of the pioneer settlers of Clinton county, Indi- ana, and a native of North Carolina. He came to this state in 1834, and followed agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1892. He took a very active part in public affairs, gave his political support to the Democracy and served for twenty years as county commissioner. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thomson were born five children, namely: Emma G. and Theo- dore W., who died in childhood; Willie H., a contractor; Eddie, who fol- lows farming; and Mrs. Mary D. Durham. The mother of this family, a con- sistent member of the Christian church, was called to the home beyond in 1893.
In early life Mr. Thomson gave his political support to the Whig party and on its dissolution joined the ranks .of the new Republican party, with which he has since continued to affiliate. During the Civil war he was a loyal advocate of the Union and did effective service for his country by recruiting troops for the front. He has long been a recognized leader in political circles, has frequently been a delegate to the county and state conventions and has delivered many campaign addresses in support of the principles of his party. He has served as justice of the peace and as a mem- ber of the state legislature, and in all positions of public trust and responsi- bility which he has been called upon to fill he has discharged his duties with marked promptness and fidelity. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and is an exemplary member of that benevolent organization. In all life's relations he meets his duties fully and discharges with care and precision every obligation that rests upon him. His splendid business and executive ability, supplemented by unswerving integrity and fairness have brought to him a handsome competence, and now in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil he is spending his declining days in rest and comfort well earned.
F REDERICK A. BUSJAHN, M. D .- The history of Dr. Busjahn is one which sets at naught the old adage that a prophet is never without honor save in his own country, for in his native city of Logansport he has attained distinctive precedence as an able medical practitioner and is now
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enjoying marked success in this chosen calling. He was born December 28, 1856, and is a son of August S. and Barbara (Rabus) Busjahn, both of whom were natives of Germany, but resided for many years in Logansport, where the father followed the blacksmith's trade. Their children are Frederick A .; John J., who is engaged in the drug business; and Dora.
No event of personal importance affected the boyhood of our subject, who was reared under the parental roof and pursued his preliminary education in the public schools. Resolving to devote his energies to professional labors, he prepared for the practice of medicine under the direction of Drs. Hermann and Bell, of Logansport, and in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of Indianapolis, being graduated in the institution named, as a member of the class of 1878. The following year he was graduated in Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York, and thus splendidly equipped for his chosen life- work he returned to Logansport, where he has since engaged in practice with good success. His business has steadily increased as he has demonstrated his skill and ability, and his able ministrations in the sick-room have gained him the recognition and commendation of not only his professional brethren but of the public as well. He holds membership in both the Cass County and Indiana State Medical Societies.
In 1882 the Doctor was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Liene- mann, and they have two children-Marie and Edwin. In politics he is a Democrat and his fellow citizens, recognizing his worth, have called him to several public positions of honor and trust. He served as county coroner from 1892 until 1894 and was again elected in 1896, for a two-years term. He was a member of the city council in 1890-1 and is the present secretary of the county board of health. In all public offices he discharges his duties with marked fidelity and promptness, and in Logansport he is held in the highest regard, his best friends being those who have known him from boyhood.
L EWIS KERN, M. D., physician and surgeon, 232 East Markland avenue, Kokomo, has been a resident of Howard county ever since 1845, when this section of the state was called the Miami reserve and afterward Richard- ville county. It was ultimately named Howard county, in honor of Tilman
A. Howard. It is indeed interesting to contemplate the difference between the sentimental state of the mind of one looking at the environment with
I Kern M.O.
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which it has been surrounded constantly for a long time and that of a person who has been absent for nearly a lifetime and returns to visit the scenes of childhood. There must be many differences, and the wonder is what they are, and whether they are at all describable. At any rate the subject of this sketch is venerated as one of the oldest and most honored residents of Howard county, whose life record has been an open one, read by all his con- temporaries and seen to be as clear as midday.
Dr. Kern was born in Botetourt county, Virginia, near Amsterdam, June 4, 1831. His father, Jacob Kern, was a native of Virginia, born at Kernstown, four miles from Winchester, and was a blacksmith by trade. He married, first, Sarah Ryan and after her decease he was united with Delphia Ann Stanley, a native of South Carolina and the mother of the subject of this sketch. She died in Virginia in 1836, a sincere and consistent Methodist. Jacob Kern moved from Virginia to Indiana in 1838, locating in Shelby county, near Freeport, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying in 1842, at the age of about sixty-two years. Adam Kern, father of the latter, was a native of Germany who came to America, settled in Virginia and was the founder of Kernstown. He reared ten children, and died in Virginia at a very advanced age. Pleasant Stanley, the Doctor's grandfather upon his mother's side, was probably a native of South Carolina, was of Scotch descent and a Presbyterian, a farmer by occupation and died upward of eighty years of age. Of the twelve children born in the family of Jacob Kern, only three are now living, namely: Nicholas, residing near Cumberland, Marion county, Indiana; Jacob H., of Botetourt county, Virginia, residing at Hollins Springs village; and Dr. Lewis Kern, whose name heads this sketch as its subject proper.
Dr. Kern was seven years of age when his parents settled in Indiana, and was therefore brought up in Shelby county, where he was inured to the monotonous drudgery of a pioneer farm life and blacksmithing in his father's shop until impaired health compelled him radically to change his mode of life. Improving the opportunity, as well as the necessity, he attended school, in Warren county, Ohio, at Obanon, and then taught school for two or three years. Next he began reading medicine, under the guidance of his brother, Dr. J. H. Kern, and in due time attended the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons of Cincinnati and subsequently the Indiana Medical Col- lege, graduating at the latter in February, 1870. He opened out in practice 5
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at Alto, Howard county, where he studied and practiced from 1852 to 1878, and then changed his residence to Kokomo, where he has ever since been a resident. The scope of his work is that of general practice, such as is demanded by a common-sense public without the adoption of every passing " fad " that has originated in the brain of a specialist in chemistry who had not the first idea of the true law of vital action. The Doctor's success, therefore, can be favorably measured by the best of them. His home and office adjoin, and he is therefore ready to answer calls without much delay. He is a member of the Indiana Medical Association, the American Medical Association, the Howard County Medical Society and the Kokomo Academy of Medicine, and is an honorary member of the Medical Society of Tipton, Cass and Miami counties. He took much interest and active part in medical societies in his younger days, whereby he further educated himself in his profession.
On the 20th day of January, 1852, he was united in matrimony with Miss Virginia Pitzer, daughter of Davidson and Mary (Snodgrass) Pitzer, and by this marriage there was one son, named Theodore, who died at the age of thirty-nine years. He was born June 20, 1855. He received a good common-school education, and in 1873 began the study of medicine under the direction of his father. In 1876 he was graduated from the Indiana Medical College and in 1877 he received the ad-cundem degree. He was a member of the Indiana State Medical Association and the Howard County Medical Society and Kokomo Academy of Medicine. He practiced in part- nership with his father until his death, September 21, 1894. He married Miss Vige Sharpe, and they had one daughter, by name Nellie Virginia. The Doctor and his wife are intelligent and influential members of the Markland Avenue church, Methodist Episcopal. He also is an honored member of the Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities. In politics the Doctor is a Democrat, and in public position he has been a member of the city council for two years.
D R. BENJAMIN HENTON, the pioneer physician of Miami county, Indiana, was a representative and prominent citizen here, leaving his mark as a great factor in the march of civilization.
He was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, in 1793, a son of Thomas
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Henton, who was a son of William Henton. In 1803 Thomas Henton removed with his family across the mountains to what is now West Virginia and located in Greenbrier county, and thence the family removed to High- land county, Ohio. Dr. Henton was one of a numerous family, comprising nine sons and two daughters. Four of the former became residents of Miami county. The first to come was Sylvester, in 1835, who became a prominent farmer of Erie township and died many years ago. Dr. Benjamin Henton was next to arrive, in 1837. Thomas came soon afterward, pre-empting and entering a farm in Washington township, where he lived until his decease. Elam, the last of the four brothers who came to Miami county, settled here in 1843, in Erie township and later in Peru. He served two terms as auditor of Miami county, and is well remembered as a prominent citizen. William H., another brother, died at Danville, this state. Peter Henton died in La Porte county, also in this state. James was long a resident of McLean county, Illinois, where his days on earth were ended. Samuel Henton, still another brother, removed south, passing the last years of his life in the state of Arkansas. Evan died at his home at Hillsboro, Ohio. The sisters were Mrs. Nancy Skillman, who lived many years and died in Highland county, Ohio. The second sister, Mrs. Sarah Brooks, was killed by a stroke of lightning at her home in Illinois.
Dr. Benjamin Henton in his youth received as good a literary education as the schools of his day and locality afforded. His medical studies were prosecuted under the preceptorship of Dr. Boyd, near Hillsboro, Ohio. He pursued a college course of medicine at Lexington, Kentucky, and began prac- tice in Ohio.
In that state he was married to Rachel Stinson, a native of Ross county, Ohio, who on her mother's side was a descendant of the Harrods, formerly of Pennsylvania and afterward of Kentucky, after one of whom, James, Har- rodsburg is named. James Harrod was an associate of the noted Daniel Boone in the Indian wars of Kentucky.
In 1837 Dr. Henton and family became residents of Peru. The country then was but thinly settled, and his rides, which were always on horseback, were very extensive, and in a day when the roads were unimproved and often nearly or quite impassable. When he first located here Indians were even more numerous than the whites. But under all these untoward circum- stances Dr. Henton was ever ready to respond to the calls of the suffering.
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Those who were able and willing to pay for medical attendance and those so poor as to preclude all expectation of remuneration for his services, received the same consideration. In fact he was governed by a sense of duty in his professional career, as he was in all his relations with his fellow men.
He was a most consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in his daily conduct was ever governed by practical Christianity. In his political faith he was a Democrat, and was called on by his fellow-citizens to serve two terms in the state legislature, electing him to the lower house in 1846 and to the senate in 1852. As a legislator he served his constituents in a conscientious and satisfactory manner. His death occurred, after a well spent life, in 1863, when he had arrived at the age of sixty-nine years; his wife passed away in 1865.
They had two sons and three daughters, viz .: Coleman, of Peru; Maria, who married Alvin Thayer and died many years ago; Harriet, who married D. O. Adkison and is also deceased; James T., of Peru, is next in order of birth; and Mrs. Sarah H. Cole, widow of Alphonso A. Cole, is also a resident of Peru.
Coleman Henton, the elder of the two sons of Dr. Henton, was born at Washington Court House, Fayette county, Ohio, March 7, 1822, and was about fifteen years of age when he came with his father's family to Peru, where he has now been a life-long resident. As early as 1847 he was elected sheriff of Miami county, as a Democrat, and served two terms. From 1856 to 1860 he was mail agent, running over the Indianapolis, Peru & Chicago route. In 1854 he was cashier of the State Stock Bank of Peru. In 1898 he was trustee of Peru township.
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