USA > Indiana > Adams County > Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : Containing portraits of all the Presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each : a condensed history of the state of Indiana : portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Adams and Wells counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of the counties and their cities and villages, pt. 1 > Part 34
USA > Indiana > Wells County > Biographical and historical record of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : Containing portraits of all the Presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each : a condensed history of the state of Indiana : portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Adams and Wells counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of the counties and their cities and villages, pt. 1 > Part 34
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AMUEL S. STEELE, a member of the firm of Steele & Lenhart, proprietors of the saw and planing mill at Peterson, Adams County, was born in Kirkland Town- ship, Adams County, Indiana, January 25, 1856, the youngest son of Samuel Steele, who is now deceased. He grew to manhood in his native county, receiving a common- school education in the schools of his neigh- borhood. He remained at home with his parents until seventeen years of age, being reared to the avocation of a farmer, when he began working for neighboring farmers by the month. In 1876 he engaged in his present business with his brother David, the latter being succeeded by Mr. Lenhart, the
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present member of the firm of Steele & Len- hart. Mr. Steele was married March 15, 1879, to Miss Sarah J. Krick, who was born in Adams County, Indiana, in 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Steele have had five children- Ilarry K. and Harvey K. (twins), born in January, 1880; Lana M., born August 2, 1881; Ida A., born September 4, 1884, and M. E., born February 21, 1857. Besides his mill property, Mr. Steele owns about eighteen acres of fine land in Peterson, where he re- sides, and his comfortable and commodious residence, which was erected in the summer of 1886, at a cost of 81,200. Mr. Steele is a member of the Odd Fellows order, belong- ing to St. Mary's Lodge, No. 167, I. O. O. F., at Decatur.
OSEPII PARENT, a farmer of Wash- ington Township, was born in the Province of Quebec, Canada, October 11, 1841, son of Paul and Angeline Parent, both of whom were born in Lower Canada, and of French ancestry. They had seven children, six of whom are living-Joseph, Gilbert, Matilda, Militime, Paul and Mary L. The mother died Angust 9, 1859, and the father November 5, 1880. Ile was reared on a farm in his native country, and edueated in the early schools of his time. June 22, 1870, he was married to Phobe A. Troutner, born in Allen County, Indiana, January 4, 1854, daughter of John and Franees Trout- ner, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Ohio. The father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and a pioneer of Allen County, this State. Ile used to carry the mail over the Government trails between De- fiance, Ohio, and Fort Wayne, Indiana. Ile died March 14, 1870, in his seventy-ninth year. To Mr. and Mrs. Parent have been
born seven children-Joseph A., born De- eember 21, 1871; William II., born October 19, 1573; Priseilla, born March 30, 1876; Mary A., born August 26, 1878; Eddie E., born July 26, 1882; Vivena M., born Feb- ruary 5, 1885, and Francis T., born Mareh 30, 1887. Mr. Parent eame to this eounty in 1870, and in 1873 was naturalized. Ile owns a good farm of eighty aeres, and is a successful farmer. Ile is a member of the Catholic church, and in politics a Democrat.
TOIIN HENRY LANKENAU, a school teacher in District No. 1, Preble Town- ship, was born in Hanover, Germany, September 19, 1842, and in the spring of 1844 eame to America with his parents, who came via New Orleans, and landed in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in Angust of that year. Our subject was reared there until he was nineteen years of age, then enlisted as a soldier in the army, becoming a member of Company D, Fifth Indiana Cavalry. Ile first served in Kentucky under General Judah, and their first hard work was in the Morgan raid. He was captured during the Stone- man raid through Georgia August 30, 1864, and taken to Andersonville, where he remained until he was removed to Millen, Georgia. Thence he, with others, was removed to Florence, South Carolina, thence to Wil- mington, North Carolina, where he was turned over to our forees. He was then sent to Camp Chase, and discharged at Columbus, Ohio. IIe then returned to Fort Wayne, where he remained until 1875, a part of the time employed as a type-setter in a newspaper office. In 1875 he went to Van Wert County, Ohio, and taught school for several terms, then came to his present position as teacher in the common and church school of the St.
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John's German Lutheran Church. He was married July 15, 1867, to Miss Catherine Shumm, who was born in Van Wert County, Ohio, July 31, 1844. Mr. and Mrs. Lanke- nan have ten children-Frank, Ada, Clara, Louisa, Flora, August, Adolph and Oscar (twins), Alma and Enno, Mr. Lankenau's parents were Frank and Catherine ( Meislalı) Lankenau, who were natives of Germany. The father was born in Hanover January 5, 1818, and came to America in 1844. He was a carpenter by trade. lle died August 15, 1880, and is buried at Fort Wayne. His mother was born in Hanover October 30, 1821, and is living in Fort Wayne with her youngest unmarried son.
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OIIN FLETCHER SNOW, superinten- dent of the public schools of Adams County, and an active and publie-spir- ited citizen of Deeatur, was born in Portland, Jay County, Indiana, the date of his birth being June 17, 1854. In the spring of 1860 he was brought to Adams County by his parents, they settling on a farm in Wabash Township, on which the village of Ceylon was subsequently platted. Ilere he was reared, receiving his elementary education in the district sehools, later attending the Ridge- ville College in Randolph County, Indiana. On attaining his majority he began teaching school, and followed the teacher's profession in Adams County, Indiana, for eight years. August 25, 1851, he was united in marriage to Miss Sadie Alice Hoskinson, who was born near Newark, in Licking County, Ohio, a daughter of Andrew J. and Mary (Foster) HIoskinson, the father of Irish, and the mother of English ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Snow are the parents of one son, named Edwin Earl. In June, 1883, Mr. Snow was elected 23
by the township trustees of Adams County, superintendent of the public schools, being re-elected to the same office in 1885 for a term of two years, and is serving with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party. His father, Barton B. Snow, was a native of Westmoreland County, Pennsyl- vania, and of English parentage. When a young man he went to Ohio, and in 1837 removed to Jay County, Indiana, where he began to educate himself, working to obtain the means to defray his expenses. In 1843 he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Milligan, of Portland, Indiana, and in 1854 graduated from the Louisville Medi- cal College at Lonisville, Kentucky, after taking a thorough course of lectures. In 1852 he was married to Rebecca Hannah McDonald, who was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, and was of Scotch-Irish ances- try. She came to Adams County with her parents, they settling in Decatur, her father afterward being elected to the office of county sheriff. She died on the homestead in Wa- bash Township in 1873, she having been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church the greater part of her life. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Barton Snow, only five are living-Solan MeD., principal of the schools at Ceylon; Ella, teaching in the school at Geneva; Addie and Loretta, teaching in other districts of Adams County, and John Fleteher, whose name heads this sketch. After his graduation Dr. Snow prac- tieed medieine at New Corydon, Indiana, for several years, when he returned to Portland and succeeded his preceptor, practicing there until 1860. In that year he came to Wabash Township. Adams County, Indiana, and platted the village of Ceylon, where he prae- ticed ten years, when he abandoned his pro- fession. lle then engaged in farming and
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dealing in lumber on an extensive seale, which he followed till his death, Deeember 3, 1875. In 1866 he was the Democratie nominee for Congressman in the Eleventh Congressional District, but was defeated, the district being strongly Republican. He was a man widely known throughout this section of the county, and few local men possessed the confidence and respect of the publie to a greater extent than he.
OIIN W. ELEY, a prominent farmer of Monroe Township, residing on section 27, was born in Knox County, Ohio, of German deseent, the date of his birth being October 17, 1839. When four years old he was brought by his parents to Adams County, and here he grew to manhood, receiving sueh educational advantages as the common schools of that day afforded. Ile was reared a farmer, and has followed that avocation through lite. Ile settled on his present farm in Monroe Township in 1871, where he has 109 acres of valuable land, with good improvements. February 24, 1871, he was united in mar- riage to Mary Ellen Mattax, who was born in Monroe Township, Adams County, Jannary 4, 1843, a daughter of Lewis Mattax, who was one of the first settlers of Adams County. They are the parents of two children-Lewis M., born Jannary 7, 1872, and William W., born January 12, 1874. Both Mr. and Mrs. Eley are members of the Lutheran church. Samuel Eley, the father of our subject, was one of the pioneers of Adams County, coming here in the year 1843, when he settled on section 23, Monroe Township. He lived on this land several years, when he returned to Ohio, returning a short time later to Adams County, locating at Deeatur. He subse-
quently lived in Blue Creek Township, re- maining in the county until 1877, when he went to Whitley County, and died in that county November 3, 1886. He was a native of the State of Pennsylvania, born in Greene County in 1813. lle was four times inar- ried, and by his first wife, Susannah Stopher, had four children, two sons and two dangh- ters. By his second wife he had two ehil- dren. Three children were born to his third marriage, and by his last marriage he had no children. Ile was a prominent man in his day in township and county affairs, and for several years served as township trustee, and for four years served as county assessor. In politics he is a staunch Democrat. He was a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal ehureh.
AWSON LINHARD, farmer, Root Township, was born in Tusearawas County, Ohio, March 18, 1820. Ile eame to this county with his parents and nine other children in the fall of 1839. The fam- ily settled on the farm now owned and ocen- pied by Jay Rugg, which was then in its wild state. There were no improvements on the place, and the family eamped out two weeks beside a large oak log while a cabin was being built. It was made of round logs and scotehed down on the inside, a puncheon floor, elapboard roof and a mnd fire-place. They lived in this house a few years, when the father built the house that is now stand- ing on the place. After oceupying it several years, the father sold, and bought the farm now owned by widow Dailey, where he died at the age of eighty years and two months. Ile was born in Westmoreland County, Penn- sylvania, February 24, 1797, and died May 18, 1877. A portion of his youth was passed
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in his native county, and a portion in Tus- carawas County, Ohio, where he was married and where nine children were born to them. One child was born in Adams County. Our subject was the oldest child. and all are liv- ing except John. The other children are - Sarah, Peter, Catherine, Mary and Elizabeth (twins). Joseph, Ann and William. The mother was born in Maryland September 22, 1801, and died May 20, 1873, aged seventy- two years. Both parents are buried in Alpha cemetery. Lawson was educated in the com- mon schools of his father's district, and his ocenpation has always been farming. lle re- mained at home until he was twenty-four years of age: then commenced to work for himself, working by the day, month or job, just as he could find the work to do, until he was mar- ried. His wife, whom he married May 3, 1847, was Miss Lois Brown, who was born in Medina County, Ohio, March 10, 1830, and when she was five years old her mother brought her to this county. Her father died in Medina County, and her mother is still living in Root Township with Mrs. Linhard. IIer father, Josiah Brown, was born in Broome Connty, New York, and was aged about fifty- two years 'at the time of his death. The mother, Sarah (Warner) Brown, was born in Greene County, New York, May 9, 1811, where she was reared and married. Soon af- ter her marriage, she and her husband emi- grated to Medina County, Ohio, and were among the early settlers of that county. Mr. Brown opened a farm there. Mrs. Linhard's paternal grandparents were Josiah and Abi- gail (Porter) Brown. Her maternal grand- father, Abijalı Warner, was born in Connecticut, and died in Root Township, this county. Mr. Linhard's parents were John and Rebecca (Burl) Linhard. Mr. and Mrs. Linhard have seven children-Jolm Il., Samantha A., Mary E., Sanford P., Lawson
C., Marens N. and Artie E. Mr. Linhard votes the Republican ticket.
TSAAC D. BOOHER, a progressive farmer, living on section 16, Jefferson Township, Adams County, was born in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, October 23, 1841, a son of Daniel and Anna (Clark) Booher, who were also natives of Montgomery County, and of French descent. The father was a farmer by oeenpation. He was twice mar- ried, his first wife dying October 26, 1841, leaving three children. For his second wife he married Catherine Sears, and to this union four children were born, two sons and two daughters. Isaac D., the subject of this sketch, was reared to agricultural pursuits on his father's farm, receiving a common-school education. Ile was married in Ohio to Miss Catherine Ileinz, a native of Bavaria, Ger- many, born February 4, 1841. She came with her parents to America when nine years old, they settling in Montgomery County, Ohio, where she lived till after her marriage. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Booher-Anna M. (deceased), Jacob D., William E., Alvina C., Emma E., Ida C., Sarah A. and Charles (deceased). Mr. Booher followed farming in Montgomery County until the fall of 1874, when he bought his present farm in Jefferson Township, to which he then removed with his family, his farm containing 120 acres of well-improved and well-cultivated land. In polities Mr. Booher is a Democrat, and since coming to Jefferson Township has held the office of justice of the peace. Mrs. Booher is a member of the Lutheran eliureh. Their son, Jacob D., was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, August 26, 1869, but was reared from boyhood in Adams County, where he received his educa-
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tion in the common schools, May 1, 1886, he received a diploma from County Superin- tendent Snow. He has already taught a sub- scription school in his district, but is not yet old enough to teach, according to the laws of the State.
OHIN J. WATSON, of the firm of Wat- son & Mac Whinney, dealers in general merchandise, and shippers of railroad ties, staves, ete., was born in Hamilton, Canada, February 3, 1844, son of Richard R. and Mary 1. (MeCarty) Watson, the former a native of England and the latter of Ireland. They came with their parents to Canada when young, where they were married. The father was an architect and carpenter, and while at work on the cornice of a church building in London, Canada, he sustained injuries from the effects of which he died one year later. The family remained there until John J. was twelve years old, when the mother came with her family to St. Mary's, Auglaize County, Ohio, where they remained four years, thenee to Wapakoneta, in the same county. Our subjeet enlisted September 26, 1861. in Company C, Fifty-seventh Ohio Infantry, and served until October 28, 1864. After his discharge he was employed in the Quartermaster's department at Lexington, Kentucky, remaining until about the 1st of February, 1865. Ile raised a company in Auglaize County, then returned to Columbus and assigned his men to the One IIundred and Eighty-fifth Ohio Infantry, and re-en- listed as Sergeant, serving until October 28, 1865. He was discharged by general order, it being the close of the war. Mr. Watson returned to his home in Ohio and learned the cooper's trade, which he followed until 1871, then came to Ceylon, Wabash Township,
built a shop and engaged in coopering. In 1879 he engaged in the mercantile business. Ilis first stock of goods amounted to $205, opening up in his cooper shop. His business inereased so rapidly that he was soon com- pelled to rent a larger business room, and afterward bought the building. One year later he purchased a still larger building, the first one purchased being insufficient to con- tain goods to supply his customers. He remained in the last building until 1852, when he sold ont his stock and buildings, and went to Celina, Mercer County, Ohio, and engaged in the mercantile trade there. Ile lived there one year, then went to Spencerville, same State, remaining but a short time, then returned to Adams County in June, 1885; and established his present business in Geneva. Ile isa member of John P. Porter Post, No. 85, G. A. R. Ile was married March 22, 1871, to Ella G. Jackson, born September 7, 1852, at Mount Vernon, Ohio. Iler father has been a prominent attorney of Anglaize County, Ohio, for thirty years; he still resides there. Mr. and Mrs. Watson have four chil- dren-Eltie R., Susie A., Charles P. and Gracie B.
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USTIN C. MANN, deceased, was born in Lorain County, Ohio, in 1821, a son of Enos and Sarah Mann, both of whom were natives of Massachusetts. They settled in Adams County, Indiana, in 1836, where our subjeet grew to manhood. Ile was mar- ried August 22, 1846, to a Mrs. Reynolds, who was a daughter of Vaehel II. and Sarah (Henry) Ball, pioneers of Adams Conuty, who came from Virginia, and were of English ancestry. Mrs. Mann was born in Delaware County, Ohio, April 9, 1818, and was brought by her parents to Adams County when thir-
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teen years of age. At the age of eighteen she was married to John Reynolds, who died on their farm in Root Township in 1843, and by him she had four sons and two daughters, all of whom yet survive, and are living in Nebraska and Indiana. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mann - Mrs. Eliza Knoff, of Wood County, Ohio; Mrs. Mary Woodward, of Logansport, Indiana; Vachel F., of Decatur; Mrs. Cornelia Elzey, of Decatur; Joseph K., of Decatur; Justin E., of Meade Center, Kansas: Ida May, and Jesse E .. a physician of Decatur. After his marriage Mr. Mann settled on a farm that is now within the corporate limits of Decatur. In 1858 he removed to a farm in Washington Township, adjoining Decatur, where he died in the spring of 1884. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for many years, and one of the old and respected eiti- zens of the county. Mrs. Mann, who still survives him, is a resident of Decatur. She is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal chureh.
EWIS EDWARDS, one of the self-made "men of Adams County, engaged in farm- ing on section 15, Blue Creek Township, is a native of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, born April 2, 1815, a son of Isaac and Eliza- beth (Traer) Edwards, natives of the State of Pennsylvania, the father of Welsh and the mother of English descent. Our subject's educational advantages were limited to the rude log cabin subscription schools of that carly day. Ile was reared to the avocation of a farmer, which he has made the principal avocation of his life. Ile was engaged in making fanning mills for three years. In 1822 he was brought to Jefferson County, Ohio, by his mother, remaining there two
and a half years. The family then removed to Guernsey County, Ohio, and there our subject grew to manhood, remaining on the same farm in that county for forty years. lle was married in Guernsey County in 1838, to Elizabeth Wilson, who was born in that county February 27, 1819, a daughter of Jesse and Rachel ( Reed) Wilson, who were of Irish and Welsh descent. To this nnion were born the following children-Rachel E., born in 1839, is the wife of Samuel Hastings; Martha, born in May, 1842, died September 25, 1872; Elizabeth M., born April 4, 1845, died January 17, 1886; Hannah II., wife of William Nutt, was born in 1847; William, born in 1850; Mary C., born in 1853, is the wife of Ilenry Merriman; Samantha, wife of Martin Suhm, was born in 1856; Lewis R., born October 15, 1858, and Ilorace G., born in 1863. In 1865 Mr. Edwards came with his family to Adams County, Indiana, and has since been a resident of the county. Ile has held the office of justice of the peace for a period of nineteen years, and has also served as township trustee and school director. In polities he is Republican and Independent, vot- ing for the man whom he considers best fitted for office. Ile and his wife are members of the United Brethren ehmreh, and his mother in her religious faith was a Quaker.
ESSE ELSWORTH MANN, M. D., oc- ulist and aurist, was born in Decatur, Adams County, Indiana, August 18, 1863, a son of the late Justin C. Mann. Hle was reared and educated at Decatur, attend- ing the schools of his native city until 1879. In that year he was obliged to leave school on account of failing health, when he took charge of his father's farm near Decatur, re- maining there two years. In the fall of
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1881 he began the study of medicine under the preceptorship of S. G. Hastings, A. M., M. D., at Decatur. In 1852 he took a special course of lectures on anatomy at the medical college at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and in the fall of the same year he entered lahnemann Medical College, of Chicago, Illinois, from which institution he graduated with the de- gree of M. D., February 22, 1884, after taking two full and one extra course of lec- tures. Immediately after his graduation he began the practice of medicine at Decatur, being associated with Dr. Ph. D. Paul, of Chicago, and makes professional visits to varions places in Indiana. Dr. Mann was united in marriage, at Chicago, April 28, 1885, to Miss Nettie J. Holden, of Topeka, Kansas, a danghter of Edwin C. and Mary L. (Richardson) Holden. Mrs. Mann was born in Buffalo, New York, but was reared principally in Minnesota and Iowa, living longer at Sioux City, Iowa. She gradnated from the high school of Topeka, Kansas, in the class of 1882, and subsequently took a conrse in medicine at the Hahnemann Medi- cal College, and graduated as M. D. in the class of 1885.
FORGE A. BUNNER is a native of Pennsylvania, born near Uniontown, Fayette County, October 16, 1841, a son of Enoch and Eliza (Archbold) Bunner. Ilis great-grandparents, John and Margaret Bunner, came to the United States, the for- mer from Germany and the latter from Ire- land, and settled in Monongalia County, Virginia. His grandparents were John and Sarah (Carl) Banner, natives of Virginia, the latter of Irish descent. Their son, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia March 28, 1806, and December 6, 1836, mar-
ried Eliza Jane Archbold. Their family con- sisted of seven children -- Eugenius, born September 30, 1837; James William, born November 28, 1839, died December 22, 1840; George Alexander, born October 16, 1841; Sarah Franees, born April 9, 1844, now the wife of J. B. Needham, of Lamar, Barber Connty, Missouri; Mary Catherine, born March 31, 1847, married W. II. Beal, and died March 22, 1882; John Randolph, born April 2, 1850, died November 23, 1854; Enoch Edgar, born February 23, 1854, died September 19, 1860. When George Bunner was three years of age his parents moved to Adams County, Indiana, and settled in St. Mary's Township, on a tract of school land. They built a frame honse, which at that time was the best in the neighborhood, and by hard work acre by acre was cleared until the entire farm was under good cultivation. George Bunner remained with his father until his marriage, when he settled on a farm of thirty-three acres which he had bought with money earned in the school-room. lle lived on this farm four years and then sold it and bought one of his father-in-law, where he lived six years. This farm he improved, and after selling it bought the homestead of his father, which he sold four years later to the Chicago & Atlantic Railroad Company for $4,518, and bonght a fine farm of eighty acres joining the town of Rivare. His resi- denee is a neat and commodions brick building and his other improvements are comfortable and convenient. lIe also owns a house and lot in the village of Rivare. At present he is conducting a grocery and provision busi- ness in Rivare, and is also postmaster. Ilis father, who now lives with him, has been an active citizen of the county. IIe served two terms as township trustee, and has been cir- enit judge of the county. He has lived an honest, upright life, and has since his youth
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been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has for twenty years been a trustee. Mr. Bunner was married April 21, 1868, to Phobe Wade, a native of St. Mary's Township, born March 6, 1848, a daughter of George and Hannah ( Hank) Wade. Her father was born Deeember 9, 1819, and died September 10, 1873. Her paternal grand- parents, William and Nancy Wade, were of Weleh and English ancestry, and her mater- nal grandparents, John and Rebecca (Apple) Ilank, were Germans. Mr. and Mrs. George Bunner have four children-Enoch Alexan- der, born November 14, 1869; William Henry, born January 31, 1872; Lucy Bealle, born September 21, 1877, and larry Sehrock, born May 2, 1580. In polities, like his father, Mr. Bunner is a Democrat, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
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