Biographical and historical record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana : containing portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Jay and Blackford Counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families and a concise history of Jay and Blackford Counties and their cities and villages., Part 91

Author:
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 922

USA > Indiana > Jay County > Biographical and historical record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana : containing portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Jay and Blackford Counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families and a concise history of Jay and Blackford Counties and their cities and villages. > Part 91
USA > Indiana > Blackford County > Biographical and historical record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana : containing portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Jay and Blackford Counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families and a concise history of Jay and Blackford Counties and their cities and villages. > Part 91

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.

and to them have been born eight children -- William T., Henry R., John C., Jasper M., Sarah C., America, and two danghters, Mary A. and Susan, who are deceased. hi 1847, the year following his marriage, Mr. Baird came to Blackford County, Indiana, making the journey by team. He began life here right in the woods, not a stick of timber having been ent on his land. By persevering industry and good management lie has made his land into one of the best farms in Jack- son Township, having 167 acres of valuable land, 100 acres being well improved and un- der high cultivation. The log cabin of pioneer days has given way to his present commodious frame residence, and his barns and outbuildings are noticeably good. In politics Mr. Baird affiliates with the Demo- cratic party. He has served seven years as supervisor, with credit to himself, and satis- faction to his constituents. He is a member of Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 262, of Hartford City.

ENRY SEELIG, one of the old and honored pioneers of Blackford County, who is now deceased, is a native of Ohio, born in Ross County, March 28, 1814. In July, 1837, he came with his brother Frederick to Blackford County, Indiana, where they made their home until their death. They put up a log cabin on land owned by Frederick, in which they kept bachelor's hall for a few months when Fred- erick married. Henry Seelig continued to reside in his brother's house until he was married in 1851 to Miss Mary C. Hadden, who at the time of her marriage was living in Washington Township. She died April 1, 1852, leaving one child, a danghter, Mary C., who became the wife of D. Jessup. Onr subject was a second time married June 27,

1855, to Miss Louisa Wilson, a native of Fayette County, Indiana, born September 6, 1831. To this union were born five children -John O., born March 21, 1856, married and living in New Castle, Indiana; Lewis, born June 25, 1860; Elizabeth A., born De- cember 30, 1862, died December 24, 1874; Sylvester, born December 25, 1865, died Oc- tober 21, 1866, and Jacob, born March 16, 1870. Mr. Seelig was very fond of hunting, and in the early days of the county found ample opportunity to indulge in this pastime. He was a man of remarkable memory, and was never tired of relating incidents of pioneer days. He died at his home in Wash- ington Township, March 30, 1887, at an ad- vanced age. He always took an active interest in the advancement of the township or county which had been his home for so many years, and none of the early settlers were more respected than he. He was of German ancestry. Ilis widow still survives. She is a daughter of John and Nancy (Swoop) Wil- son, her father born in North Carolina, in 1790, of Irish descent, and the mother born in Virginia in 1795, of German ances- try. Both are deceased, the father dying in Dublin, Wayne County, Indiana, and the mother in Henry County, Indiana.

ANIEL LISTENFELTZ, a representa- tive of one of the old and respected pioneer families of Blackford County, is a native of Germany, born November 18, 1829, a son of Conrad and Susan Listenfeltz. They came to America when our subject was eighteen months old, locating in New Jersey, where they made their home for six years. They then removed to Warren Coun- ty, Ohio, and in 1837, came to Blackford

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County, Indiana, locating in the woods on section 36, Harrison Township, the parents living there until their deatlı. They had a family of six children-Jacob, Daniel, Peter, Catherine, Conrad and Susan, who was burned to death at the age of four years. Daniel Listenfeltz was reared to manhood in Black- ford County, to the avocation of a farmer, and received his edneation in the district schools. When twenty years old he married Miss Rhoda Havens, a daughter of James and Phœbe Ann Havens, of Blackford Conn- ty. Eleven children were born to them, of whom eight are still living-Jacob, Jonathan, Phoebe Ann, Sarah, Robecea, Susan, Eliza- beth and Clement. Mr. Listenfeltz was be- reaved by the death of his wife in February, 1879. The maiden name of his present wife was Martha Ann Wheeler. She was born in Henry County, Indiana, and is a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Trublood) Wheeler. By his second marriage Mr. Listenfeltz lias two children named Orville and Orliza J. Mr. Listenfeltz is one of the well-to-do farm- ers of Harrison Township, where he has a fine farm of eighty acres of well improved land, his residence being a good two-story house, bnilt in 1877. In politics he is a Democrat. He is a member of the Method- ist Episcopal church.

OHN NEEDLER, proprietor of Need- ler's meat market, is one of Hartford City's active and enterprising business men. His business, which was established in 1875, is carried on on the east side of the square, and is one of the leading markets in the county. Everything about the place is kept clean and neat, and the proprietor keeps on hand both fresh and salt meats of all kinds, as well as fish, all his stock being

of the best quality, and by liis strict atten- tion to the wants of his many customers, and reasonable prices, he has built up a good trade. Mr. Needler was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, February 1, 1834, a son of James and Rebecca Needler, his parents coming to Indiana the year of his birth, and settling in Grant County. His father being a farmer he was reared to the same avoca- tion, and his education was obtained in the district schools. He was nnited in marriage in 1861 to Miss Eliza E. Pugh, of Grant County. She died November 28, 1884, leav- ing at her death three children named-Ola, Alonzo and Charlie. In his political views Mr. Needler is a Democrat. He has always manifested a deep interest in the welfare of the city in which he resides, and every move- ment calenlated to aid in building up the place or developing its business interests has his encouragement and assistance.

OHIN OWEN SNYDER, the man who cannot stop walking. Now we come to describe the first wonder of the kind in the history of the world, the man who for twenty-seven months has not been able to cease walking withont great pain, except for a few minutes, possibly two or three times in twenty-four hours. John Owen Snyder, the subject of this strange sketch, was born in the year 1833, in Madison County, Virginia. His parents were James and Fannie (Carpen- ter) Snyder, both natives of the same State, and farmers, bringing up their children in their humble calling. In the fall of 1849 they immigrated to Randolph Connty, Indi- ana, locating in the northwestern part of the county. In the year 1855 Jolin was married. In the fall of 1863 he moved to Iowa, spend- ing the following winter in Appanoose

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HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.

County. Next he moved to a point near Maqnon, on Spoon River, Knox County, Illi- nois, where he resided four years, when he moved back to Randolph County, this State. Five or six years after this again, being a poor man and always renting farms, he moved to a place about two and a half miles northeast of Millgrove, or two miles south of Trenton, in Blackford County, where he lived about six years, clearing up twenty acres of land. Then he removed to a farm, upon which was a log cabin, about two miles southeast of Millgrove, or three miles west of Dunkirk, renting here a little over a year, when lic finally, in the spring of 1887, moved upon his present place, a forty-acre farm on section 27, Jackson Township, about a mile north of Millgrove and a half-mile east. This place he bought of Mr. Fulkerson, partly going in debt for it, and making a payment upon it, which he was enabled to do from the proceeds of the exhibition that was made of him in the city musenms during the preceding win- ter. Upon this place he built a small frame house, divided into two equal rooms, in one of which he is now performing his endless rounds of circumnambulation. Mr. Snyder was married in June, 1855, to Nancy Mc- Kinney, a native of Ohio, and a dangliter of Anthony W. and Elizabeth Mckinney. Their children are-Joseph Leonard, born in 1859; Mary Adeline, in 1861, Ahneretta, Horatio Frederick and Eliza Jane. Now the origin and history of the strange affliction that has rendered Mr. Snyder a noted man. In 1883 he had a severe attack of what his physician called typho-malarial fever. On recovering from it, in August, he began to feel a curious affection in his arms, on account of which he kept his bed most of the time until the fol- lowing March, when he seemed to recover; but was up and down, part of the time walk- ing about the room, and a part of the time

doing chores about the premises. After a little a strange sensation supervened ; lic felt as if all his strength lay in his arms. He would chop or saw wood with all his might, somc- times a half a cord before stopping, and with- ont feeling tired! Thus he labored from morning until night. Said he to his wife, " There's something wrong with me; for I don't feel tired; if I am tired I cannot feel it." At night, or when the weather was in- element, he would, for the sake of arm exer- eise, scrub the floor, with an old-fashioned hickory-splint broom he happened to have in lis possession. This condition lasted about six weeks, when the affection scemed to leave his arms and shoulders and pass down into his hips and lower limbs, and would not permit him to remain in a state of rest; walk- ing was the only thing that would relicve him. This metastasis of the "evil spirit " was not suddenly complete, but moved downl by spells and gradually. At first for some days he generally walked rather slow, but then he had to accelerate his gait, and some- times walk very fast, or even run. He en- deavored to stand still, but could not; he tried to remain quiet in other positions, bnt with worse results, cramps and pains setting in with irresistible impetuosity. Many a time he was obliged to run for two or three honrs, even in the hot sun, when he did not seem to suffer, either from exhaustion or from heat. In a few instances he ran five hours at a time, still withont fatigue or feel- ing the heat of the sun. The "thing " would not let him go, day or night. The sensation is sometimes that of cramping, sometimes simply aching, and occasionally a nervous attack that shakes him all over as if he had the agne. He dares not lie down, lest the attack becomes too severe to manage. One time, before the affliction became fully set- tled in his lower extremities, he was plowing,

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

when the plow became fastened in a root. After making one vain attempt to free the implement he found he could hold on no longer; the position was too stationary for him; and after walking once around the team he veered off, leaving them and the plow hitched to earth. They were soon afterward taken care of by one of the sons. Mr. Sny- der always prefers a smooth, hard surface to walk upon. A floor or pavement is prefer- able even to smooth, soft ground or a sawdust track. He cannot climb fences, or get over logs and rough places without great distress, much less climb or "run up " stairs, as has been falsely advertised. Could he do all things, life would not be so monotonous to to him, as he could then roam about the woods, among the neighbors, and even visit the towns and witness the changing scenery. In the fall of 1886, the propensity to run began to diminish, since which time he has had to be dragged along by that species of locomotion very little. Yes, he eats and sleeps walking. While sleeping, he is gen- erally supported upon the arm of some mem- ber of his family, not, however, with the aid of an apparatus, as has been rumored. He can change the garments of the upper portion of his body withi comparative ease, as he can do that while walking; but he has to watch for his chances in changing those of his lower extremities. Occasion- ally the affection will dodge still lower down, below his knees, for a few minutes, possibly two or three times in twenty-four hours, when he can sit down and sleep, some one supporting him. Indeed, some member of the family must be with him constantly, day and night. A few times within the last year the peculiar sensation remained below his knees twenty to forty-eight hours, one time as long as fifty-four hours, during which time he assumed the sitting posture a great deal,

with comparative ease; and for these and other reasons he sometimes thinks he is im- proving in his health. During the first four months of the present year (1887), lie lias been pursuaded, much against his will, to attend the museums of Chicago and Indian- apolis and suffer himself to be an object of exhibition; but confinement in the foul air of the rooms, and restaurant diet, character- istic of city life, lias greatly diminished the general tone of his health, and he is now (May, 1887), spending a few weeks at his quiet home in the rural retreats of the back woods, to recruit his physical powers. Poor man! If the public could only be made to know the truthlı-that he cannot stop walk- ing-it would be the source of a much larger income; but his exhibitors labor under the disadvantage of not being able to give occu- lar demonstration of the negative " cannot," and the public are not interested in simply seeing a man walk. They regard the claim, " cannot stop walking," as an advertising dodge. Mr. Snyder would never submit to a stage dress. "They can't get me into a mon- key jacket," says he. In traveling upon railroad trains he has to be placed in the baggage car and given space to walk his ac- customed rounds, which is always done turn- ing to the right. This is due to a peculiar lameness in his left hip. Of course he must be assisted up and down the car steps. He cannot even stoop without great pain. For his feet he prefers coarse plow-shoes and a pair of common woolen socks. Walking on cars he had to turn so shortly, bringing un- due pressure upon the region of the right foot back of the great toe, that he produced a sore, from which, however, he afterward recovered. Either from this circumstance, or from some of his jests about " walking the soles off his feet," the rumor got out that he insanely imagined that he had several sores

840

HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.

on liis feet to be worn off by walking, and that he indulged in the peculiar propensity from mere insanity. Indeed, at one time he was taken to an insane asylum for treatment; but the confinement there made him worse, and the physicians soon ascertained that he was not insane, and that they could do nothing for him. Of course the disease must be wearing him out. " After all," exclaims the poor man " how willingly I would give up everything I have could I but just regain my health sufficient to enable me to lie down and take a night's good rest, as I used to !" In- terviewing Mr. Snyder's attending physi- cian Dr. H. C. Davison, of Hartford City, the writer could learn but little in addition to what has been related. In compli-

ance with a request for a technical state- ment of the pathology of the case, he was shrewd enough to be " ignorant." All lie conld say was, " It is an unequal distribu-

tion of the nervous energy; it is not St.

Vitus' dance. The subject is not insane, nor a monomaniac." In personal appearance Mr. Snyder is a man of medium weight when in health, with an innocent, passive counte. nance, blue eyes, heavy chin beard, receding cheek bones, and a kindly, affable manner that enlists the respect of the most cultivated.

ILLIAM KNOX, one of the respected citizens of Washington Township, engaged in farming on section 35, is a native of Kentucky, born in Bourbon Coun- ty, January 15, 1820, a son of John and Margaret (Hammer) Knox. The father was born in Kentucky, January 4, 1797, of Eng- lish descent, a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Davis) Knox, who were born in Maryland, and died in Bourbon County, Kentucky. The mother of our subject was born in Tennessee

in 1799, a daughter of John and Margaret (Wilkerson) Hammer, bothı of whom were born in Tennessee, and died in Brown Coun- ty, Ohio. The Hammer family is of German origin. The father of our subject died in Grant County, Indiana, aged seventy-six years, and his mother died in Blackford County, at the age of seventy-six years. They were the parents of nine children-William, the subject of this sketch; James M., Melissa, Elizabeth, Rachel, Dorothy, Lucinda, Anna and Melinda. William Knox was three years old when his parents moved to Brown County, Ohio, and when he was ten years old they settled in Henry County, Indiana. William was reared to manhood in Henry County, and was there married September 4, 1844, to Miss Susan Clevinger, a native of Wayne County, Indiana, born November 25, 1827, where she was reared. She is a daugh- ter of Daniel and Susan (Conley) Clevinger, her father born in Maryland, January 25, 1786, and her mother born March 9, 1810. Both died in Wayne County, Indiana, her father aged seventy-nine years, and the inother aged eighty years. They had a fam- ily of seven children-Samuel, Polly, Cynthia A., Lucinda, Margaret, Maria and Susan. To Mr. and Mrs. Knox have been born nine children as follows-Maria A., born June 14, 1845; Margaret E., born May 6, 1847, died aged thirteen years; John W., born August 19, 1849; James M., born December 30, 1851; Daniel, born July 27, 1854; Mary E., born May 3, 1858; Cynthia A., born November 12, 1860. William H. died, aged three years, and Cyrus R. died, at the age of four years. The six children who are living are married and comfortably settled in life. A few years after his marriage Mr. Knox moved with his wife and two children to Grant County, Indi- ana, where he made his home until 1860. He then came to Blackford County, and set-

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

tled on his present farm on section 35, Wash- ington Township. About twenty-five acres of the land had been cleared and a log cabin built when Mr. Knox came to the township, but the latter was in such poor condition that he soon built a hewed-log honse, whichi lias since been occupied by him and his family. This house was repaired three years ago, and makes a good comfortable residence. His farm contains forty acres of choice land, which is well improved and under good cul- tivation, and everything about the place shows the care and thrift of the owner.

- C. NEAL, grain dealer, and one of the leading business men of Montpelier, was born February 12, 1852, a son of C. W. and Nancy A. (Roberts) Neal, the father being a native of Pennsylvania, and the mother of New York. The father was a contractor and builder by occupation, and was among the earliest settlers of Grant County, Indiana, locating there in 1835. Onr subject was reared in Marion, Grant County, receiving his education in the schools of that place. At the age of fourteen years he entered the employ of Switzer & Turner, grain dealers, receiving at first a salary of $100 a year. He gradually worked his way up, and when seventeen years old received a commission on grain bought. In 1872, when twenty years old, he came to Montpelier, Blackford County, and formed a partnership in the grain business with John D. Marshall, which existed until 1875, when the firm was changed, and the business conducted under the name of T. C. Neal & Co. until Septem- ber, 1886. At this time the present firm was formed, the members of which are T. C. Neal, D. A. Walmer and Henry C. Arnold, all men of good business ability. The firm

does an extensive business, and is considered one of the most substantial in Blackford County. Mr. Neal was united in marriage in 1873 to Miss S. 1. Spaulding, of Wells County, Indiana, and they are the parents of one child, a son, Charles M., born October 21, 1875. Mr. Neal is proprietor of Oak Grove Stock Farm, located one mile west of Montpelier, where are kept some of the best driving horses in this part of the State, and his herd of Jersey cattle, some of which are registered, is second to none in the State. Visitors wishing to see good stock are always welcome at Oak Grove, and the genial host and proprietor extends to all the hospitality for which he is noted. Politically he is a Democrat. In 1882 he was elected county commissioner by a majority of 136 votes over his Republican opponent, and served in that office to the best interests of the county. He is a member of the Odd Fellows order, belonging to Lodge No. 410, of Montpelier.

ILLIAM CLAPPER, deceased, was born in Licking Township, Blackford County, Indiana, August 6, 1843, a - son of Jacob and Amanda (Kemmer) Clap- per, who were brought to Blackford County wlien young, from Stark County, Ohio. The grandparents of our subject, John and Mary Clapper, came to Blackford County in an early day, being among the early pioneers of the county, where they lived to an advanced age. Both are buried in Hartford cemetery. The Clappers are of German ancestry. The father of our subject died at the age of fifty- two years, his mother dying when but twenty- nine years old. They were the parents of eiglit children-William, Ann, Sarah, Jacob, Rachel, John, Henry and Mary, all of whom are deceased except Rachel, Henry and Mary.

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HISTORY OF BLACKFORD COUNTY.

William Clapper, whose name heads this sketch, grew to manhood on his father's farm in Blackford County, being reared to the avocation of a farmer, which he followed through life. He was a thorough, practical farmer, and met with good success in his agricultural pursuits, and was the owner of a well improved farm of 100 acres on section 33, Washington Township, where he was living at the time of his death. Mr. Clapper was married October 3, 1865, to Miss Emily Lillibridge, a native of Ilocking County, Ohio, born December 31, 1845, who was brought to Blackford County, Indiana, when nine months old, where she has since lived. Mr. and Mrs. Clapper had born to them three children-William Albert, born Octo- ber 18, 1867; Bertha F., born May 5, 1869, and Ora V., born February 3, 1878. Mr. Clapper died of typhoid pneumonia, Febru- ary 25, 1886, his death being a source of re- gret throughout his neighborhood. He was a man of public spirit, and was always inter- ested in the advancement of his township or county, and by his genial and cordial manners he won many friends.

OHN SAXON, a farmer, residing on section 33, Washington Township, is a representative of one of the early pioneer families of Blackford County. His parents, James and Asenath (Wixson) Saxon, came with their family, then consisting of four children, to the county, February 12, 1840, and settled in the woods on section 4, Licking Township, the father having to cut away the brush and trees before erecting their round- log cabin. The father of our subject was born in Putnam County, New York, in 1804, removing thence to Steuben County, New York, where he lived several years, and was

there married to Asenath Wixson, a native of New York State, born in 1808, a daughter of Shubel and Elizabeth Wixon, who died in Blackford County. Seven children were born to them-Fannie, John, Benjamin, James F., Alva, Mary E. and Eliza A., the first four born in Steuben County, the three youngest natives of Blackford County. The Saxon family came to Blackford County with several other families, making the journey by team, taking thirty-one days to come from Steuben County, New York. They lived in the log cabin, which the father built on coming to the county, until 1880, when the parents and youngest son went to Kansas, the father dying in that State April 3, 1883. The mother is still living in Kansas, in Mont- gomery County. The grandfather of our subject, was John Saxon, and was born in New York State in 1761, and when twelve years old, when the British landed on Long Island, he ran away from home, going to Georgia, where he remained until sixteen years of age, when he volunteered as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and for his services during that war he received a pension. He died in Blackford County, Indiana, in 1862, aged 100 years and ten months. His wife, Elizabeth (Evans) Saxon, also died in Black- ford County. Our subject's great-grandfather Saxon was a native of Holland. John Saxon, whose name heads this sketch, grew to man- hood on his father's farm in Washington Township, being reared to the avocation of a farmer, which he has made his life-work. He is now the owner of a fine farm of sixty- two acres of well improved land, which he has brought under a good state of cultivation. He was united in marriage November 8, 1858, to Miss Mary Mills, a native of Ohio, born May 14, 1832, where she was reared. In 1850 her parents, Samuel and Ann (Shields) Mills, came with their family of

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

843

four children to Blackford County, Indiana, and settled on a partially improved farm on section 28, Washington Township, near the farm of John Saxon. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. John Saxon- Albert, born in July, 1856; Minerva A., born April 5, 1858; John B., born December 7, 1862; McDowell, born November 6, 1868, and Thomas, born April 1, 1873. In Octo- ber, 1876, Mr. Saxon, was elected county sheriff, assuming the duties of that office the following August, and served two terms with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents.

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Author: Publication date: 1887 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 922

Author:
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 922