USA > Indiana > Blackford County > Biographical memoirs of Blackford County, Ind. : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography embellished with portraits of many well known residents of Blackford County, Indiana > Part 85
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).
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 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89
Mr. Burchard was united in marriage July 14, 1872, to Miss Eve McIntire, of Wells county, Indiana, a union which his resulted in the birth of thirteen children, eleven of whom are living, two of these mar-
716
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ried. Elizabeth is the wife of Francis Rice, and Sabra is the wife of Ed Long. Him- self and wife are members of the liberal branch of the United Brethren church at Washington Center, of which he is trustee and steward. Fraternally he is a member of Blackford Lodge. Knights of Pythias, at Hartford City.
LONSON O. STORMS, DECEASED.
Lonson Overhiser Storms, late of Wash- ington township, where he was hekl in great esteem, was born on the Storms homestead July 3, 1856, and is a son of Reuben and Ruth ( Beals) Storms.
Lonson received his early education at the county schools, later attending the nor- mal school at Valparaiso, Indiana. He was reared under the parental roof and remained there, with the exception of two years spent in New Orleans, until after his marriage, which occurred November 27, 1886, to Miss Hattie E. Sutter, of Valparaiso, Indiana. She was a grandniece of Captain John A. Sutter, of gold fame in California, upon whose land gold was discovered. Mrs. Storms was reared in Ripley county, till her nineteenth year, and then became a student of Valparaiso.
After Lonson's return from New Or- leans he and his brother, Elmer, of whom more complete mention is found on another page of this volume, took charge of the old homestead, where their abilities were re- warded with so much success that they were justified in the purchase of an additional farm, from each of which they realized a handsome competence. Soon after Lon- son's marriage they divided up their inter- ests, he purchasing the present farm, located
on the Hartford City pike, six miles north of the city.
This tract consists of one hundred and twenty acres, which Mr. Storms had con- verted into one of the best farms in the township, having expended considerable capital in dwellings and improving the farm in various ways.
Mr. Storms devoted part of his time to fire and life insurance, and at the time of his death was engaged in forming companies in the state to build and operate creameries at different towns; during the same time he was actively and extensively interested in the development of the farm.
An adherent of the Democratic party, his work in this connection was to further its interests in assuming a full share of the financial burdens imposed by party affilia- tions, and in an active interest in its mect- ings, but he never sought or held political office.
Fraternally he was a member of the Hartford City I. O. O. F .; Hartford City lodge of Masons, and the order of Red Men, all of which societies participated in the cere- monies at his funeral.
His family consisted of two children : Elmer Sutter and Ruth Lonson; the latter being born after her father's death, has been reared wholly under the influence of her miother.
Mrs. Storms has continued to reside at the homestead, devoting herself to the edu- cation of her children and to the operation of the farm, upon which she has two oil wells in active operation, yielding her a handsome royalty.
Mr. Storms died as he lived, an upright man of God, exemplifying in his life the maxim of the Savior, "Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so
717
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
to them," and left to his family a reputation unspotted by the slightest shadow of an un- worthy act or motive. He departed this life on the 29th day of July, 1891, after a brief illness of but ten days' duration.
WILLIAM SCHMIDT.
The thought which presents itself to the far-seeing and conservative mind when the question is propounded as to what essentials are necessary to a man's success in life, is that of industry, economy and honesty, and this the life of William Schmidt will em- phatically corroborate.
He is a well-known agriculturist of Washington township, Blackford county, Indiana, is of German descent, his parents Wilhelm and Anna Margaret (Schwinn) Schmidt, having come from Darmstadt, Germany. They were married at Chambers- burg, Pennsylvania, where he was a me- chanic. In 1842 they came to Indiana, lo- cating near Middletown. Here they re- mained about two years, after which they removed to Del: care county, settling seven miles southwest of Muncie. He now devot- ed his time to the clearing of the farm, ex- tensively improving it until his death, which occurred in his sixty-third year; his widow is now, in her eighty-first year, living with her children. She is a bright, active old lady, whose keenness of intellect is unimpaired by the weight of years.
William remained at home until his ma- jority, accompanying the family to Black- ford county. For the next four years he assisted his father with the work on the farm, which consisted of two hundred acres, plac- ing in the meantime considerable of this in cultivation.
In the fall of 1864 he entered Company C, Fifty-third Indiana Regiment. It was expected that they would join Sherman at Dalton, Georgia, but arrived there too late, Sherman having already started on the march to the sea. After some weeks' delay they were sent to Moorehead City, North Carolina, via Washington; from here they marched overland and took part in the battle at Kingston, North Carolina, finally joining Sherman's army at Raleigh, where they were at the reception of the news of Lee's sur- render. They now marched to Washington, participating in the grand review, when they were sent to Louisville, and after some weeks were mustered out.
Our subject returned to the farm and was married, October 19, 1865, to Miss Asenath Storms, daughter of Reuben Storms. After marriage he operated his uncle's farm, one mile west of Dundee, for some time and then rented in the same vi- cinity for five years. He then purchased eighty acres lying one mile south of his fa- ther's, which comprises the present home, paying for it twelve hundred dollars. This had only five acres cleared and no buildings. He erected a log house and has himself cleared sixty acres, has laid six hundred rods of tile, at a cost of several hundred dollars and now has the farm in an excellent state of cultivation.
The original log cabin remained their home until the year 1889, when it was re- placed by the present handsome residence. His attention is mainly given to the grow- ing of grain and stock. His farm lying in the oil territory, it has been considerably de- veloped in that respect, having five wells in active operation, the royalty from which contributes materially to his income.
Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt are the parents
THE BIOGRAPIIICAL RECORD.
of five sons: Henry, an employee of the Olds Wagon Works, at Fort Wayne; William R and Thomas, employed in oil works; Char- ley, on a small farm of his father's, which was originally part of the old Schmidt es- tate, and Luther, at home.
Mr. Schmidt is a Democrat and served one term as county commissioner, during which time the main pikes leading north from Hartford City were built. Here he gained the reputation of an efficient and faithful official, being in favor of all im- provements for the good of the community, and that the public business should be con- (lucted as economically as possible. He is prominently identified with the Lutheran church at Hartford. The subject is a man of superior business capacity and resource- ful ability, and has made for himself an hon- orable reputation, being popular in social, business and political circles.
LARKIN McINTIRE, DECEASED.
After a well spent and useful life, dur- ing which he nobly did his part in making the world wiser and better, Larkin McIntire fearlessly responded to the summons calling him from this earth, which was not only a sad bereavement to his widow, but a great loss to the community as well.
His parents, Dick and Mary Mclntire, were pioneers of Wells county. Indiana, where Larkin was born January 31. 1852. Ile, being reared on a farm, naturally be- came familiar with the details of agriculture and chose this for his life's vocation, re- maining on the home farm until his twenty- first year. Meeting Miss Catherine A. Ferneau, an attractive young lady from
West Virginia, at that time visiting with her uncle in Wells county, he prevailed upon ber to remain in Indiana as his companion, their union occurring on March 24, 1875. That same year he came to the present farm, then comprising one hundred and sixty acres, which his father gave him.
It was but slightly improved with only a small frame house. He set to work to de- volop his land, the result of his industry and shrewd management being a first-class farm. He added to this original tract until he owned two hundred and seventy acres, most of which he had cleared and placed in culti- vation. At a heavy expense the farm was properly drained, he having secured outlet, made open ditches and extended tiling through the entire farm. The present house was erected in 1881 and has a good barn and other buildings. The general arrange- ment of the farm shows the skill and judg- ment exercised in its development and in carrying forward to satisfactory completion the plans that had matured gradually. through a course of years, all leading up to and culminating in the high-class improve- ments of to-day. On another part of the land a second set of improvements are found. This farm, lying in the extensive oil region, has sixteen wells in active operation, the royalty from them making a handsome con- tribution to the general income.
Mr. MeIntire was a Democrat, active in the councils of his party and a leading spirit in all public enterprises, his well known busi- ness sagacity, probity of character and inter- est in the general welfare indicating him a suitableman to fill the position of county com- missioner. He discharged the duties of the office with great credit to himself and satis- faction to all. The careful attention to the public interest emphasized the high esteem
719
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
in which he was always held, extending the wide circle of friends, who felt that in him the county's affairs would not suffer and the welfare of the masses would be properly con- served.
He was a stockholder in the Blackford County Bank from its organization, and Mrs. McIntire is now one of the stockholders of the new National Bank of Montpelier.
Mr. McIntire found in his wife a safe counsellor in all business matters and much credit'is due her for the success that crowned his efforts, she being a lady of rare business capacity and one whose conservative judg- ment and attention to detail was ever of value at important business junctures.
Mr. McIntire passed away in the prime of life, his death occurring September 29, 1897, after an illness of several months, his remains resting beside his parents at As- bury Chapel in Wells county. He was one of the most wide-awake, pushing citizens of the northern part of Blackford county, stand- ing high in the esteem of his many friends and holding an enviable position in the hearts of hundreds.
THOMAS JEFFERSON BAKER.
Thomas Jefferson Baker, prominent as a farmer of Washington township, Black- ford county, Indiana, and ex-county commis- sioner, was born in Henry county, Indiana, September 5, 1855, and was named in honor of his father, who died before he was born.
Isaac Baker, the grandfather of T. J., was a native of West Virginia, coming in an early day from the Kanawha valley and en- tering government land in Henry county, which became his permanent home. The mother of our subject was Martha Paul, who
also, like her husband, was born in Henry county.
After the death of her husband she re- turned to her father, with whom Thomas J. remained until the death of his grandfa- ther, when he was about fifteen years okl. Now being thrown entirely upon his own re- sponsibility and resources, and believing that his own prospects would be bettered by so doing, he went to Wabash county, where he secured work as a farm hand. He remained in this occupation, saving something from his wages, until his marriage, which occurred August 14. 1874. His wife was Miss Ellen Jackson, whose birth occurred in the state of Illinois and who had been brought to Indiana by her parents when a child of five years. Hle purchased a small farm, devot- ing his entire attention to its improvements, later buying a farm in Henry county, where he resided until 1883, when he purchased the present farm. This tract consists of eighty acres and at the time of purchase was but slightly improved, having only a log cabin, which continued their residence until 1894, when they erected the present hand- some dwelling.
In the meantime his energies were devot- ed entirely to the clearing and cultivation of the farm, among other improvements lay- ing about nineteen hundred rods of tile and expending upwards of one thousand dollars for this one feature of improvement.
Ilis farm lying in the most extensive oil regions of Blackford county, it was de- cided to investigate its productiveness in this respect, drilling beginning in July, 1899. One month later the supply was such as justified extension of the work. At the pres- ent time seven wells are in active operation. Receiving from them a handsome royalty. coupled with the productiveness and income
720
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of the farm, Mr. Baker now enjoys the repu- tation of being one of the most prosper- ous and substantial citizens.
Mr. Baker has been a life-long mem- ber of the Republican party, in which he is an important factor. In recognition of his capabilities as a business man and his serv- ices in the party, he was chosen its represent- ative as a member of the board of county commissioners. Ilis service on the board was at an important juncture, the new court house being accepted and much other im- ' portant business coming before the board. His colleagues were T. T. McGath, Isaac L. Hughes and Zadock Williams, the personnel being of an essentially strong character.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Baker con- sists of three children : Mildred, wife of John Barrett; Lora and. Arthur.
Fraternally our subject is a member of Roll Lodge, No. 347, Knights of Pythias, in which he has received more than custom- ary honors, having been the representative to the grand lodge.
Of Mr. Baker, both as a business man and citizen, much that is commendable might be said. He is a man of superior business capacity and resourceful ability, his resolute purpose and keen discrimination enabling him to carry forward to successful completion whatever he sees fit to under- take. He has made for himself an hon- orable putation, is popular in social, busi- ness and political circles, and well deserves this tribute to his worth.
WILLIAM B. FORTNER.
One of the widely known and prosperous farmers and a retired county official, William D. Fortner, stands pre-eminent as a self- made and successful citizen, who commands
to an eminent degree the respect and good will of the people of Blackford county. Ilis delightful home, some five miles to the north- west of the county seat, in Washington township, is one of the neatest and best im- proved farms in the community, proving the capacity and business resourcefulness of the proprietor.
Mr. Fortner was born six miles cast of Newcastle, Henry county, Indiana, on the 31st of January, 1838, and his parents were Micajah and Elizabeth (Allen) Fortner. The former was a native of Virginia and was brought when six years of age to Cen- terville, Wayne county, He was a son of Isaac and Mourning (Lawrence) Fortner. Isaac was one of the many brave men who served in the last war with Great Britain, and came from a family noted for its longevity, his mother having survived till the great age of one hundred and five years; his own death occurred when he had passed his eighty-eighth year. Henry county became the permanent home of the family, Micajah residing there from a boy till his death at the age of sixty-seven, in 1879. The name of Fortner has many modifications, some of the same relatives using the "k" rather than "t" in the spelling, though it is recognized in the various forms as having its origin in the same name.
William B. remained with his parents till long after attaining his majority, in fact till past twenty-seven, when he was united in marriage, on the 2d of April, 1867, to Miss Jennie Wolfe. Her birth-place was Benton- ville. Wayne county, and her parents were Absolom and Phebe (Alger) Wolfe: Ab- solom Wolfe was born in Hawkins county. east Tennessee, and was married at Benton- ville, Indiana, in 1837. He was a shoe- maker by trade, and followed that profession
721
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
all his active life. Still hale and hearty, he resides with his daughter, Mrs. Fortner. But one other of his children is now living, a daughter, Mary, residing in Wabash coun- ty, Indiana. Mrs. Phebe Wolfe had died when her daughter, Jennie, was a chill of twelve, the latter's youth being largely passed with a family named Watkins.
William B. Fortner remained at Mount Summit, Hendricks county, farming and la- boring in a saw-mill till 1879, when he re- moved to Grant county, and, three years later to his present eighty-acre farm in Wash- ington township. He has himself placed the greater part of it in cultivation. Lying as it did near the headwaters of both the Big and Little Walnut creeks it was extremely diffi- cult to secure the necessary drainage, but by persistent and systematic tiling he has suc- ceeded in placing it in most thorough tillage, the natural friability of the soil making it a peculiarly well adapted farm to the crops usually grown in this section of the state.
Having ever shown a decided interest in the conduct of public business and being thought worthy of an important position at the hands of the party, he was chosen in 1892 as a suitable man to attend to the finan- cial matters of the county and was elected by a handsome majority. Removing to the county seat he devoted his energies the advancement of the county's inter- ests. He is recognized as having made a creditable and efficient guardian of the finances, leaving the office at the expira- tion of his term with a widely increased circle of friends, and that regardless of po- litical lines. The new law regulating sal- aries of public officials was given a test dur- ing this time, he being chosen to make the fight for the old law. In 1879 a fee and salary law made it incumbent upon the offi-
cials to have certain fees from the office in- come. In his case the county commissioners effected a compromise, not, however, allow- ing him all the fees claimed. Some eight- een months thereafter suit was brought by the commissioners to recover the amount so paid. The case attracted wide attention throughout the state and was bitterly contest- ed, resulting finally in Mr. Fortner's receiv- ing a verdict in his favor, and it became a precedent for the adjudication of all similar cases throughout the state. Mr. Fortner was highly complimented by the numerous officials affected and also by a large part of the legal profession.
Retiring to the farm in December, 1894, he resumed the active conduct of the place. The next year he erected the present hand- some residence which compares favorably with any country residence in the confines of Blackford county. The Fortner family con- sists of two sons, Lawrence and Frank. Of these, the elder became a teacher soon after passing from his 'teens, continuing to teach for some eight years and attaining in this line of work an enviable reputation as an efficient and capable instructor. He mar- ried Miss Maud Mills and they have three children, James, Hazel and Helen. In part- nership with his brother he has purchased an eighty-acre farm, near his father, and is now largely devoted to the demands of the same. Frank Fortner is the efficient deputy county auditor, having become recognized among those engaged in the court house as one of the most painstaking and thorough clerks connected with the offices. He was also of considerable repute as a teacher, later acquiring a high standing among business men, having been for some time in a clerical capacity in the Blackford County Bank. William B. Fortner has ever taken an active
722
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
part in the councils of the Democratic party, being generally seen in the various conven- tions of the same. His first vote was cast for that grand exponent of Democratic doc- trine, Stephen A. Douglas. He was made a Mason in 1861, at Hagerstown, Wayne county, and has his present affiliation with the fraternity at Hartford City. The fra- ternal interest has extended to the other members of the family, Mrs. Fortner and son, Frank, being active in the chapter of , the Eastern Star at Hartford.
RICHARD DICK.
For nearly half a century has the Dick family been identified with the history of Blackford county, ever holding a high place in the estimation of the public and contrib- uting in no mean measure to the develop- ment and advancement of the section in which they have lived. One of its repre- sentatives who is considered worthy of spe- cial mention in a work of this character is Richard Dick, a substantial and reputable citizen of Washington township, where he is the proprietor of a fine and highly im- proved farm lying on the Montpelier pike. six miles north of Hartford City. He was born in Morgan county, in what is now West Virginia, on the 15th of September. 1851, and is a son of Uriah and Rosa (Michael) Dick. In 1854, when he was three years of age, the family came to Harrison township, Blackford county, three miles west of Montpelier and on the line between the two townships. Uriah Dick became a prosperous and popular citizen, dying on his home farm, March 26. 1892, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. The mother of Richard had
passed to the beyond when he was a lad of twelve, the lady who became his stepmother being Mrs. Sarah Jane Kitterman, who still resides at the old homestead. Of five sons born to Uriah Dick, one died at an early age, three survivors, besides Richard, being John, who owns part of the old home, as does William Alonzo, and Clinton, who re- mains with his mother.
Richard's boyhood was not unlike most country lads growing up in close relation- ship with the hardest toil. He remained at home until his marriage, at the age of twen- ty-seven, in 1877, to Miss Mary Susan Kit- terman, his stepsister, though their own en- gagement preceded that of their parents. They were reared in the same neighborhood and a close intimacy had existed for years between the two families. However, when it was realized by the parents that a per- manent union was about to be consummat- ed, they decided to take no rear position in the procession, but to lead in the matter. The Kitterman homestead being near the Dick residence, it was arranged for Richard to assume its management, which he did, conducting it for four years with satisfac- tion to all concerned. In 1881 he secured his present land, amounting to one hundred and one acres, at that time with but slight improvements.
He has placed fifty-five acres in culti- vation, all of which, as a result of a thor- ough system of drainage, is well adapted to the production of excellent crops of all kinds of grains usually found in the county. The improvements he has made are of a sub- stantial character, the barn, erected in 1899, completing the general plan that he had some years since decided upon. His orchard is one that demands the admiration of all the neighbors.
723
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Being in the productive field of the oil industry, four wells are in active operation, the income from this source being an im- portant feature of his general income.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Dick are, Minnie, wife of William Ford, of Mill Grove; Vernie Myrtle, Charley, Walter Ir- vin, Louvica, died in infancy, Harvey Ross, Ennis and Sherman.
Mr. Dick is one of the kind of men who are never inactive in any matter that makes to a better and broader civilization. In pol- itics he is a Democrat, though he has not aspired to publicity in connection with public business.
JESSE BUGH.
Probably the mention of no name. in Blackford county calls up more pleasant memories among the citizens of to-day, as well as those of a past generation, than that of Barnhart W. Bugh. A record of the prominent families of this section would be justly considered incomplete without full consideration of the one we now take pleas- ure in presenting, however inadequately. Its present representatives are recognized as among the most prosperous, enterprising and public-spirited citizens, holding to a high de- gree the respect of their fellow men. The representatives of the last generation, who have passed to that bourne whence none re- turn, are enshrined in the memories of thou- sands, their lives living after them and ex- erting a silent influence that is felt in the noblest walks of life.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.