Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 102

Author: F.A. Battey & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 976

USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 102
USA > Indiana > LaGrange County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 102

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).

JOHN EARNHART was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, August 12, 1811, the son of William and Jane (Patterson) Earnhart, and one of a family of eight children. His father was a gunsmith, and followed this occupation in Circleville, Ohio. When he was about eighteen ycars old, John commenced to learn this trade of his father, at which he continued to work. March 12, 1833, he was married to Mary Hitler. They removed to this county in 1843, arriv- ing in September. He purchased a farm of 240 acres from Isaac Spencer, with five acres improved. This land was situated upon Section 22 in this township. Upon this he settled and commenced clearing, hiring some of his chopping done, but rolled logs and built fence himself. Mr. Earnhart also worked at gunsmithing more or less for fifteen years after coming to Indiana. They have had born to them twelve children-James, Susan (deceased), Thomas, Joseph and Harriet (deceased), William, John (deceased), Nelson, Alvin (de- ceased), Jane, Ellen and Lewis. Mr. Earnhart is a Democrat, and has filled the offices of Trustee, Assessor and Justice of the Peace each a term of four years, and is a worthy citizen of the township. Though healthy and strong himself, he has had much sickness in his family and has seen the rough side of life. He now owns 400 acres of land and has six children married.

JOHN GANTS, M. D., was born October 17, 1832, in Stark County, Ohio; is the son of Samuel and Anna (Hoover) Gants, one of thirteen chil- dren. He was raised on his father's farm, and received a common-school and YY

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academical education. When twenty-two years old, he commenced the study of medicine under Dr. Clover, and in 1858 came West to Noble County, lo- cated at Cromwell and commenced the practice of medicine, and has amassed considerable property. During the winter of 1871-72, he attended the Cin- cinnati Eclectic Medical College, from which he graduated with honors, and is now the leading physician in Cromwell. In 1879, he was married to Eliza Surfis, of Noble County. They have two children-Roland and Maud. Mr. Gants is a strong Republican, and is an enterprising, intelligent citizen.

JOSEPH HITLER, a farmer of Sparta Township, and whose post office is Ligonier, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, November 28, 1816, a son of George and Susan (Gay) Hitler, and one of a family of eleven children. He was raised on a farm, and received a good education. In 1852, he came to Indiana, and settled on his present farm on Section 22, where he at first bought 300 acres, but since that time has increased the number, by purchase, to 430, which gives him a fine, productive farm. This is under a good state of cultivation, and yields a good revenue under the systematic management of Mr. Hitler. March 3, 1841, he was married to Miss Louisa A. Winstead, a lady from Fair- field County, Ohio. To them were born twelve children-William, George (deceased), Susana, Martha, Mary, Ellen, Sarah, Melinda, John (deceased), La Fayette, Miralda and Joseph E. Mrs. Hitler died May 31, 1881. Mr. Hit- ler is a man of liberal means, a Democrat in politics, and a worthy citizen.

JACOB HONTZ was born in Stark County, Ohio, September 30, 1831, the second of thirteen children, whose parents were Jonathan and Mary (Went- zel) Hontz. The father, in his earlier life, was a farmer, but later took up the occupation of a weaver. In 1853, he came from Ohio to this township, and settled on 160 acres in Section 18, which he bought from the State. There he lived until his death, July 9, 1878. The mother died April 3, 1881. Jacob was furnished with plenty of hard work during his boyhood days, in clearing the farm, notwithstanding which he obtained a fair education. He married Hannah Hoak, from Champaign County, Ohio, March 1, 1855, and thus be- came the father of eleven children-David (deceased), John H., William C., Mary E., Jonathan A., Samantha J., Daniel S., Lewis C., Harriet A., Effie F. and Correna M. Mr. Hontz, before coming to Indiana, learned the car- penter's trade, at which he worked about six years, most of the time in Ohio. He is a Democrat in political matters, and belongs to Ligonier Lodge, 185, F. & A. M. One of his sons, William C., is a school teacher, having taught two or three terms ; one of the girls is married.

JOHN C. JOHNSON, son of Daniel and Nancy (Cochran) Johnson, born in Wyoming County, N. Y., December 25, 1816, is the eldest of five children, and of the best Scotch-Irish ancestry. His father was a poor car- penter and millwright, and never had a home, and the subject, at the age of twenty, having acquired a fair education, started out with the determination to succeed and make for himself a home. He started, March, 1837, and trav- eled via Black Rock to Canada; thence to Detroit, and down to Lima, where he was taken sick and remained until October, when he came to this county and settled on the reserve, Section 16; he subsequently sold that land for $300, and bought 88 acres in Section 8; in three years, he moved to his farm, where he has remained. He owns 83 acres of good farming land, and is a prosperous farmer and influential citizen. For five terms he served the township as Jus- tice of the Peace. He was married, November 24, 1839, to Eliza Prentice. They had eight children- Milo, Perry, William P., Charles W., Ida and Lida,

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twins (deceased), Amanda and infant daughter (deceased) ; three of the sons and one daughter are married. Perry and William served in the late war three years and two months in the Second Indiana Cavalry and Thirtieth Indi- ana Volunteer Infantry. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Universalist Church, and a strong Republican.

JACOB KISER, one of the pioneers of Sparta Township, is a native of Jefferson County, Ohio, where he was born in 1812. He comes from a pioneer family, his parents and grandparents being among the earlier settlers of Ohio. His father, Jacob Kiser, was a native of Pennsylvania, coming at an early day to Jefferson County, Ohio, where he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Shawer, also from Pennsylvania ; while residing here, he entered the service in the war of 1812. They subsequently removed to Wayne County, Ohio, where they were also pioneers, living there until their deaths. Our subject is the fourth in descent in a family of seven children. He became familiar, in his youth, with all the phases of pioneer life. He was married in 1834 to Miss Jane Smith, a native of Chester County, Penn., and subsequently became the owner of his father's old farm in Wayne County, upon which he lived until the fall of 1843, when, with his family, he decided to emigrate to Indiana. He located in the woods of Sparta, upon what is now the finely-improved farm of his son Moses. This farm he cleared up and improved, living there until 1871, when he sold and removed to Perry Township, remaining there until 1881, when he returned to Sparta Township, purchasing the farm of Harrison Galloway, where he is at present living. He has 100 acres of land located upon the southern township line. Mr. Kiser is one of the valued citizens of Noble County. His line of conduct and action has always been progressive, and, as a farmer, has made a practical success. He has served as Township Trustee for many terms. As an early settler, he has been selected to appear in the por- trait department, from Sparta Township, in this work. Mr. and Mrs. K. have had a family of twelve children, six of whom attained maturity ; three now living-Moses, William S. and Isabell Hersey. Ann (deceased) was the wife of Mathias Green. He died in the army in 1863. She died in 1869, leaving three children. Maria died in Perry Township. Perry was a member of Com- pany B, Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was in active service nearly three years. He died in Perry Township in .1877.

MOSES KISER is the second child of Jacob and Jane (Smith) Kiser, who had twelve children. Moses was born in Wayne County, Ohio, July 18, 1837, and came with his parents, in 1843, to Indiana, and settled on Section 10, in this township. Here Moses obtained such education as the schools of the log cabin days afforded, and when about eighteen years old learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. This he followed several years. In the war of the rebellion, on the 7th of August, 1862, he became a member of Company B, Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. William N. Voris. In this service, he participated in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chicka- mauga, and others of lesser note. On the 29th day of May, 1865, he was hon- orably mustered out as Sergeant. Returning home, he was subsequently elected Sheriff of Noble County, in which capacity he served so satisfactorily that he was re-elected for another term. On retiring from this position, he purchased the old Kiser homestead, upon which he still resides, a good Republican, and an honored and respected citizen. He now owns 173 acres of the valuable lands of Sparta Township. Mr. Kiser was married November 22, 1866, to Elizabeth A. Strouse. To them have been born three children-Walter F., Perry W. and Roscoe.

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JACOB KREAGER was born in Licking County, Ohio, August 12, 1823, the fifth child of John and Sallie (Hursey) Kreager. Being left an orphan when quite young, his education was sadly neglected. At an early age, he went to work at the carpenter's trade, but growing tired of this, he rented a farm in Ohio and worked it for two years; then went to hauling stone. This business proving distasteful, he discontinued it and bought a farm of fifty acres. This he soon sold and bought 116 acres, which he farmed for one year, and then sold for $1,500, and came to Indiana in May, 1854. Here he bought a farm of eighty acres, giving $1,500, and his team and wagon for the same. Here he built himself a cabin and worked at clearing up his farm, and has succeeded in obtaining 760 acres of the best farming land in Sparta Township. Mr. Kreager is fond of good stock, and pays some attention to breeding Durham cattle. He was married, March 24, 1850, to Miss Artemisia Belknap. They have six children-Cara P., John D., Emma E., William H., Mary A. and Minnie M. Mr. K. is a good Democrat, and a well-respected, influential citizen.

SPALDEN McMANN was born in Madison County, Ohio, November 2, 1834, the seventh child in a family of ten, whose parents were James and Mary (Lee) McMann. The father was a farmer, and came to Indiana, settling in Kosciusko County with his family in 1838, and Perry Township, this county, in 1840. In 1844, he moved to Section 5, of this township, where he died in July, 1869. The mother died in December, 1877. Spalden McMann obtained a limited education in the log schoolhouse of his neighborhood at intervals, when he could be spared from helping his father on the farm. In 1852, his uncle, Spalden Winchester, gave him forty acres of land, upon which he commenced for himself in 1856. Since that time, he has purchased an additional 280 acres, which makes him a farm not easily surpassed in soil and other good qualities. November 22, 1855, he was married to Elizabeth Gale. They have had twelve children-an infant (deceased), James (deceased), Melissa, Cora (deceased), Henry, Ann, Caroline, Schuyler, Perry, John, Spalden and Mary. In the late war, the family of which Mr. McMann is a member was represented by three brothers, showing a patriotic devotion to the country. He is a Repub- lican, and a thorough good citizen.

DANIEL OHLWINE, the fourth of twelve children in the family of Charles and Elizabeth (Schrader) Ohlwine, was born in Warren County, Ohio, February 14, 1810. He moved with his parents to Montgomery County, Germantown, when three years old, and, when about ten years of age, to Greene County, Ohio. His father was a tanner, and followed that trade until within a few years of his death, which occurred in 1856. The subject received the average education, and was employed during his youth in chopping, grubbing and splitting rails. In September, 1833, he came to Indiana, went back to Ohio in November, then returned in the spring of 1834, and built the cabin where he now lives in the spring of 1835. The first term of court in Noble County was held in 1836, on the old Adam Engle farm, and Mr. Ohlwine served on the jury. In January, 1835, he assisted at the burial of the old Indian chief, Flat Belly, with whom he was well acquainted. Mr. Ohlwine was fond of hunting, and, in 1844, bought 124.92 acres of land, the deed for which was signed by Gov. James Whitcomb. He has cleared, in all, about 200 acres of land. In 1840, he traveled on foot through Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas, and was gone about three months. February 17, 1831, he was married to Miss Maria Weed, who died in October, 1859. They had one child -Archie. Mr. Ohlwine was again married May 22, 1860, to Mrs. Sarah

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(Bartley) Ballah, a member of the Christian Church. He is a strong Repub- lican.

SAMUEL OHLWINE is a native of Greene County, Ohio, where he was born May 31, 1820, one of twelve children, to Charles and Elizabeth (Holtz) Ohlwine-the father was a farmer and tanner. Samuel, though raised on a farm, secured a good education, and commenced teaching school in Ohio, where he taught three or four winters. This calling he followed after coming to Indiana, until he had taught some eighteen terms, or about twenty-one in all. April 13, 1843, in Greene County, Ohio, Mr. Ohlwine was married to Eliza Ann Hopping. In October, 1845, he came to this county, and settled where he now lives. He bought eighty acres of land from the State, which he paid for in money called " blue dog." This he got at 45 cents on the dollar, and paid for his land with it at par. Mrs. Ohlwine died January 7, 1877. By her he had four children-Jasper N., Martha J., John Q. (deceased) and Mary Ann. Jasper enlisted in Company E, Thirtieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Capt. Silver's, and served in the late war about four years, being mustered out as Sergeant. Mr. Ohlwine December 18, 1879, married Lena Breninger for his second wife. He is a substantial citizen, and a desirable neighbor. In 1858, he was elected County Commissioner, in which capacity he served twelve years. During his term of office, the present court house was built, the county poor farm was purchased, and the buildings on it erected. Mr. Ohlwine was also, in 1874, a candidate on the Republican ticket for the State Legislature.

NATHANIEL PRENTICE was the son of Nathaniel Prentice, an old Revolutionary soldier, who served during the war, and was in the battles of Monmouth, White Plains, and assisted in the capture of Cornwallis. He cast his first vote for President for George Washington. Was a native of Con- necticut, and, in June, 1800, was married to Margaret Hedden, a widow with one child, from New Jersey. Mr. Prentice had also been previously married, and had two children at the time of his union with Margaret Hedden. To this union, seven children were born, one of whom, the subject of our sketch, was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., July 8, 1808, and is the fifth one in order of descent of the name of Nathaniel. He was raised on his father's farm, and received a good common-school education. Nathaniel and his brothers came to Noble County in 1837, and were soon followed by their aged parents. Nathaniel settled on the farm where he now lives, and his father on the farm now belonging to Mrs. Hull, on Section 29. The latter died January 23, 1839, highly respected by all who knew him. After the death of his father, Nathaniel still continued to work at clearing his farm, and, in December 14, 1851, was married to Catharine (Rice) Shepper, widow of John Shepper, and by her had eight children-Arcella (deceased), William H., Orpheus L., Laura, Luella, Lucy, Edwin Nathaniel and Oliver (deceased). Mr. Prentice has resided in Sparta Township since his arrival in Indiana ; is independent in politics ; is a member of the Christian Church and a highly respected citizen.

JEREMIAH B. NOE was born on Section 23, this township, February 7, 1844, the twelfth of a family of fifteen children. His parents were Aaron and Sarah (Beem) Noe, the former of French and the latter of Dutch descent. They came to Indiana, in 1837, from Licking County, Ohio. The father was a blacksmith and farmer, and set up the first blacksmith-shop in Sparta Town- ship. In 1841, Allen Noe, a brother of the subject and but a child, disap- peared from the yard while the mother was busy, and was never found. It is

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supposed he was stolen by the Indians, a full account of which will be found in the second chapter of the county history. Jeremiah was reared to farm labor. In 1860, he bought eighty acres of land, which he has cleared, and also owns a part of the old homestead, in all about 127} acres. In February, 1862, he enlisted in the Thirtieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Company I, and served at the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, Stone River and minor engagements. He was wounded in the leg and lay in the hospital for fifteen months. Was discharged in February, 1864. He married, August 19, 1866, Rebecca Surfus. They had four children-Ellen, Ellsworth, Howard M. and Gracie. Mr. Noe has a flint-lock musket, four feet long, which his grandfather carried in the Revolutionary army. For the past three or four years, he has been engaged in shipping stock. He is a Republican and a good citizen.

NATHAN WHITE was born in Fayette County, Ohio, November 19, 1827, the third child of John and Maria (Baker) White. His father was a farmer and in 1838 came to York Township, and entered 160 acres of land on Section 30. He then returned to Ohio for his family, where he was taken sick and died, leaving his wife with the care of six children. In 1844, Mrs. White, a heroic woman, moved, with her family, to York Township, and settled on the land her husband had previously entered. This they commenced clear- ing, and by hard labor made for themselves a good home. Nathan acquired an education by attending school winters, and by industry and economy finally secured the old homestead by purchase. January 4, 1855, he married Maria Kimmel. They had three children-Irene, John O. and Mira. In March, 1868, Mrs. White died. In 1866, Mr. White bought his present farm on Sec- tion 13, this township, upon which he moved in 1869. It is on what is known as the Sparta Flats and one of the richest in the township. Mr. White's landed possessions comprise about 420 acres, 230 of which is under cultivation. Though by going security for others, and thus losing large sums of money, he is still ranked as one of the wealthy and respected citizens of the county. In political affiliations he is a Democrat, and in 1864, during the war of the re- bellion, furnished his substitute for service in the army for the Union.

WILLIAM K. WOLF was born in Greene County, Ohio, February 25, 1825. His advantages in the way of education and social culture were those common to farm life of those primitive years. He came to Indiana in October, 1861, locating on 160 acres of land purchased by him. Upon this he began the labor of cultivating the forty acres already under improvement and extend- ing the clearing. He now has 180 acres, with 120 under cultivation, the whole, with the improvements, constituting a most desirable property and a pleasant home. Mr. Wolf was the eldest of a family of ten children, whose parents were Daniel and Roseanna (Kershuer) Wolf, of German descent. He was married to Susan Kindel October 25, 1846. They had four children- Cleanthus (deceased), Casper and Florence (twins), and William Calvin. Dur- ing the late war, in October, 1864, he was drafted and became a member of Company B, Thirteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which organization he served until his discharge in August, 1865. He is a stanch Republican and a member of the Christian Church, of which organization he is a Trustee. As a Christian gentleman and neighbor, he stands above reproach.

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WILLIAM ABURN was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, June 25, 1825. All his education was received before the age of ten years, his mother hav- ing died when he was of that age. He bound himself to a farmer when he was twelve years old, to serve till he was eighteen. His father was killed about a year after his mother died, while assisting in hanging a slaughtered beef. Mr. Aburn served out the time for which he had bound himself, for which he never received compensation. After that he worked by the month and day until he reached the age of twenty-five, when he married Miss Catharine Arnett, of Miami County, Ohio. Seven children have been born to them, the eldest being dead. He moved into this county in August, 1860. Empty handed, but by industry and good management, he has succeeded in placing himself and family in a fine brick house, with first-class surroundings. He owns 240 acres of ex- cellent land. Four years after he had settled in the woods, he was drafted into the army, and paid $1,000 for a substitute, rather than leave his family with- out his protection. He says God seemed to favor him, and he never in his life paid a debt more easily.

JOHN S. BARTLEY was born in Sparta Township, Noble County, Ind., March 25, 1841, and with the exception of four years passed in Wells County, Ind., he has made this county his home. He enlisted in the Thirtieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry February 4, 1862, and took part in the battle of Shiloh and siege of Corinth. His regiment was guarding a train during the battle of Perryville, Ky., and had about as warm a time of it as any of them. He was discharged from No. 14 Hospital, Nashville, Tenn., March 15, 1863, having been rendered unfit for service from an attack of measles. Mr. Bartley was married to Miss Sophia Richmond August 9, 1864. His father and grand- father were natives of the State of New York ; his wife's folks are from Penn- sylvania. Mr. Bartley has commenced work on a barn, a fine improvement.

SIMON BENHOWER was born in Harrisburg, Penn., October 10, 1841. He remained there until the age of twenty-three years ; he had the advantages of a limited common-school education. He lived one year in Clark County, Ohio ; from there he went to Indianapolis, and thence to Roanoke, and came to this county about the year 1868. In 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served with them nine months. He served most of his enlistment in North Carolina, being present at the great battle of Gettysburg, but his regiment was not ordered in. He received his muster out at Chambersburg in 1863. In 1871, he married Miss Rosa Fisher, with whom he now lives. They have a family of four children.

JOSEPH BITTING was born in Union County, Penn., May 26, 1837. Catharine (Butterbaugh) Bitting was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, December 17, 1833. Mr. Bitting came into this county in 1861, and settled on the farm where he now resides, one mile southwest of Noblesville, on the Columbia City road. His father, Henry Bitting, was a native of Pennsyl- vania, born June 9, 1800. His mother was born April 18, 1807. He was married in Miami County, Ohio, June 26, 1859. Four children are living, two boys and two girls. Mr. Bitting served as a soldier in the late war, first in the Thirty-second Indiana Volunteers, but afterward transferred to the Sev-

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enty-ninth Infantry. He served principally in North Carolina, Virginia and Louisiana, and received his discharge at Indianapolis May 17, 1865. After his discharge, he returned to civil life, resumed his farming, and has been suc- cessful. He cleared up the farm where he now lives, and has put it in a good state of cultivation.

ALPHEUS I. BUTLER was born in Ross County, Ohio, January 13, 1829. His father was born in Culpeper County, Va., August 19, 1795, and married Miss Sarah Seelock in Loudoun County, Va., February 28, 1820. They resided in Virginia till 1822, when they moved to Ross County, Ohio. They lived there eight years ; then came to Indiana, stopping at Fort Wayne till Feb- ruary, 1831. They then moved to Elkhart County, and settled on the Elk- hart River, near Benton. Mother Butler was born in Loudoun County, Va., May 11, 1803, and died March 1, 1880. The subject of this sketch attained to manhood in Elkhart County. September 13, 1860, he was joined in wed- lock to Miss Laura Jane Childs. Three children have been born to them, only one of whom, the eldest, Luella Blanche, is now living ; she was married to A. J. Yallinger September 15, 1876. Lizzie May, the next oldest, died Septem- ber 10, 1880, of blood cancer in one of her limbs. These two girls were pos- sessed of considerable musical talent. Mr. Butler is a successful farmer and stock-raiser. His farm is situated on the Fort Wayne & Goshen road, about one mile northwest of Wolf Lake. His health for the last twenty years has not been good, yet he manages his farm, oversees the work, and makes a success of it.

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Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 102

Author: F.A. Battey & Co Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : Battey & Co. Number of Pages: 976

Author: F.A. Battey & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 976