USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 103
USA > Indiana > LaGrange County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 103
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PATRICK CLARK was born on the Isle of Man. His baptism dates January 1, 1820. His parents emigrated to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, when he was but ten years of age, and settled near the city of Cleveland, in War- rensville Township. He received but a common-school education, but he has raised a family of well-educated children, two of whom are teachers, and rank high in the profession-Anna having taught twelve years and Catharine eight years. Mr. Clark was married to a young lady-Elizabeth Clark-in 1829. Her parents also lived on the Isle of Man. Mr. Clark moved to where he now resides, near Wolf Lake, in March, 1866. He owns a fine farm, and has erected thereon an elegant brick residence, which commands a splendid view of the adjacent country. Mr. Clark enjoys a competency, and is living at peace with all the world and with God. He has an attractive family, and the young people of the neighborhood collect there to enjoy themselves. Everything about the premises seems to be well ordered. The family of children consists of Caroline, Anna, Catharine, Celia and Henry. The eldest is married to Ed- gar Sparrow, and the second one to Leroy Surfus.
THOMAS R. DAVIS was born in Clark County, Ohio, January 28, 1844, and the same year his father came to Indiana and settled where Thomas now lives, at which time there was not a house between his and Wolf Lake. The father died in July, 1878. His mother is still living. His Grandfather Davis died in Clark County, Ohio, in 1847. His grandfather, Thomas Rich- ardson, died in 1852. His great-grandfather, William Richardson, died in Paulding County, Ohio, at the age of one hundred and six ; he had been a soldier of the Revolution, and was with Gen. Wayne in his campaign against the Indians. Wayne's mother and his mother were cousins. Mr. Davis en- listed in the Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry in July, 1862, and while on the march in Kentucky, October 7, 1862, he was sun-struck. On the 9th, having sufficiently recovered, he rejoined his regiment, and at the
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commencement of the battle of Stone River, December 31, he was captured and marched to Chattanooga, being three days without food, and then only re ceiving a pint of corn-meal with the cob ground in it. He was then sent to Atlanta, to Montgomery, Ala., and then back to Atlanta. Having an attack of typhoid pneumonia, he was dumped off on a platform to die, but was picked up and taken to a hospital. Finding a friend, he was kindly treated and recovered. He there witnessed a sale of slaves. From here he was taken to Petersburg in freight cars, being confined in them eight days without food, on account of drunkenness of the officer in charge. He was in Libby Prison one month and ten days, when he was paroled by answering to another man's name, who had probably died the night before. When Mr. Davis had recovered sufficiently to walk about, he weighed eighty-three pounds. He was sent to Columbus, Ohio, and from there reached his home on foot. He was exchanged in May, 1863, joined his regiment at Murfreesboro, Tenn., participating in the campaign against Tullahoma, in the battle of Chickamauga, and was in Chattanooga. during the siege and battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. He was soon after assigned to the Veteran Reserve corps, and sent to Wash- ington and Baltimore, and finally to Harrisburg, Penn., on detached duty with the disbursing officers. July 8, 1865, he was discharged. . Mr. Davis was married to Miss Margaret M. Houser, March 20, 1866.
DR. E. W. DE PEW is a native of this State, born October 30, 1837. He studied medicine with Prof. William H. Myers, of Fort Wayne; he also studied in the State Unversity, at Ann Arbor, Mich., and at Liber College, Jay County, Ind. He commenced to practice at Avilla, where he remained two years. He practiced two years in Salem, Steuben County, and came to Wolf Lake in January, 1865. He stands at the head of the profession in the vicin- ity of his practice, which is very extensive in the southern part of the county.
GEORGE DODSWORTH is a successful farmer and stock-raiser, and is a native of Yorkshire, England, born June 21, 1827. He landed at New York City in April, 1850; moved into this State in 1852, and settled near Wolf Lake. His farm is on the Cold Spring road, not quite a mile from Wolf Lake. During the war, George Dodsworth was known as the soldiers' friend, and to this day they cannot say too much in his praise. His health at that time was so poor that he could not enlist, but he gave substantial aid and encouragement throughout to the cause of the Union. He is owner of 180 acres of good land, on which are a substantial brick dwelling, good barns and grain houses. He was married April 17, 1851. . Mrs. Dodsworth is a splendid housekeeper, and contributes her share to the welfare of their home.
SCOTT GALLOWAY was born in Washington Township, Noble County, March 16, 1849. Joseph Galloway, his father, was born in Ohio, and his- grandfather was born in Ireland. Mrs. Frances Galloway, his mother, was born in Vermont. His father and mother were married in Stark County, Ohio, and moved to near Wolf Lake when there were but two log houses. between where they lived and Fort Wayne, and but one house in Wolf Lake. Schools were scarce, and Mr. Galloway received but a slight education, but in his own language he tries to "live and learn," and we find him an intelligent and affable gentleman. Onthe 2d day of May, 1869, he married Miss Rebecca Cramer. They have one boy and two girls living. He moved into the woods where he now lives, and has cleared about 105 acres. He has altogether about 130 acres of cleared land, and seventy-eight acres of wood and prairie. He is well fixed, and purposes taking life at a better advantage and enjoy the fruits of his labor.
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Last year he raised over one thousand bushels of wheat and two thousand bushels of corn, with other crops in proportion.
JOHN HANEY was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, February 3, 1814. He lived in Miami County, Ohio, till the year 1847, when he came to this county and bought the land on which he now lives, one and a half miles west of No- blesville. Mr. Haney has been twice married. His first wife, Mary Ann (Dye) Haney, he married April 10, 1838. She died March 31, 1858. Sep- tember 13, 1860, he was married to Eliza Applegate, whose maiden name was Eliza Dye, and who was born in Richland County, Ohio, December 3, 1825. By his first marriage Mr. Haney has the following children living-Henry, Lloyd, George, Sarah and Mary Ann. By his second marriage he has the fol- lowing now living-Irvin, Laura, Anorah and Everett. Mr. Haney's father was a native of Germany. His son, Thomas Haney, was a professor of pen- manship, and while attending high school at Logansport, Ind., had charge of the penmanship department of the schools. He took cold during a vacation, and died March 28, 1867, unmarried. The following children are dead-Me- lissa (died November 23, 1860), David (September 8, 1862), and Stockton (November 12, 1862). Stockton went into the army with the Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteers, and died at Jeffersonville, Ind. James M. died July 22, 1872. Mr. Haney has worked hard for his possessions, but his working days are past, and he is now able to live at his ease.
SAMUEL JONES came to the county with his father in 1833. He was born in Clark County, Ohio, November 11, 1827. His father, Samuel Jones, Sr., was born May 30, 1787, and was married to Miss Mary Britten, of Ten- nessee, January 26, 1809. She was born February 10, 1790. The former died in 1838, and Mother Jones in 1829. Their family consisted of Margaret, born in 1810; Lydia, 1811; Mary, 1813; Elias, 1820 ; and Narcissa, 1823. Samuel Jones, Jr., was married to Miss Nancy Powers, December 18, 1848. She was born in Goshen, Ind., September 25, 1830. One daughter, Harriet Fidelia, was born to them March 5, 1850, and died March 16, 1851. The mother died of puerperal fever, when the child was but three weeks old. De- cember 7, 1851, Mr. Jones married Hannah Whittecar. To them were born Olive, February 2, 1853 ; Elias, April 27, 1854; Lydia, December 27, 1857 ; Laura Ann, April 26, 1863; and Nancy, February 26, 1866. Olive W. died September 29, 1854; Laura A., August 17, 1864; Lydia Alice, December 15, 1865 ; and Nancy, June 6, 1875. Mr. Jones has but two sisters living. His first schooling was at a private residence at Wolf Lake, by one Miss Stevens. With the exception of one year, since he came to the State, he has passed his days within its borders. The only son of Mr. Jones, Elias S., is at this time Professor of Penmanship of the Normal School at Columbia City, Ind. He has been selected to take charge of the penmanship branch of the select school at South Whitley, Ind. He is a teacher by profession, and has taught in No- ble, Elkhart, and Kosciusko Counties.
JOHN P. KITT was born in Clark County, Ohio, August 14, 1825, and spent his boyhood on a farm until the age of eighteen years. He then served three years' apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade in Springfield, after which, he resumed farming. In consequence of poor health, he has spent a portion of his time teaching school-one term in Springfield, Ohio, and one in this township. He was married to Elizabeth Hively January 6, 1853. They have had ten children, seven of whom are living. He arrived at Wolf Lake with his father's family October 22, 1846. In January following, his father purchased a farm
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in Section 23, on which he (J. P.) now resides. He has been a successful man, and is comfortably situated. His father died at the age of eighty-four, and his mother at sixty-four years. The subject of our sketch and his brother Nicho- las are all that are left of his father's family. He is a member of the Christian Church. He embraced religion at the age of twenty, and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church at Springfield, Ohio, and has never been intoxicated, nor uttered a blasphemous oath during his life.
WILLIAM KNEPPER was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, March 1, 1824. Lived in Richland County, Ohio, till about the age of twenty-three. He was married to Miss Susannah Formwalt, in Galion, Ohio, in 1851. She died in November, 1862. Four girls, all living, were born from this marriage. In 1863, he married Miss Mary Billman, who only lived about two years. He has one child by this marriage. Having a family of small children, he was prompted for their good to marry again. In 1865, he married Mary North, who has borne him four children, all now living. Mr. Knepper came to this county in 1854, and worked at carpentering in Albion about two years. He then moved on the line of the Air Line Railroad, bought the first lot sold in Wawaka, and built the first three or four houses there. He remained in the village about two years, then bought land adjacent, and cleared up a farm. In the spring of 1879, he moved to where he now lives, in Section 35, southwest of Noblesville, on the Columbia City road. He has been successful in life, and has his property clear of incumbrance.
SAMUEL KUHNS was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, July 12, 1818. His parents moved to Fairfield County during the latter part of the same year, where he passed his boyhood, and received his schooling, which was lim- ited to a term of three months. At the age of twenty-one, he came into Whit- ley County, Ind., and settled near the north line, in Thorn Creek Township. He learned the trade of blacksmith in Ohio, and about two years after he came to Indiana he started a shop and commenced work. This was quite an advantage to him, as it brought in ready cash. He married Miss Martha Ann James, daughter of John and Margaret James, of York Township, October 6, 1850. Mrs. Kuhns died on the last day of March, 1876, after a lingering illness of about four years. He has raised a family of three children, with one of whom he now lives on the homestead, Mr. Kuhns still retaining his physical and men- tal vigor, notwithstanding the vast amount of hard labor he has performed.
JOHN MAYFIELD (deceased) was one of the early settlers, having come to the county in 1839. He was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., July 12, 1809. Rheuama, his wife, was born in Ohio, January 14, 1815. John Mayfield came into Ohio with his parents in the year 1815, and was mar- ried December 23, 1832. His family numbered eighteen children, six of whom are living. Jonah E., the eldest, now living on his farm, southeast of Wolf Lake, was born February 17, 1834. James B., the youngest, was born February 2, 1857. The names of the other living children are Sarah, Rob- ert, Mary Jane and Juliette. Robert owns a farm south of Wolf Lake. He is infirm, and has taught school a portion of his time. He and Jonah E., his brother, took great pains to show the writer of this sketch the great changes that have taken place in the vicinity of their homes since they were boys. One place where they once hauled marsh hay on a sled is now grown over with oak trees sixty feet high and at least sixteen inches in diameter. At the time they hauled the hay there was not a stick of timber there large enough for an ox-gad. Jonah E. Mayfield was married to Matilda Grimes, April 26,
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1863. He has four children living, and owns 265 acres of land. Mother Mayfield is living on the farm near the place where their first log cabin was erected in February, 1839. She knows something of life here in early times, having undergone many hardships ; yet she is in the enjoyment of good health. When they first settled in this county they had to go to Niles, Mich., for salt, and have paid for one barrel two spring calves and eight bushels of wheat. Milch cows, good ones for those days, sold at $8, and dressed pork brought in market $1.25 per hundred.
ABRAHAM OTT was born in Preble County, Ohio, January 6, 1816. His father, John Ott, was a soldier in the war of 1812. His brother, Frederick Ott, having been drafted, he volunteered to go as his substitute, and served out his brother's time ; was then himself drafted and served another term, or until the close of the war. The subject of this sketch was married to Miss Sarah Morgan November 29, 1838. She was born in England, Sussex County, July 10, 1818. She came with her parents to America in her infancy, and grew up to maturity near the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. Her father, Mr. Morgan, emigrated to Oregon Territory in the year 1843. He afterward died there, at the age of eighty-four years. Her mother had previously died near Cincinnati, Ohio, about the year 1825. Mr. Ott and his family suffered much from sickness after coming to this county. For six years some one or more of the family were down sick. At one time, on a very dark, stormy night, in order to get a person to go for a doctor, she had to follow a wagon track that led past a neighbor's house, by getting on her knees and feeling for it. There were no roads ; only tracks cleared out through the woods, by cutting away a part of the underbrush. Such, and many other similar hardships were experi- enced. Mr. and Mrs. Ott are members of the Christian Church. In politics Mr. Ott is a Republican. He has a fine farm and pleasant surroundings, one mile and a half west of Noblesville.
ANTHONY PINCHON was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, January 11, 1831. He came to this State in 1845, and settled in De Kalb County ; moved into Noble County in 1865 ; remained in the vicinity of Wawaka till 1879, when he came to his present farm. June 10, 1865, he married Miss Mary Ann Deckman, of Steuben County, born in Philadelphia, Penn. Mr. Pinchon's father was a Marylander, born in 1802 and died in 1873. His mother yet survives. His family consists of nine children living. He was not himself a soldier in the late war, but sent a substitute at a cost of $800. He has, like many of the early settlers, done a great amount of hard labor in his time. He helped his father clear up three farms from the wild, and has cleared one for himself. He claims that in twelve years he cleared 400 acres of heavy timbered land. For a part he received $1.12, for some $2.50 and $5.00. He has been in the grain threshing business the last twenty-four years. Mr. Pinchon's farm is situated three and a half miles south of Wolf Lake, and is good land. He is just becoming situated to enjoy life.
ELI RIVIR was born in Bedford County, Penn., April 12, 1845. He came to this county with his parents when but a child. He was married to Miss Juliann Hosler, March 25, 1866. Miss Hosler was born in Morrow County, Ohio, August 9, 1843. They now have five children living. Mr. Rivir moved to where he now lives soon after his marriage. He has now one of the finest farms in Noble Township, consisting of 202 acres of excellent land, two miles north of Noblesville. Everything about the farm indicates thrift and good management. He enlisted as a soldier in the late war, but his release was
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secured by his father on account of under age. Mr. and Mrs. Rivir are mem- bers of the Christian Church. In politics he is a Republican.
JOHN RIVIR was born on New Year's Day of 1809, in Bedford County, Penn. His wife, Nancy (Stoner) Rivir, was born October 26, 1810, in Lan- caster, Penn. Mr. Rivir came to this county in 1845, when he had but $18, with a large family to support. He put in a crop of corn the next spring ; the next fall, while engaged in putting in wheat, he was taken sick and confined to his bed six months. At one time the entire family, excepting Mrs. Rivir and one boy, were down sick, but they were assisted by the neighbors through the winter. In 1855, Mr. Rivir bought eighty acres of land in Green Township. He commenced there in the timber ; his family were again taken sick. While rolling together the logs for a clearing, he was so weak he could not walk; but to assist the boys, he would ride a horse, and the boys would hitch to the logs and do the other necessary work. In 1861, he sold his farm with a purpose to emigrate to Kansas, or Missouri, but the war coming on he changed his plans, and bought the land where he now lives. In 1861, on the day that his son Christian Rivir was married, he met with an accident that has rendered him unable to work. While at the mill at Port Mitchell, he was thrown out of the wagon, and received injuries which came near resulting fatally. Mr. Rivir lost three sons in the army-John, Jacob and David. John was starved in Libby Prison. The fourth son enlisted, but was under age and released. Mr. Rivir is a Republican, and a leading member of the Christian Church. .
MARCELLUS ROBINSON was born in Elkhart County, Ind., October 16, 1852. Studied for the profession of medicine, first with his father, and afterward with Dr. John Phosdick, Dowagiac, Mich. He commenced practice at Bangor, Van Buren County, Mich. He established himself at Wolf Lake, Ind., April, 1880, since which time he has built up quite an extensive and suc- cessful business in his profession. He was married to Miss Mary McClarren in May, 1879. She was born in South Bend, Ind. The elder Dr. Robinson has been a successful practitioner in Elkhart County for thirty years.
LUCRETIA STARKEY, whose maiden name was Mullin, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1814, and grew to maturity in Licking County. She was married to Frederick E. Starkey August 6, 1837. They lived hap- pily till the 16th day of August, 1864, when he died, leaving three children at home, all large enough to be of assistance. She has managed the affairs of the estate, and bas overseen the farm so judiciously that the settlement of the affairs was left to her, and not taken into court. She came into this county with her husband in the year 1839, and has made this her home ever since. They had nothing when they started here, but she now has a pleasant home on the Leesburg road, two miles west of Wolf Lake. She has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for more than forty-five years. In Mr. Starkey's log cabin, the Methodists held their first meetings in this township, and the first Methodist Episcopal Church was organized there. Although past sixty-seven years of age, Mrs. Starkey has but few gray hairs, and gives fair promise of a continuation of life for several years.
JAMES C. STEWART, an active farmer and stock-raiser, residing one and one-half miles east of Wolf Lake, on the Fort Wayne & Goshen road, is the son of Rolan and Nancy (Scarlett) Stewart, who were natives of Massa- chusetts, but were married in Clark County, Ohio, from whence they went to Chautauqua County, N. Y., where James C. was born January 17, 1829. When he was about six months old, they returned to Clark County, farming there
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until 1836, then removed to this county, settling in Green Township. Upon this journey young James, then only in his eighth year, walked the whole dis- tance, and assisted in driving the stock. The following year the father died. Mrs. Stewart, being left with the care of the family, moved to Noble Township, where she died in 1844, leaving four children, two having previously died. James C., after his father's death, went to live with his grandparents, Newman and Tamar (Fitz) Scarlett, on the farm where he now lives, they having settled here in 1836. In 1838, his grandfather died, but he continued to live with his grandmother until his marriage with Miss Margaret J. McWilliams in May, 1852, when they went to housekeeping on his present farm. At the death of his grandmother, he inherited from her sixty five acres of land. To this, by close application to his affairs and judicious management, seconded by his wife in her economical conduct of the household duties, Mr. Stewart has added, until he owns 460 acres, 200 of which are under good cultivation. Upon this farm he has a fine brick residence and other buildings of a needful character. Mr. Stewart is the true type of a self-made man and a valuable citizen. He has served as Constable, Assessor, and as Justice of the Peace for fifteen years. In 1865, a vacancy occurred in the office of Commissioner ; Mr. Stewart was appointed to fill the vacancy ; at the ensuing election he was elected to the office, but resigned the following spring. During his continuance in this position, a 3 per cent tax was levied to pay off the indebtedness of the county accruing during the war, for the payment of bounties and the maintenance of soldiers' families. This levy was warmly espoused by Mr. Stewart. In 1870, he was elected County Auditor, and re-elected in 1874, serving in all eight years. During the last two years of his office he maintained a telephone, connecting with his residence on his farm, thus enabling him to communicate with his family and direct the management of the farm. Its cost of erection was $200, and is still open to use. This enterprise denotes the spirit of the man, stamp- ing him as self-reliant and aggressive in business, as well as being a representa- tive in public affairs. Hs is a member of the Masonic order. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have two children living-Virgil A. and Mary J.
PETER SURFUS is a native of this State. Born near the city of La Fayette in 1836. His parents moved into De Kalb County the following January. He has lived in this township fifteen years. He moved to the State of Iowa in 1856, where he stayed three and a half years, then returned to this State, where he has since been content to remain. He now lives on a farm of 120 acres, three-fourths of a mile north of Wolf Lake. Mr. Surfus has made grain threshing his business a portion of the time every year for twenty- seven years. On the last day of August, 1856, he married Miss Lorinda Bo- dine, whose parents were originally from Pennsylvania, but moved into Ohio at an early day. Her mother is now living in this State in the seventy-seventh year of her age. Mr. Surfus descends from a very hardy ancestry, noted for their longevity. The following are the names of their children : Eventus Leroy, William D., Alice Jane, Myrta Matilda. Two children are dead. Eventus and Alice are married. Alice married George H. Herrick. The grandfather of Mr. Surfus, on his father's side, was a soldier of the Revolution, and was with Gen. Wayne on his campaign against the Indians in Ohio and Indiana.
WILLIAM S. THOMAS was born in Hancock County, Ohio, Novem- ber 18, 1841. Spent most of his boyhood in Allen County, Ind. He has a common-school education, and he and Mrs. Thomas were both teachers before
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their marriage. Mrs. Thomas' maiden name was Lavantia W. Cook. They were married March 19, 1871, and came to where they now live soon after. Mr. Thomas owns a nice little farm of eighty acres with good buildings and pleasant surroundings. He has but one child, a boy. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have accumulated what they possess since they started together in life.
FRANCIS M. WEIRICH was born in Richland County, Ohio, April 29, 1853. His father's family emigrated to this county in the fall of 1854, and settled in Green Township. His father, Franklin Weirich, was suffocated by "damps" while digging a well for George Shambaugh, assisted by William Applegate. He sacrificed his own life in an attempt to save that of Apple- gate. Applegate first went into the well and was overcome by the gas. Mr. Weirich went to his assistance, but soon made signs to be hoisted out. As he neared the top, he was entirely overcome and dropped back into the well. Both men were dead when taken out. Coffins were ordered from Wolf Lake, but on account of high waters they could not be brought over. The two men were buried in rough boxes improvised for the occasion. The widow Weirich mar- ried again to William McDonald in 1857. Francis M. stayed with them and worked on the farm until the age of twenty-one. In January, 1875, he engaged in the mercantile business at Noblesville, and remained in that business up to 1881. He was married to Catharine H. Hosler December 31, 1876. Venus Minelva and Orestes Fairrel are the names of their children. Mr. Weirich was elected Justice of the Peace in 1878, and still holds the office, to the general satisfaction of the public.
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