Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 105

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 105
USA > Indiana > LaGrange County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 105

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).

GEORGE H. LANE, born in Pickaway County, Ohio, October 1, 1836. His boyhood and youth were passed in this county. His education was obtained at the common school, but by dint of close application he pre- pared himself for teaching, and has successfully pulled through over twenty

terms. He first taught in Kosciusko County during the winter of 1856-57. Meeting with marked success, he was encouraged to continue in the business, and succeeded in all the schools he ever attempted. September 10, 1865, he married Miss Mary E. Matthews. Five children are the fruits of this mar- riage. Mr. Lane has been Justice of the Peace eight years in succession, and declined another election. He lives in York Township, about three miles west of Albion ; is a successful farmer, good citizen and neighbor ; is wide awake to the necessities and enterprises of the times, and a Republican in politics.

JOHN C. LANE was born in York Township, Noble County, October 1, 1841. His father, Vincent Lane, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, Jan- uary 31, 1803. His mother, Sarah (Hitler) Lane, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, December 14, 1810. They were married December 18, 1828, and came to this county in 1837. The family consisted of eleven children. Vincent Lane died of lung fever December 17, 1849. He was a County Com- missioner six years, and also held the office of County Treasurer, by appoint- ment, to fill a vacancy occasioned by the death of Joseph Bradford, in 1839. He was also Commissioner of the 3 per cent fund one term. John C. Lane

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was married to Miss Mary E. Domer, in May, 1880. She was born in Elkhart Township, Noble County, Ind., July 8, 1844. Miss Domer has been a suc- cessful teacher in the common schools for a number of years.

WILLIAM C. LEVERING. The Leverings in the United States are supposed to have sprung from a family that came over from Wales before the Revolutionary war, and are consequently somewhat related. They are numer- ous in Central Ohio, in Richland, Knox and Morrow Counties. They are gen- erally well-to-do farmers and good citizens. Neither drunkard nor pauper of that name was ever known. Grandfather Daniel Levering came to Ohio from Pennsylvania, in the year 1809. Daniel Levering's father was a blacksmith, and served in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. William C. Levering was born in Franklin County, Ohio, April 11, 1823. Her father, Samuel Morris, was a Virginian. She came with her parents to this county, in 1836, where they en- dured the privations and hardships of frontier life, Mr. Morris having car- ried corn for a grist on his back from Perry's Prairie to a mill one mile east of Wolf Lake. Mrs. Levering, while yet a girl, worked out at 50 cents a week. She has worked six weeks for six yards of calico, just enough to make a dress in those days. She was married to Mr. Levering October 18, 1846. Their children were Manda, Charles M. and Ellen. The latter died September 28, 1859.

AARON MORE was born in Ravenna, Ohio, March 17, 1809. His father, David More, was a soldier of the war of 1812, and died in Ravenna of the cold plague, while home on sick-leave. He was a blacksmith by trade. His widow married John McManis, and the children were compelled to seek homes out of the family. Mr. McManis, about 1820, moved to Darke County, Ohio, where he entered land. In about six years, he moved to Willshire, in Van Wert County, where Mr. More visited his mother, in about 1825 ; then he worked for Capt. Riley, who, being cast away at sea, was captured by the Arabs, and finally ransomed. In the autumn of 1830, Mr. More visited his eldest brother in Medina County ; then went to Warren County, Penn., where he worked at painting. His education was picked up, little at a time, as opportunity offered. In 1837, he went down the Broken Sword, into the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers, with a raft of lumber, stopping at Wheeling, Va. His step-father having died, he visited his mother at Willshire, in August, 1837. Here he took a lease of some land, and entered upon the support of his mother. He soon entered 80 acres in Adams County, Ind., to which place he moved with his mother in 1841. May 24, 1844, he married Miss Mary Ann Syphers, born in Pendle- ton County, Va., January 19, 1825, whose father was a soldier of the war of 1812, and her great-uncle, Gen. Everhart, was with Washington in the Revo- lution. Mr. More's mother died January 18, 1846. In 1853, he bought a store in Willshire, Ohio, and in connection had the post office. In March, 1854, moved to Monmouth. In July, 1858, moved with his stock of goods to Green Township, this county, thence to Cromwell in 1860. In April, 1874, he moved on his present farm, in Section 32. While in Adams County, he served as Justice of the Peace. He became a member of the F. & A. M., Wayne Lodge, No. 25, at Fort Wayne, in August, 1857, and is still a member of that order.

NATHAN NILES was born in Bath, Steuben County, N. Y., Novem- ber 24, 1834. His parents located in Seneca County, Ohio, in 1838. In 1849, they moved to near Shelby, in Richland County. He got his education at the schools of Shelby and Oberlin, attending the latter more or less regular-

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ly from 1851 to 1854. November 15, 1854, he arrived in this county, and that winter taught his first scohol in a log schoolhouse, 15x18, on Judge Black- man's land, receiving $54 for sixty-six days. He went to Middlebury, Elk- hart County, the next spring, and taught a select school. He then worked at the carpenter business with his uncle; in November, he came again to Noble County ; the following winter he solicited insurance ; in the winter of 1856 and 1857, he taught school again in the little log schoolhouse. He married Jeanette Hubbard, from Ashtabula County, Ohio, who was born November 11, 1833. In the spring of 1860, he went to farming; but, in 1877, sold out, moved to Ligonier, and engaged in the sale of hardware and agricultural im- plements ; in about a year, he bought the farm where he now lives and moved upon it. January 10, 1878, began a ten weeks' term at the Cavin School, in Perry Township, the first teacher having resigned. Since about this time, Mr. Niles has been unable to do hard work. . He lives on Section 17, York Town- ship ; is of Welsh extraction, and a Republican. His grandfather, Leonard Plants, was the last surviving soldier of the Revolution, in Licking County, Ohio. Mr. Niles was enumerator of the census for York Township in 1880.

JEFFERSON NOE is a son of Aaron and Sarah Noe, who moved from Licking County, Ohio, and located in Sparta Township, Noble County, in 1837. Aaron Noe was born near Newark, N. J., about the year 1806. His father came from France about the time Napoleon I took command of the armies of France. Jefferson Noe was born January 5, 1837, in Licking County, Ohio. Has had but a common-school education, but being ambitious and studious, has become a well-read man. He was married to Miss Mary A. Gloyd May 6, 1860. She was born in Newark, Ohio, February 6, 1836. Her parents were from Maryland. William Gloyd was born in 1812; came to Indiana in 1839 ; died February 27, 1863; Mother Matilda Gloyd was born in 1814. Aaron Noe was a blacksmith. He died while visiting friends in Illinois, in 1851. His remains were brought back to Ligonier and interred in the City Cemetery ; a monument costing $300 marks his resting-place. Mother Noe died August 12, 1869, and was buried beside her husband. Jefferson Noe has cleared up two farms and worked hard, and is now enjoying life in ease and plenty. The children were Jeremiah, William H., Clara Belle and George Ellsworth ; the latter died at the age of fifteen months. Jefferson Noe was about five years old when his younger brother, Allen, was stolen by the Indians, and no tidings of him have ever been received; diligent search was instituted, but of no avail ; his fate is yet, and may always remain, a strange, sad mystery. Mr. and Mrs. Noe are prominent members of the Christian Church.

ANDREW J. PARKS is a native of La Grange County, Ind. His mother was born in New York and his father in Ohio. His father died when Andrew was but a child and his mother remarried. After this he lived at home but a short time ; went to his aunt's and lived with her some time, then spent eighteen months at Mr. Gerber's. He lived two summers with his Uncle John Roy, passing the winters in Ligonier, at his grandparents' ; he next went to Brimfield, where he lived about a year, then at the age of thirteen, went to Albion; where he found a home with Mr. Bliss. At the age of seventeen, he went to live with his aunt, west of Albion, where he remained about one year, then returned to Albion. He finally married Miss Mary A. Hadley, and made himself a permanent home. She is a native of Indiana. Her parents are

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Ohioans by birth. but are now living in Indiana. In 1874, Mr. Parks owned 132 acres of land, a portion of which constitutes his present farm. They have three children-Charles, Lillie and Ermina.

CYRUS POLLOCK was born in Washington Township, Richland County, Ohio, April 12, 1832. His father, Andrew Pollock, was born near Pittsburgh, Penn., about the year 1779, and came to Richland County, Ohio, in 1812. He was a soldier in the war of 1812; he came to Noble County in 1853 and died in 1857. Mother Mary (Surplus) Pollock was born in Penn- sylvania, in 1800, and died in 1858. Cyrus Pollock came to this country with his father in 1853. October 18, 1856, he married Miss Susannah Earnhart. By her he had one child, Harriet. Mrs Pollock died November 5, 1859. August 12, 1860, he married Martha Jerls. By this marriage he has eight children. She was born in Miami County, Ohio, May 5, 1835. Mr. Pollock was elected Justice of the Peace in the autumn of 1870. He served three years, when he resigned to accept the office of Superintendent of the County Infirmary. He filled the office five years with satisfaction to the public. Since then, has farmed successfully. His farm consists of 120 acres in Section 8, five miles west of Albion.

JAMES ROSCO is a native of Essex County, N. Y., from whence his parents moved to Erie County, Ohio, in 1834. He is one of eight brothers and one sister, and was born September 11, 1833, to Levi and Eliza (Stockwell) Rosco. The father was born in Essex County, N. Y., June 10, 1810. The mother in Massachusetts February 14, 1812. The elder Rosco was a carpenter and joiner, from whom James learned the trade, and at which he worked until 1860. March 23, 1857, he married Miss Elsie Barr, a native of Niagara County, N. Y., born October 29, 1826. The nine years prior to going to Erie County, Ohio, in 1856, she had lived in Michigan. They have one child, Nelson, living; two having died, Arvilla and Edgar, both in the autumn of 1865. Mr. Rosco moved to Green Township, this county, in 1861, and two years later upon his present farm, which consists of 380 acres, well adapted for general farm purposes, and beautified by evergreens, of which Mr. Rosco has set out nearly 500, acting upon the principle that it is every citizen's duty to do what he can to beautify the country for the benefit of coming generations. In all respects he is an enterprising citizen, and one of the foremost in the fur- therance of public interests. Largely by his influence and exertion, in connec- tion with James C. Stewart, of Noble Township, the Port Mitchell mill-dam nuisance was abated. In politics he is a Republican, thorough and unequivocal, and a firm believer in the religion of Jesus Christ. He is a member of Albion Lodge, No. 97, F. & A. M., of Chapter No. 64, R. A. M., of Kendallville, and of Apollo Commandery, No. 19, K. T.

JAMES H. SINGREY is a native of Troy Township, Morrow County, Ohio, and was born September 18, 1831. His parents, Thomas and Catharine (Akerman) Singrey, were natives respectively of Maryland and New Jersey. His grandfather, Singrey, native of Maryland, was a noted physician and sur- geon, and his grandfather Akerman was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and participated in the battles of Monmouth and Trenton. His parents came to Indiana in 1862, located in Albion, but afterward moved to Jefferson Town- ship, where they are still living, at the advanced ages of seventy-nine and eighty- one. James H. Singrey was reared on a farm in Ohio, and came to Indiana with his parents. He purchased eighty acres of land in Elkhart Township, where he lived two years, clearing and otherwise improving the land. He

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subsequently purchased a farm of eighty acres in Jefferson Township, situated on Section 17, where he still resides, and which is now one of the best farms in the township. Mr. Singrey, in 1854, married Sarah J. Herrington, a native of Pennsylvania, born December 3, 1833. Her father, John Herrington, was a Pennsylvanian by birth, and a farmer. Mr. Singrey, while in Ohio, served three years as Trustee of Troy Township, and at present is Superintendent of the County Poor Farm, to which office he was elected in April, 1881, for the period of one year. They have six children, Franklin E. (now married and farming on the old home farm), Charles A., Perry J., Debby E., Cyrilla F. and Roy C. Perry J. is on the same farm with his brother Frank, and the others are all at home.

DAVID W. STARK was born in Lancaster County, Penn., February 23, 1855, and came with his parents to Indiana in 1865. His father, Abra- ham Stark, was born October 24, 1829. His mother, Mary Ann Stark, was born July 4, 1832. David W. Stark married Ellen E. Bower September 4, 1879. She was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, May 28, 1861. Her parents came to Indiana in the year 1870, and bought land in Section 18, York Township, six miles west of Albion, where Mr. Stark now lives. They have one child-Sophia Christina, born January 23, 1881.

JOEL VANDERFORD was born in Ross County, Ohio, November 5, 1813, where he passed his boyhood and youth. At the age of twenty-two, he packed his earthly possessions in a cotton handkerchief, and tramped to this county, where he grubbed and cut wood at 25 cents a cord and boarded himself, to make the money with which he bought the first land he ever owned-the eighty acres on which the fine buildings of Orlando Kimmell now stand. In the summer of 1836, Mr. Vanderford and John Male felled the timber, cut and split 40,000 fence rails. They also laid up a portion of them into fences. March 23, 1837, he married Miss Emeline Bull. She was born in Perry County, Penn., February 23, 1815. Their housekeeping outfit was a board laid on the flour barrel for a table, half a dozen plates, half a dozen knives and forks, one kettle, a teakettle and a skillet. For a cupboard, he put clapboards on wooden pins in the wall. They had one good bed and a bedstead ; for the extra bed he put a long and a shorter pole into holes in the logs and put on clapboards for the tick to lie on. They had two chairs with splint bottoms and two without bottoms. Mr. Vanderford grubbed for Joel Smith until he accumulated $2.50, with which he purchased two bushels of wheat, had it ground and took it home. It proved to be worthless and made him sick, so he went to John G. Hall, who had a mill one mile east of Wolf Lake, and bargained with him for a bushel of corn meal. He was to bring his yoke of oxen and log one day for the meal. When night came, the miller could scrape together but a half bushel. This necessitated coming to the mill again. As he lived four miles from the mill, he had to drive his ox team sixteen miles and do a hard day's logging for one bushel of corn meal. In 1852, Mr. Vanderford went to California and then to Oregon, and traveled over near its entire extent. While there he split three thousand rails. He was absent three years, and returned in 1855, touching at Havana and Key West. While on the Pacific Ocean, he barely escaped being lost in a storm, but he has weathered it all, and is now a hale and hearty man, surrounded by all that tends to make life enjoyable. He owns 317 acres of good land. His residence is on Section 29, six miles west of Albion. The following children are living: Sarah Ann, Elizana, Richard Clark, Mary and William C. Two are dead-Nancy Jane and John Fremont. Two of his

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sons were in the army-Richard Clark and William C. Richard C. received five wounds, two of which were severe. One son, John F., was drowned in the lake at Chicago. Mr. V. is a Republican, and a member of the Church of God. He was on the first grand jury impaneled in this county.

JOHN WALKER is a substantial farmer in York Township, where he owns nearly 300 acres of land, with a considerable portion under cultivation, and with improvements in the way of buildings, fences, hedges, orchards, etc., that characterize the whole as the result of efficient management. The 185 rods of fine grown, well-cared-for hedge that surrounds some of the fields is a feature that lends to the beauty and adds to the value of this farm. The soil is productive, and yields bountiful harvests. In 1879, 1,600 bushels of wheat were taken from its fields, and it yearly produces from thirty to forty tons of hay. Other crops are harvested in goodly quantities. The farm is in Sections 1 and 2, and the land-or a portion of it-was entered in 1837 by Mr. Walk- er's father, Christopher, who was born October 21, 1787. His wife, Mary (Magdelain), and mother of John, was born December 15, 1793 ; they were na- tives of Pennsylvania, but removed to Richland County, Ohio, where they re- mained until their death ; the father September 26, 1872, and the mother June 11, 1877. They had eleven children, ten of whom are living : Mrs. Mary Acton, in Wayne Township ; Henry, in Elkhart Township; Ephraim, in Mor- row County, Ohio; John, the subject; Mrs. Sarah Thompson, in Wayne Township; Gabriel ; Israel, in Elkhart Township; Gideon, in Swan Town- ship ; Mrs. Susan Denlan, in Knox County, Ohio ; Mrs. Elvina Hoffman, wife of John Hoffman, of Jefferson Township; and William, deceased. John Walker was born in Richland County, Ohio, December 21, 1821, where he learned the trade of blacksmithing of his father; this he followed, together with farming, until May, 1849, when he came to this county, locating where he now resides. Here, his time has been given principally to the cultivation of the soil, although he has worked some at his trade. March 25, 1845, he was married to Miss Miriam Cook, also a native of Richland County, Ohio, born November 10, 1824. She is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Walker has erected a fine brick residence in Albion, into which he intends to move in 1882, and live in retirement, and in the enjoyment of the fruits of honest toil. He is a much-respected and highly-honored citizen, and has served his township as Trustee. He has an aunt by marriage-Sarah Stilwell -who will be 100 years old in March, 1882, and who is still quite active for one so aged.

ZENAS J. WRIGHT, a native of Massachusetts, was born November 12, 1817. His parents, Zenas and Nancy (Willis) Wright, were both natives of Massachusetts, and his grandfather, Elisha Wright, was a farmer of the same nativity. Zenas Wright's early youth was passed in New York until 1836, when with his parents he came to York Township, Ind., and located at " Wright's Corners."" Here he lived until 1841, when he married Mary Ann Arnold, and purchased eighty acres of his present farm in Perry Township, making subsequent additions until it now numbers 280 acres, and is in a good state of cultivation. They have nine children-Silas J., now on the old farm ; William W., who resides in Iowa ; Zenas M., in Iowa; Isaac A., on the old farm ; Christa, in Nebraska ; Adoniram J., in Iowa ; and Elsie J., Emma and Minnie at home. Mrs. Wright died April 4, 1881. She was a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Wright is a member of the same church, and served for eight successive years as Township Trustee, and has efficiently served four years as Justice of the Peace.

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GREEN TOWNSHIP.

JAMES M. APPLEGATE (deceased), was a native of Richland County, Ohio, born October 23, 1829, a son of Isaac and Sarah (Davis) Applegate, and one of five children. At the age of twenty, he came to Indiana with his brother to teach school, commencing in Green Township, and following this calling through eleven winters in his neighborhood, where he won many friends, being temperate and an exemplary citizen. He was a Republican, and held several township offices. While serving in the army, he contracted sickness, which resulted in his death, January 19, 1879. May 4, 1851, Mr. Applegate was married to Miss Sophronia Gray, the daughter of Samuel and Ruth (Leech) Gray. She was born in Knox County, Ohio, February 17, 1831, and came to Noble County with her parents in 1835, and assisted at the spinning wheel and other domestic duties. She received the common education of her girlhood days. Mr. and Mrs. Applegate were favored by the birth of seven children- Orlando (deceased), Manuel J., Harvey (deceased), Laura J. (now the wife of O. Fulk), Florence, Clara G. and Firmer. Mrs. Applegate is still living on the old farm, consisting of 158 acres, and has the esteem and respect of a large circle of friends.

W. C. ARTHUR was born in Huron County, Ohio, March 25, 1828. At the age of eight years he was left an orphan, and' with his brothers and sisters lived on the home place. Shortly after reaching his majority, he was induced, by the stories of gold, to go to California. He took pas- sage on the clipper ship Racehorse from New York. They were about five months on the journey, stopping at Rio Janeiro, Valparaiso and other places of interest. On his arrival in San Francisco, he associated himself with a com- pany of others and began mining on the Yuba River. The next winter he operated on a little stream called Brandy Gulch, in Yuba County, and here made some money. The next season he operated in and about Camptonville. After a stay in California of twenty-six months, he came by steamer to New York, crossing the Isthmus of Panama. From New York he returned to his old home in Huron County, Ohio, and came to Green Township in 1855, locating on his present farm. He was married July 4, 1855. Three children have blessed this union with Rachel Skeels-Fannie, George and Leslie. All are living; the eldest being the wife of William Shambaugh, of Green Town- ship. Mr. Arthur had nothing to start with, but is now a prosperous farmer. He owns 340 acres of land, is a Democrat, a Mason and he and wife are mem- bers of the Free-Will Baptist Church. Mr. Arthur is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Clark) Arthur, who were natives of Ireland. Both died in Huron County, Ohio.

WILLIAM D. BONAR was born December 19, 1839, a son of David and Hester (Deweese) Bonar, the parents of fifteen children, ten of whom are yet alive. The father was born October 9, 1784, and was of Scotch descent. September 10, 1820, he married Hesther Deweese in Licking County, Ohio, her birthplace. He was a shoemaker by trade, but abandoned that calling on coming to Green Township in 1836, where he entered 80 acres of land, which he cleared and improved. He was of small physical frame, and decisive turn of mind, wielding much influence. He died December 25, 1874, and his wife

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May 25, 1846. William D. Bonar passed his youth on the farm, receiving a common school education. December 15, 1863, he enlisted in Company I, Twelfth Indiana Cavalry, and was discharged August 27, 1865, and returned home to his farm. Mr. Bonar owns 120 acres of good land, and is a Demo- crat. He was married April 19, 1871, to Miss Eleanor Moore, daughter of Samuel and Mary Ann Moore. They had one child, a boy, Alva C. The mother died in January, 1872. Mr. Bonar takes the lead in many things in his township, and exerts a wholesome control over its affairs.

GEORGE W. BROWN was born in Preble County, Ohio, April 21, 1827. He is one of twelve children born to George and Sarah (Nethercut) Brown. The father was a native of Virginia, and the mother of South Caro- lina. They started out in life poor, but became prosperous farmers, and were honored and respected members of society ; both are now dead. George W. received a good common-school education. In 1847, he was united in marriage with Margaret Brumbaugh, and in the fall of 1851 moved to Green Township and settled on 100 acres of wood land his father had purchased for him, and 50 acres that had been given Mrs. Brown by her parents ; the clearing and im- proving afforded abundant work for Mr. Brown. They have added to their original place enough to make 485 acres, which have been partially divided among the children, of whom there have been eight-William, Otho, George, Sarah C., Ellen, Ida, Effie (deceased) and Laura. William married Mary Zum- brum, and resides in Whitley County. The rest are in Noble County. Otho married Barbara Royer; George married Ann McCoy; Sarah is the wife of James McCoy ; Ellen is the wife of Aaron Eagly ; Ida married Samuel Black, and Laura is single. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the German Bap- tist Church, and Mr. Brown is a Democrat.

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Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 105

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