USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 37
USA > Indiana > LaGrange County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 37
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AMI BERRY, son of Conrad and Lois Berry, is a native of this county and was born April 16, 1841, on the farm where he is now living. After his marriage, which was consummated March 4, 1868, he settled on the old home-
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stead farm in this township. Mrs. Berry is a native of Germany, where her birth occurred July 19, 1844. Her maiden name was Mary Bardon and she was one of ten children in the family of Michael and Catharine Bardon, who were also born in Germany, the former January 6, 1810, and the latter April 27, 1812. The subject's parents were natives of Ohio. His father was born June 15, 1813, and his mother September 28, 1814. Mr. and Mrs. Berry are members of the Baptist Church and are very worthy people. They own 140 acres of good land. Mary A., their only child, was born December 10, 1868, and died December 5, 1871.
DANIEL BOYER is the son of Daniel and Mary Boyer, of York County, Penn., where they were born, married and died. They had a family of ten children. Daniel, the eldest, was born in York County, Penn., September 17, 1821, and remained there until 1856, when he located on Section 21, of this township. He was first married in his native county, in 1843, to Miss Sarah Sleeger, of the same nativity as himself, born in 1822. She died November 9, 1848. They had two children-Emanuel, born May 27, 1844, and Mary E .. December 31, 1845. The latter died June 28, 1881. Mr. Boyer's second marriage occurred April 29, 1849, to Mrs. Catharine Sleeger, the daughter of Michael and Mary Boeckel, natives of Germany. She was born in York County, Penn., February 10, 1820. They have two children-Jemima and Franklin S., the former born January 18, 1851, and the latter May 24, 1854. The subject and his wife are members of the Evangelical Church and citizens that are well respected. Mr. Boyer owns 183 acres of land. His father was born in 1800 and his mother in 1802. They were married in 1819. The former died in 1864 and the latter in 1881.
STEPHEN BROWN is living on the old homestead farm, situated in this township, and composed of 176 acres of land. He is the third child in a family of seven, born to Isaac and Catherine Brown, and is a native of the Hoosier State, born in 1840, on the 16th of June. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, where they were married, subsequently removing to this State, where Isaac Brown died in 1848, and his widow married John Wenzer in December, 1860. He died April 8, 1878, and she died March 7, 1880. Ste- phen Brown was married in Elkhart County, Ind., March 17, 1861, to Mary Wenzer, a native of that county, born April 8, 1844, and the youngest of seven in the family of John and Mary Wenzer. August 18, 1864, Mr. Brown enlisted in Company B, Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, serving through- out the entire war. Previous to purchasing the old homestead farm, Mr. Brown was located in Section 8, in this township, where he moved about one year after his marriage. Four children have blessed their union-Samuel I., a native of Elkhart County, Ind., born February 10, 1862; John F., born in this county January 7, 1864; Jonas A., born May 26, 1868, and Alvie M., whose birth occurred August 11, 1870.
AMI CALAHAN is the son of Nathaniel and Anna Calahan. The former was born in Delaware July 20, 1788, and, when twelve years old. accompanied his parents to Washington County, Ohio, where he was afterward married. The latter was born in the State of New York, November 19, 1795, and moved to Ohio, when a child, with her parents. She married Nathaniel Calahan in 1810, and they emigrated to White Pigeon, Mich., in 1830, remained but a short time, then came to this county, settling on Section 17, this township, where he entered land in June, 1831. June 7, 1837, Mrs. Anna Calahan died and he was married in 1847, to Mrs. Esther Olney, and
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removed to Section 19, where he died July 20, 1855, and she died in February, 1858. Mr. Calahan, Sr., had a family of fourteen children. Ami, was born in Washington County, Ohio, June 21, 1818, and came to this county with his parents. He was married June 18, 1843, to Lucinda Selby, a native of Ohio, born March 25, 1817, and the daughter of Charles W. and Elizabeth Selby. Soon after this event, Mr. Calahan settled on his present farm, hav- ing purchased it in 1840. He now owns 477 acres of land. Mrs. Calahan died June 4, 1880, having borne her husband five children-Alfred M., Almon L., Ami N. (deceased), Charles R. and Edmon.
JOHN DALTON, son of Major and Anna Dalton, was born near Al- bany, N. Y., July 6, 1810. At the age of fifteen, he went to Geneva, Onta- rio Co., N. Y., remained about seven years, and was married there, June 11, 1831, to Catharine Cooper. She was born in Waterloo, same county, Novem- ber 4, 1809. They subsequently resided in Rochester, N. Y., where Mr. Dal- ton followed painting about four years. In 1836, he bought land and engaged in farming in St. Joseph County, Mich. Here Mrs. Catharine Dalton died, July 21, 1838, after which Mr. Dalton visited in New York about six months, then returned to Michigan. December 11, 1839, he was married to Laura E. Fitch, who was born in Ohio, September 1, 1817. In April, 1841, they came to this county, and located in this township, where she died, August 18, 1842. Mr. Dalton married his present wife-Anna Hayner-December 20, 1843. She is a native of New York, born August 22, 1812. In 1867, he removed from Section 12, to Section 13, where he is yet living. Mr. Dalton started in life a poor boy, and his efforts have met with abundant success. He owns 1,227 acres of land, and is an esteemed and prominent citizen. He has held honorable positions in office a number of years, having served as Treasurer and Trustee, and he and wife are members of the M. E. Church, the subject having united with that denomination in 1834. Mr. Dalton, by his first wife, had three children, as follows : Charlotte E., born in New York, August 15, 1832, now Mrs. Bycroft; Mary J., also a native of New York, born May 2, 1836, now Mrs. Frost, and Cornelius A., born in Michigan, February 4, 1838. His present wife has borne him three daughters-Frances A., born January 27, 1847, now Mrs. Otland, is residing on the homestead farm ; Katie A., born July 1, 1849, died June 11, 1873, and Lucelia, born March 23, 1853, now Mrs. Huff. Mr. Dalton has also reared an adopted child, Henry A., born October 1, 1845, and died May 14, 1868.
NATHANIEL DAVIDSON is a native of Lancaster County, Penn., where he was born June 17, 1831. His parents were natives of the same county ; his father, Michael Davidson, was born March 1, 1794, and his mother, Rebecca Davidson, May 12, 1794. In 1840, they removed to Erie County, Penn., where Michael Davidson died in February, 1869, and she is yet living. Their family was composed of four children-Sarah, Catharine, Nathaniel and Michael. The subject went to Erie County, Penn., with his parents, and re- mained nine years ; he then went to Erie City to learn the shoemaker's trade. After serving an apprenticeship of three years he returned home, then again resumed his trade in Erie City, and was employed by various parties. In 1854, he came to Goshen, Ind., made a limited sojourn, and went back to Pennsylvania. In 1855, he went to Iowa, and after spending two years there returned again to his native State, and was married, October 8, 1857, to Mrs. Martha Gerst, who was born in Erie County, Penn., April 24, 1832. In 1861, they came to La Grange County, and located in this township. They
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lived four years with his parents, then Mr. Davidson went to the village of Van Buren, where he was engaged in working at his trade about three years. The following nine years he was employed in working on the home farm, remov- ing then to his present farm, of 198 acres, in Section 27. Mr. and Mrs. David- son belong to the Methodist Church, and have had five children-Charlotte V., David P., William E., Sarah C., and Earl, deceased.
VOLNEY C. DIBBLE is the son of Andrew and Percy Dibble; the former was born in Connecticut, in 1777, and the latter in New York, in 1782. They were married in 1798, in the last-named State, where they spent the rest of their lives, and where their children, eleven in number, were born. An- drew Dibble died in 1875, and his wife in 1863. Volney C. Dibble's birth oc- curred January 8, 1807, in New York State, and he was married, December 31, 1829, to Fidelia Parker, who was born November 3, 1811, in New York, where they lived until 1843, then came to this county, and settled in Lima, where Mr. Dibble started a wagon-shop, and continued that business until 1859, when he sold out, went to Elkhart County, Ind., and one year subse- quently returned to this county and bought a farm in Newbury Township. Af- terward resided four years in De Kalb County, Ind., then settled on his pres- .ent farm of 44 acres, in Section 23, this township. Mr. Dibble is one of the enterprising citizens, and has a family of three children-Hannah, Lauretta and Adelbert.
EMANUEL EAGLEY is a native of Pennsylvania, born on the 26th of May, 1853. He was accompanied to the West by his parents, John and Leah Eagley, and soon after he was married, settled on his present farm of 120 acres, that is located on Section 18 of this township. His wife, Mrs. Mary Eagley, was born at Sturgis, Mich., December 14, 1857. She is a member of the Evangelical Church, and her parents were Frederick and Christena Kiel- kopf. She was united in marriage to Emanuel Eagley on the 17th of January, 1876. To their union two children have been born-Frederick E. and Alta M .; the former's birth transpired May 5, 1877, and that of the latter Novem- ber 29, 1879. Mr. Eagley spent his youth with his parents, receiving the average school advantages. His farm presents an improved appearance and he is one of the reliable men of this township.
JOHN EAGLY, JR., was born in Erie County, Penn., March 31, 1849, and came West with his parents, John and Leah Eagley, with whom he remained until reaching the age of twenty-one. December 12, 1869, he was united in marriage to Saloma Brown; she is a native of this State, her birth occurring on the 5th of September, 1848. He owns a farm of 101 acres, where he has lived ever since he was married, although he did not make a purchase of it until 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Eagly are members of the Evangelical Church. Three children have been born to them-Alinde E., December 13, 1872; Katie J., December 13, 1875, and Alverada B., whose birth occurred September 14, 1879. Mr. Eagly is a good farmer and is reckoned among the best citizens of his township.
L. E. FERGUSON, the youngest of four children, was born September 22, 1845, on the farm where he is residing, it formerly being the home of his parents. He attended the Ann Arbor University, in Michigan, four years, from which he graduated in 1870, then returned to the homestead farm which he managed two years, spending the following year in California ; after return- ing, he spent one year in lake surveying and one year in traveling. In 1876, he bought the old homestead and resumed farming. He owns 290 acres of
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good land with buildings to correspond. Mrs. Mary J. (Odle) Ferguson is a native of Michigan, where she was born the 30th of June, 1858. She was married to Mr. Ferguson September 18, 1878; they have two children-John A., born August 13, 1879, and Maud E., February 9, 1881. Mr. Ferguson is the son of George W. and Elizabeth Ferguson, who were married in Penn- sylvania April 26, 1825 ; she was born in that State August 6, 1806, and he was born in New Hampshire January 27, 1799. They came to this county in 1836, and located where the subject is now living, then went to White Pigeon, Mich., returning to their farm after an absence of five years. In 1871, they again returned to White Pigeon, Mich., where they lived in retirement until their death ; she died May 15, 1874, and he died April 15, 1876.
JAMES E. FISH is a native of this county, and the son of Samuel and Elizabeth Fish, who were born in the State of New York. The subject was born November 19, 1845, since which time he has been a resident of La Grange County. December 16, 1868, the event of his marriage occurred to Miss Olive S. Morehouse. About two years afterward they moved onto their farm of eighty acres in Section 28, of this township, where they dwell amid comfort- able surroundings. In their family are two girls and one boy ; Hattie, the eldest, was born in 1869, on the 29th of October ; Norah's birth occurred Jan- uary 16, 1874, and Charles O. was born October 8, 1876. Nathan and Har- riet Morehouse were the parents of Mrs. Fish; they had a family of eight children ; Olive S., the oldest, was born in New York, May 6, 1843. Mr. Fish, although comparatively a young man, is an experienced and practical farmer, and his property is well improved.
ALBERT GREGORY was born in New York June 6, 1841, and is the son of Goodsell and Marcia Gregory, who were natives of New York and the parents of five children. The former was born in 1806 and the latter in 1805. They were married, in 1836, in their native State, where they continued to reside until 1845, at which time they came to this county, locating at Ontario, and four years afterward removed to the farm in this township where Albert Gregory now lives and where Mrs. Marcia Gregory died March 11, 1861. Goodsell Gregory was married a second time December 15, 1861, to Mrs. R. A. Lewis. Subsequently they removed to White Pigeon, Mich., where he died November 31, 1868; after which she married again. At the age of twenty- two, Albert Gregory began work for himself, and in November, 1864, enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Forty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was married to Elizabeth Driver, December 25, 1866. She was born in Perry County, Ohio, April 6, 1842. They have had five children-Marion B., Will B., Leroy D. (deceased), George E. and Jay D. Mr. Gregory bought the homestead farm soon after his mar- riage. It is composed of 100 acres of well-improved land.
AQUILA HINKLE, a native of Erie County, Penn., was born January 9, 1834. His parents, Andrew and Catharine Hinkle, were born in Pennsyl- vania, the former in August, 1794, and the latter in October of the same year. They were married in the same State in 1819, and came, in 1864, to Indiana. They located in this township on Section 18, but subsequently took up their residence with their son Aquila, and after living with him a few years, Andrew Hinkle purchased property in Lima, expecting to spend the rest of his life there, but his wife died March, 1874, and he returned again to the home of the subject, where he is yet living. In his family were nine children-William, Amos, Catharine, Henry, Elizabeth, John, Aquila and Priscilla (twins) and 8
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Jacob. Aquila Hinkle came to this county with his parents. He was married in Crawford County, Penn., March 10, 1859, to Mary Boyer, a native of that State, born April 13, 1840, and the eldest of six children in the family of Abraham and Elizabeth Boyer. They also were natives of Pennsylvania, her father's birth occurring in April, 1812, and her mother's in October, 1815. The former died in June, 1854, and the latter still resides in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Hinkle remained in Erie County, Penn., a few years after their union, and then emigrated to this county. They lived with the subject's par- ents until 1872, when Mr. Hinkle purchased and removed to his farm of 120 acres in Section 29 of this township. They have an only child, Emma L., who was born in Erie County, Penn., February 23, 1860.
CHRISTIAN HOOFNAGLE is a native of Union County, Penn., where his birth occurred December 1, 1839. He subsequently accompanied his par- ents, John H. and Mary A. Hoofnagle, to Ohio, removing thence to La Grange County in 1865. The subject owns a farm of eighty acres in this township and provides a home for his parents and a sister. During the late war, he served on the field of battle until the close, enlisting, in August, 1862, in Company K, One Hundredth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Mr. Hoofnagle is unmarried. He is a thrifty and enterprising farmer, with flattering prospects for the future.
M. HOOFNAGLE was born in Snyder County, Penn., April 27, 1839, and in 1852 left his native State, in company with his parents, who located in Ohio, where the subject remained until the age of eighteen, then went to Il- linois, where he resided four years. Returning to Ohio, he enlisted, November 11, 1861, in Company B, Seventy-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, served three years, and was discharged; then re-enlisted in same company, and re- mained until the war closed, September 11, 1865 ; he then came to this county and farmed two years, when he sold out to his brother. December 24, 1867, he was married to Miss Sarah B. Steininger, and located in St. Joseph County, Mich., where they resided until 1876, then returned to this county, where he has been engaged in managing his father-in-law's farm, in this township. Mrs. Hoofnagle is of the same nativity as her husband, and was born May 15, 1847. She is the daughter of Simon and Catharine Steininger, and the youngest of three children. The subject is one of ten children in the family of John H. and Mary Hoofnagle, of Pennsylvania. They belong to the Reformed Church, and have three sons-John S., a native of St. Joseph County, Mich., born February 26, 1872; Eugene B., born May 28, 1875, in same place, and Wil- lard A., a native of this county, born July 16, 1880.
ISAAC G. MISNER is the son of Joseph and Sarah C. Misner, and next to the eldest of nine children. The first twenty-seven years of his life were spent in Canada, where he was born June 19, 1828. He then went to Elkhart County, Ind., and was married, at White Pigeon, Mich., December 17, 1855, to Miss Eliza Fleming. She was born on the farm where they now live, December 22, 1835, and is the only child of Tyler and Samantha Flem- ing. Her father was born in New Jersey April 23, 1811, and died Septem- ber 7, 1839. Her mother was a native of New York State, born August 17, 1806, and died February 13, 1872. Soon after marrying, Mr. Misner settled on his farm of 150 acres, in this township. Mr. and Mrs. Misner have no fam- ily. They are fine people, and, besides their property here, own 120 acres of land in Kansas. Mr. Misner's parents were Canadians by birth, and were married in 1826, May 10. In April, 1856, they journeyed to this county,
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where Joseph Misner died, December 30, 1859. He was born November 5, 1805. Mrs. Sarah Misner was seventy-six years old on the 15th of February, 1882, and is spending her last days with her children.
JOHN McDONALD is the son of Robert and Nancy McDonald, both of whom were born in Albany County, N. Y., the former June 12, 1799, and the latter January 27, 1805. They were married about 1821, in their native State, where they are yet residents. Robert McDonald represented the county of Schoharie, N. Y., in the State Legislature, and in his family were eleven children. John, the subject, was born May 14, 1831, in New York, where he was married, January 23, 1856, to Barbara Pitcher. She died, October 14, 1857, leaving one child. In 1858, Mr. McDonald went to St. Joseph County, Mich., and was there married to his present wife, September 18, 1861. She was Mary C. Purdy, a native of New York, where she was born November 22, 1836. They came to La Grange County in 1864, where he bought a farm, and settled, soon after removing to his present location. He owns 240 acres of excellent land, and has a family of four children-E. B., born in New York, October 14, 1857; N. Medie and N. Mettie (twins), born July 8, 1870, and Emily Dell, May 10, 1873.
PETER MOAK is the son of Jacob and Margaret Moak, natives of New York, the former born in 1778, and the latter in 1786. They were married in 1816, and remained in New York until they went to White Pigeon, Mich., from whence they came to this township, where their last days were passed. She died in 1842, and he in 1855. They were members of the Reformed Church, and parents of five children. Peter Moak was born in New York on the 3d of May, 1823, and came here with his parents in 1835, remaining with them until the age of twenty-five. February 10, 1847, he was united in mar- riage with Miss L. Satchel, native of New York, born July 20, 1827. He then bought the old homestead, where they lived two years, then exchanged for an- other farm ; lived there seven years, then removed to his present location. May 20, 1877, the death of Mrs. Moak occurred, and January 15, 1879, Mr. Moak and Mrs. Eliza A. Crockett were united in matrimony. She is the daughter of John and Polly McDonald, and was born in New York in 1832, October 23. In the family of Mr. Moak there were four children-two living, Clara and Wallace, and two deceased, Ettie and Henry ; the former died December 16, 1872, and the latter September 2, 1878. Mr. Moak is a man of enter- prise, and owns a farm of 128 acres, that is well improved, with good build- ings.
JAMES MOONEY is a native of Lancaster County, Penn .; born December 25, 1824, and is the son of James and Margaret Mooney ; in 1827, he went with his parents to Erie County, Penn., where he was married No- vember 4, 1847, to Juliann Fry, who was born on board vessel October 16, 1828, while her parents were en route to this county from Germany ; after coming to this county they settled on the farm where they are yet residing ; it is situated in Section 33, is well improved and comprises 240 acres of land ; Mr. Mooney ranks among the best farmers and prominent citizens of his town- ship. They have seven children-Frederick, born October 26, 1848; Jacob, September 8, 1850; Mary, January 14, 1853; Anna, August 10, 1856; Ellen, June 8, 1860; Agnes, September 4, 1861; these were all born in Erie County, Penn., and George D., the youngest was born in this county October 19, 1865. Mr. Mooney's parents were born in Lancaster County, Penn., his father September 20, 1795, and his mother February 21, 1790; they were
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married in the same county in September, 1818, and remained there until they moved to Erie County, same State; in 1864, they emigrated to this county, lived in Lima Township one year, then returned to Pennsylvania, making a second trip to this county about two years subsequently, when they settled in this township, where Mr. Mooney died September 10, 1869 ; she is yet living, and resides at the home of the subject. Their family consisted of four chil- dren-Henry, James, Martha and Jacob.
R. L. NEWMAN was born in Philadelphia, Penn., December 12, 1820, and is the son of John D. and Ursula Newman. At the age of three years, he accompanied his parents to New York City, where he remained until he was eleven years old, when his mother died and he went to live with an uncle; he came with the family of the latter, about a year afterward, to this county ; they settled in Lima Township on Section 20, and with them the subject remained until he was eighteen, when he commenced working out by the month, continued about two years, then went to Lima and began serving a three years' appren- ticeship at the carpenter's trade, and followed the same for some time; Febru- ary 5, 1843, he married Mary A. Parker, who was born in New York July 10, 1820 ; all his earthly possessions-an old horse-he exchanged for its value in furniture, and began housekeeping. Through energy and economy he has amassed a comfortable fortune, owning now 260 acres of land and good buildings. He is a citizen that is well respected; five children have been born to himself and wife-Rozane H., February 22, 1844; Frances E., August 2, 1847, died August 21, 1850 ; Delmar A., March 24, 1851; Orlinda C., Au- gust 16, 1854, and Charles R., June 23, 1864.
WILLIAM S. OLNEY is a native of this county, and was born Sep- tember 16, 1834, on the farm where he is residing. His parents, John and Esther Olney, were early settlers of this county, locating on Section 19, Van Buren Township, in 1830. His father's birth occurred February 24, 1800, and his mother's March 13, 1802; they were married in Ohio August 14, 1823. John Olney died in 1841, June 9, and his widow was afterward mar- ried to Nathaniel Calahan March 23, 1847, and they died on the farm now owned by the subject, the former February 12, 1858, and the latter July 20, 1855. She had a family of seven children-John D., Truman M., Betsey A., Asa J., Henry, William S. and Martin V. After the death of his parents, the subject and one brother bought the old homestead. William S. purchased his brother's interest in the winter of 1881-82, and now owns 401 acres of excel- lent land. His marriage to Miss Delila J. Sidener occurred June 10, 1858 ; she was born in this county October 2, 1839, and is the eldest of eight chil- dren born to Nicholas and Margaret Sidener. Mr. and Mrs. Olney are mem- bers of the M. E. Church, and have had three children-Charles B., born June 30, 1859, died May 15, 1873; Eddie A., born September 17, 1862, now attending school at Sturgis, Mich., and an infant born October 27, 1873, and died November 28, 1873.
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