Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 39

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 39
USA > Indiana > LaGrange County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 39

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).

M. J. HOCHSTETLER, farmer, is a son of John and Magdalena Hoch- stetler, natives of Pennsylvania. She died in Pennsylvania, and her husband, John Hochstetler, was married again and moved to Ohio, where his last days were passed. Among eleven children was the subject, born in Somerset County, Penn., June 9, 1812, and with his parents came to Ohio. After a lapse of two years, he returned to Pennsylvania, and was married, January 17, 1838, to Elizabeth Mast. After living three years in that State, he bought a farm in Holmes County, Ohio, where they farmed eight years; then disposed of it, and in turn purchased a farm and grist-mill. After operating the mill eight years, he bought the land in this township, where he is yet continuing his ex- tensive farm practice. Mr. Hochstetler is the owner of 240 acres of land, and himself and wife are believers in the Omish Mennonite religion. Of thirteen children born to them twelve are living, viz .: John M., Samuel J., Eli M., Moses M., Eve, Paul J., Elizabeth, Polly, Jacob J., David J. (deceased), An- drew J., Uriah J. and Henry J.

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CHRISTIAN KAUFFMAN, farmer, came to this county in 1854 with his parents, Joseph and Nancy Kauffman. His father and mother were both natives of Mifflin County, Penn. The dates of their respective births are August 27, 1807, and January 7, 1807. Their marriage was celebrated in Wayne County, Ohio, about the year 1829, and there they remained until they came West and settled on the farm now owned by the subject, subse- quently, in 1867, moving to Elkhart County, Ind., where Joseph Kauffman died in March of the same year. Mrs. Kauffman still survives and is with a son in Haw Patch Center. Christian Kauffman purchased the homestead farm

in 1860. He was one of seven children and was born in Wayne County,

Ohio, in 1831, August 8. November 8, 1833, Elizabeth Myers was born in the State of Pennsylvania. December 28, 1856, she was united in marriage with Mr. Kauffman and has borne him five children-Rufus A., born Decem- ber 6, 1857; Joseph I., September 2, 1859; John M., September 5, 1861; Ninette C., September 13, 1865, and Mary E., May 8, 1869. Mr. Kauffman owns 120 acres of land, good buildings and is a deservedly popular citizen.

ROBERT LEPIRD, farmer, is the eldest of seven children, and came to Indiana at a very early day with his parents. His father, Samuel Lepird, was born May 13, 1815. His mother, Harriet Lepird, was born April 24, 1816. They were early settlers of this county, where they died. Robert Lepird was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, September 10, 1840, and when of age assumed the management of the homestead farm for his mother, his father having died previously. In 1867, he went to Eaton County, Mich., where he bought and sold three different farms, and then returned to this county. He farmed on shares about one and a half years, then went to Noble County, lived two years, sold his farm to his brother and bought the old homestead on the Haw Patch, where he is permanently situated, having 120 acres of land and good buildings. January 5, 1862, Mr. Lepird and Miss Sarah A. Waddell were united in mar- riage. The following is a record of their children's births: Fayette R., Jan- uary 11, 1863; Ada M., March 25, 1864; Mary B., July 5, 1865; Elvey, March 22, 1870; Elton G. and Alton J. (twins), June 5, 1878. Mary B. died March 9, 1868.

JOHN W. LOW, farmer, is the son of Nicholas and Elizabeth A. Low, the former born in Pennsylvania, the latter in Maryland, and were pioneers of this county, where they located about 1836, and are residents of Clear Spring Township. Four of their children are living-Mary J., Thomas H., John W. and Martha E. February 9, 1845, John W. Low was born in this county, and November 15, 1868, was married to Elizabeth H. Coppes. Her parents, Richard and Hannah Coppes, natives of the State of Pennsylvania, lived some time in Wayne County, Ohio, where Elizabeth was born September 9, 1846; they are now residing in this county. After the event of his marriage, Mr. Low worked his father-in-law's farm about three years, when he bought his land in this township. He owns 200 acres of land, well cultivated, and is classed with the first citizens and farmers of the township. They have a fam- ily of three children-Hannah E., born January 12, 1872; Martha J., Febru- ary 18, 1874, and Mary E., May 14, 1878.

M. J. NELSON, farmer, a native of Elkhart County, Ind., is the son of Anthony and Sophia Nelson. Anthony Nelson was probably born in the year 1796, in Ohio, and Sophia Nelson in North Carolina, about 1802. They came West in their youth, and were married in Union County, Ind. Eight children constituted their family. M. J., the subject, was born December 13, 1832. Helived

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until about thirty-seven years of age at the home of his parents. December 3, 1867, he married Eliza S. Anderson, who was born May 9, 1845, in this county. They are living on 180 acres of the old homestead farm, in this town- ship, and are well respected by the community in which they reside. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have been blessed with three children, viz. : Elva J., born October 3, 1868; Gusta A., born January 25, 1872, and Cecil E., born November 19, 1878; the latter died May 24, 1880.

JOHN PECK, blacksmith, proprietor of pump-factory and corn-mill, is one of a family of six children born to Burton and Sarah G. Peck. He was born in La Grange County April 29, 1855, and lived with his parents until nineteen years old, when he went West to Kansas, remaining there one year, working at blacksmithing. He then returned to La Grange County, and went to work for his father, continuing thus about two years, at which time he formed a partnership at La Grange with Francis M. Stage, in a pump-factory. After about two years he purchased his partner's interest, moved the tools, etc., to a building on his father's farm, and continued manufacturing pumps quite extensively for some two years, when he bought a lot in Haw Patch Center, erected a building thereon, and opened anew the same business, continuing the same until the present. He is doing good work. His wife, to whom he was married September 7, 1876, was Miss Christina King, born in Ohio in 1856, who has borne her husband two children-Laurence, born April 13, 1880, and Alta, born June 29, 1881. Mr. Peck is an enterprising citizen.

PETER PROUGH, farmer and carpenter, is a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, born June 18, 1808. He is the only child of George and Sarah (Winder) Prough, the former a native of Bedford County, Penn., and the lat- ter of Washington County, Md. George Prough died in Fairfield County, Ohio, July 25, 1808, and his wife in the same place in 1861. Peter Prough lived with his mother until the age of fourteen, when he went to learn the card- er and fuller's trade with an uncle, Daniel Winder, with whom he remained five years. In 1832, he came to this county, entered 137 acres of land in Lima Township, and returned to Ohio, where for two years he rented and operated a dis- tillery, after which he was engaged for the same length of time in carpentering summers, and teaching school winters. In 1837, he returned to this county, entered 84 acres of land in Clay Township, and the next year sold his land in Lima, and bought 80 acres in Bloomfield Township, where he built a house, and began building a saw-mill. He went to Perry Township, Noble County, in 1845, and was employed one year in a carding and a saw mill. The next year he disposed of his property in Bloomfield, and invested in 120 acres in Eden Township, where he resided until 1854, then removed to his present farm of 71 acres. He was married to Barbara Thurston March 29, 1840, and they have nine children-George; Margaret, now Mrs. Donaphin ; Ezra; Sarah, now Mrs. Hart ; Martin T .; Daniel ; Joseph ; Thomas and Franklin. Mrs. Prough's parents, Daniel and Margaret (Birch) Thurston, were natives of Dutchess County, N. Y., and she was born in the same State, in Wayne County, October 14, 1821. Mr. Prough was Justice of Peace of his township five years, and Postmaster at Eden Mills, seven years. He is a Democrat, and one of the prominent and oldest citizens.

JOSEPH RODERICK, a young and enterprising farmer of this township, is the son of William and Margaret Roderick. He is a native of this State, and was born in 1847 (November 23), in La Grange County. Joseph Roder- ick lived at home with his parents, who were among the early settlers of this

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county, until he became of age. In 1868, he was married to Margaret J. Harr on the 5th of September. She was born in Ohio January 13, 1850, and was the daughter of Jacob and Mary Harr, natives of Pennsylvania. Two years previous to purchasing their present farm, they lived on rented property, but have acquired a good home and sixty acres of improved land. They have a family of two children-Ida M. (born February 3, 1870) and Charley M. (born November 22, 1872).

WILLIAM RODERICK, farmer, is a native of Fayette County, Penn. His parents, Daniel and Sarah A. Roderick, were natives of the same State, where they were married. In about 1846, they came to this county from Wayne County, Ohio, where they had lived since about 1818. They died on their farm in Section 13, this township. They were the parents of ten children, viz., Nancy, Mary, John, Lydia, Michael, Susan, William, Sarah A., Daniel and Eliza J. William was born September 10, 1822, and married March 10, 1844, to Margaret Bales ; she was born in Wayne County, Ohio, October 2, 1825, and came to this county with Mr. Roderick in 1846. He followed shoe- making for some time, and, in 1848, bought land in Section 13, this township, where he has since lived. His farm of 160 acres is in excellent condition. He has an elegant brick residence, good barn, and makes stock-raising a spegalty. Mr. and Mrs. Roderick have had eight children-Elmore, born May 18, 1845, died December 8, 1862 ; Joseph, born November 23, 1847 ; Lydia A., born May 28, 1849; Johial, born May 1, 1854; Julia A., born July 14, 1856 ; William T., born February 5, 1859 ; Stephen A. D., born December 2, 1862, and Charley B., born July 7, 1867, and died February 1, 1871. Mr. Roder- ick has held the office of Constable three years ; was Township Assessor fifteen years, and Trustee two years ; he has taken the third degree in Masonry, and is a prosperous farmer and first-class citizen.

DAVID SHOWALTER, farmer, was born on the 4th of March, 1824, in Rockingham County, Va. He was married to Mary E. Hoffman December 23, 1846, and about three years later immigrated to La Grange County, Ind., where he has found it profitable to remain. He remained with his parents un- til about 1847. His father, David Showalter, was born about 1783, in Penn- sylvania, where he was married ; his wife, Agnes Showalter, was a native of the same State, born about 1798, where they both died. They were parents of twelve children-Benjamin, Lovina, Matthias, Ann, John, Catharine, David, William, George, Margaret, Lewis and Sarah. Subject's wife was of the same nativity as her husband, born March 20, 1829, and the daughter of Frederick and Ann Hoffman, who were married in Virginia in 1819, he at the age of twenty-four, and she at twenty. They died in Elkhart County, Ind., in 1873. and had a family of five children-Charity J., Emily, Henrietta, Mary and

William. Mr. Showalter owns 330 acres of land, and has given 238 acres to his children. The following are the dates of the children's respective births- Charity J. in Virginia December 15, 1847; Frederick H. in Virginia Septem- ber 16, 1849 ; Agnes J. in Indiana April 14, 1852, died October 2, 1855 ; William N., March 25, 1855; James F. B., April 14, 1857 ; Edith, April 16, 1862, and Bracie E., May 25, 1871. They are an estimable family and mem- bers of the Lutheran Church.

W. L. SIPE is the youngest and the only son of Andrew and Elizabeth Sipe; the former was born on the 5th of May, 1797, in Somerset County, Penn., and the latter in 1803, in the same State. They were married in Holmes County, Ohio, in 1822. Mrs. Sipe died in the month of March, 1854. He

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married again, May 15, 1859, to a Mrs. Sarah Stoker, and she died in October, 1873. The year following his second bereavement, Mr. Sipe sold his property in Ohio, and then came to this county, where he resided with his children until he, too, passed away on the 30th of July, 1877, at which time he was living with his son, W. L. Sipe, who was born on the 3d of June, 1844; he lived seventeen years with his parents, and since then has been in various kinds of employment. He worked two years near Dayton, Ohio, in the service of W. C. Davis and Henry Tenick, and farmed about one year after that, in Marshall County, Ind .; also manufactured shingles to some extent, then was engaged about one and a half years in running a saw-mill ; after this, he farmed until 1871, when he resumed saw-milling in a village near by. He followed building and other mechanical work until he entered the grocery business about two years later. In June, 1875, he began in La Grange County, and conducted his father's farm for about a year and a half. Mr. Sipe bought the land that he selected for a home in Section 35, in 1877, and it still forms the center of his hopes and plans. He also owns a farm in Section 34. Mr. Sipe is the present able Trustee of his township, and prior to this had served satisfactorily as Constable. He is a good citizen and universally known and respected. Mrs. Matilda J. Sipe, to whom he was married June 5, 1864, in Marshall County, Ind., was the daugh- ter of Henry and Margaret Hanes, of Pennsylvania. Their family consists of two girls-Aurora A., born in Marshall County, Ind., October 6, 1867, and Minnie B., of the same nativity, born September 12, 1869.

JAMES TAYLOR, deceased, son of James and Margaret Taylor, was a native of Maryland, where he was born November 16, 1802. His father died in Maryland, and shortly succeeding his mother's second marriage he came with her and his step-father to Brown County, Ohio. He returned to Mary- land, and was there married, August 4, 1825, to Eliza Gillcree; they lived in Ohio about twelve years, then accompanied by Mr. Taylor's mother and step- father came to this county and located on a farm in Eden Township. His first wife's death occurred September 17, 1854, and Mr. Taylor was remarried in 1855, February 5, to Elizabeth Shrinkley, who survived him, and is living on the above-mentioned farm in this township. She was born in Brown County, Ohio, January 10, 1835, and has four children by Mr. Taylor-Theodore (deceased), Mary O., Wynona and Norman. Mr. Taylor, by his first marriage, had nine children-Margaret I. (deceased), Elizabeth A., Mary J. (deceased), William T., Lydia A., Ellen T., James L., Milton M. and Eliza J. Mr. Tay- lor was a man of good standing, was a member of the M. E. Church, and, at the time of his death, had served as Trustee a number of years. For about fifty years he was a class leader, and he left his family in comfortable circum- stances. Besides the farm of 140 acres, on which they live, they own 182 acres of land in Iowa.

T. S. TRITTIPO, grocer, is a son of Thomas and Sarah A. Trittipo, natives of Virginia, where they were married and remained until 1849, when they removed to Ohio. Five years later they journeyed to La Grange County, where they have since resided. Mr. Trittipo owns a fine farm of 215 acres, the acquirement of which is largely due to his own endeavors. He also owns property in Wawaka, in Ligonier and Haw Patch Center. Five children were born to these parents, T. S. Trittipo being one, his birth occurring in Virginia May 19, 1845. He remained with his parents until the age of twenty-five, at which time he learned the trade of painting, continuing the same for about ten years. He also worked at other branches of business. On the 25th of March,

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1879, he purchased a stock of goods in Wawaka, moved the same to the Haw Patch, where he is yet enjoying a fair country trade in a building owned by his father. His wife, to whom he was married August 25, 1869, was Miss Catha- rine Kime, a native of Holmes County, Ohio, her birth occurring August 7, 1851. They have two sons-Elmer E. and Amos F. In 1863, Mr. Trittipo entered Company D, Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteers, with which he served until the close of the war.

R. N. VANSLYKE is a prosperous and successful blacksmith of Haw Patch Center. He lived with his parents until 1870, being away portions of the few previous years, learning, in the meantime, his trade of W. H. Manning, of Ligonier, beginning about the year 1867. This chosen occupation has been followed more or less since. He has the reputation of being one of the best blacksmiths for all work for miles. around. He is doing a large business, and, like all really good and successful workmen, guarantees his work to give satis- faction. His parents are W. N. and Catharine Van Slyke, residents of Ligo- nier ; they came from Ashtabula County, Ohio, in about the year 1863. They are well known at Ligonier, and are universally respected. On the 23d of October, 1872, our subject was united in marriage with Catharine Shaffer, of De Kalb County. This lady was born on the '2d of May, 1851, while her hus- band was born on the 16th of February, same year. They are parents of one son, Milan N., born August 9, 1875. Mr. Vanslyke owns some property in Haw Patch Center. He is a good citizen, and his brother, W. M., is a minister and a very worthy man.

DANIEL WAGONER, farmer and blacksmith, son of Samuel and Lydia Wagoner, is an energetic farmer and worthy resident of Eden Township. His parents were married in Pennsylvania, their native State, and there his mother found her last resting place, her death occurring on the 22d of December, 1841. Mr. Wagoner, after spending some time in Ohio, returned to his native State, and was married a second time; they lived in Ohio two years, returned to Franklin County, Penn., and removed to the village of Dillsbury, where Mr. Wagoner died. Daniel, the second of six children, at the age of twenty-two, commenced blacksmithing in York, his native county, Pennsylvania, finishing his trade two years later in Stark County, Ohio. He, for four years, conducted a shop of his own at Sugar Creek. Since coming to this county, in 1849, he has not been actively at work at his trade, but has devoted more of his attention to farming. He owns eighty acres of land. Mr. Wagoner has been twice married ; his first wife, to whom he was married August 9, 1846, was Sarah Fitzgerald, born October 30, 1828, in Pennsylvania; she died on the 21st of November, 1857, having borne her husband four children-Elmira, Mary, Alice and George. The present Mrs. Wagoner, formerly Mary A. Himes, was born December 31, 1827, in Huntingdon County, Penn .; she has three chil- dren-Thomas W., John E. and Susan H.

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP.

RUSSEL BROWN, born January 24, 1805, is a native of Stephenstown, Rensselaer Co., N. Y. When quite young, moved with his father, Elijah Brown, to Berkshire County, Mass., and when about eighteen accompanied his parents to Cayuga County, N. Y., where he was married, in 1828, to Miss

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Laura Sweet, a native of Saratoga County, N. Y., born January 31, 1805, and daughter of Wm. Sweet, of Massachusetts. In 1835, they removed to Onondaga County, N. Y., resided one year, thence to this township, arriving July 14, 1836, and settling on Section 26. Mr. Brown, by diligent application, acquired quite a thorough education, and followed teaching a number of years, previous and subsequent to his arrival here, at which time he had about $2,000. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are parents of five children-Philena, when her parents came to this county, did not accompany them, but remained with her grandfather, Sweet, and died at the age of fifteen ; Ezekiel is a farmer of Steuben County, Ind. ; Warren is a resident of this township, engaged in farming ; Erastus is an attorney at Lincoln, Neb., and President of the Gage County Bank. He, while residing in New York, raised a military company, and was commissioned a Lieutenant in the late war ; William, the youngest, is an attorney at law, and formerly practiced at Lincoln, Neb. Mr. Brown has served as Justice of the Peace, Township Trustee, and County Surveyor. In November, 1855, Mr. Brown moved to Orland, where he has since resided, and where Mrs. Brown died, April 18, 1879. The father of the subject was born in Killingly, Conn., in 1773, of English descent. His maternal ancestors were Irish, and their descendants, for a number of generations, resided in Rhode Island, his grand- father on that side being a noted sea captain. His great-grandfather, William Smith, was compelled to flee from Ireland, and subsequently became a Lieu- tenant in the Revolutionary war.

JOSEPHUS BUMPUS, son of John Bumpus, a native of New York, of Welsh descent, was born October 25, 1825, in Richland County, Ohio. Mr. Bumpus is a cooper by trade, and came to this county in the spring of 1846, locating at Ontario, where he was employed the first season at his trade, then in his shop until 1849, when he rented the "Widow Newton " farm, north of Ontario. About a year later he purchased land in this township, that has reached its present improved state by Mr. Bumpus' industry. December 10, 1848, Mr. Bumpus was married to Mary A. Sears, who was born in New York, June 10, 1832. She came to this county with her father, Chancey Sears, in about 1836, and lived with Judge Luther Newton from the age of six years until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Bumpus have seven children-Savilla, Viola, Roderick, Nellie, Carrie, Joseph and Cora.

Z. M. CARR is a native of Washington County, N. Y., where he was born April 6, 1822. His father, Daniel Carr, a native of Rhode Island, moved to St. Joseph County, Mich., with his family in 1835, and two years later came to Pretty Prairie, this county, thence to English Prairie, then to Steuben County in 1843, where he died in 1844, leaving a wife-Martha (Mason) Carr-and seven children, the subject being the oldest son living. He assisted in caring for the family until twenty-eight years old; then with $240 came and purchased 50 acres of land in this township, making the rest of the payments ($160 in all) on time. His farm is now enlarged to 145 acres, and is well improved. In 1851, Mr. Carr and Miss Angeline Golden, who was born in Seneca County, N. Y., August 6, 1828, were united in marriage. Her father was Nathanial Golden, a native of Nova Scotia, and her mother, Elizabeth (Tuttle) Golden, of New York; in 1836, they came with family to Steuben County, where their deaths occurred. Mrs. Carr died in 1872, January 15, leaving her husband and five children to mourn her loss; they are James B., Ella, Jarvis, Frank and Nettie. Mr. Carr is an enterprising Repub- lican.

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ELISHA DEAL, son of Conrad and Elizabeth (Rawles) Deal, was born in 1830, in Marion County, Ohio. Both parents were Ohioans, and came here in 1835. His mother, who is residing at the home of her youngest. daughter, Mrs. Holton, is in her seventy-sixth year. His father, after clear- ing a farm in Section 23, where they had lived many years, died in 1870. At the age of twenty-seven, Elisha Deal began farming for himself, having pre- viously made his home with his father, and been engaged in running a thresh- ing machine nine years. He purchased and improved land in Section 21, before locating on his present farm of 120 acres. Mr. Deal, although never a solicitor for office, has been chosen and served as Supervisor of Roads several times. Mrs. Deal is a faithful member of the M. E. Church. She was Catha- rine Millis, the daughter of Levin and Ruth (Leonard) Millis, natives of Mary- land, where Catharine was born in 1834. She married Mr. Deal on the 14th of February, 1857, and they have two children-Augusta, now Mrs. Frank M. Smith, was born January 27, 1859, and Mary E., whose birth occurred on the 27th of August, 1863.

HARRISON DEAL, the eldest born to Conrad and Elizabeth Deal now living, came to this county in 1835 with his parents, who located on Section 23. He was born April 20, 1828, in Marion County, Ohio, and from the age of sixteen to twenty-four was engaged a portion of the time as feeder for a threshing machine. Shortly after his marriage, January 5, 1851, to Miss Ellen Jones, he located on 80 acres of his present farm, the lease of which was given him by his father-in-law ; but twelve years subsequently, he pur- chased that and 40 acres adjoining. He is now worth about $20,000. He has served as School Director and Pathmaster. Mr. and Mrs. Deal have had six children-Benjamin F., William H., Louis E., Charles H. (deceased), Carrie E. and Jennie M. Mrs. Deal's parents, Benjamin and Mary (Michael) Jones, were natives of Virginia. They came to this county in 1829, and located near Lexington, renting land until 1832, when Mr. Jones purchased 400 acres in Section 20 and 21, at the first public sale of land in the county, upon which they settled. Mr. Jones was a leader in the La Grange Phalanx, and the first to introduce throughbred cattle into the county. He also assisted in building the Free Hall. In the early history of the county, Mr. Jones once went in search of his cattle and at the end of three weeks found them in the southern part of the State. In 1862, he moved to Kendallville, where he was familiarly known as " Uncle Ben." By reposing too much confidence in oth- ers, he lost a part of his property, and in 1875 moved to Fairbury, Neb., where he now resides, but expects to spend his remaining days at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Deal. Mr. Jones was born July 6, 1794, and is now in his eighty-eighth year. He served in the war of 1812, and was reared a Bap- tist ; during his later days has been a Spiritualist.

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Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 39

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