USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 42
USA > Indiana > LaGrange County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 42
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CLEARSPRING TOWNSHIP.
CLEARSPRING TOWNSHIP.
FRANK L. CHURCH was born August 20, 1845, in Skaneateles, On- ondaga County, N. Y. His parents were Darius D. and Jane Church, both natives of New York, where they died. The subject passed his youth in the State of New York, and when eleven years of age began working out by the month during summers and for his board in the winter, when he attended school. When nineteen years old, he enlisted in Company H, Fifteenth New York Engineer Corps. During his fifteen months' service, he participated in the engagement at Petersburg and his company were part of the army held in reserve at Richmond, and was the first to pass through that city after its sur- render. He was discharged at Elmira, N. Y., and came to Indiana in 1864, since which time he has been engaged in farming. March 28, 1866, Mr. Church was married in this township to Miss Eliza A. Hoagland; she is a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, and was born in this county. Her parents, Clement and Abigail Hoagland, came from New York at an early day to Indiana, and died in this county. Mr. Church owns 200 acres of well cultivated land, of which he has cleared 150. He has a family of three children-Delta, Freddie and Bessie.
JOSEPH DALLAS, born in Dixon Township, Preble County, Ohio, October 5, 1820, son of William and Mary Dallas, came to Indiana when six- teen years old and lived on a farm with his father in this township. When twenty-one years of age, he contracted for a job of clearing twenty acres of land and splitting 6,000 12-foot rails, receiving forty acres of timbered land as pay- ment. This he subsequently resided upon six years, and July 4, 1850, bought thirty-six of the 271} acres of his present farm. He learned grafting in his youth, and continues to follow that as a branch of industry. Mr. Dallas was married in this county, May 9, 1843, to Miss Emily Clark, native of New York, and daughter of Erastus and Jerusha Clark, who located on a farm in Clay Township, this county. Mr. Clark died in Harrison County, Iowa, and his wife in this township. Mr. and Mrs. Dallas are members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Eight children have been born to them : George T. was a soldier in the late war, and died at home; Erastus C., Sylvia E., Ida and Joseph S., deceased ; Theodore, living in Adams County, Iowa ; Isola J., in Noble County, and Lottie, a resident of Oregon.
LEVI DALLAS was born in Ohio, and is a son of William and Mary Dallas, natives of New Jersey. The subject came to Indiana in 1836, and lived with his father on a farm where the latter died ; Mrs. Dallas died in Ohio. Levi Dallas, after acquiring a common-school education, began working by the month at Rochester, in Perry Township. Previous to his marriage, he bought eighty acres of land in Clearspring Township, and cleared six acres. He now owns 110 acres with first-class improvements. His large residence is con- structed of brick, with all surroundings to correspond-iron fence, large barn, etc. Mr. Dallas is an excellent farmer whom it is difficult to surpass. ( Octo- ber 27, 1859, Mr. Dallas was united in marriage with Caroline Newhouse, a native of Ohio. They have four children-Mary, Eva, Lucy and Martha. Mrs. Dallas' parents, natives of Virginia, were Amos and Mary Newhouse, U
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
and were among the first settlers of La Grange County, coming here in 1835, and locating in this township on land secured to them by a warrant, and there they died.
LORENZO DALLAS, one of the four brothers living in this township, son of William and Mary Dallas, was born June 28, 1819, in Preble County, Ohio, where his education was achieved in the common schools. His mother dying in Ohio, his father came to this county, October 3, 1836, and located on a farm, where the latter period of his life was passed. Lorenzo Dallas, in common with his brothers, chose the life of a farmer, and keeps apace with the times. He owns 165 acres of fertile and highly improved land. Mr. Dallas was married in November. 1840, in this county, to Miss Sarah Kitchen. She was the daughter of Richard and Mary Kitchen and of the same nativity as her parents who were born in New Jersey, and died in this township. They bave six children, namely : James, married and living in this county ; John, at home; William, living in Montana ; Clarissa J., married and a resident of this township; Richard and Newell, at home.
SAMUEL DALLAS is a native of New Jersey, and came to Indiana in 1836. His parents, William and Mary Dallas, were also natives of New Jersey. Mr. Dallas, Sr., upon arriving in this township, entered 40 acres of land and built a log cabin and a saw and grist mill, the first in the township, which he operated until 1838. William Dallas died in this township, and his wife in Preble County, Ohio. Samuel Dallas was reared in 'Preble County, Ohio, on a farm, and received but a meager education. He was married, March 25, 1841, to Anna M. Crosby, a daughter of Simeon and Sarah Crosby, na- tives of Connecticut and Massachusetts, respectively. Mr. Crosby died in New York, and Mrs. Crosby in this township. Mrs. Dallas was born in Massa- chusetts. They began married life very modestly on 80 acres of his present farm, in a little log-cabin, with log stable, etc., which Mr. Dallas has cleared, improved and increased, until now he owns 200 acres, a large residence, barn, etc. Mr. Dallas is a thorough and enterprising farmer. They have two children living-Sarah A. and Mary J., both married, and living in Clear- spring Township.
URIAH ECKER is a native of this county, born March 5, 1850, and son of John and Martha Ecker, who came to Indiana in 1841, and located on a farm in Eden Township, where John Ecker died ; he was born in Pennsylva- nia. Mrs. Ecker, a native of Ohio, is yet living, in Middlebury, Elkhart County. Uriah Ecker was educated a farmer, and was married in Ligonier, September 20, 1871, to Miss Ellen L. Ramsby, native of Pennsylvania, whose parents, John S. and Hannah Ramsby, came to Indiana and settled on a farm in Eden Township, in 1838. Mr. Ecker and wife lived eighteen months on a rented farm ; then moved to Noble County, where they rented four years; then came and settled on 80 acres of land he had purchased in this township, where they have remained. They are both members of the Methodist Protestant Church, and have four children-Mattie M., Frank T., Jay S. and Albert R. Mr. Ecker, although comparatively young in years, is an experienced farmer, and has a fair prospect before him.
SOLOMON FLECK was born in Washington County, Ohio, in 1820, on the 26th of December. He purchased 40 acres of uncleared land when he came to Indiana, in 1848. He has made a marked improvement in the 120 acres that constitute his farm in this township. Mr. Fleck's wife was Julia A. Karshner, daughter of Louis Karshner, and a native of Harrison County,
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CLEARSPRING TOWNSHIP.
Va. They were married in Clearspring Township in 1850, December 12. Mr. Fleck's younger days were passed in Ohio, where his advantages for learning were very limited. The intervening time, prior to his marriage, was spent profitably in hard, every-day work. Mr. Fleck's mother, Elizabeth Fleck, died in this township. She came here in 1848, from Ohio, where her husband died ; both were born in Maryland, and were worthy, Christian people.
IRA FORD is a native of Wayne County, N. Y., and a son of Jarrett and Rebecca Ford, who came to Indiana and located in La Grange in April, 1856. Jarrett Ford was a native of Massachusetts, and died in La Grange, May 1, 1881. Rebecca Ford was born in Maryland, and is now living in La Grange, at the advanced age of seventy years. Ira Ford was born October 13, 1848, and spent his youth with his parents, and previous to his marriage taught five terms of school, beginning when he was nineteen years of age. February 6, 1873, he was married, in this county, to Miss Julia A. Peck, a na- tive of this township, and daughter of Hawley and Harriet Peck, since which time he has been engaged principally in farming, although he has taught eight terms of school, during the winter, when not otherwise employed. Mr. Ford owns 80 acres of land, replete with the modern improvements and buildings,. and his reputation as a thorough farmer and worthy citizen is indisputable.
JAMES HAVILAND came to this township in the year 1837, purchas- ing 200 acres of land that his brother had entered from the Government, and before reaching it was obliged to open three miles of road ; but with the char- acteristic industry of the pioneer, brought this land to its present state of culti- vation. James Haviland was born in New York July 30, 1808 ; his father, John Haviland, was born and died in that State. His mother, Polly Haviland, a native also of New York, came to Noble County, and, until her death in Elkhart Township, made her home with her children. Four years before leaving New York, Mr. Haviland was married in Waterloo, to Miss Betsey Pearson. She was the daughter of Peleg and Sarah Pearson, and a New Yorker by birth. To them have been born two children-Mary E., now married, and Caroline, deceased. Mr. Haviland is a citizen of good standing in the com- munity, and his wife is a member of the Free-Will Baptist Church.
WILLARD HERVEY was born in Bridgewater, Mass., June 10, 1815, and when seventeen years old began an apprenticeship of eighteen months in making custom-made shoes, and followed that industry for four years. His parents, Byron and Parnell Hervey, were natives of Massachusetts, and died in Worcester County. Willard Hervey, while in Oneida County, N. Y., was married, December 3, 1835, to Miss Louisa B. Crosby, a native of Massachu- setts. Her parents were Simeon and Sarah S. Crosby. Her father died in New York, and her mother in this township. After a short residence in Utica County, N. Y., Mr. Hervey and wife came to Indiana, remaining two months in Steuben County ; then came to this township, where he entered 120 acres of land, upon which he built a log cabin and located in 1837. Eighty acres of this land are under cultivation. Mr. Hervey has held several township offices ; served four years as Justice of the Peace, and for eight years was Postmaster at Ringgold-the latter office is now abandoned. October 23, 1839, Mr. Hervey's wife died, and he was married to her sister, Sabrina C. Crosby, a native of Massachusetts, December 22, 1839. They are members of the M. P. Church. By his first wife Mr. Hervey had two children-Parnell, deceased ; and Louisa B. The other children are Lucelia, Luthera C., Laura B., Lovilla R., Bashby F. (deceased), Henry H., Calista A., and Lois (deceased).
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
CHRISTOPHER HOOLEY, one of the enterprising men of Clearspring Township, is a native of Mifflin County, Penn. David and Mary Hooley, his parents, were born and died in Pennsylvania. Christopher Hooley lived with his parents, who were farmers, until he was married, and taught school two winters previous to that event. February 28, 1874, he was married to Miss Sarah Zook, a native of Mifflin County, Penn., and daughter of S. and Frances Zook, natives of Pennsylvania, where they died. The subject and wife lived in Pennsylvania eight years previous to coming to this county, in 1855. They first rented a farm in Eden Township, then went to Noble County and resided one year ; returned, and rented again for one and a half years. During that time, Mr. Hooley taught one term of school. In 1858, he bought forty acres of land, thirty of which were improved ; he now has 120 acres, and a substantial brick residence, with no less than fifteen separate buildings on the farm. Mr. Hooley is a thorough and systematic manager, and can compete with any farmer in the county. He has served six consecutive years as Township Trustee. Mr. and Mrs. Hooley are members of the Omish Mennonite Church, and have two children-Emma R., married, and living on the old farm; Rachel Z., also married, and a resident of this township.
J. J. and A. J. HOSTETLER constitute the firm of Hostetler Brothers, dealers in general merchandise, at Emma, La Grange County. They are substantial business men, and engaged in their present enterprise in the fall of 1880. They are both natives of Holmes County, Ohio, and the sons of Moses J. and Eliza- beth (Mast) Hochstetler. The parents were natives of Somerset County, Penn., their respective births occurring in 1812 and 1822. Jacob J. Hostetler was born August 12, 1854. His school advantages were very fair, and at the age of seventeen he began teaching, following that vocation winters, and working on his father's farm during the summer season, until he attained his majority. He taught ten terms in this county in nine years. November 26, 1876, he married Miss Jennie Nelson, a native of this county, born January 28, 1858, and the daughter of John P. and Sarah A. (Roderick) Nelson, natives of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Hostetler are members of the Mennonite Church, and have three children-William O., Ora M. and Myrtle M. Mr. Hostetler is at present Postmaster at Emma. Andrew J. Hostetler was born August 18, 1858. Until he became of age he was employed in working on the home farm, after which he worked for his brothers, up to the time of entering his present business. He received an average education, and is yet unmarried.
ORVIN KENT is a native of Connecticut, and son of Elijah and Achsa Kent, natives also of Connecticut, and who came to this State at an early day. Elijah Kent was a farmer and merchant, and died in Noble County, and Mrs. Kent in this county. Orvin Kent attended school in Connecticut until sixteen years old, and also attended one term at the Wesleyan Academy at Wilbraham, Mass. He taught his first term of school when sixteen years old, and followed that vocation until his marriage, after which he turned his attention to farm- ing ; he has probably taught forty terms of school in all. He was married in Butler County, Ohio, in December, 1840, to Drizella Tweedy, a native of Ohio, who was the first child born to Robert and Elizabeth Tweedy after coming to America from Ireland. They lived in Monroe County, Ohio, for some time, where the subject was engaged in teaching; from there he came to Eden Town- ship, and located on 200 acres of wooded land. About twenty years ago he built a large frame building in this township, and seven years ago one in Eden Township, just opposite his commodious residence that was built in 1881. Mr.
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CLEARSPRING TOWNSHIP.
Kent at one time owned 300 acres of land. He has filled the offices of County Commissioner and Justice of the Peace one term each, and is a member of the Masonic Lodge, 185 of Ligonier ; belongs to the Swedenborgian Church. Their children are Robert (married, and lives in this township), Nathan (married, and living in Eden Township), Laura (married and living in this township), Vol- ney (married, and living at Marshalltown, Iowa), Alvin (deceased), and Alice (twins), and Elvira (deceased). Alice is married and living at Grand Rapids.
THOMAS H. LOW is the son of Nicholas and Elizabeth Low, and was reared in this township, where he was born August 10, 1843. He lived at home, assisting his parents on the farm until he was married, September 22, 1865, to Miss Tressa Shoemaker, a native of Stark County, Ohio, in La Grange. Her parents were John and Elizabeth Shoemaker; her inother, who was a native of Maryland, died in Elkhart County. Her father went to Cali- fornia during the time of the gold excitement there, and never returned. Since their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Low have resided on their present farm, and have been moderately successful, as the fact of their having the material for the erection of a brick residence the coming spring will testify. They are both members of the church, and Mr. Low for the past four years has been engaged in the ministry, and expects to continue. For three years Mr. Low executed the duties of Justice of the Peace. Of seven children born to them, six are living-Annette A., Warren W., Charles N., John F., Bernona E., Laura E., and Cora L. (deceased).
NICHOLAS LOW, son of Jesse and Elizabeth Low, is a native of York County, Penn. ; his parents were natives of the same State, and the father died there ; the mother in Maryland. Nicholas Low was educated at the common schools, and remained with his mother until the age of sixteen; he served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade ; worked at that for some time, then came to Ohio and spent about a year there, then returned to Maryland, and was married in New Market, Baltimore County, to Elizabeth A. Hendricks, a native of Maryland; her parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Hendricks, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Baltimore, Md., both died in Springfield, Ohio. Mr. Low came to Indiana in 1836. and lived two months in Eden Township, then moved to this township, where he built a log cabin, but has since improved and cleared the land and built a good, large residence, with the customary outbuildings; he owned 320 acres of Government land. Mr. Low is one of the oldest pioneers of the county, and an excellent farmer. They have had nine children-Sarah A. (deceased), Joseph (deceased), Mary J., (living in this township), Thomas H. (of this township), John W. (of Eden Township), Elizabeth, Daniel and Juliann (deceased), and Martha E. (of this township). The four living are married. Mrs. Low is a member of the Meth- odist Protestant Church.
JAMES H. MCLAUGHLIN came to this State in 1849, and bought forty acres of land in this township in partnership with an uncle, who also ren- dered him some assistance when he invested in his present farm of eighty acres. His father, John McLaughlin, came to this country from Ireland when eight years old. His mother was born in Lancaster County, Penn., where they were living when James H. was born ; they subsequently moved to this township in 1844 or 1845, and were living here at the time of their deaths. The subject was married in La Grange February 10, 1853, to Miss Rebecca Row. Her parents, Samuel and Rebecca Row, natives of Pennsylvania, came from Wayne County, Ohio, to La Grange in 1848. Her father died in Clay Township, but
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
her mother still survives. Mrs. McLaughlin was born in Lancaster County, Penn. In 1853, Mr. Mclaughlin went to California and spent three years there in mining; returned, and, in 1858, established himself on his present farm, which is up to the average in improvements and appearance.
ERASTUS NELSON, son of Eli and Isabella Nelson, was born April 9, 1819, in Seneca County, N. Y., where his parents both died. They were natives, respectively, of Maryland and Massachusetts. The subject's boyhood days were spent in New York, in attending school and laboring on a farm. He came to this township in 1847, and located on 80 acres of land. Mr. Nel- son was very unfavorably impressed with Indiana at first, and after clearing one acre, and building a log-cabin, he sold his land and bought 80 acres where he is now living. At that time the nearest market place was Fort Wayne, and wheat was worth only 40 cents a bushel. There being more profit in raising peppermint than anything else, Mr. Nelson engaged in that to some extent, finding a market for his crops at Constantine, Mich. He now owns one of the best farms in the township. Mr. Nelson was married in New York, December 26, 1844, to Miss Arvilla Puffer, native of Oswego, N. Y., and daughter of Ira and Sarah D. Puffer. The former died in New York, the latter in Michi- gan. They are parents of six children-Lovina, at Ligonier ; Angeline, Isa- bella, and Francis, living in this township ; all are married; Charles F. and Mary L., deceased. Mr. Nelson has served eight years as Trustee, and is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, 159, Star of the West.
FRANCIS M. NELSON and his wife were both born in this township, and were united in marriage at Wolcottville, on the 18th day of April, 1878. She was Almira J. Musser, the daughter of Daniel and Rebecca Musser. They have an only child-Ethel L .-- and are living on a farm in this township, of 80 excellently improved acres of land, with good buildings to correspond. Eras- tus and Arvilla Nelson, parents of the subject, were early settlers of this coun- ty. Mrs. Nelson's parents were also among the pioneers of La Grange Coun- ty, and are yet residents of this township. They came here from Pennsylva- nia, their native State. The subject in his youth taught five terms of school.
BURTON PECK, son of John and Sarah (Gilbert) Peck, is a native of Fairfield, Conn., born 1813. His parents were also natives of Connecticut, and moved to New York, where the father died, at Phelps. Mrs. Peck died in Indiana. The subject spent his boyhood in New York, and received his school- ing at Phelps and Royalton, Niagara County. He started a blacksmith shop when twenty years of age, having served an apprenticeship of three years at that trade ; he followed this business eight years. In 1845, Mr. Peck came to this township, settled on 40 acres of land, where he built a shop and log house, and lived there six or seven years, then removed to his present farm of 140 acres ; it originally was composed of 80 acres. The improvements consist of a fine orchard of six acres, containing 250 trees, commodious brick house, etc. He was married, December 7, 1843, in Junius, Seneca Co., N. Y., to Miss Sarah Hastings, a native of that State. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church. They have five children living, and one, Esther, deceased. John lives in Eden Township ; Charles at home ; Olive Pancake, a resident of Noble County ; Emily Showalter living in Elkhart County, and George in this town- ship. All are married except Charles. Mr. Peck is an enterprising and in- telligent farmer, possessing sterling attributes, and ranking as one of the most valued citizens.
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CLEARSPRING TOWNSHIP.
HAWLEY PECK, a native of Newton, Conn., entered his first 80 acres of land here in 1836, then came and purchased 160 acres two years later, and in February, 1844, transferred his family and worldly possessions to this town- ship, from New York, made the necessary improvements on his land, and moved thereon. He purchased another 160 acres adjoining, and sold his gov- ernment land. His farm has numerous fine buildings, three large orchards, etc. The staple product of his early farming was peppermint, and his was the first raised in the State of Indiana. He found a profitable market for this commodity at Ontario, N. Y., to which place he went, via Fort Wayne, ten different times ; he also raised live-stock quite extensively. Mr. Peck is well and favorably known in his vicinity. The county fair grounds were purchased by him. In January, 1863, he was elected President of an Agricultural Society, and four years later left it in a flourishing condition ; he has been three times a representative of the Agricultural Sociey of Indianapolis, and for three years was Justice of the Peace. Mr. Peck is a Universalist. His wife died in 1873, July 10; she was Miss Harriet Burnett, daughter of Archibald and Spiddy Burnett, and was a native of New York, where she was married to Mr. Peck January 1, 1834. To their union were born twelve children, viz .: Louisa, Fayette, Jarvis, Luanna, Sarah A. (deceased), Leonard (died December 20, 1881), Archibald B. (deceased), Julia A., Harrison N., Spiddy, Jane and Ella I. Mr. Peck gave to his two oldest sons 80 acres of land apiece, and to his third son $2,000 in real estate. Mr. Peck's parents, John and Sarah Peck, were natives of Connecticut. The former was a blacksmith and farmer, and died in New York. Sarah Peck died when at the home of the subject in this township.
JAMES PIXLEY is the son of Elijah and Lucretia Pixley, natives of Ohio and Kentucky, who located in the southern part of Indiana, and bought 80 acres of land in Union County, where the subject was born February 3, 1831. In 1835, they sold that property and came to this township and entered 320 acres of land. Upon arriving here they lived in a tent about a month, preparatory to building the customary log cabin of the early days, when beds were made by poles laid crosswise on another pole, passed through holes bored in the walls of the cabin. Mrs. Pixley died April 25, 1852, and Elijah Pixley July 24, 1873. After attaining his majority, the subject worked by the month or day, until twenty-six years old, when he visited California. In 1864, he enlisted in the Seventh California Volunteer Infantry, Company D, for the remainder of the war. After his discharge, in May, 1866, he returned to the home of his parents, and began his career. as a farmer on 40 acres of land, pre- viously purchased in this township-he now owns 120 acres of the old home- stead farm. He was married in this county August 30, 1868, to Miss Martha J. McDonald, a native of Missouri, and daughter of John W. and Hannah McDonald, the latter living with subject's family. They have four children- Flora I., Elijah, Alma E. and William E. Mrs. Pixley is a member of the Weslyan Methodist Church, and Mr. Pixley of the I. O. O. F.'s and Masonic Lodge, 152.
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