Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 43

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 43
USA > Indiana > LaGrange County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 43

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).

JOHN PRICE, son of William H. and Rachel Price, was born in this township May 22, 1851. William Price was born in Washington County, Md., and came to Indiana in 1847, locating on 80 acres of land in this township; he is yet living, and is sixty-five years old. Mrs. Price was born in Licking County, Ohio, and died in Kansas. The subject is living on the farm above mentioned, and his life has been closely identified with this township. He was

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

married here December 25, 1873, to Miss Emeline Barnes, a daughter of Har- ley and Julia A. Barnes, who came to Indiana and located on a farm in Clear- spring Township. She is a native of New York. Their dwelling house, which is a fine residence, was built by the subject's father, and the farm presents a thrifty and improved appearance. Mr. and Mrs. Price have one child living, Lewis, and two, Dora and Lena, deceased. Mr. Price has served as Assessor three years, and in 1880 was elected Trustee, in which capacity he is now serv- ing.

JULIUS O. SESLINE is a native of Switzerland. His parents, Julius and Susannah Sesline, came to America in 1847, and made their home in Stark County, Ohio. His father died in Alliance, Ohio, and his mother in Canton. Julius went to school in Canton, and, in the spring of 1864, enlisted in Com- pany C, One Hundred and Sixty-second Ohio National Guards, and after receiv- ing his discharge December 15, 1864, re-enlisted the same year in the Third Ohio Independent Battery. He was in battle when the attempt was made by Gen. Hood's army to recapture Nashville ; also in the engagement at Fort Don- elson ; at one time he was detached from his battery and set to fighting guer- rillas, and while in service met with numerous exciting incidents and adventures. He was discharged July 15, 1865, and was engaged in railroading some time afterward ; next was employed as clerk in a hotel about a year; then with the sum of 25 cents came to Warsaw, Ind., and was with Perry & Burrill one year, learning the baker's trade ; subsequently was employed eight months as baker by a firm in Fort Wayne. He next appeared at Kendallville; then removed to the Haw Patch. He married a Miss Jones December 25, 1873; she was the daughter of Aquila Jones, and is a member of the Lutheran Church. They have three children-Willis O., John N. and Clyde. Mr. Sesline has a farm of 140 acres, and is a Mason in Lodge No. 76, at La Grange.

WILLIAM SIGLER is a native of Washington County, Md., and when quite young went with his parents, John and Catharine Sigler, natives also of Maryland, to Ashland County, Ohio, where they died. He received a common- school education, principally in Ohio, and lived with his parents until December 29, 1841, when he was married to Miss Lydia Himes, a native of Pennsylvania. After farming twelve years in Ohio, he came to this township and settled on 120 acres of land, thirty of which were improved and adorned with two log cab- ins and one small log stable. Mr. Sigler has made the usual improvements on his farm, and increased it to 270} acres. Mrs. Sigler's parents, Paul and Susan Himes, natives of Pennsylvania, came to Indiana in 1857, and located on a farm in Johnson Township, where Mr. Himes died. Mrs. Himes died in this town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Sigler are members of the Lutheran Church, and are par- ents of eleven children, as follows : Mary and John M., living in Wisconsin ; Amanda E., in this township ; Susan C., at home; Samuel L., of Wisconsin ; Matilda A., this township ; Solomon F., this township ; Harriet J., at home ; Amelia S., of Eden Township; William H., deceased, and Paul E., in this township. All excepting Susan and Harriet are married. Mr. Sigler served as Constable one year in Ohio, and three years in this township.

GEORGE B. ULMER, born December 15, 1838, was the first white child born in Allen Township, and his parents, George T. and Julia A. Ulmer, were among the first white settlers in that township. George B. Ulmer started on an expedition to Pike's Peak, at the age of nineteen, with a company of seven. Mr. Ulmer, while en route home, reaped considerable profit from transactions in live stock. In Illinois he stopped nine months, working on a farm at $18 per month ; then went up to the pineries of Michigan, where he was variously em-

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CLEARSPRING TOWNSHIP.

ployed for eight years, drawing logs, etc., and two years was foreman on the roads there. He also furnished a number of army horses. Returning to this county, he farmed for five years at English Prairie, in partnership with a broth- er-in-law; then worked for Hawley Peck for some time at $26 per month. After his marriage with Melinda J. Nelson, November 8, 1866, he rented property a number of years, then bought eighty acres, that now is one of the standard farms of Clearspring Township. His wife died on the 10th of June, 1872; she left three children-Julia N., Della S. and Joseph T. The present Mrs. Ulmer has two children -- Maynard C. and Carl L. She was married to Mr. Ulmer March 6, 1873, and is an intelligent and accomplished lady, having been a school teacher for fourteen years, and has also taught music. Her father, Stephen Cowley, blacksmith and farmer, is yet living in this county. Her mother, Catharine Cowley, died in this county, where they came, in 1840, from New York, where their daughter, now Mary Ulmer, was born.

HENRY J. ULMER, son of George T. and Julia A. Ulmer, was born in Summit County, Ohio, December 31, 1829. His parents came to Indiana in November, 1836, and located on eighty acres of Government land in Allen Township. George Ulmer planted the first orchard and built the first house in Allen Township. He is a native of Maine, and is now living in Kansas at the age of seventy-four or seventy-five. His wife, who was a native of Con- necticut, died in this county. Henry Ulmer lived on his father's farm until twenty-five years of age, when he was married to Miss Sarah W. Cowley, daughter of Stephen M. and Catharine Cowley, December 7, 1854. The en- suing year, Mr. Ulmer was engaged in running a saw-mill in this county, then removed to Pretty Prairie, lived on rented property one and a half years, then removed to Lima and resided about seven years. During four years of this time Mr. Ulmer carried the mails from Lima to Albion once a week and devoted the remaining time to farming, and for eleven seasons ran a threshing machine with his father; he purchased eighty acres of property adjoining Lima. He next went to Ligonier, and worked in his father's grist-mill one and a half years, farmed two years, then, with his father and another partner, engaged in the mercantile business. In 1870, they were burned out, with considerable loss, and our subject then came to his present farm of eighty acres, where he has been quite successful. His wife, who was a native of New York and a member of the Free-Will Baptists, died in October, 1879. There are three children-George C., Kittie A. and Bertha.

JOHN A. WEMPLE was born in New York August 14, 1818, and is a son of Abraham and Sophia Wemple, natives of New York, in which State they died. Abraham Wemple, in early life, followed carpentering, but subse- quently changed to farming, a portion of the work being alotted to his son, our subject, until he was married, July 31, 1840, to Miss Elizabeth Strang, a na- tive of New York, where her mother, Eleanor Strang, died. Her father, John Strang, removed to this county, where he died in Perry Township. In 1856, after sixteen years of married life in New York, the subject and wife came to. the Hoosier State, and located on eighty acres of their present farm, in this township. In 1857, Mr. Wemple returned to New York, purchased some real estate, remained three years, then returned to this township and has remained, engaged and interested in clearing and improving his farm. They have had ten children-Abram H., living in Perry Township; Willard G., in this town- ship; Folly A., in Michigan; Evaline A., in this'township; and Elias C., James and Elijah P., at home. Those deceased are Mary E., Catharine S. and Arville.

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GREENFIELD TOWNSHIP.

JACOB AKER, the son of Adam and Tena Aker, natives of Germany, was born in Germany July 21, 1835. His parents died in the place of their birth, and he came to America in 1850. In Ohio he attended school one winter and engaged in farm work, receiving from $o to $11 per month. This employment he continued four seasons, and December 17, 1855, was married to Miss Harriet Blasseus, in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. They subsequently immigrated to Pretty Prairie, in this county, where they lived six years, and bought seventy acres of land, next proceeding to this township, where Mr. Aker. after disposing of his previous purchase, bought eighty acres of his present property on English Prairie. Their farm now comprises 174 acres, with first-class buildings and improvements. They have had born to them five children-Adaline (deceased), Martha E., Mary E., Catharine and Tena. The last two are single and reside at home. Mary is a resident of Michigan and Martha lives with her parents. Mrs. Aker is the daughter of Valentine and Mary Blasseus. The former a native of Germany, died in this county, where the latter, a native of Pennsylvania, is yet living.

PETER ALSPAUGH was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, April 21, 1841, son of Philip and Mary A. Alspaugh. They removed from Pennsylvania, their native State, to Ohio, thence to Indiana in the fall of 1854, settling on a farm in Johnson Township, this county, where Philip Alspaugh died in August, 1880. Mrs. Mary Alspaugh is yet living on the old homestead, at the age of seventy-six. Peter Alspaugh received a common education, and October 14, 1861, enlisted in Company H, Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, siege of Cor- inth, Perryville and Stone River. At the latter place he was wounded, Decem- ber 31, 1862, and received his discharge September 9, 1863. He was united in marriage, November 11, 1866, to Miss Martha J. Swihart, a native of Ohio, and the daughter of Daniel and Sarah Swihart, who reside in this township. In 1868, Mr. Alspaugh bought eighty acres of his present improved farm of 150 acres, having previously lived on a rented farm on Pretty Prairie. Mrs. Alspaugh departed this life February 2, 1881, at the age of thirty-five years. She was a member of the M. E. Church and left two children-Luella and Lyoll. Mr. Alspaugh belongs to the Methodist Church, and is a good farmer and public-spirited citizen.

ELIJAH ANDERSON emigrated to Indiana from Marion County, Ohio, with his parents, John and Mary Anderson, in 1829; they located in this county on land now owned by the subject. He was born in Ohio October 10, 1817, and married, July 4, 1854, in this county, to Miss Nancy Martin, and has since been a resident of this township. He has accumulated 580 acres of land, all in this township, excepting eighty-seven acres. His farm of 240 acres on Pretty Prairie ranks among the best in the county. Wheat forms the staple product, the crop for 1880 amounting to 3,800 bushels. He also raises stock to some extent. Mr. Anderson, by perseverance and industry, has acquired his present property, and is a reliable and prominent citizen. In 1877, their fine brick residence was erected, and the other farm buildings are very good. Mrs. Anderson is a member of the M. E. Church, a native of New

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GREENFIELD TOWNSHIP.

Jersey, and the daughter of Daniel and Maria Martin ; they were natives of New Jersey, and came to Indiana from Ohio, locating in Johnson Township, La Grange County, where they died. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, John and Alonzo (deceased), Charlotte (married and lives in this township) Orville, Charles and Daniel (twins), Harlow, and Jennie (deceased).

WILLIAM ANDERSON is a native of Ohio, and son of John and Mary Anderson, who removed to Indiana August 16, 1829. After spending one winter in Michigan, they removed to this county and settled on Pretty Prairie, where they died ; both were natives of Pennsylvania. William Ander- son was born April 10, 1815, and resided with his parents until his father's death. He farmed on shares and owned a half-interest in 100 acres in this township, besides 250 acres in Steuben County. After he was married, June 2, 1843, to Miss Elizabeth Selby, he bought forty acres of land in this town- ship, where he settled, subsequently purchasing his present farm of 120 acres, that is well improved and supplied with every convenience. Mr. Anderson owns 593 acres of land, all in this township, except ninety of timber land that lies in Bloomfield Township, and besides their frame residence, has on his farm two tenant houses, four barns, etc. Mrs. Anderson is a native of Ohio, as were also her parents Samuel and Rebecca Selby ; they came to this township and located in 1840. Mr. Selby died at Lima, and Mrs. Selby is yet living in Gilead, Mich. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have eight children-Eliza, Amos, Jane, Amanda, Rebecca, Albert, Alonzo and Clara, all of whom are married but two -Albert and Clara.

WILLIAM ANDERSON is a native of Ohio, and the son of George and Louisa Anderson. He was born January 10, 1852, reared, educated and married in Ohio, and his parents are yet living in that State. His father is a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother of Ohio. Mrs. William Anderson, formerly Miss Maggie Glass, is the daughter of John and Catharine Glass ; the former is a resident of Ohio, where his wife's death occurred. The subject learned carpentering in his youth, and has followed it to some extent since engaging in agricultural pursuits. They first located in Steuben County, Ind. ; subsequently taking up their abode in this county, where their home is now situated on a farm in this township. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have buried their only child-Ella G.

GEORGE H. ARVER is the son of Richard and Olive J. Arver, who came to Indiana in 1860, locating in this township. Both were natives of New York State, in which State George H. was born in Broome County, October 17, 1850. Mrs. Arver died in Michigan, of which State Richard Arver is yet a resident. George Arver's early life was passed in the States of New York, Indiana and Iowa, his education being principally attained in the latter. Until the age of eighteen, he remained under the parental roof, and spent six years engaged in salary work. December 20, 1875, the event of his marriage to Miss Mary L. Berridge took place in Burr Oak, Mich. They settled in this county, and after one year's experience in farming in Springfield they removed to this township, where Mr. Arver leased a farm for a period of four years, and at the expiration of that time was sufficiently able to purchase forty-five acres of land, which they have occupied since. It is under good cultivation, and has the necessary farm buildings. Mrs. Arver was born in Indiana, and her father, Charles Berridge, was an Englishman. A son, Frank, is the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Arver.

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SAMUEL BROWN was a native of Westchester, N. Y., where his parents, Samuel and Susan Brown, died. They were farmers and natives of New York. Samuel Brown was reared in the place of his birth. and when not in school aided his parents. December 31, 1804, he was married to Miss Sarah Kniffin, in Westchester, where they lived about eleven years with Mr. Brown's parents; then removed to Cayuga County, N. Y., thence to Richland County, Ohio, coming to Indiana and locating, in 1833, on the farm in this town- ship, where they died. Mrs. Brown and her parents, Benjamin and Charity Kniffin, were natives of New York ; the former died in Cayuga County, N.Y., and the latter at Grand Rapids, Mich. Mr. Brown, before his death, had ac- cumulated 720 acres of land that lies near the center of English Prairie. He was a member of the Presbyterian and his wife of the Methodist Church, and they were parents of seven children, viz .: Lama, who is married and resides in Iowa; Sarah A. Nathan, deceased ; Loretta ; Caroline ; Susan, married and a resident of this township, and Maria L., deceased; the three sisters, Sarah, Loretta and Caroline, are single, and live together on the home farm, 180 acres of which, since the death of their parents, they have successfully managed up to the present time.

HENRY R. CRANDELL, deceased, the son of Ivory and Hopey Crandell, was born in the State of New York May 31, 1821. His father was a native of Rhode Island ; he came to Indiana and located in the township where Mrs. Hopey Crandell died, September 12, 1847; Ivory Crandell died in Steuben County, Ind. The subject passed his youth in Washington County, N. Y., with his grandparents, and there received a common education and taught his first term of school. At the age of twenty-two, he came to Indiana, taught school and clerked, and in 1849 opened a store at Lexington, in this township, consisting of general merchandise. He was married in Johnson Township, this county, October 12, 1847, to Jeanette P. Wildman, a native of Litchfield County, Conn., and the daughter of Levi and Sally Wildman, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of Massachusetts; both died in La Grange County. Mr. Crandell served as Trustee and Clerk of Greenfield Township about ten years, and as Postmaster until his death, January 8, 1870 ; since then the office and store-which are connected-have been under the efficient man- agement of Mrs. Crandell and her son. She is a member of the Methodist Church, and by Mr. Crandell had only two children-Sarah H. and Edwin L. H., the former of whom is married.

DANIEL DAGE was reared in Ohio, where he was born April 14, 1850, in Wayne County, and received a common education while assisting his parents on the farm. He came to this county and was married at La Grange, April 19, 1878, to Miss Catharine Libey, a native of Williams County, Ohio ; her parents, John L. and Catharine Libey, natives of Pennsylvania, have lived in this county since first locating here in 1856. Mr. Dage, after marrying, went to Salem, Steuben County, Ind., where they rented property two years ; then, in March, 1880, purchased and settled on his farm of 120 acres in this township. Mr. Dage is the son of Levi and Harriet Dage, the former a native of Wayne County, Ohio, and the latter of Somerset County, Penn. They re- moved in March, 1869, to Branch County, Mich., where Mrs. Harriet Dage died. Mr. Levi Dage is residing in Constantine, Mich. The subject has his farm in good condition and it is well cultivated. His family consists of two children-Wilma and Alice A.

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GREENFIELD TOWNSHIP.

WILLIAM EAGLE was reared to farm work, and is, therefore, an ex- perienced and practical farmer. He owns ninety acres of land in this town- ship that is well-improved, with good buildings, etc. Mr. Eagle's parents, William and Rebecca Eagle, were natives of England. They came to America and were residents of Pennsylvania for some time, in which State the subject was born, December 2, 1828. They subsequently journeyed westward and died in Ashland County, Ohio. William Eagle's advantages were few, and he came to Indiana when a boy of fifteen. His marriage with Miss Mary J. Wol- gamott took place in this township, December 14, 1848. Two children are the result of this union-James D. and Annetta. Mrs. Eagle was born in Marion County, Ohio. Her parents, Isaac and Sarah Wolgamott, natives of Ohio and Delaware, both died in this township, to which they immigrated in 1829. Mr. Eagle is a member of Masonic Lodge No. 215, at Lima.

CHRISTOPHER FAIR was reared in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, where he was married in 1864, February 16, to Miss Amanda Baker. He was born February 12, 1842, in Holmes County, Ohio, and received a common educa- tion, while assisting on the home farm. He began for himself at the age of twenty, and worked two years for $10.50 per month. Soon after marrying, he came to this county and lived one and a half years on a rented farm in this township. Then with the pecuniary aid of his mother, Rachel Fair, he was enabled to purchase 282 acres of land, where they now reside. The farm has been divided between them, Mr. Fair owning the portion where the buildings stand. Mr. Fair's parents were natives of Pennsylvania ; his father, Christo- pher Fair, died in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Mrs. Fair's parents, Absalom and Mary Baker, were also natives of the Keystone State ; her mother died in Stark County, Ohio, and her father is a resident of this county. There are eight children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Fair, viz .: Sherman, Doras, Henry, Viola, Benjamin, Hattie, Oliver and Ella.

JOSEPH FENNELL, son of Enoch and Amy Fennell, was born in En- gland November 25, 1827. His mother died there, and his father, after cross- ing the ocean five times, died in this township. Joseph Fennell came to Amer- ica in 1845, and was married in Michigan, March 12, 1860, to Miss Rosalie Moore, daughter of Tobias and Cynthia Moore. She was born in Ohio and died about a year after her marriage. Mr. Fennell has a farm of 301 acres in this township, accumulated by hard work and economy. He has always fol- lowed farming, and lived in Michigan for a limited period of time. Mrs. Sarah A. Fennell is a native of Ohio, and Mr. Fennell's second wife; they were mar- ried in Michigan June 29, 1862. Jacob and Elizabeth Miller, her parents, died in Ohio. They have six children-Roseann, William H., Joseph A., George W., Emery and Charles.

CYRUS FILLMORE was born in Lock Township, Cayuga County, N. Y. His parents, Nathaniel and Phœbe Fillmore were natives of Bennington, Vt., and both died at Aurora, Erie Co., N. Y .; had his father lived but a few days longer he would have reached the age of ninety-two. Cyrus Fillmore was mar- ried in Holland, Erie Co., N. Y., to Miss Laura Morey, on the 19th of May, 1825. They resided in Erie County five or six years, then removed to Fre- mont, on the Sandusky River, entered 160 acres of land, and to reach thesame were obliged to cut four miles of road. After he had cleared twenty-five acres, built three cabins and a log barn, he sold out and came to Indiana in 1837. For about seven years they lived on rented property in this county, purchasing 280 acres of his farm in this township in 1843. Mr. Fillmore now owns 311

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acres, and makes a specialty of raising grain, having in one year raised 2,000 bushels of wheat; also raises considerable stock. He has held the offices of Township Clerk and Trustee, the former a period of three years, and the latter, twelve. Himself and wife are members of the Disciples' Church, and he is a Spiritualist. They have four children-Benjamin F., Almon L., Helen M. and Millard C. Mrs. Fillmore is a native of Otsego County, Milford Township, N. Y. Her father, Matthew Morey, was born in Connecticut, and her mother, Sally Morey, in Massachusetts.

PETER GARLETS was born December 15, 1820, in Pennsylvania, the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Garlets, natives of Pennsylvania. His father died in his native State, and his mother in Indiana. Peter Garlets lived in his na- tive State until the age of twenty-three, and learned carpentering there. He was married in Ohio, January 29, 1846, to Miss Maria Fair ; she and her mother, Rachel Fair, were natives of Pennsylvania, and her father, John Fair, of Ireland; they came to Indiana in 1876, and he died in this county. Mrs. Fair survives him. Mr. Garlets, in 1863, sold his farm of eighty acres in Ohio and purchased 160 acres of his present farm in this township, which he has greatly improved, furnishing it with numerous fine buildings, wind mill, etc. Mr. Garlets subsequently purchased 165 acres in Springfield Township, and is a thorough farmer. They have four children, John, Jacob, Mary A. and Dan- iel, all married except Jacob, who resides at home; John and Mary live in Springfield, and Daniel in this township.

AARON GILHAMS is a native of Chester County, Penn., born March 11, 1825. His parents, Aaron and Sarah Gilhams, were natives of the same State, and residents of Sturgis, Mich., at the time of their death. Aaron Gil- hams lived in Sturgis from the age of ten to twenty-one. In 1850, he went to California, and three years worked in the gold mines there, clearing $100 per month. His companion from Sturgis, Elder Day, was killed by the Indians. In 1853, having returned, he bought 120 acres of his present farm of 240 acres. He is a thorough farmer, and has cultivated 120 rods of hedge fence. Mr. Gilhams was first married at Burr Oak, Mich., in November, 1858, to Mary Smiley, a native of Ohio; her parents also were natives of Ohio. Her father, George Smiley, died in Steuben County, Ind., and her mother, Catharine Smiley, at Indianapolis. The present Mrs. Gilhams was Sevilla Keim, and was married to the subject, March 8, 1876. She was born in Ohio, and came with her parents, Elias and Mary Keim, to this township, where they are yet residents. Mr. Gilhams has two sons-Clarence and Herbert-both engaged in school-teaching.

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Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 43

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