Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 46

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 46
USA > Indiana > LaGrange County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 46

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).

WRINCH WINTER was born in New York in 1830. His parents, George and Melicent (Wrinch) Winter, were English people, emigrating to America in 1824; the former came West in 1836, entering the land where the subject is now living, removing his family to the same in the summer of 1837. This was one of the earliest permanent settlements in the township. In the spring of 1852, Wrinch Winter and three companions started for California, equipped with a covered wagon, drawn by three yoke of oxen and two cows. While crossing the Elkhorn River, a band of Indians surprised them, but left them unmolested. At Stockton, Cal., Mr. Winter was employed about three years in teaming, then returned to this township, where he has remained. After his father died (December 19, 1868), he purchased the homestead farm of 126

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NEWBURY TOWNSHIP.

acres, having now 206 acres of good land. He is a Republican, and, in 1863, was appointed to fill a vacancy as Trustee of the township, and continued to hold the office for three consecutive terms, serving satisfactorily throughout. Mr. Winter and Miss Lucretia Hamilton were married in 1856, and have a family of four children-George H., Corette, Regina and Marian E. Mrs. Winter was born in 1836, in St. Joseph County, Mich ; her father was Samuel Hamilton, a native of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch descent.

ALLEN I. WOLFE is a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, and the son of Samuel and Mary Wolfe, the former of Pennsylvania, the latter of Ohio, and both of German ancestry. They removed to Elkhart County, Ind., in 1837, the subject at the time being five years of age, shortly afterward coming to Fly Creek, in this county. After several changes, they finally located on Section 3 of this township, where the rest of their days were tranquilly passed. Allen I. Wolfe, at the age of sixteen, learned carpentering ; continued the same until 1852, when he went to California with three companions, starting with a covered wagon, drawn by four yoke of cattle ; this equipage they disposed of at Soda Springs, U. T., landing at their destination in the fall of the year. After spending three years in the Northern mines, Mr. Wolfe returned to Indiana with the sum of $3,600, with which he purchased his farm of 160 acres, that is now well improved with good buildings. He was united in marriage to Miss Susan Wight, by the Rev. J. P. Jones, on the 17th of January, 1856. They have had four children- Lewis A., Mary E., Warren W., and Nettie E., deceased. Mr. Wolfe is an anti-secret man, and in the early history of the township served on the Board of Trustees several times. Hunting was always with him a favorite pastime.

C. C. YODER is one of eleven children in the family of Christian and Catharine (Miller) Yoder, natives of Pennsylvania, in which State our subject's birth occurred, in Somerset County, May 29, 1819. He was united in mar- riage, June 27, 1841, to Catharine Harshberger, the daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Summey) Harshberger, natives of Pennsylvania. In 1843, Mr. Yoder removed to Elkhart County, Ind., where he resided until March, 1851, locating then on his present farm of 160 acres, that has been cleared and im- proved by him. Instead of the customary log cabin, he built a small frame structure that is yet standing. Mr. and Mrs. Yoder are firm members of the Omish Church, and parents of eight children, five of whom are living and lo- cated near home. They are-Barbara, Noah, Lydia, Harriet and Sarah. Mr. Yoder once met with a narrow escape and painful accident. Before leaving his native State, while riding through the woods during a severe storm, he was struck on the skull by a falling limb, and knocked insensible from his horse. After reviving, he continued the journey with his faithful animal, and by the assistance of medical aid was soon restored.

REUBEN YODER is a native of Somerset County, Penn., where he was born January 9, 1831. He is one of eleven children in the family of Christian C. and Catharine (Miller) Yoder, who were born in Pennsylvania, and were of German lineage. Reuben Yoder was left an orphan 'at the age of eighteen, and went to work on a farm. For several seasons he was engaged in threshing grain with the flail, receiving every tenth bushel. In the winter of 1850-51, he threshed 1,100 bushels of oats, and 280 of rye. On the 1st of the following April, he was married to Harriet Riehl, who was born in Pennsylvania March 3, 1830. Her parents, John and Elizabeth Riehl, were natives of Germany, and after coming to this country, with the exception of three years passed in Michigan, lived in Pennsylvania until their deaths. Subject and wife started

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on their wedding tour in a covered wagon for Indiana ; settled on their present farm, and lived eight years in a log house. When Mr. Yoder came here he had $700, a team and wagon ; by dint of persevering industry, he has acquired 240 acres of well improved land, valued at $50 per acre. They are members of the Omish Church, and have had nine children-Elizabeth, Samuel R., Daniel R., Mary M., Menno S., Moses A., Peter A., Abraham (deceased), and Levi. Mr. Yoder is giving his children a good education, and Daniel is now teaching his sixth term of school.

MILFORD TOWNSHIP.

M. B. BAIRD was born January 24, 1813, in Allegany County, N. Y .; son of Charles and Hannah (Dimick) Baird, natives of New York, and of English and German descent; they went to Wayne County, Ohio, in 1817, subsequently moving to Wood County, Ohio, where they died. The subject, in the spring of 1838, went to Monroe County, Mich .; then in a few years went to Wood County, Ohio, where he cleared up a farm; he was the first to run a separator in that county. He came to this township in 1852, and located on his farm of 120 acres, which he has much improved. He was married to Lydia Bruce, December 22, 1836; she was the daughter of Stephen and Lena (Pugh) Bruce, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania, and was born October 23, 1816. They had ten children-Stephen B., Josepheus E., Charles, Rachel, Rebecca A., Mary J., Milton, Samuel, Josephine and Edwin P. Stephen B. enlisted in 1862, and served during the war with Gen. Sherman; Charles enlisted in the Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until the war closed. Mr. Baird is an able horse-farrier, and has a large practice ; he was among the active Regulators, and has served as Pathmaster a number of terms. He is a Republican, as are also his sons.

J. A. BARTLETT, one of the early pioneers of this township, was born in Oneida County, N. Y., January 21, 1815, and is the son of John C. and Betsey (Arnold) Bartlett, who were parents of eight children, viz .: Ann M., Samuel A., Addlime M., John A., Henry D., Edward D., George R. and Charles C .. At the age of twenty, the subject began an apprenticeship at the carpenter and joiner's trade, and worked at that until 1838, when he came to Milford Township and located, where he has since remained engaged in the practice of farming. In the fall of 1840, Mr. Bartlett was united in marriage with Salina L. Andrews, daughter of Luman and Chloe (Adams) Andrews. They have three children living -Celia M., Addie A. and Ida M., and one deceased, George A. Mr. Bartlett, in common with all early settlers, is familiar with the hardships and labor of the early days in this forest land, and he has always worked for the advance- ment of the country. At one time he held the office of Township Trustee, and served satisfactorily. He 'is a stanch Democrat, and cast his first vote for Van Buren.

J. C. BASSETT, among the leading citizens of the township, was born in Oswego County, N. Y., November 17, 1825. His parents, James and Rachael Bassett, natives of Vermont and New York respectively, moved from Oswego County to Steuben County, N. Y., where they died. Subject is one of ten children, and learned blacksmithing when seventeen years old, and made that his leading pursuit until about 1860. For three years he followed mold-

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MILFORD TOWNSHIP.

ing in New York, and harness-making one year: he came to this county in 1851, and located at Applemanburg, and came to this township in 1855, where he has lived since, with the exception of the summer of 1865, during which time he was at Kendallville, running a brick-yard. He has served twelve years as Pathmaster, is a strong Republican, and serves the people in various ways as Director of Agricultural Society, etc. March 12, 1852, he was mar- ried to Matilda Spears ; she is a native of this county, born April 26, 1837, and daughter of Tunis and Mary Spears, who were of English descent, and came to this county in 1836. Tunis Spears was born in New Jersey and his wife in Connecticut.

LUCAS BASSETT was born September 1, 1840, to George W. and Samantha Bassett, in York State. Parents are natives of Vermont; his father was born in 1805, August 6, and mother September 16, 1806. They were married September 28, 1826, and moved to Brockport, N. Y., in the fall of 1833; then came to this county with the family, settling four miles east of La Grange; thence to this township, and located on the present farm. The father and his son, Lucas, purchased eighty acres, which they have cleared and improved with two good houses, bank barn, and other buildings. Lucas started out poor, and now has property worth over $7,000. He was married to Christena Wycuff, who was born in Pennsylvania, July 22, 1850. She bore him the following children : Orlando, Cora Adell, Franklin, Emma J., George and Christena C. Mrs. Bassett was a daughter of Jesse and Kathane Wycuff, and of German descent. Her parents moved to Ashland County, Ohio, where they resided until the father's death, in 1862. The mother then came to Noble County, where she died in 1869. Mr. Bassett has served as Pathmaster two terms. He is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Buchanan.

ALANSON BLACKMUN is the only one living of ten children in the family of Allen and Aseneth (Corbin) Blackmun, and was born in Huron County, Ohio, February 18, 1823. Allen Blackmun, a native of New York, in his early years was engaged in the manufacture of pearl-ash. After his marriage, he moved to Huron County, Ohio; lived there until the spring of 1839, when he came to this township, and settled on the place now owned by his son. The latter, Alanson Blackmun, first came here in March, 1843, but returned to Ohio, and in the fall of the same year, came back and located per- manently. His father and mother both died here, the former in 1865, the latter, who was a native of Connecticut, in 1873; they were hard-working people, of Methodist Episcopal faith, and among the first comers to the county. The sub- ject was reared a farmer, is of limited education, and was married, March 25, 1849, to Mariah Baker, whose parents came from Ohio to Steuben County, Ind., in about 1836. With the exception of one year in Michigan, Mr. and Mrs. Blackmun have resided on their farm. They have had four children- Albert E., Mary J., Charles A. and Weltha R. Both daughters are dead ; Albert married Annie Miller, and resides in California ; Charles married Lil- lian Gunn, and lives in this township. Mr. Blackmun is a Republican, as was his father, and a member of the Masonic Order of Wolcottville. He was appointed to the office of County Commissioner, in 1874, in the place of A. Dickenson, deceased, and after serving out his term was elected to another, again re-elected, and is yet serving.

ALBERT BRAINERD is the son of Williard and Pattie (Aikins) Brainerd, and at an early age was thrown upon his own resources by the death of his parents. They were natives of Connecticut. Albert Brainerd was born

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in Cleveland, Ohio, February 15, 1824, and at the age of nineteen was married to Minerva Himes, and shortly after purchased land in Ohio, where they remained until 1851, when they came to this township with the intention of locating, but, after a short visit with Mrs. Brainerd's parents, returned to Ca- yuga County, Ohio, coming again to Indiana the following year, however, and settling on forty acres of land in this township. Since then he has purchased and cleared the eighty-acre farm where he resides. Mr. Brainerd, although not an aspirant for office, has in several instances been called to serve the people, and has done so satisfactorily. Mrs. Brainerd's father, Joseph Himes, of Ver- mont, was a resident of Cayuga County, Ohio, before coming to this township, in about 1845, where he spent the remainder of his life. Jennie C., Harriet M., Frank P. and Fred E. are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Brainerd.

A. P. CASE is living in the first frame house built in the township and upon the farm entered by him in 1836. In company with his uncle, David Randall, he left Ashtabula County, Ohio, in the spring of 1833, and traveled across the country on foot to St. Joseph County, Mich., west of Sturgis, where they soon earned enough to enter the eighty acres of land, in 1836, on Sections 7 and 18, where, in the spring of 1887, subject, with his mother, Anna (Ran- dall) Case, and brother Zopher, located, and for many years endured the hard- ships of pioneer life. Zopher Case, father of the subject, who ranked as Major in the war of 1812, came from Connecticut at an early day, and settled in Ash- tabula County, Ohio, where he died in 1822, leaving a wife and four small children, among whom was our subject, who was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, October 6, 1812. After coming to this county, his mother kept house for him until he was married, December 4, 1841, to Miss Elsie Hill, daughter of Aaron and Permelia (Winston) Hill, natives of New Jersey. They are parents of ten children-Zopher P., Randall P., Daniel A. (deceased), Eliza- beth C., Daniel A., Jr., Billings B., Elsie A., Perry A., Mary E. and Isa A.

C. M. CASE is a native of this county, where he was born in Johnson Township, October 8, 1850. His parents were Zopher and Nancy (Highbar- gin) Case, natives of Ohio. Zopher Case, with his brother, A. P. Case, and mother, came to this township in 1837, but subsequently located in Johnson Township, where he is yet living. The subject, when twenty years of age, commenced teaching school, and for three years alternated that with farm labor, during their respective seasons. In 1873, he bought forty acres of land in Section 17, and his father gave him eighty acres adjoining. Of this, he sold eighty acres for $3,000 and purchased his present farm, that ranks among the best in the township in improvements and appearance. It consists of one hundred acres, twenty of which were presented to his wife by her father. For the remaining eighty acres he paid $5,000. The proceeds of this farm for the year 1879 were $2,500; 1880, $2,800; and 1881, $2,000. Mr. Case also raises some of the best blooded stock in the county. Although quite a young man, he is on the road to prosperity and belongs to a representative family. He was married to Miss Mary A. Newnam March 17, 1874. She was born in this township October 17, 1855, and is the daughter of Nicholas B. and Nancy (Cochran) Newnam. They were among the early settlers here, coming in 1835, and lived here until within the last year, when they moved to Kendallville.

CHARLES COCHRAN, born December 23, 1821, in Ross County, Ohio; son of Col. William and Nancy (McKelvey) Cochran, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Kentucky. They were early settlers of Ross County, Ohio, moving from there to Marion County in 1822, and in 1836

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located in this township, where he had previously entered about seven or eight hundred acres of land, and forty acres upon which was a water-power saw-mill. Upon arrival, May 18, they moved into a hewed log house. In the spring of 1837, after bringing from Detroit, with an ox team, the machinery, the mill was run on custom work until his death, in August, 1844, aged fifty-six years. His wife died June 9, 1861, aged seventy-four years. The subject, when twenty- one years old, started out, March 19, on foot, and with less than $4, for Iowa; was joined by a companion in Illinois, and they proceeded on their journey. On the North Fork of the Skunk River, they stopped and established a claim, upon which they built a log-house, cleared an acre of land, which they planted to potatoes, and traded off the crop for a yoke of steers. Next proceeded down the Skunk River to near Burlington, then to Galena; made a short stop at St. Louis, then went on to Arkansas, where for two months he was engaged in cutting wood. He next went to New Orleans, and thence to Horse Shoe Bend, and about April 1, 1844, at Galena, he traded for a good horse, and made the journey home in seven days. At his father's death, he inherited eighty acres of land, in the meantime having traded for forty acres, where he now is living in the first brick house built in the township. He owns 460 acres of land, estimated, with other property, at $40,000. He is an active political worker and is a Freemason. He was married, January 29, 1849, to Ann E. Henry, a native of Pennsylvania and daughter of William Henry, who came to this township in 1846. They have had seven children-Mary Jane (deceased), George W., Edith H., Charles A. (deceased), Alice A., Allen M. (deceased) and Frank H. Mr. and Mrs. Cochran are Spiritualists, and he is owner of an old horse, quite smart and active, that was born May 10, 1852. G. W. COPLIN, son of William and Bethiah (Palmer) Coplin, was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., January 19, 1811. His mother was of English descent, and his father of German. The latter, when but fourteen years of age, enlisted in the army of the Revolutionary war, and shortly after, while on duty at Fort Stanwix cutting timber for repairs, the whole force was ambushed and taken prisoners by the Indians, and he taken to Montreal, Can- ada, where he, after gaining their confidence, made his escape down the St. Lawrence River in a bark canoe to New York, where he resided until his death in 1814. There were thirteen children in William Coplin's family, only one, the subject, now living. He practiced farming in New York until 1850, when he came West in September to locate his home, selecting land in this township. At that time, when he was clearing his farm of 80 acres, game was plenty, and hunting a pastime. He was married in Cayuga, N. Y., to Miss Rebecca Van- vranken, daughter of Adam I. G. Vanvranken. They have had six children, John V., William P., Theodore, Orcelia G., George and Spencer E .- three living, John, William and Spencer. Mr. and Mrs. Coplin are members of the Christian Church, and he is always interested in the progress of all public en- terprises of a beneficent character. His first vote was anti-Masonry, and he has since been an advocate of the Republican party.

THEODORE COPLIN, son of the subject, during the late war enlisted in the the Seventy-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served until sickness called him away. He died at Gallatin, Tenn., February 6, 1863, aged twenty-three years seven months and six days. His last words to friends were recorded February 1 as follows : " I'll see you no more on this earth ; meet me in heav- en. Father, mother and brothers, if you see me no more here, mourn not ; for my faith is good, and I trust that heaven is my home."

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WILLIAM S. CORNELL, one in a family of fifteen children, went to live with Elias Gilbert in Springfield Township, this county, where he remained until he attained the age of twenty-one years. William Cornell's parents, born in New York, were Benjamin H. and Leafie (Hammond) Cornell, who jour- neyed westward, stopping in Logan County, Ohio, where the subject was born in 1823. Benjamin Cornell was a farmer ; he died in Whitley County, Ind., where he came about the year 1841. William Cornell is now pleasantly situ- ated on 115 acres of land, from which the wild forest trees have disappeared, principally through the untiring efforts of Mr. Cornell, who started out in life with $100, and the determination to succeed. October 22, 1857, Mr. Cornell and Miss Sarah J. Kline were united in marriage. She was the daughter of William and Ellen Kline, of German and Irish descent, and was born in Rich- land County, Ohio, August 2, 1840. Six children have been born to them- Clark, Lora, Leafie, William (deceased), Albert and Delbert.

J. F. COSPER owns -eighty acres of improved land in Section 17, and is the son of John and Mary Cosper, natives of the East, the father of English, the mother of German descent. They came to Wayne County, Ohio, at an early day, and from there moved to Holmes County ; then, in the fall of 1841, came to Noble County, where the father died in 1872. The subject is one of nine children, and was born in Wayne County, Ohio, February 19, 1829, and started out for himself at the age of twenty. He worked during summers on a farm, and attended school at La Grange, taught by Mr. McIntosh, during the winter of 1849-50, and for three years at Ontario, working a portion of the time. Prof. Patch was Principal of the school there. He has taught seven terms of school in all. He married Emma Waterhouse, September 6, 1854, daughter of B. B. and Harriet Waterhouse, natives of New York, and of En- glish descent, who came to this township and settled in 1836. Her father was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Cosper and wife are Methodists, and he has held all the offices in the church ; he has also served as School Director and Pathmaster. He is a Republican, and in the fall of 1864 he was drafted in the army, and served under Gen. Sherman until the close of the war. They reared an adopted child, Josie, who was born May 24, 1859; she is now the wife of Norman Royer.

ISAAC I. CROWELL, born February 6, 1836, in Cayuga County, N. Y., was the only one of twelve children that left his native State. He came to Springfield Township in 1857, and hired out by the month, continuing about seven years, when he was enabled to purchase the farm of 80 acres where he now lives. Hugh and Eliza A. (Irish) Crowell were the parents of Isaac. Hugh Crowell was a native of Connecticut, and his forefathers came from Ire- land ; the mother was a native of New York, and of English descent; they both died in New York. Isaac Crowell was married May 18, 1862, to Miss Elnora E. Millis; her father, John Millis, was of English ancestry and was born in Maryland. Her mother, Martha Millis, of Irish descent, was a native of Ohio. Mr. Crowell's property is probably worth $6,000. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Crowell are Theron A., William P., Charlie M., John W., Edwin H., Clinton S. (deceased), and Etta M. When the Mount Pisgah Post Office was in existence, Mr. Crowell served as Postmaster.

JOHN DANCER, M. D., of German descent, was born in Ashland County, Ohio, October 6, 1830. His father, John G. Dancer, was born in Washington County, Penn., in April, 1802, and his mother, Margaret (Boyce) Dancer, was born in Washington County, N. Y., in April 1802;

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they were married in Jefferson County, Ohio, and moved to Ashland County in 1825; thence to DeKalb County, Ind., in 1848, where they engaged in farming. Mr. Dancer's occupation in early life was that of a blacksmith; he died in July, 1873, and his wife in March, 1870. The subject, being slightly crippled, commenced teaching in 1849, to defray his school expenses, and in 1851 began the study of medicine with his brother William, at Auburn, Ind., but upon the death of the latter, went to Lisbon to study under Dr. Bicknell, with whom he remained thirteen months, and, after a short practice at Auburn, located permanently at South Milford. He completed the course of study at Rush Mecical College, Chi- cago, receiving his diploma in 1859. In 1865 and 1867, he attended the same college, and during the winter of 1872-73 was at Jefferson and Bellevue Medi- cal Colleges. Mr. Dancer voted for Franklin Pierce in 1852, and since has voted the straight Democratic ticket. He was nominated State Senator at one time, and also ran for Representative, but the county went Republican and he was defeated. He was married October 14, 1860, to Isabel H. Hodges, a native of La Grange County, born January 7, 1837, and daughter of Nelson R. (native of Maryland), and Mary R. Hodges (native of Pennsylvania). They have had ten children, seven now living, viz., Maggie D., Hattie M. (deceased), John M. (deceased), Kate J., Frank A., James A. (deceased), Charles W., Gratia I., Edna D. and George W.

N. B. DRYER, son of Darius and Clarissa (Rogers) Dryer, was born in Greene County, N. Y., August 9, 1829. His parents came here in 1837, his father having previously entered land in Noble County, and traded it for the farm where his son-in-law, A. B. Bennett, now lives. He settled on his farm in 1840, and died there in February, 1861. Darius Dryer, a clothier by trade, was a soldier in the war of 1812; he started the first carding-mill in this county ; he also had followed teaching as a vocation, and four of his six children were school-teachers-his daughter Laura has taught school the past thirty-nine years, averaging two terms yearly. The subject was favorably educated, and after teaching six terms of school devoted his attention to farming exclusively. In 1850, he made a purchase of 80 acres of his present farm; this he has greatly improved, added 40 acres and now has property worth about $7,000, Mr. Dryer was married March 22, 1855, to Mary A. Tinklepaugh, who was born September 14, 1834, in Madison County, N. Y .; her parents were natives of New York, of German descent, and came to this township in 1844, where they died, the father, Peter Tinklepaugh, in 1848, at the age of sixty-two, and the mother, Maria (Nifer) Tinklepaugh, in 1854, aged sixty-seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Dryer have had eight children-Dwight W., Romaine P., Charles D. (deceased), Zenas E., Lillie I., William B., Mary Edna and an in- fant. The survivors are being well educated, and three have taught school in this county. Mrs. Dryer is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Dryer has served as Assessor two terms, is an active politician and an enterprising citizen. In about the year 1848, Mr. Dryer remembers of counting as many as twenty- five deer in one drove.

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Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 46

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