Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 48

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 48
USA > Indiana > LaGrange County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 48

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).

DAVID W. MILLER is a native of Highland County, Ohio, where he was born January 4, 1831, his parents, Henry and Christina (Fisher) Miller, having settled there in 1815. Thence they moved, in 1837, to Johnson Town-

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ship, this county, where they resided till 1855, when they removed to this town- ship, where Mr. Miller died in 1861. David Miller in his youth helped to raise the flax with which to make clothing, and this, together with the wool obtained from a few sheep, furnished the required material. When twenty-one years old, David Miller rented his father's farm, and after harvesting one crop and selling his cattle he went to Iowa, and entered land near Des Moines. He soon re- turned, and for four years drove a team for Northam & Barber, and traded his Iowa land for forty acres in this township. This land, with forty acres more given him by his father, made his home until in 1862, when he sold out and went to Michigan and resided three years ; came to Noble County and traded for his present property of 100 acres. Mr. Miller was chosen Justice of the Peace and re-elected to a second term ; has served also as Pathmaster and School Director. He is a Democrat, and a charter member of the Regulators. In the fall of 1861, he was married to Aceneth Day, who was born in Huron County, Ohio, December 31, 1841, and is the daughter of David R. and Orilla (Black- man) Day, who came to this township in 1843, and are now residents of Wol- cottville. They have had seven children-Francis H., Mary R., Charles W., Nellie C., Ida E., Flora U., and John C., deceased.

FRANCIS A. NEWNAM was born in Springfield Township, La Grange County, July 14, 1838. January 17, 1861, he married Eunice Kellogg, the daughter of Joseph and Adeline (Cory) Kellogg; she was born October 15, 1840, and, by her union with Mr. Newnam, has one child-Ora P., whose birth oc- curred on the 6th of August, 1873. Mr. Newnam is one in a family of fifteen, eight now living -- Nicholas B., Rebecca, George W., Rachel A:, Francis A., Samuel H., Sarah A. and Harriet. Francis, having attained the age of twenty- one, made a venture with $100, with which he partially paid for 120 acres in Springfield Township in Section 33, and sold the same eight years subsequently, when he bought his farm in this township, 200 acres, for $11,000. Mr. New- nam raises live stock, that affords another source of profit. The proceeds of his farm for 1879, were $3,000 ; for 1880, $3,000, and for 1881, $2,000. Mr. Newnam is a Republican ; charter member of the Regulator Society at Brushy Prairie, and has served as County Commissioner. His parents were Nicholas B. and Mary (Pickeron) Newnam. Mrs. Newnam's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kellogg, came from their native State, New York, to Steuben County, in 1845, and resided until the dates of their death, respectively, 1876 and 1880.

GEORGE W. NEWNAM was born in Talbot County, Md., May 20, 1832, and is the son of N. B. and Mary (Pickeron) Newnam, who came to this county in November, 1836, and located in Section 16, Greenfield Township, where they erected a pole shanty, and lived that winter ; then, in the summer of 1837, built a good log house, lived in that until 1850; then built a frame house, in which his son now lives and where he died December, 1877, aged seventy-five years nine months and nine days ; his wife died June 10, 1840, aged thirty-three years. George W. started out empty-handed when he reached his majority, and spent about five years in various pursuits. He well remem- bers following an Indian trail through the woods that led to a log schoolhouse, where he acquired a moderate education. He married, April 25, 1858. Eliza Ann Lucas, of Noble County, daughter of George Lucas, an early settler. In the fall of 1858, Mr. Newnam went to Steuben County, where he lived seven years ; then returned and settled on his present farm. He has dealt in stock to some extent, buying and shipping large numbers of hogs and sheep from this and adjoining counties. In the fall of 1880, he bought 150 head of sheep, kept

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them four months, then sold them at a net profit of $440. Mr. Newnam is a member of the Freemason. Lodge, No. 380. There are three children-John B., George E. and Nicholas C.

I. B. NEWNAM, son of G. P. and Clarissa (Sturgis) Newnam, was born in this township, January 4, 1841. His father was a native of Talbot County, Md., born March 3, 1806, and his mother May 19, 1818. They were parents of three children-Julia A. (deceased), I. B., and Mary J., who is now the wife of George W. Sturgis and lives in Topeka, Kan. The father of the sub- ject being very much averse to slavery, at the age of thirty left Maryland and came to this township in 1836, in company with three brothers, and entered land in Section 33, where he resided until his death, November 21, 1878. His wife is still living with her son, the subject. He made a start in life with half of an old threshing machine; and after running it about two seasons, he traded it for a span of horses. He then farmed for his father on shares, and traded his team for the northeast quarter of Section 35, and came out $1,100 in debt. He is now a leading farmer, owns 200 acres of finely improved land, valued at about $15,000, and has put about $5,000 into buildings. His wind engine sup- plies four tanks and a hydrant with water. His education has been principally self-acquired. He married Katie J. Childs February 7, 1860. She was born February 15, 1839, and is the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Likes) Childs, who were of English descent and natives of Wayne County, Ohio. They have three children-Harmer M., Mary J. and Clemma.

JOHN B. NICHOLS, son of Samuel and Rachael (Shepardson) Nichols, was born in Vermont, November 2, 1805. Samuel Nichols, after farming a few years in New York, went to Ohio, where he died in 1870. Mrs. Nichols then went to Wisconsin with her daughter, where she died within a year. The subject had three brothers and two sisters, and went from New York to Monroe County, Mich .. in 1833, where he purchased sixty acres of land for $150, sub- sequently selling it for $1,100. Through one of the wild-cat banks that was organized about that time he lost nearly all his property. In 1840, Mr. Nich- ols located permanently in this township, paying $4.50 per acre for his land, and sold pork at 1} cents per pound and wheat at 372 cents per bushel to pay for it. Mr. Nichols was married, October 7, 1838, to Adeline M. Bartlett, a native of Oneida County, N. Y., who moved to Monroe County, Mich., with her parents, in 1831. They came to this township in 1841, and both died here, Mr. Bartlett in 1847 and Mrs. Bartlett in 1856. In 1853, Mr. Nichols adopted an infant child, Eugene Sprague. Mr. Nichols was one of the active Regu- lators and ever upholds the cause of the just. He owns 440 acres of land, is worth about $32,000 and pays $150 taxes, quite in contrast with, although as easily paid. as his $3 tax in 1840. In 1851, Mr. Nichols invested $200 in the old plank road, and subsequently $400 in the G. R. & I. road.

L. C. NICHOLS was born June 4, 1811, in Chenango County, N. Y., a son of Samuel and Rachael (Shepardson) Nichols, natives of Vermont. They lived a few years in New York State and then moved to Ohio, where the senior Nichols died in 1870. Mrs. Nichols then moved to Wisconsin with her daughter, where she died the same year. L. C. Nichols began life for himself at the age of twenty by purchasing the old homestead farm, in company with his brother-in-law. By reason of failing health, he sold out to his partner, and soon after commenced raising thoroughbred sheep on rented land. In about 1835, he rented a dairy farm, conducting that business for a time. This he found unprofitable. About this time, the United States, or "Nick Biddle's

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Bank," as it was called, was refused a recharter by the United States Govern- ment. It was run by English capital and had become a power in the land. The country was flooded with paper currency, which so depreciated in value that it carried financial ruin to a large number of the people, our subject among the rest. Becoming disgusted with his failure and the East, he started, in 1842, for Wisconsin, but found his brother, John B., in Toledo, whom he joined and came to this township, where he has 120 acres of land and owns property valued at $10,000. July 4, 1849, he married Rebecca Sage. She died, in 1858, in Wisconsin. Four children were born to them-William S., Henry R., Ulilla and Anna B., the latter deceased. November 29, 1862, Mr. Nichols married Mrs. Harriet Cook, daughter of Samuel Fowler, of New York. Mrs. Nichols and the daughter are members of the Baptist Church.

J. PYATT owns 200 acres of well-improved land in Section 33, of this township. He is a native of Ohio, born in Seneca County, March 5, 1829, and first came to this county with his parents, Moses and Elizabeth (Parker) Pyatt, who were of French and Irish descent, in the fall of 1839, where they remained three years ; then went to Kendall County, Ill., resided three years and returned. The mother died May 9, 1866 ; her husband the 24th of the following June. Both were members of the Disciples' Church. The subject began working in the saw-mill at Milford at the age of twenty-one, receiving from $13 to $20 per month, and by the strictest economy he purchased a farm of eighty acres at $5 per acre, built a good frame house, and in the fall of 1855 was free from debt. January 1, 1856, he married Julia Swogger, daughter of Isaac and Susannah Swogger, natives of Ohio, of German descent. They have three children-Ada, who married Eugene Nichols December 26, 1875; Amanda and Charles W. For a period of about twenty years, he was never more than twenty-five miles away from home ; but October 30, 1876, he saw his neighbor, Mr. Acton, starting out, en route for the Centennial, and, with- out further ceremony, Mr. Pyatt concluded to accompany him, and did so, returning in time to vote for Tilden and Hendricks. Mr. Pyatt's property is estimated at about $24.000.

AMIZIAH REED was born in Wayne County, Penn., August 17, 1817. His parents were David H. and Lydia (Bartlett) Reed, natives of Maine, of English descent ; they went to Pennsylvania, in 1817, thence to Richland County, Ohio, in 1836; and, in 1852, came to this township, where the subject had located about two years previously. He was married October 14, 1849, to Elizabeth Reed, who was born in Richland County, Ohio, July 8, 1825, and soon after located on his farm of 122 acres in this township, which now presents an improved and thrifty appearance. His wife's parents were Bartholomew and Sylva Reed, natives of Maine, and of English descent. Mr. Reed has run a threshing machine for about fifteen years, and threshed the first clover seed in the county, that was raised on his farm in 1851. When at home, he worked at the carpenter's trade with his father, who was a carpenter and blacksmith, for about seven years, and his experiences have benefited him. He served satisfactorily as Township Treasurer, six years successively, and during the war, assisted in raising money to exempt the township draft. Their children are Albert, Amanda, Edward K., Christus C. (deceased) and George Dallas. The three oldest are married and living near home.

JACOB ROSER, son of George and Susan (Pontious) Roser, was born in Stark County, Ohio, March 22, 1832. The father, George Roser, who was engaged in farming in Stark and Summit Counties, Ohio, died in May, 1870 ;

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his wife in December, 1872. They had seven children. The subject, at the age of twenty-one, came to Noble County, and commenced clearing a farm. He went back to Ohio, and in the following spring returned to make the West his permanent home. He located in Milford Township in the fall of 1862, where he now lives, and owns 105 acres of well improved land. He was married to Amelia Jane Ritter, March 23, 1868. She was born October 6, 1836; her parents, Isaac and Margaret (Kiser) Ritter, were of German descent, and her father was a cabinet maker. Mr. and Mrs. Roser have three children-George A., Cora S. and Dallas G. . Mr. Roser's first vote was cast for James Buchanan.

JACOB SIGLER is the owner of 120 acres in the southeast quarter of Section 7, this township. He is a son of Michael and Mary (Soles) Sigler, of German and English descent, and natives of Pennsylvania. Michael Sigler was born April 13, 1790, and was the seventh son, and served in the war of 1812 as a cavalryman. In October, 1820, he moved to Ashland County, Ohio, and lived there until his death, April, 1866. Jacob Sigler is the eldest of sixteen children, nine of whom are now living, and when eighteen years old began working for himself, and at the age of twenty-one was able to purchase 80 acres of land in Wood County, Ohio. He was born February 19, 1813, at 8 o'clock A. M., and was married Thursday, February 20, 1834, to Miss Mary Clark, born March 7, 1808, in Indiana. Her parents, George and Mary Clark, came to America from Ireland. The subject, about a year after his marriage, built a log house on his farm, where they lived more than eighteen years. Mr. Sigler, while in Ohio, served as Township Trustee, two years ; Clerk, two years, and School Director, twelve years. He came to this township and pur- chased his present farm June 2, 1853. His property is valued at about $15,000. He filled the office of Justice of the Peace eight years, and School Director and Pathmaster several terms. He has visited eight States in his travels, is a Democrat, a member of the Masonic Order, No. 380, and with his wife a member of the Baptist Church. They have had seven children-Eliza A., born May 27, 1836; Mary J., June 26, 1838 ; and Margaret E., Septem- ber 11, 1839, all deceased ; David C., born December 26, 1840; Jasper N., May 11, 1842; Michael W., March 23, 1844, and Sarah M., April 17, 1843, all married and living in comfortable circumstances.

H. J. VESEY is a native of Vermont, as were also his parents, William and Adeline (Copland) Vesey, his birth occurring October 19, 1834. They came West to Geauga County, Ohio, in 1834 ; his father, in 1835, bought land in Elkhart County, Ind., and returned to Ohio; his five children, in the spring of 1836, accompanied by their uncle, came and located on the land, but the fa- ther was detained in Ohio by the illness of his wife, that resulted in her death. He then joined his family in Elkhart County, where he died in 1873. At the age of eighteen, H. J. Vesey paid $150 for his time until twenty-one, and, in 1853, began attending school at Ontario, working at any available employment during the remainder of the time. He has paid special attention to grafting, and for thirty-four years has worked at that during the spring season, traveling through Canada and seventeen of the States. In 1858, Mr. Vesey traded land in Fillmore County, Minn., that he bought in 1851, for 120 acres of his farm in this township. He now owns 302 acres, which are improved with many fine buildings ; property valued at $20,000. In connection with farming, he raises live-stock, having, in the fall of 1881, 510 sheep for the spring market. August 6, 1857, Mr. Vesey and Helen E. Smith were united in marriage. She was born December 14, 1839, and is the daughter of Joseph H. and Margaret

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(Robinson) Smith, natives of New York, who went to Michigan at an early day. Mr. and Mrs. Vesey have four children-Maggie A., now Mrs. Charles Sears ; Lottie E., now Mrs. George Mckibben ; Lydia C. and Sylvester T. Mr. Ve- sey has been a member of the Masonic Order.

DANIEL WERT was born in Stark County, Ohio, November 18, 1828. His father, Jacob Wert, was born in 1799 in Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio with his parents in 1804; thence to this State in 1852, where he has since lived. He is now with Daniel, his second son, and is eighty-two years old. His first wife, the subject's mother, died June 5, 1868 ; her maiden name was Susanna Baum ; she was born in Ohio in 1807 ; his second wife-Elizabeth Walker, a native of Ohio-is now visiting in the West. Daniel Wert commenced work- ing by the month when about twenty-one years old, and, after he had accumu- lated $325, came to Indiana in 1853, and located in De Kalb County. He returned to Ohio the following spring, and was married March 19, 1854, to Eliza Miller ; they then returned to Indiana, where Mr. Wert for about two years ran a saw-mill; then some eight months worked in a mill near Goshen in Elkhart County ; then came to this township and settled on his fine farm of 340 acres, where he has remained, and has been operating the first saw-mill built in the township. He spent about twelve years dressing and fulling cloth. When only six years old, with his brother, aged eight, he took charge of a saw- mill, and of a carding-machine part of the time ; he has property now, valued at about $21,000. Mr. Wert is a Democrat, and a worthy and prosperous citi- zen. His wife was born in Green Town, Summit County, Ohio, July 16, 1835; her parents were Benjamin and Margaret A. (Diffenderfer) Miller, natives of Pennsylvania and of German ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Wert have had seven children-Mary (deceased), Lucinda, Isaac, Emma (deceased), Horace (deceased), Carrie and Dallas. Lucinda married Cyrus Wright.

CLAY TOWNSHIP.

JOHN H. APPLEMAN, son of Jacob and Jane (Harris) Appleman, was born in Washington County, Penn., August 10, 1815. Jacob Appleman was a tailor, and had a family of thirteen, eight boys and five girls. When John was still quite young, his parents moved to Wayne County, Ohio, where his father died about 1851. About the year 1827, he moved to Richland County, Ohio, with his mother, and lived with his uncle, William Pool, until twenty-one years old. September 20, 1836, he was married to Miss Mary A. Doe, who was born in Stillwater, N. Y., May 20, 1818. William and Anna (Hilton) Doe were her parents, the former a native of Bangor, Me., the latter of New York. By this marriage Mr. Appleman had six children, two of whom are living-Squire H. and John W. In 1849, October 11, Mrs. Appleman died, and January 7, 1851, Mr. A. married Miss Sarah J. Doe, a half-sister of his former wife. She was born in Richland County, Ohio, July 30, 1828, and was the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Amsbaugh) Doe. They have six children-William E., Albert G., Ira R., Charles M., Julia E. and Elma S. Mr. Appleman located in Springfield Township, this county, in 1840, paying all he had-$60-on eighty acres of land, and, by persistent energy, succeeded in making a home for himself and family, and increased his land to 700 acres. He removed to this township in April, 1875, and bought the farm where he

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lives at the present writing. Mr. Appleman was a prominent member of the Regulators in this county.

MYRON ATWATER is the eldest of four children in the family of Thomas S. and Hannah (Enos) Atwater. The former, a native of New York, was a blacksmith by trade, and followed that occupation in early life. In the fall of 1855 he came to Lima Township, and purchased 200 acres of land, and died in 1872. Mrs. Hannah Atwater died at the same place in 1875 ; she was born in Pennsylvania, and both were members of the Free-Will Baptist Church. Myron Atwater bought the farm of 160 acres in this township in the spring of of 1865, and, February 11, 1867, was married to Miss Ann Brinley. They have had seven children, of whom five are living-Nellie, Thomas, Mary, Jessie and Walter. Mrs. Atwater was born in Ashland County, Ohio, January 8, 1842, her husband's birth occurring the same year, on the 28th of October, in Luzerne County, Penn. Her mother, Elizabeth (Guysinger) Brinley, was born in Maryland, while her father was a native of Pennsylvania; in their family were ten children. Mr. and Mrs. Atwater are members of the Free- Will Baptist Church, and he is a Democrat, being one of the prominent and enterprising citizens of the township.

ROSWELL D. BABCOCK, born June 13, 1819, in Grand Isle, Vt., is the youngest of seven children of Elias and Lucy (Demery) Babcock, the former a native of Norwich, Conn., born February 2, 1777, the latter of Dartmouth, born May 22, same year. Elias Babcock served at the battle of Plattsburg, in the war of 1812, and the subject has in his possession a powder-horn carried by his father on that memorable occasion. Elias Babcock moved to Hunting- ton County, Quebec, in 1829, proceeding, in 1831, to St. John's, Canada, where he was employed in getting out ship timber. In 1833, he went to Geauga County, Ohio, purchased ninety acres, built a cabin and began clearing. Here his death occurred, July 2, 1859. Mrs. Lucy Babcock died there March 1, 1874. Roswell D. Babcock and Mrs. Hetty A. (Abramson) Hamblin were married in Geauga County, Ohio, April 24, 1845, and came to Bloomfield, this county, in 1846, where he worked by the day and farmed on shares until 1852, when he received eighty acres of the old Abramson homestead. He sold out and moved to La Grange in 1860, and has lived on his present farm since he bought it in 1863. Mr. Babcock, since 1853, has been a member of the A., F. & A. M. They have three children-Lucy J., now Mrs. Sanders; Francis W., and Charlotte F., now Mrs. Spidel. All belong to the Lutheran Church. Mrs. Babcock was born in Rockland County, N. Y., April 6, 1822, and her parents were natives of New York. Her father, Halstead Abramson, was born August 16, 1794, and her mother, Elizabeth Van Houten, November 8, 1796 ; the former was a soldier in the war of 1812, and came to Bloomfield Township, this county, in 1845; bought a farm of 240 acres, where he lived until his death, October 25, 1852; his wife died May 6, 1857, and both were buried on the old farm.

JOSIAH T. BOWEN is a native of Bedford County, Penn., born July 7, 1819. He went with his parents, Jacob W. and Rachel (Kiten) Bowen, to Stark County, Ohio, in 1820; they were both natives of Bedford County, Penn. Jacob W. Bowen was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was a carpen- ter and came to this township in 1851, where he lived until his death, in 1860. Mrs. Rachel Bowen died in 1870. Josiah 'T. Bowen learned the clothier's trade in Holmes County, Ohio, in 1839, and was there married, October 5, 1843, to · Miss Catherine A. Garmire, a native of the same county. Mr. Bowen bought

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eighty acres of wooded land in this township when he came here, in 1847. In 1852, he sold his farm and moved to Illinois but returned the same year and bought 160 acres, built a log cabin and commenced clearing. Mr. Bowen is living on this farm and has largely increased its value by numerous improve- ments ; he takes especial pride in keeping good horses. In 1861, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and served four years ; he also served as Trustee when three constituted the board. Mr. Bowen is a prominent Republican and was an active worker among the Regulators ; he is a member of the Lutheran Church. Their family numbers nine children-Minerva A. (now Mrs. C. M. Barrows), Sarah R. (now Mrs. Benjamin Giggy), Lucinda E. (now Mrs. J. Slack), Alvin W., Mary E. (now Mrs. S. Roy), Mott A., Edith M., Morton E. and Frank B.

JAMES BOYD, JR., is the son of James and Mary (Yowler) Boyd, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Germany. James was born May 17, 1801, in Somerset County, Penn., and married on the 20th of March, 1831, to Catharine Engle, of the same nativity as her husband, her birth oc- curring on February 29, 1812. Her parents were Peter and Barbara (Gar- lets) Engle, of Pennsylvania. Mr. Boyd, in 1836, moved to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, immigrating to Elkhart Township, Noble County, Ind., where he cleared sixty acres of land for William Collt, receiving in return a deed for 120 acres of land in this township, where he built a cabin in October, 1854, and began clearing. It is yet the home of Mr. Boyd, and is well improved. Mrs. Catherine Boyd died February 6, 1881, in her sixty-ninth year. She, with Mr. Boyd, belonged to the German Baptist Church. They were the par- ents of eighteen children, fourteen of whom are yet living. One son, Arion, died about twelve years ago, leaving a wife and five children. Those living are Delilah (now Mrs. Frick), Easton, Harrison, Edward, John, James, Peter, Jacob, Douglass, Urias, Philip, Elizabeth (now Mrs. Cary Frisby), Mary (now Mrs. McBeth), and Corrinda (now Mrs. Coager).

JOHN BOYD, son of James and Catharine (Engle) Boyd, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, June 24, 1838. His parents were natives of Som- erset County, Penn. The subject, from the time he was twenty, worked on a salary until in August, 1862, when he enlisted in Company B, Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was in the battle at Perryville, Ky., and served with his regiment until discharged for disability. After his marriage, March 2, 1865, at Albion, he farmed two years in Noble County, then came to where he is now living, in this township. He farmed two years, then worked at carpentering until 1875, when he took a contract of improving 700 acres of land in the northeast part of the township, returning to his farm in the spring of 1880. Mr. Boyd is one of the inventors of a patent buggy-top adjuster, and also invented a patent hay rack. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd are members of the German Baptist Church, and parents of seven children, viz., Estella, Alma, Dayton, Canton, Ann E., Clarence and Bessie E. Mrs. Amanda Boyd is the daughter of Michael and Mary (Colt) Landis, natives of Ohio, and parents of three children. She was born in Eden Township, this county, on the 15th of September, 1846.

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Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 48

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