USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 84
USA > Indiana > LaGrange County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 84
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Yours Truly John Shipaly
WAYNE TP.
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cultivated, making a farm difficult to excel. He was first married in 1847 to Miss Betsey Munger, of Orange Township. She died in 1852, leaving two chil- dren-Mary M., now Mrs. Smith, of Kendallville, and William Henry. Mr. Roberts married for his second wife, in 1856, Catherine Lash, a native of Pennsylvania, daughter of Phillip Lash, who came to Wayne Township about 1852. By this union three children have been born-Charles, on the old farm in Allen Township; Rose Long, of Ligonier, and John E. Mr. Roberts is a member of the Chosen Friends, and a practical, substantial farmer.
ANDREW ROSENBURY is a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, born in 1811. His parents, Oliver and Ann (Jack) Rosenbury, were natives of Pennsylvania, and early settlers of Columbiana County, Ohio, subsequently removing to Summit County, and thence to Tuscarawas County, where they died. Our subject passed his early days in pioneer life in Ohio, subsequently engaging in farming in Summit County, where he remained for twelve years. In 1848, he became a resident of Wayne Township, locating in the extreme northeast corner, where he entered 80 acres, clearing and improving part of it, and then selling it, after seven years' residence. With the proceeds, he pur- chased 280 acres where he now resides. Here he has lived up to the present time, improving and clearing his land himself. He now owns 260 acres, 160 of which are in a splendid state of cultivation. Mr. Rosenbury is one of the many pioneers who have added much to the wealth and prosperity of Noble County, whom posterity should justly hold ever in grateful remembrance. He- was married, in 1833, to Miss Justa Metland, a native of Summit County, Ohio. They have seven children living-Ann E. Shultz, of Kendallville; Louisa, deceased ; Oliver, in Missouri ; Jane Devoe, in Kansas ; Joseph, a farmer of Wayne Township; Harriet Chaffee, of Missouri; Warren, a resi- dent of Allen Township, and Norman.
JOHN SHIFALY is a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, born July 17, 1838, and attended school until fourteen years old, when, November 23, 1852, unaccompanied by friends, he left home and made the trip to the United States, landing in New York City January 9, 1853. After one year on a farm in Mahoning County, Ohio, he landed in Kendallville, Ind., March 27, 1854. Here young Shifaly, though not able to speak English, entered as clerk in the grocery store of J. Kime, where he worked one season for three dollars per month. On the 24th of December, 1854, he commenced to make Thomas B. Weston's his home. During that winter, he attended school two weeks, and, though commencing with his A B C, by his characteristic perse- verance, in studying at home nights by the flickering light from the fire-place, in the spring he was able to read quite well. Home studying has been the source of his English education. As evidence of his attainments, he has been identified with school interests, as Director, for years, and there is to be found in his house one of the best libraries of any farmer in Indiana, comprising such works as Encyclopedia Brittanica, Appleton's Encyclopedia, Bancroft's History, Edward Everett's, David Hume's, and most of the standard works of other noted authors. Mr. Shifaly continued to work for Mr. Weston until January 2, 1859, when he was united in marriage with Emily Pauline Weston, only daughter of his employer. He then took entire charge of the farm, making improvements, building, clearing, etc., continuing in full control until Mr. Weston's death. To the original tract-which was inherited through his wife-he has added by purchase 240 acres, the whole now comprising 510 acres, and constituting one of the best stock and grain farms in Northern In-
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diana. Mrs. Shifaly was born in Plymouth, Wayne Co., Mich., August 30, 1838, and has lived on their present farm nearly 38 years. Their children are as follows: Mary Pauline, born May 5, 1860, and married to Albert Chaffee September 16, 1877 ; they have one child, born September 28, 1881; Charlotte Josephine, born August 18, 1862; Grant George Thomas, born May 7, 1864, died, July 21, 1872. Mr. Shifaly has the greatest reverence for the memory of Mr. and Mrs. Weston, and entertains for them both the highest appreciation for their kindnesses to him during his stay under their roof, which will always be remembered as equaling parental affection. Mr. Shifaly is a true representative of perseverance, energy, thrift and strict integrity. In physical endurance he is a prodigy, having performed an amount of labor that would have broken down a man of ordinary constitution, but no doubt much of this ability to endure is attributable to correct habits and his temperate mode of life. For twenty years past he has neither used tea nor coffee, neither has he used tobacco in any shape or manner. Never did drink spirituous liquors, nor does he drink beer, or even hard cider. This is the more remarkable when his nationality is taken into consideration. The good judgment and labor bestowed in the management of his farm has been almost marvel- ous in results. Two thousand bushels of shelled corn were marketed in one season, besides retaining sufficient for stock feeding ; another year he raised 188 bushels of clover seed, and another season 2,000 bushels of wheat. Froni this same farm he has sold wood for twenty-two winters, often three and four loads per day, hauling a distance of six miles, and not an uncommon thing to unload on his first trip at 4 o'clock in the morning. He has now 400 head of sheep, thirty-five head of cattle and several head of horses. Mr. Shifaly is of a social disposition, a stanch Republican, and, in public matters, keeps apace with the progress of the age. He is a fitting representative of the progressive and practical farmers of Noble County.
ADDISON B. STANTON is a son of Caleb S. and Chloe (Caldwell) Stanton. Caleb was a native of New York; his wife of Canada. They were married in Wayne County, N. Y., and in 1834 emigrated to Michigan, where they remained until 1836, when they removed to Noble County, Ind., settling on Section 10, Wayne Township. There the worthy couple passed the re- mainder of their days, assisting in the development of the community and aiding as best they could in the progress and advancement of the township. He served in various offices of trust, for three years as Township Trustee. He died in 1872; his wife in 1873. She was a consistent member of the M. P. Church. They were parents of four children-Dorliska Andrews, now a resident of La Grange County; Addison B .; Alphonzo, a resident of Mich- igan ; and Luftus, also of Michigan. Our subject is a native of the "Empire" State. He has been identified with Wayne Township from the "pioneer " days of their early settlement up to the present time. Mr. Stanton has always fol- lowed the vocation of farming, and is now the owner of 160 acres of valuable land. He has always taken an interest in public measures for the improve- ment of Noble County and is one of the representative and practical farmers. He was united in marriage, in 1850, with Miss Lucinda Potter, daughter of Henry Potter, an old resident of the county. They have two children-Ade- laide Devoe, living in Wayne Township, and Seymour, who is a divine in the M. P. Church and (in 1881) located in Grant County, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Stanton have been identified with the M. P. Church for many years and are esteemed and valued citizens.
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CHAUNCEY G. R. WATERHOUSE represents one of the leading farmers and large land owners of Northern Indiana and also a pioneer family of La Grange County. His parents-Benjamin B. and Harriet Waterhouse- were natives of Vermont, and in 1837 emigrated from New York State to Milford Township, La Grange County, Ind. His father became a prominent citizen and successful farmer, and remained there until his death. His mother still survives. They were parents to five children, four of whom are now liv- ing-Sarah Wilson, of Sturgis, Mich .; Emma Cosper, of Milford Township; Artemissa Spellman, residing in La Grange; and the subject of this sketch, who is a native of New York, and who, since the removal of his parents to this county, has been prominently identified with its progress, especially with the agricultural interests. He remained in La Grange County until 1869, when he removed to Wayne Township, where he has resided since and has permanently located. He erected, in 1881, an elegant residence, one half a mile north of Kendallville, where we now find him, superintending personally his large farming interest. He owns about eleven hundred acres of land, divided into six farms and located in La Grange and Noble Counties. Mr. Waterhouse, while giving his entire attention to farming interests, is a public-spirited and valued citizen, and favors all measures of progress and advancement. He was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Vine in 1860. Her parents were early settlers of Milford Township, coming there from Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Waterhouse have four children-Albert, Frank, John and Homer.
CHARLES WEINGART, a native of Germany, was born September 12, 1844. His father, Joseph Weingart, came to America in 1852, locating in this county, and in 1860 was followed by his wife (Elizabeth Weingart) and family. They have had three children-Louis, Rosa (now dead) and Charles. The latter was married, in 1869, to Salome Kundert, who afterward died, leaving one child, William, born August 18, 1870. Mr. Weingart subse- quently married Margaret Zonker, a native of Indiana. Their children were Joseph A., Mary E. and Waldo C. They own a well improved farm of 140 acres and are industrious and intelligent people.
THOMAS B. WESTON (deceased) came from a pioneer family whose ancestry can be traced back in the seventh degree to his namesake, Thomas Weston, who landed from the Mayflower at Plymouth in 1620, and another named John Weston who came to Salem, Mass., in 1644, from Buckingham- shire in the North of England, just 200 years before Thomas B. moved into his log cabin in Indiana. The Westons are a numerous family ; those bearing the name and springing from one common source are distributed over the whole of the Eastern, Western and Northwestern States. A significant remark was often made by the representative of this sketch, that he could travel on foot to his birthplace in York State and stop every night but one with those belonging to the Weston family. As a whole. those of the name are found to be equal to any family in the land in the possession of those sterling qualities-morality and in- tegrity. Thomas B. Weston was a native of Pompey, Onondaga Co., N. Y., where he was born October 13, 1799, and was amongst the earliest pioneers of this township. When a boy he moved with his father, Nathan Weston, to Mon- roe County, N. Y., where he worked on the home farm until the death of his father, August 26, 1823. The care of the family, consisting of two brothers and two sisters, then devolved on him. The succeeding thirteen years he tilled the soil and, in the meantime, taught writing-school and studied surveying. In the spring of 1836, he came to Indiana, and in later years took delight in recount-
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ing his experiences while hunting land ; how he with others were seven nights in the woods of what is now De Kalb County with the wolves howling around them, and other hair-raising events. On making his selection of land, he went on foot to the land office at Fort Wayne and made the entry of a rich tract, a part of which being in what is now Wayne Township, the balance being located in Wells County, this State. Returning to the Empire State, he married, on September 7, 1837, Miss Paulina Maxfield, of Copake, Columbia Co., N. Y., moving the next spring to Plymouth, Wayne Co., Mich., where their only daughter, Emily Paulina, was born August 30, 1838. On June 20, 1841, he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife. Thus left with the care of his child, with home broken up, he came, in 1842, to make a permanent settlement in this county, and was married a second time to Catherine Anderson, who was born in Huntingdon County, Penn., January 6, 1802, emigrating to Licking County, Ohio, with her parents, and from there to La Grange County, Ind., in the year 1838, her father being one of the first settlers on Pretty Prairie. July 16, 1844, Mr. Weston with his wife, and his child by his first wife, moved in- to the log cabin which was to be their future home, situated on the northwest corner of Section 11. It was in this rude home that the first religious services held in the township were conducted by the Rev. John Martin, of La Grange County. Through the deprivations and laborious toil of those frontier days, Mr. Weston found in his wife a source of moral and material aid that buoyed him up under the most trying circumstances, and it was through her heroic efforts in his behalf that many seeming impossibilities were surmounted. While he was engaged in clearing, she was to be found at her spinning-wheel or the loom, preparing cloth for their clothing or other fabrics for household use. Their home farm was heavily timbered, hard maple predominating, and one spring there were thirteen sugar camps on his land worked by different parties on shares, the fact being admitted that he had the most extensive sugar bush in the country. Mr. Weston possessed qualities of a social nature in an eminent degree; this with his strict ideas of honor and justice made him deservedly pop- ular. Politically, he was conservative, voting with the Whigs until the birth of the Republican party, whose standard he followed on all national issues, but at local elections he cast his vote for the best man. In 1855, he, having served the public as Town Clerk for about six years, was elected Justice of the Peace,
which office he filled for twenty-four years. In 1863, he had declined to be again a candidate, but being pressed finally consented to his name being pre- sented in the caucus by certain parties, who turned against him and nominated a teetotaler in his stead. This aroused the old pioneer, and at the earnest re- quest of the leading men in the township, he came out as an independent can- didate and was triumphantly elected, only lacking six votes of beating both the Republican and Democratic candidates combined. A few years after he settled on his land, he donated to the public a piece of ground for a cemetery-an ex- ceedingly pleasant location on what is known as the "Big Hill," that part of the farm passing a few years later into the hands of his son-in-law, John Shifaly, who donated ground for a church, which was named Weston Chapel in honor of the memory of the old pioneer. Just thirty-four years to a day from the time they moved into their log cabin, Mrs. Weston died July 16, 1878. Mr. Weston retained his mental faculties in his old age to a remarkable degree ; he excelled in penmanship, and a letter written just before his death was a piece of art wor- thy of a writing master. After an illness of only thirty-six hours he died July 26, 1881, at the advanced age of eighty-one years, nine months and thirteen
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days. His funeral was attended by the largest concourse of people of any that ever occurred in this part of the country. The last twenty years of his life he made almost daily rounds among his neighbors for a social chat, and " Uncle Tommy," as he was familiarly called, was ever welcome. With the closing of this noble life we can appropriately say with the poet :
" Life's race well run ; Life's work well done ; Life's crown well won ; Now comes rest."
L. D. WHITFORD is a son of Stutley and Elizabeth Whitford, who are old residents of Wayne Township. He is a native of Wayne County, Ohio. Since the removal of his parents to Noble County, he has resided here and given his attention to agricultural pursuits. He became the owner of the old " Childs " farm in 1880, which he is now operating. His farm consists of eighty-five acres of improved land, conveniently located. In 1866, he formed a matrimonial alliance with Miss Louisa Wright, daughter of James Wright, one of the early residents of Wayne Township. Mr. and Mrs. Whitford are members of the M. E. Church. They have one child, Charles F. Mr. Whitford is one of the enterprising young men of Wayne Township, who are soon to fill the places of the old pioneers who are passing away.
JAMES W. WRIGHT is the oldest son of James Wright, a native of England, who came to America in 1833, first locating in Ohio, where he resided until 1844, when he came to Wayne Township and settled upon the farm now owned by the subject of this sketch. Here he remained, clearing and improv- ing his land, passing his time in the quiet tenor of farming life until his death, dying as he had lived, a Christian gentleman, July 22, 1881. His wife's maiden name was Emily Finch. They were married July 5, 1838. She is a native of New York, and is now living with her son. She is a member of the M. P. Church, which, together with her husband, she has been identified with for over forty years. Seven children are descendants. Sarah Shaffer, of Wayne Town- ship; Mary Weaver, deceased ; Margaret Weaver, in Nebraska; James W., William C., Frances Browand, in Nebraska ; and Louisa L. Whitford, of Wayne Township. James W. is a native of Wayne Township, where he has always resided and engaged in farming. He is now the owner of the old homestead farm, which consists of 110 acres of well cultivated and improved land. He is an industrious and liberal-minded citizen, and one of the reliable farmers of the township. He was married in 1869 to Miss Mary A. Gallup of Wayne Township. They have two children, Mattie and Nellie.
WILLIAM C. WRIGHT is a son of James and Emily (Finch) Wright, early settlers of Wayne Township. William is a native of Wayne Township, where he has always been identified. He is now the owner of the "Joseph Childs " farm, consisting of eighty acres of land, which is well improved and adjoins his father's old farm. Mr. Wright is a young and promising farmer, of industrious habits, and will doubtless become one of the standard farmers of the future. He was married, 1876, to Miss Arvilla Hill, a daughter of Nicholas Hill, another pioneer settler of the township. They have two children-John and Amelia.
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TOWN OF LIGONIER.
JOHN ABDILL, hardware and tinware, is the third child in a family of seven children, and was born in Delaware. He came here with his parents, Jo- seph and Jemimah (Blockson) Abdill, natives of Delaware. His father was a farmer, and also a local preacher of the United Brethren denomination, and moved to Richland County, Ohio, with his family in 1835; thence to Noble County, settling, in 1849, in York Township. At the age of seventeen, John commenced his apprenticeship at the tinner's trade in Ligonier, serving three years; then followed his trade there until 1856, when he went to Michigan and remained there working at his trade till the fall of 1858. He returned to Ligonier, and in August, 1873, went into the hardware business, on his own responsibility. This proved a successful enterprise. Mr. Abdill has served as Councilman, and is now a member of the school board, in his second term; is also a member of the Masonic Order.
He was married in Michigan in 1856 to Miss Mary E. Crane, a native of Indiana and former resident of Ligonier. They have four children, Edward E., now reading law in Ligonier ; Zula M., Wallace and Merton, and are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
ALBERT BANTA, Justice of the Peace, is a native of Mont- gomery County, Ohio. He was engaged in farming in Preble County, Ohio, until 1836, when he came to Elkhart County, Ind., and com- menced in the mercantile business. This he followed until. 1840, when he was elected County Sheriff, and served four years, and then returned to farm life in Benton Township. In 1854, he came to Ligonier, where he located and remained until 1862, when he went to Bluffton, Ind., returning to Ligonier in 1870, where he has since resided. In 1872, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and has since held that office. He was a member of the City Council one year, and belonged to the Methodist Church in 1840, but is now a member of the Disciples' Church. In 1824, Mr. Banta mar- ried Mary Brower, of Ohio. She died in 1870, leaving six children, five now living : Albert J. and John D., both living in Elkhart County ; Peter, now re- siding in Kansas ; Mary J. Carmean, of Noble County ; and Elizabeth Sher- wood, of Ligonier. He was married again, in 1871, to Mrs. Mary J. Parks, of Ligonier. Mr. Banta has been a member of the Masonic Order since 1844, and is now a Royal Arch Mason.
A. C. BEECHER, dentist, son of A. B. and Mary J. (Bailey) Beecher, was born in Hancock County, Ohio, is the eldest of five children, and came with his parents in 1859 to La Grange, Ind., where his parents still reside. Here, he attended school, and in 1870 commenced the study of his profession with F. M. Hamsher, with whom he remained two years. He spent one and one-half years in Butler County, Ind., practicing ; and then went to the Uni- versity at Ann Arbor, Mich., where he took the course of study, and in 1876 graduated from the Dental Department. He returned to La Grange, and fol- lowed the practice of his profession there until 1881, when he came to Ligo- nier, where he is building up a good business. He is a proficient workman, and a promising young business man. While in La Grange, he served as Dep- uty Postmaster. He is a member of the Knights of Honor. He was married
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in 1874 to Miss Alice Speed, of La Grange; they have two children-Cbar- lie and Veva.
J. M. BELTS, manufacturer and dealer in furniture, is one of the success- ful business men of Ligonier, in his line of trade, having secured a large and successful custom. He was born in Livingston County, N. Y., and in his native State learned the trade of cabinet-making. He followed this calling in various locations in different States, and came to Ligonier in 1874, where he was employed at his trade for two years. In 1876, he started his present busi- ness, which has proved most successful. He has extended it, and now carries a large and splendid stock of furniture, and his business is steadily increasing. Mr. Belts was married, December 27, 1859, to Miss Sarah L. Brooks, a native of New York. They have three children-Adelbert M., Claude J. and Maud.
F. P. BOTHWELL, of Green & Bothwell, lawyers, is a native of this county, and son of T. H. and Zillah A. (Eagles) Bothwell, who were married in Noble County, and were residents of Sparta Township until the death of Mr. Both- well in 1867. He was one of the early settlers, and, besides farming, carried on the lumber and saw-milling business. The mother is still living in Ligonier. They had five children-Lucy Galloway, of Ligonier ; Harriet Jones, of Sparta Township ; the subject, Melvin and Leslie. Our subject lived in Sparta Town- ship, attending district school there until the age of fourteen, when he went to Hillsdale, Mich., and attended college for three years, then for one year went to school at Valparaiso, Ind. In 1875, he became a student in the law office of I. E. Kinsley, at Ligonier, and remained two years, then went to Chicago, and after completing the course of study in the Union Law College there, was admitted to the bar of Illinois. He returned to Noble County in the fall of 1878; was admitted to practice there, and formed a partnership with J. W. Scott; this existed only a short time, and in December, 1878, he became asso- ciated with D. W. Green. Mr. Bothwell is an able and rising young lawyer, and has already attained a prominent position among the attorneys of the county. He was united in marriage, April 22, 1880, to Miss Lena M. Decker, daughter of J. Decker, of Ligonier.
S. M. BRADEN, of the firm of Braden & Peck, millers, is a native of Fostoria, Seneca County, Ohio, and a son of William Braden, who for a num- ber of years operated there woolen and grist mills. . In Fostoria our subject passed his earlier years, where he became familiar with milling. He subse- quently went with his father to a farm in Illinois, where he became familiar with agricultural life. After his father's death, he engaged in milling in dif- ferent States, until 1869, when he located in Ligonier, and assumed the charge of Ulmer & Clark's mill, subsequently becoming a partner in the firm of Strauss, Henderson & Co. Mr. Braden has continued his connection with this mill up to the present time, although the above association lasted only about two years. The present firm was organized in July, 1879, by the association of Jarvis Peck with Mr. Braden. They have four run of stone, and possess an extensive trade. Mr. Braden has, for nearly twenty-five years, been engaged in superintending mills. He obtained a patent in 1879, on "Braden's Im- proved Wheat Heater," which proved of practical utility, and is meeting with good success in the market. Mr. Braden married Miss Rachel Hen- derson, of De Kalb County, Ind., in 1865. He is a Mason, and valued citizen of Ligonier.
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