Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 93

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 93
USA > Indiana > LaGrange County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 93

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).

JESSE ENGLE married Sarah Prouty, in 1860, and their children number seven-Franklin, Adell, Jason, Wilbert and Albert (twins), Arthur and Ed- ward. Albert and Arthur are dead. The mother died August 5, 1879, and July 19, 1880, Mr. Engle married his present wife, Lucina McClurg. Jesse Engle turned his attention to saw-milling in his earlier years, and was a first- class sawyer. He now owns 146 acres of good land in the northeastern part of Green Township, and has held the Township office of Trustee.

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ADAM ENGLE learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, and worked at that with success a number of years. He has since turned his attention to farming. He owns eighty acres of land near Jesse Engle's farm, and 160 acres in Kansas. He was married, November 2, 1862, to Miss Mahala Prouty, and they have two children-Ina and Marshall. The sons of Peter Engle all began life at the age of twenty-one, with little or no means at their command. Imbibing con- siderable of the energy and determination of their father, they went to work, and to-day are wealthy and influential citizens, and stanch Democrats. They have displayed considerable enterprise in the support of all laudable public enterprises, and are progressive citizens.

JEHU FOSTER is one among the few who are left of the early pioneers who came to Noble County when its surface was covered with a dense forest and but few settlers had made a clearing in its wilds. When yet but nineteen years old, he was brought face to face with the stern realities of frontier life in Ohio, where he was called upon to endure the privations and perform the labo- rious duties that devolve upon those in a new country in clearing land and establishing a home. This was re-enacted in coming to Indiana, and continued through his most active and vigorous years. Mr. Foster was born in Baltimore County, Md., August 23, 1798. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812, a farmer by occupation. He was married to Miss Annie Singrey, and emigrated with his family to what is now Troy Township, Morrow County, Ohio, in 1817, being one of the pioneers of that locality. In March, 1824, Jehu was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Levering, and continued to live in Ohio until 1837, when he emigrated to this county and located in Jefferson Township, set- tling upon land as the hand of nature had made it, out of which to construct a home. Though the task before them was one almost appalling to the strongest hearts, yet, with the heroic fortitude, known only to the early settlers, and nobly aided by his wife the labor was undertaken, and the results have had their beneficial influence not only with themselves, but the generations now and to come will reap the benefits. They had born to them children as follows : Mary A. (the wife of John B. Steel, now living in Nebraska), John L. (whose biography appears in this work), Samuel M. (who married Rebecca Edwards, now a resident of Albion), Margaret L. (who lives in Kendallville, and is the wife of Jacob H. Shauck), Elizabeth C. (deceased), Sarah M. (the wife of John Eley, whose biography also appears), Jennie A. (wife of John K. Riddle, whose biography appears). and Alvin D. (who married Emily J. Pepple, and resides in Michigan). Mr. Foster has been a leading man of Jefferson Town- ship for the past forty years, taking an active part in public interests. He feels a just pride in looking back and noting the change in this locality from an almost unbroken forest filled with Indians and wild animals to one of the finest agricultural spots in the world, and can truly say for himself " Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Mrs. Foster, his companion, departed this life February 25, 1880, ripe in experiences of material life and full of hope for the unknown hereafter. Mr. Foster is living upon the old farm, now that of his son-in-law, John H. Eley, and is vigorous for one of his years.

J. L. FOSTER was born in what is now North Bloomfield Township, Morrow Co., Ohio, October 6, 1826 ; the son of Jehu and Margaret (Levering) Foster, who were pioneers to this township in 1837, where the father is still living, the mother having died in February, 1880. J. L. Foster lived at home with his parents until he was twenty-one years old, doing his part of the labor on the farm. He then began working at the carpenter's and joiner's trade.

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This, however, not agreeing with him, he engaged in farming, making that his occupation since. In February, 1863, he purchased his present place, which consists of 100 acres, and soon thereafter moved on to it, where he yet resides. Mr. Foster was married January 17, 1856, to Rose A. Eley, and to this union were born three sons-Eugene W. (who married Emma Miller, and is carrying on the home farm), Delmer (who is a clerk in Huntertown) and Perry L. (who is yet at home). Mr. Foster is a Democrat in party affiliations, and takes an interest in the advancement of public affairs. He lives independently in his comfortable home, and is in the enjoyment of the fruits of his honest accumu- lations.

SMITH HADLEY is a native of Richland County, Ohio, his birth occurring January 8, 1828. He was one of twelve children of whom Savan- nah and Martha (Riddle) Hadley were the parents. The Hadley family origi- nally came from the British Isle to America, and were farmers by occupation. The father of the subject of this sketch was also a farmer and an honest, de- serving man. Smith Hadley was reared to manhood in the Buckeye State, receiving only such an education as the common schools afforded. He was married March 15, 1851, to Miss Elizabeth Woodruffs, and the fall of the suc- ceeding year came to Noble County, investing all he had, $300, in part pay- ment for sixty acres of land in Jefferson Township. After clearing it, he sold it, and, in 1861, moved to his present place, and superintended the Poor Farm. After being in the employ of the county in this capacity six years, he resigned, moved to Albion and purchased a saw and flouring mill, which he operated six years. He then discontinued the business, purchased the old county farm, on which he resided one year. He then went back to Albion, erected a saw-mill, which he operated about a year, then again removed to the farm where he has since resided, confining his attention strictly to farming. He now owns 128 acres of good land, which he has acquired by industry and economy. He is a Republican, and is a member of the I. O. O. F., and the Masonic fraternity. They had seven children-Mary A. (wife of Andrew Parks), Shannon C., Helen M., Horace H., Ida A., Morton and Frank V. Mr. Hadley's parents came to Noble County in about 1863, where his father is yet living. His mother died in the spring of 1880.

JAMES N. HARVEY was born in Ashland County, Ohio, December 8, 1841. He is a son of George and Mary (Bremner) Harvey, who were parents of eight children, five of whom are yet living. George and Mary Harvey were natives of Scotland, and were poor people on coming to this country: They settled in Ohio, but in the fall of 1852 Mr. Harvey came to Indiana, and purchased a farm of 160 acres in Jefferson Township. In the spring of the succeeding year, the family settled upon the place known now as the Spencer farm. In 1872, after enduring the hardships incident to pioneer life, he removed to Albion, where he has since lived. By trade, he was a stone- mason, and has executed some fine work on many of the county buildings. He was always an enterprising citizen, ever lending a helping hand to the needy. James N. Harvey was raised on a farm, and has always followed that occupation. He received an excellent practical and business education, and was married, February 2, 1870, to Miss Isabel Johnston, and they have one son-John Wesley. Mr. Harvey purchased his present farm in 1867, and he now owns 120 acres of good land. He is a Republican, a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, and a member of the M. E. Church, while Mrs. Har- vey is an adherent of the principles of Presbyterianism. Their son, John W.,

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was born March 4, 1871, and in the spring of 1881 wrote Gen. Garfield that he would be ten years old on his inauguration, and that he was a Republican. In reply, President Garfield sent a cabinet-sized photograph of himself, which the boy now cherishes as a valuable keepsake ..

HENRY HILL, born in Niagara County, N. Y., April 22, 1819, is a son of Henry and Mary (Avery) Hill, who were natives of Connecticut and Vermont respectively. Mr. Hill was a farmer in New York, and in 1851 emigrated westward, locating in Jefferson Township, on the farm now owned by his son Henry. He here purchased 160 acres of land, where he lived until November 11, 1869, when he died. His widow is yet living, and resides with her son, at the advanced age of ninety-one. Our subject passed his youth on his father's farm, obtaining a common-school education. May 25, 1845, he was united in marriage with Eunice Eaton, of Niagara County, N. Y., and to this union were born Delos (deceased), Sarah and Lewis. Sarah is the wife of William H. Whitford, and Lewis married Katie Yeiser, who died, leaving him two children. His second and present wife was Martha Hupp. Since Mr. Hill's residence in Noble County, he has been known widely as an honest and upright man and a desirable neighbor .. He is a Democrat and owns 120 acres of well-improved land.

JOHN HOFFMAN is a native of Pennsylvania, and when eight years of age moved with his parents to Morrow County, Ohio, where they died. The subject was raised on his father's farm, and also learned blacksmithing and wagon making. He came, in 1853, to Jefferson Township, where he has since been a resident, engaged in cultivating and otherwise improving his farm, that now consists of 240 acres of splendid land, furnished with large and com- modious buildings. He was married, in 1850, to Miss Elvira Walker, of Morrow County, Ohio. They have eight children living-Emeline, James (in Green Township), John, George, Allen, Jennie, William and Lucy. Mr. Hoffman, in addition to his farming, is engaged in stock-raising to a consider- able extent, and has some of the best blooded stock in the country. He is a practical and able farmer and one of the county's most valued citizens.

JOHN F. HUNT was born in Wayne County, Ind., in 1829, January 13. His grandfather, Charles Hunt, was a native of Chestershire, England. Previous to the Revolutionary war he was commissioned an officer in the En- glish army, and sent to do duty in the Colonies of America. When Great Britain declared war against the Colonies, he resigned, entered the United States Army as a private and served through the war with distinction. John Hunt, the father of John F. Hunt, was born near Guilford Court House in North Carolina. From the history of Wayne County, Ind., we find that this gentleman and a brother, in 1803, emigrated to what is now Wayne County, then a part of what was known as the Northwest Territory. They erected a grist- mill on the Elkhorn, said to have been the first in the State. In 1804, John married Mary Whitehead-this being the first marriage solemnized in the State. He was a blacksmith and gunsmith by trade, and his shop was often made a camping-place for the Indians during the Indian war. He was never molested by them, however, as his services were too valuable for them to lose. During the war of 1812, he served under the command of his brother-in-law, Col. William Whitehead. After the war, he returned to where he first settled, and there lived, working at his trade and farming, until he was eighty-six years old. He died in 1849. Their family numbered twelve children, only three of whom are now living. The oldest daughter, Caroline, was the first

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white female child born in Indiana. John F. Hunt, the youngest of this family, is the only one living, bearing his father's name. When yet a boy, he enlisted for the Mexican war, but after going as far as Covington, Ky., peace was declared, and he returned home. July 30, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, Seventy-eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and about the time his enlistment expired, he took sick at Vicksburg, and from there was taken home. After three months' sickness, he was reported dead, and not until July 30, 1880, was he regularly discharged from this regiment. However, after his recovery in 1863, he re-enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirtieth Regi- ment, Company F, and served the remainder of the war. He was at the siege of Vicksburg, bombardment of Prentice, Uniontown, Yazoo Pass and others. Mr. Hunt was married, in 1859, to Isabel C. Owen, of La Porte Coun- ty, Ind. They have had six children-Wilson W., Cyrus F., Mary C., Maria L., and two that died in childhood. Mr. Hunt learned blacksmithing under his father, but carpentering has been his principal occupation. He came to Noble County in 1868, and now owns 80 acres of land, on which he resides. He is a stanch Republican, and a member of the I. O. O. F. Mrs. Hunt is a member of the M. E. Church.

WILLIAM HUSTON is the third child of Joseph and Rachel (Will- iams) Huston, of Knox County, Ohio. He was born September 22, 1827 ; at two years of age his father died. When he was five years old, his mother married John Blair, after which he lived with his guardian, Judge J. McGib- ney, with whom he remained until 1842; when imagining himself abused, ran away, but soon came back and apprenticed to the carpenter's trade, the first two years receiving $3 per month and the last year $4 per month. Complet- ing his trade, he engaged at $1.25 per day to a company erecting ware and boarding-houses along the Newark & Columbus Railroad. In 1849, with a party of seven, he went to California, first to St. Louis, from there overland with ox teams. The trip consumed one hundred days. They first stopped on Bear River, then moved to the North Fork of the American River. His suc- cess was varied. Having accumulated about $3,000, he, in connection with others, at great expense, diverted the course of a river. They were successful in draining, but found no gold in the river bed, and therefore lost all. He then borrowed $900, and went to mining. After four years' stay, Mr. Hus- ton returned, several thousand dollars ahead. In the spring of 1853, he came to Indiana to visit friends, and purchased a farm in Jefferson Township. He is the owner of 480 acres of land, and devotes considerable attention to rais- ing fine stock. November 8, 1853, he married Miss Nancy Knox. Ten children have been born to them-Elbert E., William W., George F., Mary I, Eva M., Frank C., Ella M. and Unity E. are living ; John K. and Elmer E., deceased.

WILLIAM INSCHO, deceased, was born December 28, 1802, in Sussex County, N. J. His father was a carpet weaver, but farmed in connection with his trade. The grandfather of William Inscho was a native of Denmark, and the progenitor of that name in America. Our subject, at about the age of nine- teen, learned the blacksmith trade and continued that business until about twenty years before his death. When three years of age, his parents moved to near Wheeling, Va., and from there to Huron County, Ohio, in 1815. Here he married Eliza Campbell, who died in Noble County in September, 1839. They had three children-George W., Hugh A. C. and Elizabeth, deceased. Mr. Inscho, in the fall of 1837, emigrated to Noble County, purchasing eighty

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acres on Section 17, where he resided until his death, February 22, 1881. He was twice married ; his last wife was Rebecca Skeels. They had one child- Ann (present wife of John Guthrie). George Inscho was raised a farmer. He was married, February 18, 1858, to Ruth Edwards, and they have two children -Frank and Ida. Since his marriage, he has made Jefferson Township his home. From 1864 to 1867, he was in Montana Territory searching for gold. He now owns ninety acres of land near the geographical center of Jefferson Township. Hugh Inscho was born April 30, 1836. October 18, 1863, he was united in marriage with Miss Elsie Edwards, daughter of Alexis and Eliza- beth (Foster) Edwards, and soon after moved on the old Inscho homestead, where he has since resided. They have had three children-Lavinia, born October 24, 1864 ; Anna E., August 22, 1869, died July 23, 1877 ; and Olive R., born August 27, 1874, died July 27, 1877. The two latter died of diph- theria. The mother was born November 13, 1839. He owns eighty acres of land. The Inscho family, from William, the old settler, have been noted for their honesty and sobriety, and have figured quite prominently from the early history of Jefferson Township.

KIMMELL FAMILY .- In the year 1627, when the State of Delaware was first settled, two brothers of this name, natives of Sweden and very wealthy, emigrated to the new country and settled on the Delaware River, near Wilmington, where, in after years, a town sprang up and received the name of Swedesboro. The great-grandfather of the present generation, who was a wealthy resident of Philadelphia, was, during the Revolutionary war, Commis- sary of Subsistence under Gen. Washington. While at Valley Forge, during the memorable winter of 1777 and 1778, when the British were in possession of Philadelphia he succeeded in entering the city and secured $25,000 in gold and silver, which was secreted in the cellar of his house, barely escaping capture in returning. This money he turned over to Congress, subsequently receiving in return continental paper money, which so depreciated in value as to leave him comparatively a poor man. A grandson, Adam Kimmell, was the father of six children, five of whom are living, Joseph C. and Manias H. being among the number; Adam was born March 22, 1791, and served as a soldier of the war of 1812. He was one of the early pioneers of Stark County, Ohio, and followed his trade, that of a gunsmith, until 1850, when he retired from active life. He married Miss Elizabeth Bowers in Canton. She was a native of Maryland, born June 26, 1800, and died April 29, 1849. Mr. Kimmell came to Albion in 1852, and died October 16, 1872. He was a man of sterling integrity. In politics, a Whig and then a Republican. While living in Stark County, which was strongly Democratic, he was elected and re-elected many times to the office of Justice of the Peace over his Democratic opponents.

JOSEPH C. KIMMELL, the eldest of the children, was born in Canton, Ohio, November 5, 1824, and received an education common to those of a new country ; being a man of good mind, and observing he has acquired extended information. He came to Albion, and was the first manufacturer of tinware in Noble County. This industry he prosecuted for ten years, and then moved to his present farm in Jefferson Township, which was at that time without improvement. It consists of 110 acres, and is now a well-improved and pro- ductive farm. He was married, September 9, 1847, to Miss Jane Spangler, of Stark County, Ohio. They have had six children-Eliza E., Elizabeth E. (deceased), Charles S. (deceased), Norman E., Warren (deceased) and Albert A.

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MANIAS H. KIMMEL'L is a native of Canton, Ohio, where he was born March 26, 1835. He came with his parents to Albion in 1852, and, in 1853, went to Auburn, where he learned the tinner's trade. In 1856, he opened a hardware store in Ligonier, which he conducted until 1858. In the spring of that year he went to Oregon, where, for one year, he was superintendent of farming in the Indian Department. In the winter of 1859, he returned to Albion, and in the spring of 1860, opened a hardware store. In 1862, he moved to his present farm, comprising 206 acres well adapted to general farm- ing and stock-raising. In the latter branch, Mr. Kimmell deals to considerable extent. He was married, April 1, 1860, to Emeline Bucher. Their children are Cora, Irene and Grant. Mr. Kimmell and his brother Joseph are Repub- licans, and during the years 1856, 1857 and 1858, the period of horse-thieving and general lawlessness in this section of country, they were active members of the " Regulators," whose decisive measures carried terror to the hearts of the desperadoes and rid the country of their presence.

M. KISER was born in Northampton County, Penn., November 16, 1826 ; is a son of John and Mary (Myers) Kiser, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and the parents of seven children, five of whom are yet living. Mr. Kiser, their father, worked at the carpenter's trade shortly after his marriage, but soon turned his attention to farming, which vocation he followed through life. He was a Democrat, and a zealous member of the Methodist Church. He died in 1876, but his widow yet survives him and resides in Huron County, where she came with Mr. Kiser in 1832. Their son, M. Kiser, received a good common- school education in youth, and was married in 1848, to Miss Elizabeth Stotts, of Huron County, Ohio. They have four children-George, Mary, Martha and Emma. George married Mary Phillips, and resides at home ; Mary is the wife of Benjamin Smith, and resides in Jefferson Township. After his mar- riage, Mr. Kiser farmed twelve years on shares for his father, and one year op- erated a grist-mill in Ohio. In the latter business he was unsuccessful, and lost considerable. He then followed Horace Greeley's advice to young men and came to Jefferson Township, purchasing his present farm, which consists of 103 acres. It was at that time a dense forest, but is now a finely-improved place. Mr. Kiser is a Democrat, and he and wife are members of the Lutheran Church. From a poor man he has risen to prosperity, achieved by hard labor and self-denial.

B. V. MELVIN was born in Madison County, Ohio, February 21, 1821, son of John and Sarah (Insor) Melvin, who were parents of seven children ; five are yet living. John Melvin was a farmer and a native of Tennessee. From that State he came to Madison County, Ohio, in 1812. During the war commencing that year, he took an active part. His father, Joseph Melvin, was an old Revolutionary soldier, and our subject, serving in the late rebellion, makes the Melvin family one of patriotism. Joseph Melvin was a native of Scotland, and his wife, Phoebe, of Ireland. John Melvin was an old Jackson Democrat ; was a man of good practical education and an exemplary citizen. He died the fall of 1858. Benjamin V. Melvin, next to the youngest child, began for himself at the age of nineteen, and from that time until his marriage worked at farming in his native county and Indiana. He emigrated to Noble County in February, 1843, and purchased his present farm in Jefferson Town- ship ; October 21, 1847, he married Jennie H. Palmer, of Whitley County, Ind., and in 1848 commenced life on his farm. In 1853, he returned to his old home in Ohio, remaining until the fall of 1858, when he returned to Noble

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County, where he has since resided. By industry and economy, he has ac- quired 320 acres of land, half of which has been distributed among his chil- dren. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin are as follows : Mary M., Sarah, Jane, John, Azora, Theodore and Theodocia (twins) and Vanvactor B. Mary M., Theodore, Theodocia and Azora are dead. The others are married, and living in Noble County, except Vanvactor, who is at home, single.

JOHN MOORHOUSE, born September 8, 1805, was a son of Samuel and Martha (Morrell) Moorhouse, who had nine children, John being the youngest. In his seventeenth year, he was left an orphan, his mother having died in 1807 and his father in 1821. He received a common education, and was reared a farmer, as was his father before him, in his native country, Yorkshire, England. In the spring of 1832, he set sail for the United States; arrived in New York City, he took passage for Delaware County, N. Y., where he engaged in farm- ing. From here he removed to Lockport, engaging in various pursuits for seven years. In 1840, he traded town property for fifty acres of land in Noble County, and upon which, in the spring of 1841, he made a clearing and erected a cabin, returning to New York the same year. In 1842, with his family, he returned and located here. Upon his arrival, he had only about $70, but by dint of hard labor, has acquired a fine farm of 160 acres. He was mar- ried, in 1829, to Miss Eliza Boddy, and they had seven children-Samuel, Eliza A., Henry, James, Joseph, Mary and John. Ofthese, Mary, Eliza and John, are dead. The mother died in 1860. Mr. Moorhouse is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and is an enterprising citizen.

WILLIAM MYERS was born in Berkeley County, Va., September 26, 1826. He is a son of Isaac and Catharine (Hudson) Myers, and is of Dutch descent on his father's and English-Irish descent on his mother's side. They were parents of eight children, five of whom are yet living. The fall of 1827, they moved to Greene County, Ohio, and after four years moved to Seneca County. They were good, honest people, and members of the Methodist Church. Mrs. Myers died in about 1845, and Mr. Myers in 1846. William Myers was reared in Ohio, from the age of eleven years to that of twenty-four. He received but a meager education, sacrificing his schooling to assist on the farm. He was married, September 5, 1850, to Ann Rumbaugh, daughter of William and Mary Rumbaugh ; five days after their marriage, they started for Iowa, to build a home on the Western prairies. Not liking the appearance of that country, he returned to Indiana and purchased eighty acres of his present farm. The story of the hardships of early pioneer life is needless of a repeti- tion here. Mr. and Mrs. Myers were industrious and economical, and have arisen to plenty through the medium of hard labor. Mr. and Mrs. Myers have an only child-Lucina, who is the wife of John Newton, and resides in Jef- ferson Township. They have reared a son by adoption, whom they have treated as their own. His name is Orlando Myers, and he is a steady and honest young man. Mr. Myers has been reasonably successful in life, and shows his gratitude by assisting all'laudable enterprises. Mrs. Myers was born in Vir- ginia May 29, 1824, and she and Mr. Myers are among the leading citizens of the township.

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Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 93

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