Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 98

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 98
USA > Indiana > LaGrange County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 98

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).

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engaged in farming and carpentering. He was elected County Treasurer in 1862, and in 1864 was re-elected. He married Miss Rebecca Stilley Septem- ber 10, 1845. This lady was born in Morrow County, Ohio, February 7, 1825. From this union there are six children, five of whom are yet living, viz .: Florence, Virginia, Eugene, Byron and Victoria. Grace was the name of the one deceased. Mr. Iddings owns 280 acres of land, and valuable prop- erty in Kendallville. In politics, he is a stanch Republican.

WARREN IDDINGS was born in Boston Township, Summit County, Ohio, August 2, 1825. He is the son of Henry and Sarah (Meltin) Iddings, who removed from Ohio to this county in 1836, and located on the farm our subject now owns. Here he was reared to manhood, assisting his father upon the farm in the summer, and attending school for a short time during the win- ter. When about twenty years of age, he began working at the shoemaker's trade, which he followed about fifteen years, and then engaged in farming and stock-raising, which he has since followed. He was married to Miss Hester Newman, March 24, 1851. She was born in Middlebury, Summit Co., Ohio, October 29, 1833. To them have been born seven children, three of whom are yet living, viz .: Homer L., and Sadie and Ivie, twin sisters. Those deceased were Estell, Isadore, Lanora and Eva. Mr. Iddings owns 175 acres of land adjoining the town of Kendallville. He began life with but little means, and for most part has made what he now has by his own exertions. He is a stanch Republican, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They have a nice home and are respected folks.

JONATHAN JAMES was born in Chester County, Penn., June 21, 1821. He is the youngest of a family of six children born to Josiah and Jane (Knox) James, the former of whom was a native of Chester County, and the latter of New Jersey. The father died when our subject was a child, and the care of the family fell upon the mother. She was a woman of energy and ex- ecutive ability, and brought up her family in a creditable manner. Jonathan at an early age began to do for himself, and when eighteen he began learning the plasterer's trade, which he followed some thirteen years, and then followed farming in his native State until 1860, when he came to this county, where he has since resided. He was married to Miss Amelia A. Smith November 3, 1843, who was born in Juniata County, Penn., April 10, 1825. To them have been born four children, three of whom are yet living, viz .: Theodore B., Jennie and Hie L. The one deceased was David O. For eight years after coming to this county, Mr. James followed farming. He then purchased a hotel in Avilla which he operated some time, when his failing health compelled him to sell out. He remained out of active business until 1878, when he built the present St. James House of Avilla, which he has since successfully conducted. Commercial travelers and all others who have stopped there speak of it as "one hotel in a thousand." Mr. James is a liberal in religion and politics.

ANDREW JOHNSON is a native of the State of New York, born near Buffalo November 4, 1813. Thomas Johnson, his father, was a native of New England, a soldier of the war of 1812, and a farmer. He married Sarah Dan- cer, a native of New England, lived in New York until 1817, when he and family moved to Portage County, Ohio, where he principally made his home until his death. Andrew Johnson is one of eight children. He received but a common-school education, was reared to hard labor on a farm, and at the age of thirteen was left an orphan, and for a few years lived with an uncle. He then began life's battle on his own responsibility, and in 1838 married Miss

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Hannah Warner, who was born in the Empire State January 14, 1818. This couple were parents of ten children, viz .: Sarah, Almina, Thomas, La Fay- ette, Mary, Elsie, Jane, Andrew, Abram and Lucy. They remained in Ohio until 1844, when they emigrated to Allen County, Ind., where they lived some five years, and then came to Allen Township, where they have since resided. Mrs. Johnson died June 2, 1877. One son, Thomas, served his country in the late war, was wounded, and died at Corinth from his wounds. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Protestant Methodist Church, and is an indefatigable worker in the cause of temperance. Heowns ninety acres of good land, is a Republi- can, and an enterprising citizen.

HIRAM L. KING was born in Lake County, Ohio, October 2, 1826. He is the son of Hiram and Catharine (Lowe) King, a sketch of whom appears in the history of Swan Township. On Hiram L., the eldest son, devolved a great many of the hardships of clearing up the farm, and looking after its in- terests. When he had reached his majority, his father gave him 160 acres of unimproved land in Allen Township. This he began to improve, although he made his home with his parents until about thirty years of age. He was mar- ried to Miss Frances A. Mumford, June 7, 1859. She was born in the Key- stone State November 10, 1836. They have had two children, viz .: Herbert H., born June 16, 1860, and Helen F., born January 29, 1862. Mrs. King died October 9, 1864. Mr. King has always followed farming and stock-rais- ing. He owns 280 acres of land, which is nicely improved and well stocked. He has paid considerable attention to the raising of Durham cattle, and has some fine specimens of this breed on his farm. He is a Republican, and a strong advocate of temperance. He has given his children good educations, and contributed liberally to all worthy enterprises.

JOHN F. KREIENBRINK was born in Hanover, Prussia, September 4, 1830. He is the son of John H. and Elizabeth (Arnold) Kreienbrink, who emigrated with their family of two sons and two daughters to this country in 1833. After stopping in Cincinnati, Ohio, about three years, they moved to Putnam County, the same State, where they passed the remainder of their days engaged in agricultural pursuits. They were hard-working people, and mem- bers of the Catholic Church. John F. assisted his parents until he was fourteen years of age, when he was apprenticed to the tailor's trade, at which he served a term of three years at Covington, Ky. He worked as a journeyman in Covington until 1866, when he came to this county, and purchased a farm of 120 acres. He has since added to it, until he now owns 160. He was married to Miss Maria E. Baringhaus in 1853. She was born in Hanover, Prussia, December 24, 1832. From this union, there are ten children, viz., Theodore, Mary, Josephine, Sarah, Henry, Mary, Henry, Minnie, Julia and Frances. Of these children, Mary and Henry, the first of these names, are dead. Mr. Kreienbrink is emphatically a self-made man, and he and family are members of the Catholic Church.

CHARLES G. KRESSE was born in Prussia April 6, 1828, one of five children born to Frederick and Christine (Ossig) Kresse. The father was a farmer and miller, and he and wife always remained in their native country. Charles G. attended school until fourteen years of age, when he entered a mill, and learned that business thoroughly. In 1853, he came to this country, and was for some time employed in a mill at Monroe, Mich. He then came to Kendallville, and began working on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad. He attended school one winter in the Whitford neighborhood, and

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soon after entered the drug store of Asa Brown, at Lisbon, as clerk. He then bought Mr. Brown out, and for some years ran the business alone. He mar- ried Miss Margaret Scheirich July 11, 1854. She was born in Baden, Ger- many, March 8, 1837. From this union, there were six children, viz., Charles G. A., Emma C., John C. G., Charles A., Mary E., and one that died in infancy. Mrs. Kresse died January 6, 1871. On the 6th of May, 1871, Mr. Kresse married Miss Fredericka Busch. She was born in Prussia April 28, 1849. By this marriage, there are four children, viz., August C., Louisa L., William F. and Amalia B. Mr. Kresse owns 100 acres of well-improved land, and also a good business building in Kendallville. He is liberal in his political views, and is a member of the Order of Knights of Honor. He has a large library ; takes a number of good papers and magazines, and is one of the read- ing and well-posted men of Allen Township.

ANDREW LASH was born in Alsace, France, October 8, 1812. Will- iam Lash, his father, was a native of Baden, Germany. He was married in Alsace to Miss Mary A. Wineman, a native of that province, and to them were born a family of six children, Andrew being the only son. The father was a carpenter and cabinet-maker. In 1827, he came with his family to this country, and after living at Canton, Ohio, some time, moved to Carroll County, where he and wife spent the remainder of their days. Andrew Lash assisted upon the home farm until the death of his parents. He was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Raney February 10, 1840. She was born December 22, 1819, in Alsace, France. They have had ten children, viz., Gregory, Elizabeth, George, Mary, John, Anthony, Christina, Paul, William and Clara. Mrs. Lash died September 29, 1877. October 1, 1878, Mr. Lash married Mrs. Mary A. Hart, a native of Prussia, born April 24, 1833. Mr. Lash removed to this county in 1864, and purchased a farm, upon which he resided until 1880, when he sold it to one of his sons and moved to Avilla, where he pur- chased a nice home property. He is a self-made man, a Democrat, a member of the Catholic Church, and a good citizen.

LUMAN A. LOBDELL was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., May 28, 1834, and is a son of Daniel and Emeline (Broughton) Lobdell, who were natives respectively of Connecticut and New York, and the parents of eleven children. Daniel Lobdell and family moved to Noble County, Ind., in 1841, locating in Swan Township, on the farm now owned by Samuel Broughton, where they lived a number of years, afterward entering a tract of land near the head of Long Lake, in the western part of the county. They remained here until 1850, farming, clearing, suffering from malarial fevers then so prevalent, during which time their family was decreased by the death of three children. The spring of 1850, Mr. Lobdell started overland for California, but in June of that year died in Utah Territory. The death of the father left the burden and care of the family on the shoulders of the mother and our subject, who was the eldest child. Under such circumstances the mother reared her children, who with affection remember the loving care, kindness and self-sacrifice only a mother can give. Our subject remained at home until twenty-one years of age, and March 25, 1854, was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Bricker, who was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, September 11, 1835. To this union were born four children-Orland W., Charles E., Emma L. and Orsa A. The mother died November 3, 1863, and May 12, 1864, Mr. Lobdell married Mrs. Sarah S. Eddy, who was born in Michigan, February 2, 1832. To this marriage were born three children, whose names are Luman A., John D. and

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Uri G. Mr. Lobdell is a Republican. He always farmed until September, 1881, when he removed to Avilla, where he has since been engaged in mercan- tile pursuits.

DR. FRANCIS C. MALONY was born in Richland County, Ohio, January 8, 1843 ; his parents are Robert and Jemima (Cornwall) Malony. He was reared on a farm, receiving an academical education. He attended and taught school, and assisted his parents on the farm until he began the study of medicine in 1863. He read for a time under the instruction of Dr. G. Mitchell, of Mansfield, after which he attended two terms at the University of Wooster, situated in Cleveland. He graduated from that institution the spring of 1866, and the same year came to Noble County, Ind., locating in Cromwell, where he began practicing. He remained there four years, and then came to Avilla and began to practice, and is now the possessor of a large and lucrative prac- tice. His wife, Rebecca (Hadley) Malony, was born in Richland County, Ohio, January 1, 1844, and they were married May 20, 1869. They have one son-Robert S. Dr. Malony is one of the leading physicians of Noble County ; is a member of the A., F. & A. M., of Avilla, and is independent in politics. His father, Robert Malony, was born in Pennsylvania, July 29, 1816, and his wife in Ohio, October 23, 1823. They were married February 25, 1841, and farming was always their employment. They came to Avilla in 1877, and were the parents of only one son, our subject.

JESSE H. MATTHEWS was born in Wayne County, Ohio, May 6, 1820, and is a son of Jesse and Elizabeth (Calhoun) Matthews, who were reared, educated and married in Pennsylvania. They came to Wayne County, Ohio, in 1815, where they have since resided. At the age of twenty our subject, Jesse H. Matthews, went to Illinois, where he contracted jobs of clearing, at which he continued about four years, then went to Grant County, Wis., where he resided some fourteen years. He then came to and has since resided on his present place. Mr. Matthews began life a poor boy, but, by honest industry and economy, he has earned a sufficient amount of property to keep him in comfort during the remainder of his days. He is a Republican, formerly a Whig. He was married, November 22, 1841, to Elizabeth Helman, who was born in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1825, and to this union were born this family-Sylva A., Mary M., John A., Emma A., Martha J., Hester E., Chester E., Lydia H. and Elliott P. The mother died May 7, 1861, and September 26, 1862, Mr. Matthews married Mrs. Elizabeth A. Lavering, a native of Pennsylvania, and born July 12, 1830. To her marriage with Mr. Matthews there were born two children-Homer H. and Minnie M. Mr. Matthews is a farmer and owns 180 acres of good land. When twenty-one years of age, he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and ever since he has remained with that denomination ; all his children are steady attendants to the Methodist Episco- pal Church. Mr. Matthews and family are highly respected.

ALBIN and IGNATUS MEYER were born near Strasburg, France, the former March 1, 1825, and the latter January 25, 1829. Jacob Meyer, their father, was twice married ; by his first marriage there were two children. His second wife, Miss Magdalena Buchs, was the mother of nine children- Albin and Ignatus being two of that number. The last wife died near Stras- burg, in 1833. In 1838, the father came with the family to this country and located in Seneca County, Ohio, where he continued to reside. He was a hard- working, intelligent man, a good citizen, and a member of the Catholic Church. Albin Meyer was reared on a farm receiving a common-school education. He

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was united in marriage with Miss Theresa Zongker, a native of Stark County, Ohio, January 10, 1853, who was born April 20, 1838. From this union there are nine children, viz., Elizabeth, Theresa, William, Magdalena, Francis, John, Augustus, Lewis and Agnes. Two years after his marriage, Albin removed to this county, and purchased the farm he now owns, which at that time was covered with a dense forest, but he has cleared it and erected upon it comfortable buildings. He began life as a poor boy and is a self-made man. Ignatus Meyer was brought up on a farm, receiving a limited education. From fifteen to eighteen years of age, he worked by the month on a farm. He then began working at carpentering, which together with farming he has fol- lowed all his life. He was married to Miss Mary M. Borck in 1860. She was born in Noble County, Ind., in 1841, and is the daughter of Francis and Anna M. (Weimer) Borck, who settled in this county in 1835. To Ignatus Meyer and wife have been born six children, viz., Mary C., Annie M., Emma, Frank J., Rosa and Ignatus. In 1856, Mr. Meyer came to this county, and worked eleven years at his trade; since that time he has been engaged in farming and stock growing. Both the Meyer brothers have made what they now possess by their own exertions. They own nicely improved farms. They are mem- bers of the Catholic Church and are Democrats. They liberally contribute to religious and educational enterprises.

BENJAMIN MOREE is a native of Canton Berne, Switzerland, and was born February 18, 1820. He is a son of Rudolph and Anna (Bieterman) Moree, both natives of Switzerland, and the parents of seven children. They emigrated to the United States in 1825, and located in Jefferson Township, Richland County, Ohio, where the parents died. Our subject was reared on a farm, receiving but a limited education. He remained at home with his parents until twenty-one years of age, and in 1843 married Miss Lydia Hoke, who was born in York County, Penn., May 17, 1821. To this union were born seven children-Amanda, Ellen N., Mary E., George D., Emma A., Alice S. and Amos (deceased). In 1848, Benjamin Moree and family emigrated from Ohio to Allen Township, where he purchased 140 acres of land, which was entirely uncleared. They settled on this place and began clearing and improving it. Both Mr. and Mrs. Moree have been hard-work- ing and industrious people, and what they now own they have acquired through much self-sacrifice. Mr. Moree is a Democrat, a member of the Lutheran Church, and an enterprising citizen.

SUMNER K. RANDALL. Edwin Randall, father of this gentleman, was born in Oneida County, N. Y., May 18, 1809. He was reared on a farm, receiving a common-school education. When a young man, he taught both singing and day schools, and while yet young he left home and went to live with an uncle, who was a lawyer, residing at Manlius, Onondaga Co., N. Y. Here he had access to a splendid law library, and by applying himself, he obtained quite a knowledge of law. In 1835, he came to Toledo, Ohio, and the year following, took a trip through Indiana and Michigan, entering 480 acres of land near where Avilla now is, and tracts near South Bend and in Shiawassee County, Mich. He then returned to Toledo, where he remained until 1841, when he came to Allen Township, this county, which he ever afterward made his home. He was married to Miss Mary A. King, June 16, 1842. This lady was born in Chenango County, N. Y., December 18, 1824. From this union, three children were born, viz., Sumner K., born May 2, 1843; Perry A., July 24, 1847; and Amy C., August 23, 1853. These

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children were born in this township, and all are married. Mr. Randall was a Democrat. He was an Associate Justice of the Circuit Court a number of years, and held various other positions of honor and trust. He died Septem- ber 14, 1873. His widow survives him and resides upon the old homestead in Allen Township. Sumner K. Randall was reared upon his father's farm, and received a good common-school education. He always remained with his parents, and after his father's death took charge of the home farm, which he has successfully operated. He has dealt in agricultural implements, some time in connection with his farming and stock-raising. In 1878, he bought out Baum & Haines, of Avilla, and embarked in the mercantile business. He carries a stock worth about $15,000 all the time, and has one of the largest and most complete general stores in Noble County. He also deals in grain, seeds and all kinds of country produce. He was united in marriage with Miss Lorettie Stahl, September 12, 1876. She was born in Allen Township, April 21, 1856. They have two children, viz., Amy J., born September 7, 1878; and Mary A., August 21, 1880. Mr. Randall owns 120 acres of land and a portion of the old homestead. He is a Democrat and a member of the Masonic Order.

RYLAND READ was born in Windsor County, Vt., January 28, 1811. He is the son of Samuel and Lydia (Page) Read, the former a native of Mass- achusetts and the latter of New Hampshire. They were married in the Green Mountain State, and there the mother died in a few years after their marriage. Only one child was born to this union. The father married Elizabeth Moore for his second wife, and to them were born seven children. In 1838, they moved to Licking County, Ohio, where they ever after resided. Ryland Read, when thirteen years of age, left home, and for five years lived in Boston, Mass. He then returned to his native State, and for two years attended school, after which he went to Licking County, Ohio, and until 1836 was variously em- ployed. He then came to this county, stopping at Kendallville and vicinity, where for some time he worked at the carpenter's trade. He then began farm- ing, which for the most part he has since followed. He was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Iddings April 8, 1835. This lady was born in Boston Town- ship, Summit County, Ohio, January 4, 1812. From this union there were three children, viz .: Ellen L., Henry A. and Sarah R. Henry A. served during the war of the rebellion in Company I, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and died in 1872 from disease contracted while in the service. Ellen L. married E. H. Bundy, and they reside upon the old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Read are intelligent and respected people, and have the love and confidence of all who know them.

NATHAN ROBERTS was born in Erie County, Penn., December 8, 1833, and is a son of Nehemiah and Charlotte (Tannar) Roberts, who were natives respectively of Vermont and New York. They were married in New York, moved to Pennsylvania, and from there to Wayne County, Ohio, in 1836, where they lived until the spring of 1843, when they emigrated to Noble County, Ind. They located first in Allen Township, but soon afterward moved to Wayne Township. Our subject passed his youth and early manhood on the farm, during which time he received a common-school education. In 1852, he and brother Alpheus, together with a number of others, started over- land for California, where they remained mining until 1855, when the brothers returned home, in a measure recompensed for their labor in the mines. Nathan then purchased a part of the farm he now owns, and which now consists of

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over three hundred acres; and this he has acquired principally by his own exertions. He was married in 1858 to Miss Nancy R. Whitford, who was born in Allen Township in 1838, and died February 5, 1874, the mother of two children by Mr. Roberts-Myra and Willie G. March 11, 1879, Mr. Roberts married his present wife, Miss Leah Waits, who was born in Wayne County, Ohio, November 24, 1841. He is a Republican in politics, and is active in the support of the temperance cause. In 1876, he began dealing in blooded stock, and he is recognized as among the leading stock-men of Noble County. He now has a herd of twenty-one Short-Horn cattle that are regis- tered in the American Herd Book.

JAMES RYLAND was born in Belmont County, Ohio, March 31, 1820. He is the son of Samuel and Hannah (Myers) Ryland, both natives of the Keystone State. They had two children-James and Matilda. They moved to Belmont County in an early day, where the father died when James was about four years of age. After her husband's death, Mrs. Ryland went to live with her parents in Wayne County, Ohio. Here she was married to Thomas Appleton, and, after some years, they moved to Summit County. There James was reared, receiving but a limited education. He was married to Miss Charlotte Bond April 20, 1841. This lady was born in Genesee County, N. Y., December 25, 1820. In 1847, Mr. Ryland moved with his family and settled on the place he now owns in Allen Township. The land was cov- ered with timber, but they were frugal and industrious, and soon were com- fortably situated. In their family were six children, viz .: Francis M., James A., George W., C. Albert and Alfred A., living, and Olive C., deceased. Francis M. went out as a private during the late war, and was promoted to a Lieutenant. Mr. Ryland owns 159 acres of well-improved land, which he and wife have obtained by their own endeavors. They are reading, intelligent people, and have given their children good educations. Four of the sons are experienced and successful school teachers.

GEORGE M. SCHWAB was born October 27, 1837, in Baden, Ger- many. He is the son of George and Margaret (Schanline) Schwab, both of whom were natives of Baden. The father was an honest, hard-working farmer ; he died in Baden when George was a child, and, in 1848, the mother with the son came to this country and settled at Avilla, in this county, where she resided the remainder of her days. George M. Schwab received a com- mon-school education, and when about sixteen years of age went to Stark County, Ohio, where he worked on a farm some time; he then returned to Indiana, and for some time drove a bus at Fort Wayne, after which, he drove stage for some time between Cincinnati and Georgetown; he also worked in a hotel in Pittsburgh, Penn., some time. In 1860, he purchased forty acres of land, where he now lives, and began farming and stock-raising, a business he has since followed. He was married to Miss Mary Smith December 27, 1859, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, where she was born April 21, 1834. Mr. Schwab has a nicely-improved farm, and raises good stock of all kinds. He is a Democrat and a member of the Lutheran Church.

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Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 98

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