USA > Indiana > Whitley County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 100
USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 100
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JOHN P. KITT was born in Clark County, Ohio, August 14, 1825, and spent his boyhood on a farm until the age of eighteen years. He then served three years' apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade in Springfield, after which, he resumed farming. In consequence of poor health, he has spent a portion of his time teaching school-one term in Springfield, Ohio, and one in this township. He was married to Elizabeth Hively January 6, 1853. They have had ten children, seven of whom are living. He arrived at Wolf Lake with his father's family October 22, 1846. In January following, his father purchased a farm
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in Section 23, on which he (J. P.) now resides. He has been a successful man, and is comfortably situated. His father died at the age of eighty-four, and his mother at sixty-four years. The subject of our sketch and his brother Nicho- las are all that are left of his father's family. He is a member of the Christian Church. He embraced religion at the age of twenty, and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church at Springfield, Ohio, and has never been intoxicated, nor uttered a blasphemous oath during his life.
WILLIAM KNEPPER was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, March 1, 1824. Lived in Richland County, Ohio, till about the age of twenty-three. He was married to Miss Susannah Formwalt, in Galion, Ohio, in 1851. She died in November, 1862. Four girls, all living, were born from this marriage. In 1863, he married Miss Mary Billman, who only lived about two years. He has one child by this marriage. Having a family of small children, he was prompted for their good to marry again. In 1865, he married Mary North, who has borne him four children, all now living. Mr. Knepper came to this county in 1854, and worked at carpentering in Albion about two years. He then moved on the line of the Air Line Railroad, bought the first lot sold in Wawaka, and built the first three or four houses there. He remained in the village about two years, then bought land adjacent, and cleared up a farm. In the spring of 1879, he moved to where he now lives, in Section 35, southwest of Noblesville, on the Columbia City road. He has been successful in life, and has his property clear of incumbrance.
SAMUEL KUHNS was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, July 12, 1818. His parents moved to Fairfield County during the latter part of the same year, where he passed his boyhood, and received his schooling, which was lim- ited to a term of three months. At the age of twenty-one, he came into Whit- ley County, Ind., and settled near the north line, in Thorn Creek Township. He learned the trade of blacksmith in Ohio, and about two years after he came to Indiana he started a shop and commenced work. This was quite an advantage to him, as it brought in ready cash. He married Miss Martha Ann James, daughter of John and Margaret James, of York Township, October 6, 1850. Mrs. Kuhns died on the last day of March, 1876, after a lingering illness of about four years. He has raised a family of three children, with one of whom he now lives on the homestead, Mr. Kuhns still retaining his physical and men- tal vigor, notwithstanding the vast amount of hard labor he has performed.
JOHN MAYFIELD (deceased) was one of the early settlers, having come to the county in 1839. He was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., July 12, 1809. Rheuama, his wife, was born in Ohio, January 14, 1815. John Mayfield came into Ohio with his parents in the year 1815, and was mar- ried December 23, 1832. His family numbered eighteen children, six of whom are living. Jonah E., the eldest, now living on his farm, southeast of Wolf Lake, was born February 17, 1834. James B., the youngest, was born February 2, 1857. The names of the other living children are Sarah, Rob- ert, Mary Jane and Juliette. Robert owns a farm south of Wolf Lake. He is infirm, and has taught school a portion of his time. He and Jonah E., his brother, took great pains to show the writer of this sketch the great changes that have taken place in the vicinity of their homes since they were boys. One place where they once hauled marsh hay on a sled is now grown over with oak trees sixty feet high and at least sixteen inches in diameter. At the time they hauled the hay there was not a stick of timber there large enough for an ox-gad. Jonah E. Mayfield was married to Matilda Grimes, April 26,
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1863. He has four children living, and owns 265 acres of land. Mother Mayfield is living on the farm near the place where their first log cabin was erected in February, 1839. She knows something of life here in early times, having undergone many hardships ; yet she is in the enjoyment of good health. When they first settled in this county they had to go to Niles, Mich., for salt, and have paid for one barrel two spring calves and eight bushels of wheat. Milch cows, good ones for those days, sold at $8, and dressed pork brought in market $1.25 per hundred.
ABRAHAM OTT was born in Preble County, Ohio, January 6, 1816. His father, John Ott, was a soldier in the war of 1812. His brother, Frederick Ott, having been drafted, he volunteered to go as his substitute, and served out his brother's time ; was then himself drafted and served another term, or until the close of the war. The subject of this sketch was married to Miss Sarah Morgan November 29, 1838. She was born in England, Sussex County, July 10, 1818. She came with her parents to America in her infancy, and grew up to maturity near the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. Her father, Mr. Morgan, emigrated to Oregon Territory in the year 1843. He afterward died there, at the age of eighty-four years. Her mother had previously died near Cincinnati, Ohio, about the year 1825. Mr. Ott and his family suffered much from sickness after coming to this county. For six years some one or more of the family were down sick. At one time, on a very dark, stormy night, in order to get a person to go for a doctor, she had to follow a wagon track that led past a neighbor's house, by getting on her knees and feeling for it. There were no roads ; only tracks cleared out through the woods, by cutting away a part of the underbrush. Such, and many other similar hardships were experi- enced. Mr. and Mrs. Ott are members of the Christian Church. In politics Mr. Ott is a Republican. He has a fine farm and pleasant surroundings, one mile and a half west of Noblesville.
ANTHONY PINCHON was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, January 11, 1831. He came to this State in 1845, and settled in De Kalb County ; moved into Noble County in 1865; remained in the vicinity of Wawaka till 1879, when he came to his present farm. June 10, 1865, he married Miss Mary Ann Deckman, of Steuben County, born in Philadelphia, Penn. Mr. Pinchon's father was a Marylander, born in 1802 and died in 1873. His mother yet survives. His family consists of nine children living. He was not himself a soldier in the late war, but sent a substitute at a cost of $800. He has, like many of the early settlers, done a great amount of hard labor in his time. He helped his father clear up three farms from the wild, and has cleared one for himself. He claims that in twelve years he cleared 400 acres of heavy timbered land. For a part he received $1.12, for some $2.50 and $5.00. He has been in the grain threshing business the last twenty-four years. Mr. Pinchon's farm is situated three and a half miles south of Wolf Lake, and is good land. He is just becoming situated to enjoy life.
ELI RIVIR was born in Bedford County, Penn., April 12, 1845. He came to this county with his parents when but a child. He was married to Miss Juliann Hosler, March 25, 1866. Miss Hosler was born in Morrow County, Ohio, August 9, 1843. They now have five children living. Mr. Rivir moved to where he now lives soon after his marriage. He has now one of the finest farms in Noble Township, consisting of 202 acres of excellent land, two miles north of Noblesville. Everything about the farm indicates thrift and good management. He enlisted as a soldier in the late war, but his release was
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secured by his father on account of under age. Mr. and Mrs. Rivir are mem- bers of the Christian Church. In politics he is a Republican.
JOHN RIVIR was born on New Year's Day of 1809, in Bedford County, Penn. His wife, Nancy (Stoner) Rivir, was born October 26, 1810, in Lan- caster, Penn. Mr. Rivir came to this county in 1845, when he had but $18, with a large family to support. He put in a crop of corn the next spring ; the next fall, while engaged in putting in wheat, he was taken sick and confined to his bed six months. At one time the entire family, excepting Mrs. Rivir and one boy, were down sick, but they were assisted by the neighbors through the winter. In 1855, Mr. Rivir bought eighty acres of land in Green Township. He commenced there in the timber ; his family were again taken sick. While rolling together the logs for a clearing, he was so weak he could not walk ; but to assist the boys, he would ride a horse, and the boys would hitch to the logs and do the other necessary work. In 1861, he sold his farm with a purpose to emigrate to Kansas, or Missouri, but the war coming on he changed his plans, and bought the land where he now lives. In 1861, on the day that his son Christian Rivir was married, he met with an accident that has rendered him `unable to work. While at the mill at Port Mitchell, he was thrown out of the wagon, and received injuries which came near resulting fatally. Mr. Rivir lost three sons in the army-John, Jacob and David. John was starved in Libby Prison. The fourth son enlisted, but was under age and released. Mr. Rivir is a Republican, and a leading member of the Christian Church.
MARCELLUS ROBINSON was born in Elkhart County, Ind., October 16, 1852. Studied for the profession of medicine, first with his father, and afterward with Dr. John Phosdick, Dowagiac, Mich. He commenced practice at Bangor, Van Buren County, Mich. He established himself at Wolf Lake, Ind., April, 1880, since which time he has built up quite an extensive and suc- cessful business in his profession. He was married to Miss Mary McClarren in May, 1879. She was born in South Bend, Ind. The elder Dr. Robinson has been a successful practitioner in Elkhart County for thirty years.
LUCRETIA STARKEY, whose maiden name was Mullin, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1814, and grew to maturity in Licking County. She was married to Frederick E. Starkey August 6, 1837. They lived hap- pily till the 16th day of August, 1864, when he died, leaving three children at home, all large enough to be of assistance. She has managed the affairs of the estate, and has overseen the farm so judiciously that the settlement of the affairs was left to her, and not taken into court. She came into this county with her husband in the year 1839, and has made this her home ever since. They had nothing when they started here, but she now has a pleasant home on the Leesburg road, two miles west of Wolf Lake. She has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for more than forty-five years. In Mr. Starkey's log cabin, the Methodists held their first meetings in this township, and the first Methodist Episcopal Church was organized there. Although past sixty-seven years of age, Mrs. Starkey has but few gray hairs, and gives fair promise of a continuation of life for several years.
JAMES C. STEWART, an active farmer and stock-raiser, residing one and one-half miles east of Wolf Lake, on the Fort Wayne & Goshen road, is the son of Rolan and Nancy (Scarlett) Stewart, who were natives of Massa- chusetts, but were married in Clark County, Ohio, from whence they went to Chautauqua County, N. Y., where James C. was born January 17, 1829. When he was about six months old, they returned to Clark County, farming there
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until 1836, then removed to this county, settling in Green Township. Upon this journey young James, then only in his eighth year, walked the whole dis- tance, and assisted in driving the stock. The following year the father died. Mrs. Stewart, being left with the care of the family, moved to Noble Township, where she died in 1844, leaving four children, two having previously died. James C., after his father's death, went to live with his grandparents, Newman and Tamar (Fitz) Scarlett, on the farm where he now lives, they having settled here in 1836. In 1838, his grandfather died, but he continued to live with his grandmother until his marriage with Miss Margaret J. McWilliams in May, 1852, when they went to housekeeping on his present farm. At the death of his grandmother, he inherited from her sixty five acres of land. To this, by close application to his affairs and judicious management, seconded by his wife in her economical conduct of the household duties, Mr. Stewart has added, until he owns 460 acres, 200 of which are under good cultivation. Upon this farm he has a fine brick residence and other buildings of a needful character. Mr. Stewart is the true type of a self-made man and a valuable citizen. He has served as Constable, Assessor, and as Justice of the Peace for fifteen years. In 1865, a vacancy occurred in the office of Commissioner ; Mr. Stewart was appointed to fill the vacancy ; at the ensuing election he was elected to the office, but resigned the following spring. During his continuance in this position, a 3 per cent tax was levied to pay off the indebtedness of the county accruing during the war, for the payment of bounties and the maintenance of soldiers' families. This levy was warmly espoused by Mr. Stewart. In 1870, he was elected County Auditor, and re-elected in 1874, serving in all eight years. During the last two years of his office he maintained a telephone, connecting with his residence on his farm, thus enabling him to communicate with his family and direct the management of the farm. Its cost of erection was $200, and is still open to use. This enterprise denotes the spirit of the man, stamp- ing him as self-reliant and aggressive in business, as well as being a representa- tive in public affairs. Hs is a member of the Masonic order. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have two children living-Virgil A. and Mary J.
PETER SURFUS is a native of this State. Born near the city of La Fayette in 1836. His parents moved into De Kalb County the following January. He has lived in this township fifteen years. He moved to the State of Iowa in 1856, where he stayed three and a half years, then returned to this State, where he has since been content to remain. He now lives on a farm of 120 acres, three-fourths of a mile north of Wolf Lake. Mr. Surfus has made grain threshing his business a portion of the time every year for twenty- seven years. On the last day of August, 1856, he married Miss Lorinda Bo- dine, whose parents were originally from Pennsylvania, but moved into Ohio at an early day. Her mother is now living in this State in the seventy-seventh year of her age. Mr. Surfus descends from a very hardy ancestry, noted for their longevity. The following are the names of their children : Eventus Leroy, William D., Alice Jane, Myrta Matilda. Two children are dead. Eventus and Alice are married. Alice married George H. Herrick. The grandfather of Mr. Surfus, on his father's side, was a soldier of the Revolution, and was with Gen. Wayne on his campaign against the Indians in Ohio and Indiana.
WILLIAM S. THOMAS was born in Hancock County, Ohio, Novem- ber 18, 1841. Spent most of his boyhood in Allen County, Ind. He has a common-school education, and he and Mrs. Thomas were both teachers before
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their marriage. Mrs. Thomas' maiden name was Lavantia W. Cook. They were married March 19, 1871, and came to where they now live soon after. Mr. Thomas owns a nice little farm of eighty acres with good buildings and pleasant surroundings. He has but one child, a boy. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have accumulated what they possess since they started together in life.
FRANCIS M. WEIRICH was born in Richland County, Ohio, April 29, 1853. His father's family emigrated to this county in the fall of 1854, and settled in Green Township. His father, Franklin Weirich, was suffocated by " damps" while digging a well for George Shambaugh, assisted by William Applegate. He sacrificed his own life in an attempt to save that of Apple- gate. Applegate first went into the well and was overcome by the gas. Mr. Weirich went to his assistance, but soon made signs to be hoisted out. As he neared the top, he was entirely overcome and dropped back into the well. Both men were dead when taken out. Coffins were ordered from Wolf Lake, but on account of high waters they could not be brought over. The two men were buried in rough boxes improvised for the occasion. The widow Weirich mar- ried again to William McDonald in 1857. Francis M. stayed with them and worked on the farm until the age of twenty-one. In January, 1875, he engaged in the mercantile business at Noblesville, and remained in that business up to 1881. He was married to Catharine H. Hosler December 31, 1876. Venus Minelva and Orestes Fairrel are the names of their children. Mr. Weirich was elected Justice of the Peace in 1878, and still holds the office, to the general satisfaction of the public.
REV. PETER WINEBRENNER, of the Christian Church, near No- blesville, Ind., was born in Liberty, Montgomery Co., Ohio, October 6, 1826, and moved into this county in the year 1837. He received a common-school education, and special tutorage from David Sanford, and from Jonathan Elliott. Elder Winebrenner is a self-educated man, having acquired his learning by close application and hard study. He taught until he entered the ministry in 1857. He has mastered the German and Greek languages, and partially mas- tered the Latin. By invitation, he has preached in the cities of Philadelphia and Brooklyn, also in Canada. He spoke at the dedication of the School of the Prophets, an institution for the education of ministers at Stanfordville, N. Y .; he also preached at the quadrennial conference at Oshawa, Canada West, in 1869. He held a discussion with an Advent preacher by the name of Comstock, at Nelson, Cloud Co., Kan., in 1879. The result was the estab- lishing of a Christian Church at that place. Subjects of discussion, " Re- solved, that the Kingdom of heaven is set up on earth." Affirmed by Wine- brenner. "Resolved, that the Scriptures teach that the soul of man is uncon- scious after death." Affirmed by Comstock. He visited Iowa to discuss in connection with Elder Abbott, but his opponents abandoned the field, and no discussion was held. He was married to Miss Mary Kitt January 21, 1849 ; two children were born to them. The wife died January 27, 1858. He was married to his present wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Weade, in October, 1858. Three children from this marriage living at home. Besides the church here, he has had the following charges: Clear Creek, Huntington County ; Murray Church, Wells County ; Union Church, Whitley County ; Argos Church, Marshall County, and he has preached to three churches besides his own in this county. The fine new church building just completed was dedi- cated August 21, 1881. Mr. W. has been Secretary of the Conference since 1869.
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DAVID S. WINEBRENNER was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, January 10, 1834. He came with his parents to this State when he was but a child. His education was very limited. He was married to Miss Juliann Ott March 31, 1859. She was born January 10, 1841. Their family consists of Edward, Alice and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Winebrenner are members of the Christian Church near Merriam, in the faith of which they purpose to live out their allotted time, and sincerely recommend to their children that they follow the example of their parents in this particular. Their farm consists of one hundred and twenty acres in good cultivation, about two miles southwest of Noblesville.
JAMES WINEBRENNER is a native of Pennsylvania, born near Harris- burg, June 4, 1845. His father emigrated to Noble County in 1847, and settled near Noblesville. His schooling has been very limited. He was ap- prenticed to the blacksmith trade in 1867, and follows that business at this writing. He is the foremost smith in the township, and his shop is a model of order and neatness. He was married to Miss Jane Couts in 1866. Mr. Wine- brenner enlisted in the Twelfth Indiana Volunteer Infantry in 1863, and served during the rest of the war. He was in the Atlanta campaign, and participated in the battle of Resaca and several severe skirmishes. As a forager he was a success, as Gen. Logan can testify. He foraged for the General's head- quarters eight months. At one time, on the last campaign of Sherman, he barely escaped capture, having run onto a party of "Johnnys " as they were about to take dinner. He was with Sherman's army in the celebrated march to the sea, at the capture of Savannah, and present at Gen. Johnston's capitulation ; also witnessed the burning of Columbia, S. C., and was at the grand review in Washington. He had an army experience of which to-day he is not ashamed.
CARLOS R. WILEY is a native of Vermont, born in Rochester, Windsor County. One of his grandfathers was from Ireland, and the grand- mother from Scotland. When he was but one year old, his father moved into Huron County, Ohio, near Norwalk. In March, 1837, they moved into Noble County and settled in Washington Township. He was raised on a farm until the age of twenty-one. His education was limited to the common school of that period. He was married to Rosena Barnhart in 1858. His family con- sists of Charles E., Fanny A. and Nancy, living. He engaged in the mercan- tile business at Wolf Lake in 1866; has been successful and continues in the business at this writing. In war time-1864-he stood the draft like a man. He is one of Noble County's stanch business men.
LEVI ZUMBRUN was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, October 7, 1840. His parents moved to the State of Indiana when he was but thirteen years of age. They settled in Thorn Creek Township, Whitley County. At the call for one-hundred-day men, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty- ninth Infantry, Company "K;" was discharged September 29 following. Again, at the call for one-year men, he enlisted in Company "G," One Hundred and Forty-second Indiana Volunteers. He served out his enlistment at Nashville, Tenn., and witnessed the battle of Nashville and the defeat of Hood's army. He was discharged July 14, 1865. After his discharge, he returned to civil pursuits and has been a successful farmer. He owns a farm in the southern part of Noble Township, which is in a high state of cultivation, and is being further improved by a system of underdraining, which he has carried well on to completion. October 30, 1870, he married Miss Hannah Huff. She was born April 2, 1850, in Elkhart Township, this county. Her parents came
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from Ohio. She is quite a reader. Her library is stocked with works of travel, biography, history and fiction, Webster's Unabridged being conspicious amongst the others. Matters within and about the house wear a pleasing appearance of refinement and culture.
YORK TOWNSHIP.
JACOB BEARD was born in Columbiana, afterward Mahoning County, Ohio. His father, Christopher H. Beard, was born in Wittenberg, Germany, October 1, 1779. He came to America in 1817, lived in Pennsylvania two years, then went to Columbiana County, Ohio, and located. "He died there November 20, 1862. His mother, Christina Beard, was born in Wittenberg, Germany, August 20, 1786. She died in Mahoning County, Ohio, May 4, 1860. Jacob Beard was married to Miss Nancy Elser in Mahoning County, Ohio, April 4, 1858. She was born August 4, 1834. The following are their children : Samuel Monroe, born September 17, 1859; Alfin Elisha, born Jan- uary 19, 1861; Wilson Henry, born September 22, 1863; all in Mahoning County, Ohio. Alfin Elisha died September 29, 1862. Mr. Beard moved to this county May 5, 1865, and located on the farm where he now resides, about three miles south of Albion. He has a well-improved farm of 120 acres.
JOHN E. BENDER was born in Chester County, Penn., March 4, 1815, where he resided till twenty-one years of age. He was born of poor parents. His mother died when he was four and his father when he was seven years of age. He was bound to Samuel Mcclintock to serve till seventeen years of age. He faithfully served out his time, and received a suit of ragged clothes for ten years of hard work, and received no schooling whatever. He then commenced work on a salary. In about a year, his employer failed, and John came out in debt. He hired again to other parties, and worked four years, receiving $8 a month. In March, 1836, he married Rachel Young, and soon after emigrated and settled at Massillon, Stark Co., Ohio. He lived here until the spring of 1868, then came to Noble County and bought land where he now resides, on Section 29, York Township, five miles from Albion. Mr. Bender has been four times married. His present wife was residing in the city of Atlanta, Ga., when it was taken by Gen. Sherman's army in 1864. Her maiden name was Evaline Wright. Mr. Bender is an honorable and upright man. What he possesses he came by honestly and no mortgage hangs over his estate.
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