Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 105

Author: Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: 428, 502 p. : ill., ports. ;
Number of Pages: 962

USA > Indiana > Whitley County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 105
USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 105

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).

RUSSELL A. PRESTON, born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., Janu- ary 5, 1821, one of thirteen children born to Lucius and Elizabeth (Wiley) Preston, both natives of the Empire State. In 1834, they removed to Medina County, Ohio, where they remained until 1845, when they came to Swan Town- ship, this county. The father was an intelligent, public-spririted man, and during his lifetime filled many positions of honor and trust. Russell A. was brought up on a farm, receiving a common-school education. Soon after com- ing to this county, he began working at iron making, which he followed fifteen years, also engaging in farming and stock raising. He was married to Miss Abigail Bishop April 8, 1841. She was born in Washington County, N. Y., July 16, 1824. They had seven children, three yet living viz. : Leonard Z., Russell E. and John W .; Mary L.,. Jane E., Alveretta B. and Joseph L., deceased. Leonard Z. and Russell E. served in the late war. Mr. Preston is a Republican, and an intelligent citizen. He owns 106 acres of land, and what he now possesses was acquired by his own exertions.

JOHN B. RENKENBERGER was born March 1, 1831, in Mahoning County, Ohio, one of ten children born to Christopher and Barbara (Schnaren- berger) Renkenberger, who were natives of Wurtemberg, Germany. They were married in Columbiana County, Ohio, and have passed their entire mar- ried life in the same neighborhood upon a farm. They are yet living, as are their ten children. The father is a farmer and carpenter, and he and wife are

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Christians. John B., when fourteen years of age, was apprenticed to the har- ness and saddle maker's trade, which he followed about six years. He was married to Miss Lydia Renkenberger April 1, 1848, born in Columbiana County, Ohio, January 1, 1830. In 1852, they came to their present place in Swan Township, which at the time consisted of eighty acres of unimproved land. They now own two hundred and fifteen acres, well improved. They have had born to them eight children, seven of whom are now living, viz .: Horace O., Thomas C., Hiram A., Tryphena M., Ida B., Free D. and Nettie; the deceased was James D. Mr. Renkenberger is a Democrat, and has held the offices of Township Trustee and Assessor, and other positions.

ANDREW RICHARDS' father, Joseph Richards, was born in Balti- more County, Md., March 23, 1812. His parents, Andrew and Rebecca (Merriman) Richards, moved from Maryland to Licking County, Ohio, in 1824, where they died. Joseph Richards was married, December 18, 1834, to Miss Catharine Fulk, born in Virginia in 1811. In 1836, Mr. Richards, in com- pany with Adam Fulk and family, came to this township, where he entered land and lived until 1873, when he moved to Churubusco, Whitley County, and engaged in mercantile trade. In his family were seven children, viz .: Andrew, George, Charles, Sarah E., Mary J. and two that died in infancy. Andrew Richards was born upon the old homestead, in Swan Township, in 1837. He was reared a farmer. After reaching his majority, he began taking contracts to clear land and working at any available employment. By industry and economy, he was enabled, in a few years, to purchase a piece of land, which he lost after partly improving. He then bought another tract in Allen County, which he improved and lived upon until he purchased his present place, about eight years ago. He was married to Miss Sarah Crow April 12, 1861. She was born in Whitley County, Ind., in 1844. They had three children, viz .: Eliza E., Charles and James. Mr. Richards is a Democrat and owns 160 acres of improved land, plentifully stocked.

JONATHAN SIMON was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, August 6, 1811, the son of George and Elizabeth (Hewitt) Simon, both natives of Washington County, Penn., where they were married and resided until 1810, when they moved to Columbiana County, Ohio. Here, until the time of their demise, they lived and reared eleven children. The father was a soldier of the war of 1812, and was noted for his sterling integrity and goodness of heart. Jonathan Simon was brought up on a farm and to hard labor. He received but a limited education. He married Miss Rachel Yarian March 1, 1836. She was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, December 16, 1818. In 1837, they came to Indiana and entered the land they now own in Butler Township, De Kalb County, and where they are now situated to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Mr. Simon has worked at carpentering at intervals, though principally his time has been devoted to farm work. He owns 160 acres of land in De Kalb County, besides valuable property in Noble County. He helped lay out the village of La Otto, and has contributed largely toward building up the churches, schools and moral status of the community in which he lives. In his family were ten children-David, Benjamin, Jacob, Jonas, Joseph, Polly, Mary A., Olive, Alice M. and Catharine. Mr. Simon is a Republican and is known by his good works.

SAMUEL E. SMITH was born in Juniata County, Penn., May 18, 1829, the son of Joseph and Susan (Garehart) Smith, natives of Union Coun- ty, Penn. Joseph Smith, grandfather of Samuel E., was one of the first set-

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tlers of Union County, and during the early times there was attacked by Indi- ans and severely wounded, some of the family killed and others taken into cap- tivity. Our subject's parents were married in their native county, and shortly after went to Juniata County, where they raised six sons and four daughters. The father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was a prominent contractor on the Pennsylvania Canal and other public improvements. He died in 1834, and his wife in 1879. Samuel E. Smith was reared a farmer, and received limited advantages. He was married to Miss Mary Bucher October 31, 1854, daugh ter of Col. Joseph Bucher, who was a gallant soldier of the war of 1812. She was born in Lancaster County, Penn., April 2, 1833. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had nine children, viz .: Lucinda J., David J., Deborah J., Abra- ham L., John S., George W., Harry B. and Blanche M., living; Amelia A., de- ceased. Mr. Smith, in 1865, came to Swan Township. He owns 112 acres of fine farm land, raises good stock, and is a practical farmer. He is a Repub lican, and a member of the Order of Odd Fellows.

ROBERT STROUSS was born December 14, 1836, in Swan Township, the son of Jonas and Anna (McCartney) Strouss. The father was born in Northampton County, Penn., October 9, 1800, where he was married January 16, 1823. Mrs. Strouss was a native of Huntingdon County, Penn., born November 22, 1803. Jonas Strouss assisted his father in a mill and upon the farm. After his marriage he engaged in farming until 1836; then came to Swan Township and entered land on Section 13, subsequently purchasing a farm on Section 7, where he lived until a short time ago, when he leased his farm and moved to Avilla. In his family were eleven children, viz .: John, Rebecca, Mary, Eliza, Simon, William, Robert, Martha, Lydia A., Sarah and Julia. Mr. Strouss, by hard work and economy, has accumulated considera ble property. He has served in official positions in Swan and Allen Town- ships, and is one of the pioneers of the county. Robert Strouss was the first white child born in Swan Township. He was raised upon his father's farm, and was married to Miss Elizabeth McCartney April 5, 1860. She was born in Beaver County, Penn., February 9, 1844. Four children have been born, viz., Emma, William, Allen and Robert A. Mr. Strouss owns 80 acres of well-improved land, and is a liberal Democrat.

JOHN STROUS is a native of Northampton County, Penn., born March 15, 1803. His parents, John and Mary (Snipp) Strous, were natives of Ger- many, but came while yet children with their parents to the United States. They were married in the Quaker City, and soon after removed to Northamp- ton County, where Mr. Strous found employment as a millwright, and which he followed, in connection with farming, all his life. In his family were twelve children, eight living. His father, David Strous, served under Washington through the Revolutionary war. Our subject was raised upon a farm and in a mill. He married Rebecca Dean July 6, 1826; she was born in Washington County, Penn., June 13, 1805. In October, 1836, Mr. Strous and family came to Swan Township, where he had entered 160 acres of land, and erected a log cabin, into which they moved, and where they endured many privations and hardships. In their family were eight children, viz., Mary J., David, Nancy, Martin, James D., Elizabeth A., Margaret A. and Catharine. Martin and James D. served in the war of the rebellion ; Martin was severely wound- ed at the battle of Murfreesboro and also at Chickamauga ; James D. was wounded at Mission Ridge. Mr. Strous is a Republican and was a firm Union man during the war. He cleared two large farms, but some eight years ago

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sold them and purchased a comfortable home in Swan. He was one of the first Trustees of the township and has held other positions. His wife departed this life August 27, 1873.

JOHN WHAN was born in Harrison County, Ohio, September 29, 1820, the oldest of five children born to Joseph and Jane (Barton) Whan. The father was a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of the North of Ireland, and came with her parents to Washington County, Penn., when a child. Here she married Mr. Whan. About 1818, they moved to Harrison County, Ohio, returning to Washington County at the end of seven years, where the father died in 1838. John was then about eighteen years old, but assumed the greater part of the care of the family. He worked out, seldom receiving more than $8 per month. In 1843, he came to Indiana and purchased a portion of the place he now owns, and then returned to Pennsylvania. The next year he returned with his brother William. They began the improvement of the place and kept " bach." In 1845, the remainder of the family came out, and for some time they found it hard to obtain a livelihood. John Whan married Miss Isabell J. Perry February 8, 1848. She was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., October 14, 1828. They had eleven children-Olive, Franklin, Theresa, Oliver L., William, Mary J., Elizabeth I., John, James and George P., living; Martha J., deceased. Mr. Whan has held the office of County Commissioner two terms, and was one of the first men in Swan Township to advocate the new school system. He owns 460 acres of land in Swan Township, and eighty in Green Township. He is a Republican and influential in the party.

DAVID YARIAN is the son of Isaac Yarian, who was born in Colum- biana County, Ohio, November 20, 1814, and is the son of Conrad and Eve (Ruperd) Yarian, natives of the Keystone State. They were married in Columbiana County, Ohio, and were the parents of thirteen children. Mr. Yarian was of German descent; his ancestors came to this country during Colo- nial times, and some of them served in the Revolutionary war. Conrad Yarian held a Lieutenant's commission, and served with distinction during the war of 1812. Isaac Yarian was married, in 1837, to Miss Elizabeth Harrold, who was born December 4, 1818, in Columbiana County, Ohio. By this union there were thirteen children, viz., Samuel, David, Paul, Elijah, Mary A., Rebecca, Moses, John, Isaac N., Elizabeth, Henry, Reuben and Zachariah. In 1838, Mr. Yarian moved to Wyandot County, Ohio; in 1850, he came to his present location in this county. Mr. Yarian has always followed farming and carpen- tering. He owns 280 acres of land; is a Democrat, and a respected and influential citizen. His wife died January 5, 1881. David Yarian was born in Wyandot County, Ohio, December 11, 1839. He was married to Miss Mary M. Simon March 29, 1859. She was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1831. From this union there were four children, viz., Flora L. and Lorena I. (living), Mary E. and Iona (deceased). Mr. Yarian has always followed farming and carpentering. He owns a well-improved farm of 140 acres ; has held the office of Township Assessor, besides other public positions. He is a Republican, and a member of the Lutheran Church.

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JACOB BAKER is a native of Mercer County, Ohio, born November 25, 1827, and the son of William and Mercy (Bevington) Baker. They remained in Ohio until 1834; then came to Indiana, locating in Perry Township, this county ; lived there one year, then moved to Sparta Township, where William Baker died. Mrs. Mercy Baker died while on a visit to Ohio. Jacob Baker was about seven years old when he came to Indiana, and until his father's death remained at home, assisting on the farm. Then, for about ten years, he was employed in clearing land, and soon earned enough to buy a small farm where Cromwell now stands, where he lived until 1877, when he sold his property and came to his present location ; in Section 19, Mr. Baker has 160 acres, and 160 in Section 21. While in Sparta Township, he served three terms as Trust- ee, and was married, in 1853, to Miss Mary A. Smith, a native of Licking County, Ohio. Her parents, William H. and Sarah (Hessey) Smith, natives of Virginia, came from Delaware County, Ohio, to Indiana in about 1851, locat- ing in Sparta Township, where they died. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have five chil- dren living-George W., Henry E., Lewis T., Julia and Clarence Sherman. Mr. Baker is a good Republican citizen.

MICHAEL BOUSE, born February 23d, 1819, in Union County, Penn., was raised on a farm. When about nineteen years old, he learned the carpen- ter trade, which he continued for ten years. In January, 1842, he was married to Sophia Rockey, and in 1844 moved from Pennsylvania to Noble County, in wagon, and was one month on the road. Since he settled on his farm, he has cleared about ninety acres of land. In July, 1851, his wife died, leaving six children-Mary E., John F., Henry E., Aaron E., Simon P. and Michael E. He was married a second time, September 27, 1852, to Miss Melinda S. Swengel ; this lady has presented him with four children-Newton A., George S., Benjamin F. and Melinda S. Mr. Bouse and his wife are members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Bouse holds a commission given him August 3, 1842, as First Lieutenant of Third Company of the Seventh Regiment of the Penn- sylvania State Militia ; he also holds one from Gov. Porter, of Indiana, as Justice of the Peace. He owns 290 acres of land, and is quite a prominent farmer.

CHRISTIAN DEARDORFF, one of fifteen children in the family of Isaac and Eve (Zigler) Deardorff, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, January 29, 1814. Isaac Deardorff was a farmer, German, and his wife French. The subject has always lived on a farm, and in 1840 moved with the rest of the family to Richland County, Ohio, and lived there until he located in Indiana in 1851, having previously visited the country in 1838. He owned eighty acres of land in Tuscarawas County which he sold and then bought forty acres in Richland County. Upon coming to this State, purchased eighty acres in Whitley County, where he lived eight years, then came to his farm of eighty-five acres in this township, where he has since lived in comfortable circumstances. As he never desired to become rich, he is well contented and fitted to enjoy life. September 24, 1837, he was married to Miss Sarah Kennel. They had ten children-three infants deceased- Jonas, Jane (deceased), James G., Enos S., Christian G., William J. and Rose

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Ann. After his wife's death, April 2, 1870, he married July 2, 1871, Mrs. Catharine (Berkey) McChloughan, a member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Deardorff is a Republican and a member of the Christian Church.

PETER HOWENSTINE was born in Bavaria, Germany, September 20, 1813. His father, Peter Howenstine, was one of Napoleon's soldiers; was in the battle of Waterloo, and was with the army when they retreated from Mos- cow. The family sailed from Bremen May 14, 1819, and after a long and perilous voyage of eighteen weeks landed in this country. They settled in Westmoreland County, Penn., where Peter Howenstine was raised to man- hood. At the age of twenty-one he commenced the cooper's trade and con- tinued at the business for sixteen years, making barrels for distillers. In 1836, he was married to Lydia Weimer, and in 1848 moved to Stark County, Ohio, where he followed his trade as cooper until he commenced farming. In 1854, he moved to Noble County, and in 1864 settled on the farm where he now lives, and for which he paid $2,200 cash. Shortly after paying for the land, he found that the man of whom he bought it was not the rightful owner, and suit was commenced against him to recover the land, and after seven years' litigation he was compelled to pay a second time for it; this time the land cost him $2,000. In 1849, his wife died and left him with a family, so the follow- ing year he was married a second time. He has now living three of his first wife's children, and four of the second. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church ; was a volunteer in the Mexican war, but was not in good health, so was excused from serving. He has always voted with the Democratic party ; has been Justice in his township for four years.

FERDINAND KNAPPE was the third child of August and Mary (Wetzel) Knappe, born in Pike County, Penn., March 9, 1838 ; moved from Pennsylvania with parents to Sussex County, N. J., and in the spring of 1850 to Noble County. In 1861, Ferdinand Knappe was married to Miss Eliza A. Long. They now have one child living-Sarah Ann. Mr. Knappe taught school every winter from 1858 until 1880 ; is a strong Republican, having been twice elected Justice. He has a nice farm of 100 acres, and he and his wife are members of the Christian Church.

DAVID S. LONGFELLOW, born April 16, 1832, in Ohio. His father, Joseph Longfellow, lived when a boy in Delaware, and remembers of hearing the cannon-firing during the Revolutionary war. David S. was raised on a farm, and was educated at the Ohio Wesleyan University. He has taught school for seventeen winters in Ohio and Indiana. He was married August 16, 1855, to Miss Barbara Geiter, and, in 1856, moved to Noble County. In 1858, his wife died and left two small children-Martha E. and Barbara M. October 8, 1860, he was married to Miss Sarah E. Hindbaugh, and by his second wife had seven children, viz., Ida M., Sarah V., Grace O., Howard C., Washington H., Hadley K. and Matthew L. February, 1865, he enlisted in the One Hun- dred and Fifty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry ; he attained the rank of First Lieutenant, and was discharged in August, 1865. He is a Republican, and has served the party as Justice of the Peace in that township ; he has also been Postmaster at Wilmot Post Office for four years. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church. He is a well-to-do farmer, and owns 160 acres of land.

ROBERT LUCKEY, born January 30, 1824, in Buckingham County, Va .; moved with his parents to Fayette County, Penn., in 1828, and, in 1836, moved to Elkhart County, Ind., where he remained until November, 1863, when

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he moved to Noble County. He is the first child of James and Sophia (Furvis) Luckey. His father, James Luckey, was a graduate of Jefferson College, and for a number of years after coming to this country taught school. Robert Luckey when a boy, would go ten miles to mill and remain all day to get three bushels of corn ground. He can remember one time they were so short of pro- visions that his mother had to dig up potatoes that had been planted, to keep the family from starving ; he also remembers when his mother cut up blankets to make clothing for the children. Mr. Luckey learned the brick-maker's trade when twenty-three years of age, and followed it for twelve years. He was mar- ried, April 28, 1859, to Miss Abigail Adair. Miss Adair was the second white child born in Washington Township. They have seven children-Annie M., Lida S., Ida M., Jennie M., James E., Thomas A. and Joseph E. In 1863, Mr. Luckey was drafted in the army but sent a substitute. He is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for James K. Polk. He owns 140 acres of land, and is a member of the Methodist Church. His father fought in the war of 1812, and his mother had Pocahontas blood in her veins.

JOHN C. REED was born near Mount Vernon, Knox County, Ohio, September 30, 1814 ; was the eldest child of James and Nancy Reed. The family moved from Knox to Huron County, when John was three years old. When he was twenty-one, he moved to Seneca County, where he learned the trade of cooper. In 1850, he came to Noble County, where he purchased 160 acres of land. In the summer, he worked on his farm, and in the fall and winter worked at his trade. He married, 24th of March, 1836, Sarah Jackson. The fruits of this union have been twelve children, seven boys and five girls ; nine are now living; eight of the children are married. Mr. Reed has been almost an invalid for several years. He voted with the Democratic party until John Brown was hung, and since that time has been a true Republican.

CAPT. W. N. VORIS was born in Mercer County, Ohio, March 21, 1832, the eighth child of John and Hannah (Price) Voris, who, with their family, moved to Noble County in the spring of 1835. Shorty after his arrival, John Voris laid out a graveyard on his farm, and in the fall was taken sick and died, and was the first to be buried in it. Capt. Voris commenced to learn the car- penter's trade in 1850, and continued it until the war broke out. He was the first man in Noble County to enlist, and went out in the Ninth Indiana In- fantry, Company A, under the command of Capt. Hannum. During three months, was in the battles of Philippi, Laurel Hill (where he was one of 200 who captured a rebel battery), and Carrick's Ford. At the end of that time, he came back to his home, and assisted to raise Company F, of the Thirtieth In- diana Infantry, of which he was elected Captain. After serving for a time, he returned home again, and raised Company B, of the Eighty-eighth Indiana In- fantry. He remained with this regiment until the close of the war, and was in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga and others, and marched with Sherman to Atlanta. Capt. Voris, during the war, was under fire between thirty-five and forty times. At the battle of Chickamauga, he was struck between the shoulders with a fragment of a shell, and left for dead on the field; but he recovered and returned to his command. He has never fully recovered from the wound. He was commissioned as Major about the close of the war, but on account of the small number of soldiers, was not mustered in command. He was discharged June 14, 1865. He lost two brothers in the service. He was married, May 6, 1866, to Elizabeth Robinson. They are the parents of four children, two girls and two boys-Mary E., William N., John C. and

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Maud M. Capt. Voris is a Republican of the Stalwart kind; since the war, has lived on a fine farm of 168 acres; is a thrifty and honorable citizen.

JACOB WEIGEL, born October 6, 1832, in Cumberland County, Penn., a son of Jacob and Katharine (Rasler) Weigel. In 1847, he moved with his parents to Noble County, and when about eighteen years old, commenced to dig wells, and followed this occupation until 1874. In all, he dug 101 wells ; the deepest one being fifty-four feet, and the shallowest nine feet, averaging twenty-seven feet to each well. In 1853, he was married to Susan Peppers, by whom he has three children-Margaret C., John Wesley and Marion Sylvester. He is a hard-working man, and a prominent member of the Salem E. Lutheran Church. He owns forty acres of land, all under cultivation, and is a strong Democrat.

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Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 105

Author: Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: 428, 502 p. : ill., ports. ; Number of Pages: 962

Author: Goodspeed, Weston Arthur, 1852-1926; Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: 428, 502 p. : ill., ports. ;
Number of Pages: 962