Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 35

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 35
USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 35

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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nence, but always lends a helping hand to all laudable enterprises for the ad- vancement of home interests, but is not a member of any secret societies.

BENJAMIN B. SALMON was born in 1823 in Washington County, Ohio, and reared in Delaware County, same State, on a farm. He came West with two companions, arriving in this county in September, 1843. He was variously employed for some time, and for clearing land received forty acres of his present home, in 1844; here he began clearing and built a cabin. The following spring he was married to Betsey R. Havens, daughter of Thomas C. and Roxanna Havens, natives of Connecticut and of English descent. To them were born four sons and five daughters. Mr. Salmon when he came here had but 25 cents and eight head of sheep, and for many years endured hardships and poverty. Soon after marrying, he returned to Franklin County, Ohio, and until fall worked out by the month. After returning in the fall, he moved into his log house, which at that time had no floor. He went twenty-one miles to mill, and hauled his produce to Fort Wayne. Mr. Salmon now owns a farm of eighty acres, besides property in Larwill. He is a Republican, and first voted for Henry Clay. In 1861, Mrs. Betsey Salmon died, aged thirty- seven years, and he was subsequently married to Susanna Sickafoose, a native of Ohio. They had two sons and one daughter, and the mother died in 1878. That same year, Mr. Salmon was married to his third and present wife, Mary Metz, daughter of John Ray. They are both members members of the U. B. Church.

C. SOUDER, M. D., son of Conrad and Mary Souder, natives respec- tively of Germany and Pennsylvania, was born in Richland County, Ohio, in 1842. In the fall of 1846, Conrad Souder, with his family, located in this township on Section 9. Here he cleared a farm of 160 acres, and provided a home for his family, which consisted of two sons and two daughters. In 1852, he died, beloved and respected by all. His widow is yet living and is sixty- two years old. The subject's youth was passed at home, and in the fall of 1861 he enlisted in Company E, Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving in the war until he was honorably discharged in November, 1864. He received wounds in the battle of Chickamauga, and was in the battles of Fort Donelson and Pittsburg Landing. Upon his return, he became a scholar in the schools at Columbia City, and afterward at Roanoke, Ind., thence to Mendota Col- lege, Illinois, teaching at intervals. In 1867, he began his medical studies with Dr. Firestone; attended lectures at Cleveland and Cincinnati in 1870, graduating from the latter in the same year, since which time he has been en- gaged actively in the practice of his profession at Larwill, with the exception of eighteen months at South Whitley. He was married, in 1870, to Sabina Trembley, daughter of John S. Trembley; is a member of the Masonic order, and has two children living, one having died.

HENRY SOUDER is a native of Richland County, Ind., born in 1840, and son of Conrad and Mary Souder. He was six years old when his parents

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came to this township and located, and when eighteen years of age assumed the management of the home farm. March 4, 1861, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Easly. Her parents, Joseph and Mary Easly, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Ohio, were early settlers of Indiana. Mr. Souder, in the fall of 1862, enlisted in Company K, Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded at Perryville ; was in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and Lookout Mountain, and was honorably discharged in June, 1865. The following four years he was engaged in lumbering in this county ; then continued in the same business at Nobles- ville, Noble County, for a period of two years, locating permanently on his present farm of 160 acres in the spring of 1874, since which time he has given his attention to farming. Mr. and Mrs. Souder have a family of six-four sons and two daughters. He is a Republican and member of the Masonic fra- ternity.

WILLIAM STERLING was born in Lebanon County, Penn., in Decem- ber, 1818, the son of John and Elizabeth Sterling, natives of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, who moved to Berks County when our subject was but a small boy. There he went to school, and at eighteen went to the carpenter's trade, which he followed a few years. June 4, 1839, he married Margaret Ulrich, of Lebanon County, and daughter of Adam and Ann Ulrich. In 1840, he came to this county and located on Eel River, near South Whitley, where he lived fourteen years, redeeming from the wilderness a farm. This he sold in 1854, and bought one of 240 acres near Coesse. In 1859, he removed to this township, where he now owns a well-cultivated homestead of 173 acres. He became the father of nine children, of whom four sons and four daughters are now living. He has never been ambitious, politically, but has held minor offices in his township. In August, 1862, he answered his country's call for troops, and enlisted in Company F, One Hundredth Indiana Volunteer Infan- try, and served out his year, taking part in the battle of Mission Ridge, and skirmishing the rest of the time. His reminiscences of early days in the wilderness, with Indians, wolves, wild cats, etc., are of an interesting character. All he possesses has come from his own industry and determination to achieve independence.

THOMAS STRADLEY, merchant, was born in Delaware, October 27, 1837, the son of Stephen S. and Mary (Bolton) Stradley, who were natives of the same State. Hls early days were passed on a farm and in attending school, and in 1858, at his father's death, he began farming on his own respon- sibility, and continued thereat until 1865, when he came with his family to Larwill, and entered a store as clerk, which business he followed for eleven years, when he united in partnership with D. B. Clugston, and is still in busi- ness with him. Beginning here with but $3, he has by economy and industry secured for himself a fine trade and a good home for his family, and also an interest in a large dry goods establishment at Columbia City. He was mar-

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ried, in 1860, to Miss Gertrude Clugston, also a native of Delaware, and the fruit of their union has been four daughters. Subject is an active politician, and votes with the Democratic party. He has served four years as Township Trustee to the entire satisfaction of the people; he is a Knight Templar, as well as member of an I. O. O. F. lodge, and always lends a hand toward the advancement of home enterprises and the improvement of the home social circle.

B. THOMSON was born in Washington County, N. Y., in 1825, and was the son of Ezra and Sarah (McNorton) Thomson, natives of New York and Vermont, and of English and Scotch descent, respectively. The family came to this township, and located on Section 9, in 1836, and succeeded in bringing out of the forest a well-cultivated farm, and in rearing a family of ten children. They were among the earliest pioneers, and departed this life in 1857 and 1855, aged seventy-two and fifty years. Our subject lent his parents his assistance on the farm till he was twenty-two years old, and then, in 1847, started out on his own account, to clear a farm he had located in the forest. By hard work and economy, he has acquired 730 acres of land in this township, and 150 in Cleveland Township, all well improved. He had his experience of pioneer life in his early days, and remembers the time of the removal of the In- dians to the West. At that time, he was compelled to travel to Fort Wayne for a market, a distance of twenty-five or thirty miles. He has always proved a worthy citizen and was elected County Commissioner in 1876, and re-elected in 1880. In January, 1852, he was married to Matilda Rodebaugh, daughter of John and Phoebe Rodebaugh, of German and English descent, and through this union became the father of three sons and one daughter.

E. THOMSON was born in this township in 1849, the son of John and Emily Thomson, natives of New York, and of English extraction. Mr. J. Thomson came to this township with his parents in 1836, and, being of age, soon opened up a farm for himself, on land entered by his father the year of his arrival, redeemed from the wilderness a tract of 282 acres, and reared five children, four now living. He died in 1876, his wife following in 1878, aged, respectively, sixty-one and fifty-eight years. Our subject remained on his father's farm till twenty-one. In 1871, he married Mary E. Prugh, daughter of Abner Prugh, and to this union were born three children, of whom only one is living. In 1878, his wife died, and, some time after, he married Florence Prugh, also a daughter of Abner Prugh, and to this union has been born one son-Albert. He has a well-improved farm of eighty acres, and a pleasant home. As a rule, he takes but little interest in politics, but is firm in his faith in Democratic principles.

JOHN S. TREMBLEY was born in Somerset County, N. J., October 20, 1813, the son of Isaac S. and Aryann (Vossler) Trembley, both natives of New Jersey, and of French and German descent. He came with his parents to Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1816, and went to school and worked on the

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farm till twenty-one, when he became a carpenter, and worked at that trade thirty years, or more, at intervals. In 1842, he married Ellen D. Witt, daughter of David and Deborah Witt, and in 1845, came to this township, and located on his present farm, then a wilderness, and for twelve years lived in a cabin which has since been replaced by a good frame dwelling; he now owns a well cultivated farm of 224 acres. His wife died in April, 1870, and was the mother of seven children, four of whom are living. In September, 1871, he married Mrs. Mary A. Compton, daughter of Samuel Frazier, and to this union three children have been born. Mr. Trembley is a Republican in politics, and he and wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and highly respected by their neighbors.

WILLIAM WATSON is a native of Wayne County, Ind., born Decem- ber 25, 1824, and son of William and Nancy Watson. His parents, both na- tives of Kentucky, removed to Wayne County, Ind., in 1805 ; they had thir- teen children, and died in the years of 1859 and 1849 respectively. William Watson, our subject, was married in 1851, to Elizabeth J. Wolf, daughter of William and Mary Wolf, natives of Virginia, and descendants of the Irish and German. Mr. Watson was brought up on a farm, and followed that occupation six years after his marriage. He then took a trip to Kansas with the intention to locate, but abandoned this project and returned home, removing with his fam- ily, in the fall of 1859, to this township and locating on eighty acres of his pres- ent farm, which is now double that size. Mr. Watson is a Republican, and has served two years as Road Supervisor. Mr. and Mrs. Watson are parents of seven children, four sons and three daughters. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Watson, while serving in the Revolutionary war in February, 1777, was captured by the Indians, but succeeded in making his escape after three and a half years.

DAVID L. WHITELEATHER, druggist, in Larwill, was born in Colum- biana County, Ohio, in 1827, the son of George and Elizabeth Whiteleather, natives of Maryland, and of German descent. He remained on his parents' farm till eighteen years of age, when he began working at carpentering for $5 per month the first year, and this trade he followed for eight years, and then worked at job work on the P., Ft. W. & C. R. R., in this county, where he remained till the fall of 1855, when he married Frances Mack, daughter of Harper and Alice Mack, of New York. He then returned to Columbiana County, Ohio, engaged in farming till 1859; came to this township in the spring, and farmed till 1862, when he enlisted in Company F, One Hundredth Indiana Vol- unteer Infantry; participated in the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Jackson, Mission Ridge and Atlanta; followed Sherman to the sea, during the last eighteen months acting as color-bearer, having been color-guard for some time previously, and was honorably discharged in June, 1865. During the skirmish at New Hope Church, the flagstaff was shot away and twenty-one holes put through the flag, but he escaped unhurt. The spring following his departure for the war,

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his wife died, leaving three small children. On his return, in the fall of 1865, he entered the drug trade in company with Dr. Kirkpatrick, and in May, 1881, he assumed whole charge of the business. In the spring of 1866, he married his present wife, Julia Temple, daughter of David Patterson. He is a Free- mason, and in politics a Republican, and he and wife are members of the M. E. Church. He came here empty-handed, but, by attention to business and honest dealing, has provided himself with a good home, and established a lucrative trade.

REV. T. WHITMAN was born in Darke County, Ohio, October 4, 1822, son of David and Sarah Whitman, natives of Virginia. The parents emigrated with our subject to Wells County, Ind., in February, 1835, and entered land before the county was organized. Our subject attended the log schoolhouses in his youth, and, at the age of nineteen, began life on his own account, farming at intervals ; and in 1840 commenced studying for the ministry. In 1844, he entered upon active work, locating in Cass County, Ind., and rode a circuit through Cass, Miami, White and Pulaski Counties for three years, each trip taking two weeks. He preached each day and night, preparing his sermons while riding from point to point, receiving the first year $65. He moved to Pulaski in 1849; thence to this township in 1852, locating on his present farm. In 1840, he married Eliza J. Craig, born in Darke County, Ohio, in August, 1822, the daughter of Rev. Seymore and Sarah Craig. To this union three children were born, one son now living. After the death of this lady, he mar- ried Elizabeth Atchison, by whom he had one daughter, now the wife of Dr. D. E. Webster. He was married to his present wife, Charlotte Circle, August 5, 1855; she is a native of Kosciusko County, Ind., and to this union three children were born, all now living. Through his efforts six large charges have been built up, and he has assisted in organizing a number of home societies.

S. C. WHITMAN was born in Wells County, Ind., in June, 1842, the son of Rev. T. Whitman. He moved with his parents to Cass County, thence to Pulaski, and thence to this township in 1852, where he assisted his father in clearing up a forest farm. In his twentieth year, in August, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was out until the close of the war, receiving his discharge in June, 1865. He participated in the battles of Perryville and Stone River, when he was stricken with small- pox and measles. Recovering, he joined his company at Atlanta, going through to Washington, and in the battle of Bentonville was slightly wounded. On his return home he went to farming, and in the fall of 1867 married Nancy Louis, daughter of David and Isabel Louis, natives of Pennsylvania. To this union there were born three children. He has brought out of the forest, by industry and economy, a delightful home, and is now in quite comfortable circumstances. In politics, he is a Republican.

H. B. WHITTENBERGER, merchant, was born in Ohio, in 1835, and is the son of William and Joanna Whittenberger, who are natives of Penn- sylvania. At the age of one year, he was brought by his parents to this State,

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where they settled on a piece of forest land in Fulton County, where he was reared to manhood. In December, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, Forty- sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in the three-year call, under Col. Fitch, of Logansport, and went with his regiment as far as Memphis, where he was taken sick and left at the hospital, where he was subsequently detailed for duty as nurse, which position he filled until honorably discharged in December, 1864. He then returned to his home, and was shortly after married to Sevilla H. Southerland, of Logansport. She is the daughter of Zera Southerland, native of New York. To this union there were six children born, of whom three have died. Our subject here employed himself in farm- ing till 1865, when he removed to Larwill and joined his brother, A. J., in mercantile business, which was carried on for three years as a copartnership, and was thenceforward conducted solely by our subject. His purse at starting contained $60 only, but by energy and close attention to business he has established for himself a good trade and a comfortable home. He served as Postmaster of his town for ten years, and has won for himself the general good-will of his townsmen.

JEREMIAH WILLIAMS was born in Ross County, Ohio, in April, 1812. His parents, Benjamin and Jane Williams, were of English descent and natives of North Carolina. The subject obtained his education in a log schoolhouse with puncheon floor and greased paper for windows. Soon after commencing life for himself, he bought a yoke of oxen and rented land which he farmed until 1852, when he removed with family to this township, locating where he is yet living. He owns a farm of eighty acres, that he himself cleared and has otherwise improved. Mr. Williams first marriage occurred February 15, 1835, to Mary Zornes. They had ten children, five now living. She died, and he afterward married Margaret Siberts, who lived only two years. He was united to his present wife November, 1879. She was Mrs. Maria Parker, daughter of William and Sarah Thomson, and by her first hus- band had seven children, two now living. Mrs. Williams is a native of Dutchess County, N. Y., where she was born in 1810. Mr. Williams is a Democrat and an enterprising citizen.

SMITH TOWNSHIP.

ALFRED W. BRIGGS was born in this township, January 28, 1852, one of eleven children born to Jesse and Rebecca Briggs, natives respectively of Ohio and Virginia. Jesse Briggs came to what is now Smith Township, in 1837, and entered 320 acres (on which our subject now resides), built a cabin and commenced clearing. He afterward increased his land to 600 acres, and died in November, 1862, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His widow, also a member of the Methodist Church, still resides on the old home-

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stead. Alfred Briggs, our subject, received a fair common-school education in his youth, and has spent his life on the home farm, and is still unmarried. He is a member of Churubusco Lodge, No. 515, A., F. & A. M. In politics is a Republican, and is one of the rising young farmers of the township.

ASA H. CARTER was born in Hampshire County (now West) Virginia, December 6, 1823, and is one of seven children born to Asahel and Catharine (Horn) Carter, natives of said State. Asahel Carter moved with his family to Franklin County, Ohio. About 1836, he removed to Logan County, and thence, in 1843, he came to this township, pur- chased eighty acres of unimproved land, cleared up a farm, and here died in September, 1851; his wife following him in November, 1877. Mr. Carter was Justice of the Peace for Smith Township under the old constitution. Mrs. Carter died a consistent member of the Baptist Church. Asa H. Carter received a very fair common-school education in his younger days, and remained on the home farm until twenty-three years of age, when he bought fifty acres of land from his father, which he improved in the summer, teaching school in the winter. His salary for the first term, in the latter voca- tion, was $8.33} per month. June 16, 1853, he married Ellen Smith, a na- tive of Fayette County, Ohio, and born July 31, 1829. Mr. and Mrs. Carter's living children are seven in number, viz .: Sylvania L., now Mrs. J. W. Pence ; Austin W .; Alice A., now Mrs. R. C. Hemmick ; Mary E .; Ida E .; Lillie J .; and Minnie A. Mr. Carter now owns 190 acres of farm land. In politics, he is a Republican, and has held the offices of Justice of the Peace, Township Clerk, Trustee and Assessor.

THE CHURUBUSCO FLOURING MILLS were erected in 1870 by John Deck and Jacob Hose, at a cost of $7,000. The structure was a two- story frame, with two run of buhrs-one for wheat and one for corn. In April, 1871, Joseph Kichler purchased Mr. Deck's half-interest, and, being a practi- cal miller, took charge. The other half-interest was sold in turn to Jackson & Rich, David Shilling, William Watterson, Joseph Kichler, and finally to Michael Kichler, the whole being now owned by Joseph and Michael, and oper- ated under the firm name of J. Kichler & Bro. This firm have made a number of improvements ; have placed in some of the latest improved machinery, and are turning out a quality of flour not excelled by any in the county. They have four buhrs (three wheat and one corn and chop-feed), which are driven by a thirty-six horse-power engine. The senior partner, Joseph Kichler, was born in Rhine-Bayere, Germany, February 10, 1841. He is one of ten children, born to Michael and Johanna (Bishoff) Kichler-the former deceased. Joseph learned his trade in his native country, and came to the United States in Feb- ruary, 1861, and worked as a miller at various points before he came to Churu- busco. In 1870, he married Catharine Bishoff, who died February 10, 1881, leaving three children-Joseph, Nettie and Anna. Michael Kichler, junior member of the firm, was born March 14, 1849 (at the same place where his

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brother was born), and came to the United States in May, 1870, worked at stone masonry at various points, and then joined his brother in 1874. In May, 1874, he married Mary Rupert, and to them has been born one child-Rosa. Both brothers are members of the K. of H., and both are Democrats.

NICODEMUS COLEMAN was born March 16, 1837, in Ashland County, Ohio, one of the twelve children of John and Nancy Coleman, natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania respectively. John Coleman was a millwright, and when young went to Pennsylvania, was married there and worked at his trade till about 1835, when he moved to Ohio and bought a farm, but still con - tinued working at his trade, leaving the management of the farm to his chil- dren. In 1865, he moved to Thorn Creek Township, this county, and bought a farm, on which he resided till his death, December 24, 1869, his wife follow- ing in November, 1873, a member of the Church of God. Nicodemus Cole" man received a fair education, and was taught the millwright's trade by his father, subsequently serving a three years' apprenticeship to a carriage and wagon maker. He worked at his trade in Ashland and Wayne Counties, Ohio, until the spring of 1858, when he came to Troy Township, this county, and worked at Larwill and Steam Corners for two years. He afterward engaged in the saw-mill and lumbering business and has been so employed ever since at various times in Whitley and Noble Counties. For the last four years, he has owned and operated a saw-mill in Collins. January 21, 1861, he married Sarah A. Grant, a daughter of James and Eliza (Beard) Grant, and born in Troy Township, April 23, 1844. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman are the parents of seven children-Artemisia, Lyman M., James E., Emma I., Iona, Grace G. and Eliza B. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman and two of their children are members of the United Brethren Church, and in politics he is a Democrat.

WILLIAM COULTER (deceased) was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1809, and was one of eight children born to John and Margaret Coulter, natives of Ireland. Mr. Coulter, when but a child, was removed by his par- ents to Clinton County, Ohio, where he was reared on a farm, and received an ordinary common-school education. He remained on the home farm till 1847, when he came to this county. In 1844, he married Elizabeth Jenkins, born in Belmont County, Ohio, in 1826, and the daughter of Evan and Catharine Jenkins, natives of Virginia and Maryland. Mr. Coulter arrived here in the early part of October, and moved into a cabin already prepared for him, by Mr. John Egolf, on land entered by his father some years previously, and suc- ceeded in wresting from the forest a well-improved farm, which he increased to 660 acres, 560 of which are in one body. He was a man of great enter- prise, and of unswerving purpose. He avoided politics and was a consistent member of the Christian Church. He was the father of eleven children, of whom five sons and two daughters are now living. After a useful and success- ful life, he died in 1876, aged sixty-seven years. His widow still survives and resides on the home farm.

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GEORGE W. COULTER was born in Clinton County, Ohio, March 11, 1846, one of eleven children (five sons and two daughters of whom are living) born to William and Elizabeth (Jenkins) Coulter, natives respectively of Ham- ilton and Belmont Counties, Ohio. William Coulter was born November 2, 1810, the son of John and Margaret (Gibson) Coulter, natives of Ireland. He married in Clinton County, December 26, 1844, engaged there in farming till 1848, when he moved to this township, where his father had previously entered land. He was a hard-working man and did more to build up the live-stock interests of the county than any one other person ; here he died in 1876. He was a Democrat; also a member of the Christian Church, to which his widow, now living on the old homestead at the age of fifty-six, also belongs. George W. Coulter was reared a farmer, educated in the common schools, and this township has always been his home. February 14, 1869, he married Miss Caroline E. Werick, and to their union have been born two daughters-Elnora and Cora. Mr. Coulter takes great pride in his live stock, in which he deals extensively, besides farming his 152 acres of land. He is a Democrat and an Odd Fellow, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church.

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Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 35

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