Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 43

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 43
USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 43

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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WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

farm, which he had previously purchased, on Section 16, this township; re- mained there about four years, then went to his father's place and remained about two years, and then returned to his own farm of 203 acres, and has resided on it ever since. His children numbered six, viz .: Emma I., Ida E. (deceased), Laura M., Elizabeth J., Lucinda M. and Charles H. Our subject and wife are members of the U. B. Church, and the family stand high in the community. The father of Mr. Sickafoose was the first Appraiser in Jeffer- son, and on making his first appraisement found only three families in the township.

FRANCIS M. SMITH was born in Whitley County, Ind., January 3, 1849, the son of Elias and Nancy Smith, born respectively in 1825 and 1827, in Wayne County, Ohio, where they were married, January 24, 1847. In 1848, they removed to this township and settled on Section 27, and there the father died, November 20, 1878. The mother still lives on the farm with her children. Our subject, Francis M., the eldest of eight in the family, remained at home till about twenty-four years of age, when he went forth to seek his own fortune. February 12, 1874, he married Mrs. Martha J. Wagner, who was born in Ohio, December 1, 1850, and was the daughter of Philip and Martha Wince. Shortly after his marriage he bought a farm on Section 28, this township, and occupied it until 1882, when he sold it and bought an 80-acre farm on Section 23, in the same township, on which he now resides. He is a rising young man, and quite popular in the community. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church, and have a family of four children, name- ly : William W. Wagner (Mrs. Smith's son by her first husband), Cora, Flora, and Emma.

FRANKLIN SMITH was born in Stark County, Ohio, November 25, 1840, and is the son of John and Margaret Smith, natives of Pennsylvania, and born respectively in 1809 and 1819, and married in Ohio, whence, in 1847 they moved to Huntington County, Ind., and there remained four years. They then removed to this township, and settled on Section 21, where they still re- side. They have had a family of fourteen children, and Franklin, our subject, is next to the eldest. He came to this township with his parents, and was mar- ried September 30, 1869, to Annie M. Stoner, who was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, July 20, 1848, the daughter of Joel and Lydia Stoner. After marriage, he followed the carpenter's trade, and has continued it till the present. In 1872, he moved upon his present farm of thirty-five acres, and has reared a family of four children, viz., Cora B., Lilly M., Winfield O. and Nellie M. He and wife are members of the U. B. Church, and stand high in the estima- tion of the community.

JOHN A. SNYDER, was born in Stark County, Ohio, February 18, 1836, the son of Adam and Elizabeth Snyder, who were natives of Germany, born May, 1801 and 1795 respectively, and married in that country, where they remained till 1826, when they emigrated to Stark County, which they

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made their home till 1848, when they moved to Huntington County, this State, remaining about six months, and then coming to this county, where the father died April 10, 1860, and the mother August 22, 1864, having had a family of eight children. Our subject accompanied his parents to this county, and March 4, 1860, married Elizabeth Cox, who was born in Portage County, Ohio, September 14, 1839. He then bought his farm of 160 acres on Section 4, this township, moved on it, and has resided there ever since. To his mar- riage have been born eight children, viz .: William A., Maria E., Mary J., John E., Sarah A., George W., Charles F. and Elmer E. Mr. Snyder is a member of the Lutheran Church, and he and his family have the respect and friendship of all their neighbors.

WILLIAM STONER was born in Ohio January 21, 1838. His father, Joel Stoner, was born in Maryland January 28, 1816, and his mother, Lydia Stoner, in Ohio in 1818, and in the last named State they were married. In 1851, they moved to Wells County, Ind., thence to Huntington County, and then, in 1864, to this township, and settled on Section No. 10, where the father died November 20, 1880, and where she still lives. Their family consisted of twelve children, as follows : William, Daniel (deceased), Noah (deceased), Sarah, Eliza, Susan (deceased), Maria, Mary J., Jacob, Martha, Matilda C. (deceased), and John W. Our subject, William Stoner, was married in Huntington County, August 16, 1863, to Sarah S. Armstrong, who was born in New York May 18, 1839. He rented a farm in Huntington, on which he remained about two years, then moved to Section 28, this township, and shortly after bought eighty acres in Section 16, to which he moved, and on which he still resides. He has a family of five children, viz .: Ira A., Mary E., Charlie R., Amiel L. and Sarah O.

WILLIAM H. SWAN, a native of Maryland, was born near Washing- ton, D. C., August 12, 1805. His parents, Henry and Lamenta Swan, were also natives of Maryland, the former born in 1767, and the latter in 1771. After their marriage they resided in Maryland some time, then moved to the District of Columbia, thence to Westmoreland County, Penn., emigrating in 1815 to Wayne County, Ohio, where the rest of their lives were passed. Will- iam H., was one of eleven children, and remained with his parents until the time of their demise. His mother died May 3, 1851, and his father October 15, 1855. On December 30, 1835, he was married to Marietta Merriman. She was born July 7, 1817, in Wayne County, Ohio, where Mr. Swan pur- chased his father's old farm, and continued to remain, until his coming to this county in the spring of 1865. He is yet living on Section 25, of this town- ship, where he first settled, and owns 191 acres of land. His wife died Sep- tember 25, 1865; they had born to them eleven children-Eleanor, Eliza, James (deceased), Mary (deceased) Emily, Elisha, William H. (deceased), Prets- man, Isabella, Nancy and Harriet (deceased.) Mr. Swan is a well-known and respected citizen; he has retired from active work, and his farm is under the careful management and supervision of his sons, Elisha and Pretsman.

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JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.

S. P. WAGNER is the son of George and Catherine Wagner, who were born 1801 and 1799, respectively, in Pennsylvania, and were there married. In the fall of 1832, they moved to Perry County, Ohio, and remained there till they died, he July 23, 1850, and she in 1851. They were parents of nine children, viz .: John, S. P., Mary, George, Susan, Martin, Jacob, Jane and Matilda. Our subject was born in Lancaster County, Penn., September 13, 1825, and was married in Ohio, October 29, 1846, to Mary A. Chamberlin, born in Pennsylvania March 18, 1827. In 1854, Mr. and Mrs. Wagner moved to Whitley County, and settled on Section 27, Washington Township. Mrs. W. died August 15, 1868, and September 19, 1868, he married Mrs. Angeline Holt, who was born in Wayne County, Ohio, February 22, 1835. Mr. Wag- ner owns 160 acres of land, and is the father of thirteen children-John W. (deceased), George W., Isaac V., Jacob J., Martin S. (deceased), Minerva E., Homer C., Albert L. and Margaret I. (deceased), by his first wife; Edwin R. (deceased), Jonathan H., Clyde L., Eldon M. (deceased), by his present wife. Mr. Wagner is a consistent member of the U. B. Church.

JAMES I. YOUNG was born in Summit County, Ohio, August 28, 1844. His parents were Samuel and Sarah Young, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Whitley County at an early day, and settled on Section No. 23, in this township, where the father died. The mother then purchased property in Forest, Ind., upon which she moved and has ever since resided. They had a family of eleven children, of whom James I., our subject, was the third, and came with his parents to this township. He was married, March 16, 1876, to Amanda J. Hively, who was born in Whitley County October 8, 1859, and shortly afterward moved on one of their farms in this township, on Section 13, on which he remained till the fall of 1880, when he moved on the old home- stead, where they now live, and the family own 243 acres of land, undivided, of which our subject has charge. He has two children-Estrella M. and Noah W., and stands high among his neighbors.

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.

ISRAEL BIERS was born in Preble County, Ohio, March 20, 1828, the third of four children born to John and Soloma (Cushwa) Biers, natives of England and Washington County, Md. When but fourteen years old, his father died; the farm was sold to a brother-in-law, and he was bound to the latter till eighteen, but remained on the farm till twenty-two. October 7, 1849, he married Mary A. Howard, of Miami County, Ohio, and became the father of nine children, viz .: Mrs. Elizabeth M. Snyder, Mrs. Sarah J. Casada, Mrs. Mary C. Lawrence, Mrs. Emma I. Snyder, Charles, Mrs. Ida E. Crowel, Effie A., Franklin and Joseph (deceased). In 1850, he rented a farm in Preble County ; in 1851, moved to a rented farm in Montgomery County ; in 1858,

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moved to another of 160 acres in Union Township, this county. In 1860, he purchased 40 acres, to which he added 40 more in 1866. In 1875, sold his land in Union, and bought 70 acres in this township, on which he has since resided. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundredth Indiana Volun- teers, and served till the close of the war, as Orderly Sergeant for two years, and then as First Lieutenant, and was under Sherman at Vicksburg, Mission Ridge, other important battles and the famous march to the sea. The " Indiana Soldier " and "Sherman's Memoirs " give an incident of which he was the hero. He had been out on a foraging expedition with seventy men; when four or five miles in advance of the column, came upon a band of rebels, which after- ward proved to be two brigades of cavalry, which Lieut. Biers and his men pursued three or four miles, not knowing their strength, and the rebels suppos- ing he was supported by the advancing army.

JAMES BLEE is a native of County Donegal, Ireland, and was born February 22, 1810, one of twelve children of James and Margaret (Mahaffey) Blee. In 1833, accompanied by his brother John, he immigrated to America, and spent the time till 1841 in working about the country, part of the time in New Orleans. In the fall of 1841, he came to Jefferson Township, bought 120 acres of land, increased it to several hundred, and still resides there with his brothers William and John. Mr. Blee was never married. In politics, he is a Democrat, and he is a member of the Catholic Church.

FREDERICK BROCK is a native of Canton Basel, Switzerland, and was born April 1, 1822. His father and mother, Rudolph and Elizabeth (Smossman) Brock, also native of Switzerland, were the parents of five children, of whom our subject was the eldest. He received a good education in the old country, and emigrated thence in company with his parents in 1840, and came to Fair- field County, Ohio. He remained with them till of age, and then worked for himself three years at farming and carpentry. February 22, 1846, he married, in Fairfield County, Elizabeth Amman, also a native of Switzerland, and, in 1850, came to Thorn Creek Township, this county, and settled on eighty acres improved land, where he remained till 1866, when he purchased the 100 acres in this township, where he now lives. In politics, Mr. Brock is a Democrat, and he held the office of Justice of the Peace from 1872 to 1876.

JAMES BROXON was born in Kent County, Del., April 3, 1821, the only child of Daniel and Amelia (Ross) Broxon, natives respectively of England and Scotland. The father was a farmer, and died when our subject was but nine years old. Commencing the fall of 1836, James worked on a farm in Fayette County, Ind., three years, and the succeeding three years he served as apprentice to Jeremiah Jeffrey, a blacksmith. November 25, 1842, he married Margaret A. Tyner, of Fayette, and then started a blacksmith-shop of his own. In the fall of 1845, he located on eighty acres of unimproved land in Cass County, near Logansport, erected a forge and followed his trade. In the spring of 1854, he removed to this township, bought 160 acres of land,

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JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.

and for twelve years divided his time between his farm and shop. In 1866, he bought 220 acres in the eastern part of the township, where he now lives. His wife has borne him eleven children, of whom nine are still living-Melissa J.,. Amelia A., John T., Mary E., William C. (all married), and Walter M., Reu- ben E., Charles O. and Laura D. (single). Mr. and Mrs. Broxon have been members of the Christian Church since 1840; he, also, is a Mason, and has been Postmaster at Saturn for fifteen years. He has held the office of Town- ship Trustee two years, was Justice of the Peace from 1858 to 1862, and again from 1866 to 1878.

J. W. BURWELL is a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, born December 13, 1847. His father, Joseph Burwell, was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., in 1817, and married in 1839, in Fairfield County, Ohio, where he remained until his death, March 7, 1863. Mrs. Deborah Burwell, the sub- ject's mother, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1817. After her hus- band's death, she removed to Whitley County, Ind., with her family, which comprised five children-Rebecca J., Sarah F., J. W., Margaret E. and Ellen. M. She yet resides where she first settled on Section 34, Thorn Creek Town- ship. J. W. Burwell has been a resident of this county since coming here. with his mother in the spring of 1865. September 21, 1871, he was married. to Caroline C. Craft, who was born in Columbia City, Ind., March 13, 1852. He farmed the old homestead until in 1881, when he moved to Forest and em- barked in his present enterprise, buying out the firm of Edwards & Anderson, dealers in hardware and agricultural implements, and is meeting with deserved success. He also owns a farm in Thorn Creek Township. He and wife have had four children-Edna B., Cora E., deceased, Joseph P. and Lester E.

JOSEPH BUSH was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, June 16, 1828, and was one of four children born to George and Catherine (Miller) Bush, natives of Germany and Pennsylvania, respectively. They moved to Stark County, Ohio, in 1830, and there resided till their death. In 1853, our sub- ject bought eighty acres of land in De Kalb County, Ind., and commenced clearing it, but in 1855 removed to this township and settled on eighty acres, where he has since lived. This farm he has increased to 200 acres, and it is one of the finest in the township, and well supplied with good buildings. March 11, 1852, he married Miss Auer Barbara, who died in 1872, and he subsequently married Catherine Wolfert, who has borne him six children : Amos, Sarah, Albert, Phoebe A., Wilson and Minerva J. Mr. Bush is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics is a Democrat.

HENRY C. CROWEL was born in Preble County, Ohio, August 4, 1816, and was one of the nine children of Michael and Hannah (Wells) Cro- wel, natives of Maryland and South Carolina. At the age of sixteen, our subject left his home and entered an apprenticeship of three years to a tanner of New Paris, Preble County, and the next three years were passed in Cincin- nati in learning the carpenter's trade and in going to school ; in 1839, he:

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moved to Madison County, and for three more years taught school. April 3, 1842, he married Margaret Stickler, of Virginia, and then taught school in Preble County and in Wayne County, Ind., till the fall of 1844, when he came to this township and pre-empted forty acres of land, on which he still resides. In 1852, he went to California, and returned in 1856. Mrs. Crowel died May 21, 1805, leaving five children of the seven borne by her, viz. : William, married and a prosperous farmer of the township; Mrs. Margaret Foster, Mrs. Mary J. Creager, Elmina and Mrs. Tabitha Cooper. June 16. 1867, our subject married Lucinda Mumford, of Miami County, Ohio, by whom he has had seven children, viz. : Orrie E., J. Fay, Jay, Elzinie, Roland H., Say J. and Charles O. He is now the owner of 160 acres of well-improved land, is a member of Fort Wayne Lodge, F. & A. M., No. 25, and of Grange No. 1,163. He also served on the Board of Township Trustees and was a member of the Board of School Trustees under the old constitution.

JAMES C. F. CROWEL was born in Preble County, Ohio, August 21, 1830, the youngest of nine children born to Michael and Hannah (Wells) Crowel, natives respectively of Maryland and South Carolina. On reaching his majority, James started out as a peddler of books, which he followed three years; and the next three he spent in peddling jewelry, traveling, during this time, through twenty-seven States. Finally, in 1857, he commenced farming in this State, working for various parties, until, in 1865, he and his widowed mother settled on 160 acres of choice land in this township, which his father had bought for him when he was sixteen years of age, and on which he has since lived. August 17, 1869, he married Miss Margaret Mclaughlin, and to their union have been born five children-Hannah L., Elizabeth J., Martha C., William M. and John T. Mr. Crowel is a man of extensive reading; he is a Granger, and in politics a Democrat.

OLIVER J. CROWEL was born in Whitley County, Ind., June 7, 1850, the eldest of six children born to John W. and Martha (Sheaffer) Crowel, natives respectively of Preble County, Ohio, and Green County, Tenn. At the age of twenty-two he left the homestead and began working in a saw-mill in this township, and within a year bought a share in a portable saw-mill in Washington Township, which he ran till the summer of 1874. In the fall of 1875, he purchased an interest in the saw-mill he at present owns in its en- tirety, and which he continues to successfully run. On the 24th of July, 1875, he married Mary A. Schoda, and to their union have been born two children, Edward W. and Joy J. In politics, Mr. Crowel is a Democrat, and is looked upon as a rising and prosperous young business man.

JONATHAN S. DUNFEE is a son of James and Sophie (Hazlett) Dunfee, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Kentucky, and was born in Adams County, Penn., June 9, 1826, being one of thirteen chil- dren. He was taken to Wayne County, Ohio, when but five years of age, and there reared and educated till twenty years of age, when he went to carpenter-

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JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.

ing for two years, and the following three acted as overseer for his widowed sister's farm in Holmes County, Ohio. October 19, 1848, he married Mary A. Quick, of Holmes County, Ohio, and in the fall of 1850 he came to this township and settled on the eighty acres of land where he now lives; and to these eighty, 412 have been since added as the result of industry and economy. He is the father of seven children, viz. : Justus C., Margaret W., David J., Martha E., Emily A., Althea M., and Louis W .; and during all his stay in this county his doctor bills have not exceeded $35. He is a member of the U. B. Church, and in politics a Republican; his farm is in a high state of cul- tivation and supplied with excellent buildings, and the signs of prosperity and happiness are all about him.

LEVI EBERSOLE is a native of Lancaster County, Penn., and was born April 15, 1838, the fourth of seven children of John and Sarah (Siberd) Ebersole, natives of that State. Our subject's father died when the former was eight years of age. At the age of sixteen, he went as apprentice to a bricklayer, and he has more or less followed that trade since he reached the age of eighteen, when he began for himself in Elizabethtown, Penn. In 1862, he moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and began farming. August 14, 1862, he married, in Wayne, Sarah E. Miller, and lived on a rented farm of eighty acres till the spring of 1865, when he bought and removed to the eighty-acre farm in this township, where he still lives, part of the time working at his trade. Of his eight children, five are still living, viz .: Emeline C., Margaret S., William W., Levi E. and Jennie M. He is a member of the United Brethren Church; in politics, he is a Democrat, and in the spring of 1882 was elected Trustee of Jefferson Township.

BEMJAMIN F. IHRIG was born in Richland County, Ohio, April 1, 1843, one of eleven children born to John and Ann (Lash) Ihrig, natives of Pennsylvania and New Jersey respectively. The family, when our subject was nine years of age, came to Washington Township, this county, where they located on 140 acres of land, and where the father died in 1847. Benjamin remained on the farm till of age, and then, for two years, worked for his neighbors. He married Martha A. Maring, October 25, 1866, and shortly after located on forty acres in this township, where he has since resided. He now owns 112 acres of the best land of the section, and on a part of it the town of Forest is now being built. To his marriage have been born seven children, six of whom are yet living: Alfretta, Judson J., William W., Clar- ence W., Minnie L. and Florence. Mr. and Mrs. Ihrig are both members of the Christian Church ; and in politics he is a Republican.

GEORGE JEFFRIES was born in Rush County, Ind., January 6, 1836, to William and Elizabeth (Rippey) Jeffries, the parents of eight children. His father was a farmer, and came to this State from Kentucky in 1808, and his mother was a native of Ohio. With his parents, our subject came to this township in 1851, and he spent his time with them till he reached the age of

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thirty-two. October 20, 1867, he married Miss Axie Thomas, who was born in Huntington County, Ind. He then settled on 180 acres rich land, and has since added eighty more. He has two children, Minnie M. and Edna E. In youth he attended the common schools, the Fort Wayne High School one term, and Adrian (Mich.) College nearly two years. He held the office of Township Trustee from 1867 to 1868, and votes with the Republicans. He was twice drafted during the war, but procured substitutes. He has taught five terms of school, is a leading farmer, and a man of intelligence and influence.

SYLVANIS KOONTZ was born in Stark County May 25, 1844, the son of Baltzer and Susannah (Whistler) Koontz, natives of Maryland and Pennsylvania respectively. When our subject was nine years old, he was brought by his parents to Washington Township, this county, where his father bought eighty acres of land, which he farmed till his death. In -1862, our sub- ject enlisted in Company I, Fifty-fourth Indiana Volunteers, and served fifteen months under Grant in the Mississippi campaign, taking part in nine battles. In October, 1864, here-enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Forty-second Indiana Volunteers, and served till the end of the war. Then he worked three years as a carpenter, and in 1870 began the study of medicine, attending the Ohio Medical College, and in 1872 commenced practice in Forest, where he now lives. March 15, 1874, he married Marilla J. Haley, who was born in Holmes County, Ohio, in 1843, and who died April 26, 1876. November 28, 1878, he married Adelaide M. Kilpatrick, a native of Summit County, Ohio, and to this union there has been born one child, Jessie. Dr. Koontz is a mem- ber of I. O. O. F. Lodge, No. 546, and his wife is a member of the Lutheran Church. Baltzer Koontz, Sr., was born in Maryland, and married Cath- arine Harman, a native of the same State; date of death unknown ; descend- ants, seven boys and two girls. Baltzer Koontz, Jr., third child of above, was born in Franklin County, Md., November 8, 1793; February 21, 1822, mar- ried Susannah Whistler, daughter of Andrew and Catharine Whistler, and born in Lancaster County, Penn., November 15, 1798; died November 12, 1877, in this county ; descendants, ten boys and four girls: Catharine Ann (de- ceased), Caroline, John W., George, Jacob, Elizabeth (deceased), Baltzer, Irvin W., Andrew (deceased), Alfred, Eli (deceased), Rebecca, Margaret A., William and Sylvanis. Mrs. Susannah (Whistler) Koontz still resides on the home farm, now under the charge of her son John W., in Washington Town- ship, this county. Mrs. Adelaide M. (Kilpatrick) Koontz, our subject's present wife, is the daughter of Hugh and Mary B. (Gaylord) Kilpatrick, and was born in 1858.

CHARLES LIVENSPARGAR is the son of Jacob and Mary (Babb) Livenspargar, natives of Pennsylvania, where our subject was born July 18, 1822, one of five children. He came with his parents, when two years old, to Summit County, Ohio, where his father died in 1830. Upon this event, he took up his home with his grandfather till he was seventeen, then went to live

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JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.

with his step-father, who was a farmer and weaver, where he remained till 1846, dividing his time between the farm and the shop. The two following years he spent on his grandfather's farm, and then began teaming on his own account. He then bought a half-interest in a threshing machine and engine and ran them six years. In 1856, he hired to Ball, Aultman & Co., of Can- ton, Ohio, and worked for them seven years. Next, in 1864, he came to For- est, this township, and bought the saw-mill located there. He also owns eighty acres of land in the township and considerable property in the town of Forest. October 30, 1853, he married in Summit County, Ohio, Sophia R. Irwin, a native of Clearfield County, Penn., and who lived for some time in the family of the famous John Brown. To this union six children were born, four of whom are living-George F., James B., Amanda E. and Mittie L. In pol- itics, Mr. L. is a Democrat, and he was a Granger when that society was in existence.

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Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 43

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