Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 47

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 47
USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 47

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).

HENRY SNYDER, Jr., was born in Richland County, Ohio, in Feb- ruary, 1836, and there worked on this father's farm and went to school till nineteen years old, when he came to Kosciusko County, this State, with his x

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parents, Henry and Elizabeth Snyder. In 1856, he returned to his native place, and in 1857 married Mary Sowers, daughter of James and Catharine Sowers, natives of Huron County, Ohio. To this union were born three chil- dren, of whom only one son is now living. Mr. Snyder remained in Ohio, farming, till June, 1865, when he came to this township, locating on the farm where he now lives, which, through hard work, he has turned into a desirable home. Mrs. Snyder died in August, 1874, and in September, 1876, our sub- ject married his present wife, Lizzie Coplan, who has borne him one son. In 1863, our subject became a Free Mason; he served as Township Trustee six years in Ohio, has always been an active member of the Democratic party, and was First Lieutenant in the home militia.

MATTHEW TAYLOR was born in Erie County, Penn., in 1815, the son of Edward and Anne Taylor. During the same year, the parents moved to Wayne County, Ohio, where our subject resided (with the exception of one year, 1834, passed in Kosciusko County) until 1845. In December, 1836, he married Sarah Harpster, who bore him five children, all of whom are well settled in life. Mr. Taylor worked at job work until he came to this township, · in 1845. He here, for the first four years, lived on his brother-in-law's place, and during this time erected a hewn-log house, with puncheon floor and ceil- ing, having passed the first winter in a cabin without a window. Mr. T. was often compelled, in those days, to walk to Columbia City, a distance of nine miles, and do a day's work in order to obtain groceries for his family's use. On his arrival here, he had but $18.75 in cash, and had a family of five to care for, and was compelled to procure food from the forest, in the shape of deer, wild turkeys, and other game. By perseverance and economy he has redeemed from the forest a fine farm of 160 acres, and has secured a competency through milling, lumbering, etc., and is now living retired upon the fruits of his early industry.

WILLIAM THOMPSON was born in Red Lion Hundred, Delaware, October 16, 1827, and was the eldest of seven children born to George E. and Elizabeth Thompson, natives of New Jersey and Delaware, and of Scotch and English descent respectively. About 1836, they removed to Randolph Coun- ty, Ind., and cleared up a farm out of the native forest. Our subject, having acquired a very fair education, taught school a number of terms, and also worked by the month from his majority until 1852, in which year, August 19, he married Harriet P. Ward, and the September following the couple took up their home in this township, clearing away the trees, erecting a small log cabin, and moving into it before it was furnished with door, window or fireplace. They now own 160 acres of cultivated land and village property in Ridgeville, worth over $2,000. Our subject was drafted in the army in 1864, and served during the remainder of the war, and was one of the first to enter Fort Fisher at the point of the bayonet. He is a stanch Republican, and has served one term as Justice of the Peace. He is one of the oldest Free Masons in the

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county, and is a charter member of three lodges. He is a Steward in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which society his wife is also a member. Mrs. Thompson is the daughter of Job and Amy (Gray) Ward, who were among the first settlers of Randolph County, and by her union with Mr. Thompson two sons and one daughter have been born, all of whom are receiving a good educa- tion.

AMBROSE M. TRUMBULL was born in Franklin County, Ohio, Febru- ary 26, 1820, and was the son of Moses and Amelia A. (Munson) Trumbull, na- tives, respectively, of Connecticut and Massachusetts. Subject removed with his parents, at the age of sixteen, to near Cold Springs, Noble County, this State. He assisted in clearing up his father's farm, and worked thereon till of age, when he hired out on his own account. March 10, 1842, he married Rebecca Hively, daughter of John and Mary Hively, of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. Shortly after, he removed to the farm where he now lives, in this township, re- deemed it from the wilderness, and now has a fine home farm of 180 acres, sup- plied with substantial buildings, and also owns a small tract in Iowa. In early days, our subject's nearest base of supplies was Michigan City ; their mill was twenty-five miles away ; lumber was a great want, and puncheon floors were used, and slabs, hewn from logs, served as planks for the first coffins. At the age of forty, our subject, being worn with hard work, found recreation in buy- ing and shipping stock, and in the capacity of dealer has traveled through six- teen States, and has met with abundant success. He avoids politics, but has frequently been chosen as guardian and maker of wills, and always acquitted himself in a satisfactory manner. He is parent of seven children, four of whom are now living. Two of the elder sons, Preston and Dwight, enlisted in August, 1861, at the ages of nineteen and seventeen, while at college at Fort Wayne. Dwight was taken prisoner at Chickamauga, and died a year later, at Andersonville. Preston died about nine months after going into the war. He was attacked with measles, which settled on his lungs, and he lies buried at Stone River.

ETNA TOWNSHIP.

STEPHEN S. AUSTIN, M. D., son of Perigo and Sarah (Gray) Austin, was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., in 1821. His parents were natives respect- ively of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and of Welch and French extraction. At the age of sixteen, Stephen Austin began teaching, and followed that voca- tion seven years, attending, during intervals of that period, the Onondaga Academy, school at East Troy, N. Y., and at Amsterdam. He also, in 1841 took a course of six months at Caughnawaga, and old Indian fort on the Mo- hawk River. In 1843, he went to La Porte, Ind., and there attended medical college, acting as private tutor for a large class two seasons, and read medicine

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under Daniel Meeker and T. Higday. After receiving his diploma at the In- diana Medical College, in February, 1849, he removed to Noble County and lo- cated at Wolf Lake, associating himself with Dr. Elias Jones, one of the ablest practitioners of that county, the partnership lasting two years. In the month of August, same year, Dr. Austin located in Etna Township, this county, where he has built up an extensive and remunerative practice, having his head- quarters at Hecla. He owns several improved farms, and is an enterprising citizen. Dr. Austin was first married in 1847 to Mary J. Ranking, a teacher of mathematics, Latin and French, in the La Porte schools, and a graduate of the Oneida Seminary. She died in 1848, and he married Mrs. Lovina J. Mar- tin, his present wife, in 1852. She is the daughter of Capt. Abner Seelye, and widow of Stephen Martin. They have had six children, three of whom are living-Perry G., Mary J. and Nellie G.

JOHN BLAINE was born in Cumberland County, Penn., 1792, and was married in 1816, to Elizabeth Blaine, born in Northumberland County, Penn., in 1791, and to their union six children were born, four of whom are now living. They removed to this county in 1836, and located on land which he at that time entered, and which they still occupy, thus becoming one of the first settlers in the township. They lived the first winter in a pole shanty, with only three sides enclosed and covered with bark, and experienced all the hardships of frontier life. They have succeeded, however, in establishing a pleasant home, and are now retired from active labor to enjoy the reward of their early toil through a married life of sixty-six years.

BENJAMIN BOYER was born in Berks County, Penn., in 1814. His father, Jacob Boyer, was a native of the same State, and of German extrac- tion. His parents were poor people, and having no other available opportuni- ties than the subscription school, Benjamin's education was necessarily limited. At the age of thirteen, he was put out to work, his father receiving his wages until he was twenty-one, when he began learning the wagon maker's trade, fol- lowing the same eighteen months. In December, 1837, Mr. Boyer married Annie Ramer, of Berks County, Penn., daughter of Jacob Ramer, who was born in Pennsylvania, and descended from the Germans. In the fall of 1838, they removed to Fairfield County, Ohio, rented land and farmed eleven years. They then emigrated to this township, settling on a farm of eighty acres, where they now live. By the united efforts of Mr. Boyer and his wife in clearing the land, it is now well improved, and furnishes them a good comfortable home. They endured many privations, and first kept house with no other than home- made furniture. They have had eight children ; but half that number have been spared them.

THOMAS HARTUP was born in Preble County, Ohio, in 1812, and removed to Wayne County, Ind., with his parents, James and Mary Hartup, in 1814. His father was a native of Delaware and his mother of Kentucky. In 1833, Mr. Hartup was united in marriage with Lydia A. Hollett, formerly

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of Kentucky, and daughter of John Hollett. They had five children born to them-Eliza, Narcissa, Lewis (who was a soldier in the late war, and was bur- ied at Nashville), James A. (who also met his death while serving his coun- try), and John H. In the fall of 1846, Mr. Hartup came with his family to this township, and purchased the farm on which he now lives. It was then in its primitive state, but now ranks among the model farms. Its present improved condition is due the persevering efforts of Mr. Hartup, who had but fifty cents when he came here, but worked at clearing his farm of 160 acres, and by steady work has earned a competence for himself and family. Mr. and Mrs. Hartup belong to the Baptist Church, and are good citizens.

FRANKLIN HUNT was born February 22, 1828, in Wayne County, Ind., where he resided until twenty-two years old. At that time he traveled West across the plains, going overland from St. Jo, Mo. After an absence of two years, he returned to his home, and in the fall of 1851 came to this town- ship, and began clearing the land where he now lives, which was the first farm cleared in that section. In 1853, he married Martha J. Long, of Ross County, Ohio, daughter of Thomas Long, who moved to this township in 1849. Mr. Hunt owns a fine improved farm of 275 acres, part of which was entered by his father in 1835 or 1836. He has served one term as Township Trustee, is an enterprising citizen, and was formerly a Whig, but now a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt belong to the Lutheran Church and are parents of twelve chil- dren, all of whom are living. Mr. Hunt's parents, Smith and Elizabeth Hunt, natives of North Carolina and Kentucky respectively, settled in Wayne County in 1806, and there spent the rest of their days. Smith Hunt received a Col- onel's commission in the home militia under Gen. Harrison.

WASHINGTON JONES, is the son of Levi M. and Mary (Thomas) Jones, both of whom were natives of Virginia and of Welch descent. They were among the first settlers of Wayne County, Ind., locating there in March, 1815, and for some time were engaged in running a hotel at Centreville, then the county seat. In October, 1823, Levi Jones died, leaving his wife with ten children, the eldest being only fourteen. She moved to the country, rented a farm, and by the hardest work and through many privations, she reared the family and lived to see them grown to maturity. For ten years she clothed herself and family with flax from the field and wool from the sheep. The sub- ject was born in Wayne County, Ind., December 8, 1816, and when nineteen started for himself by purchasing 160 acres of land in Madison County, Ind., and until this was paid for he lost only two working days. He began teaching school in 1838, and followed that six winters. January 23, 1845, he was mar- ried to Catharine Hunt, and in 1848 moved to Noble County, locating soon after on the farm of 320 acres where he now lives. Mr. Jones is a Republi- can, an anti-secret society and temperance man. Himself and wife are mem- bers of the Baptist Church, and have had five children, three of whom are living and have been assisted by their father in securing comfortable homes.

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The grandparents of Mr. Jones were in the Revolutionary war, and his grand- father, Thomas, served under Washington. The subject, upon leaving home, said to his brother, "'Tis hard to be driven from one's native country, but poverty is driving me, and if I do not secure a comfortable home in the future 'twill be because I have died in the attempt."

ELI R. JONES is a native of Wayne County, Ind., born March 17, 1818, and the son of Levi M. and Mary Jones, who had a family of eleven children. One brother and two sisters of the subject are yet living. Eli R., when of age, began brick-making, and followed it summer seasons and worked in the woods during the winters, until he emigrated to this township in the fall of 1849 ; settling, three days after his arrival, in a log cabin on the farm where he has since lived. Through industry, Mr. Jones has amassed a comfortable fortune and 160 acres of land. He is a man of honor, and, once given, his promise is never violated. To this rare characteristic he attributes his success in life. October 29, 1840, he was united in marriage to Miss Annie Crow, of Wayne County, Ind .; her parents, Daniel and Elizabeth Crow, were born in the State of North Carolina and descended from the English. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been born ten children, eight of whom are living-Helen, Mary J., Annie, Edna, Sarah, Alice, Josephus and Charles. Subject and wife belong to the Baptist Church, and he is a firm Republican.

JAMES W. LONG is a native of Northumberland County, Penn., where he was born July 14, 1803, son of John and Margaret Long, parents of twelve children, the subject being next to the oldest of six that are yet living. He moved with his parents to Ross County, Ohio, in 1816, and in 1836, with his family, went to Kosciusko County, near Leesburg, Ind., where he lived on rented land until he came to this township in the fall of 1837 ; built a log cabin and located on his farm, which was entered in 1836. The past nine years he has resided at Pierceton, Ind. Mr. Long recalls many incidents connected with pioneer life in the then wilderness of this county. On one occasion, when he went to Michigan City with wheat for the market, he was absent seventeen days ; his family were often frightened by the wolves and other wild animals that frequented the forests. For his wheat, Mr. Long would receive from 45 cents to $1 per bushel, and for pork $1.25 per hundred, taking merchandise in part payment. He used often to defray his taxes with the money he pro- cured by selling wolf skins. He cleared a farm of 140 acres, often working after night to accomplish the slow and laborious task. Soon after the town- ship was organized, he was elected Trustee, and has held the office of County Commissioner two terms. Mr. and Mrs. Long have been church members since 1828. They are parents of eight children, five of whom are living, and situat- ed in comfortable homes. Mrs. Long is the daughter of James and Jane Blain, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Pennsylvania, and of Irish de- scent.

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THOMAS P. LONG, son of John and Margaret Long, was born in North- umberland County, Penn., in 1806. His parents were natives of Ireland emi- grating to America and settling in Pennsylvania about the year 1790. In 1816, with their family, they moved to Ross County, Ohio. Thomas Long was reared a farmer, and when twenty-one he rented some land and farmed for himself un- til he came to this township and located, in 1849, on land entered by his broth- er, James, in 1840. It was situated in Section 33, and was then in Washington Township, Noble County. The farm is now cleared, and well improved, but to accomplish this, Mr. Long endured many privations and toiled unceasingly. In early days, his wheat was marketed at Fort Wayne. In 1830, Mr. Long and Miss Elizabeth Chichester, of Ross County, Ohio, were united in matrimony, and three children have been born to them. They united with the Presbyterian Church, prior to the year 1830, and have since been faithful members. Mr. Long has always ranked as an enterprising citizen in his township.

JOHN A. MILLER is a native of Virginia, where he was born in 1816, and when about nine years old removed to Preble County, Ohio, where he lived until 1834, with the exception of a year or two passed in Darke County. When sixteen, he started out for himself, and, in 1834, went to South Bend, Ind., where he worked at sundry jobs and assisted in clearing the land where that city now stands. He crossed this county when there were few or no set- tlements within its boundaries. After a sojourn of three years in this State, Mr. Miller returned to Darke County, Ohio, and shortly afterward was mar- ried to Jane Hartup, daughter of James Hartup, of Wayne County, Ind. After farming several years on rented property, in 1846, Mr. Miller purchased eighty acres of his present farm for $200, and located thereon in 1849 with his family, and has lived there since, with the exception of four years spent in Pierceton, Ind. With no pecuniary assistance, he started out in life, and has acquired his property by his own efforts. He owns 108 acres of land, and has had a family of twelve children, four of whom are living-James, Levi, Becca and Susan. Mr. Miller cast his first vote for Gen. Harrison. Both of his sons were soldiers in the late war. Levi served three years, and James enlisted in 1864, remaining until the war closed. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the U. B. Church. During the early times, their log cabin was used for hold- ing church services.

WILLIAM H. PALMER, son of Samuel and Sarah Palmer, natives of New Hampshire and of English descent, was born in Franklin County, Vt. At the age of seven, he emigrated with his parents to Franklin County, Ohio, thence to Union County, same State, coming to this county in 1844, and set- tling on Section 4, Troy Township, where, for the third time, they began clear- ing a farm, and where they found a permanent home. Samuel Palmer died in 1855 and his wife in 1872. William H. began, when of age, to farm for him- self, and after his father's death bought the old homestead, but sold it in March, 1878, and purchased his present farm of 107 acres. While a resident of Troy

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Township, Mr. Miller served as Trustee two terms, and has been twice elected Assessor in this township ; also has served as Real Estate Appraiser. He is a Republican and a Master Mason. January 14, 1850, he was married to Eliza- beth R. Campbell, and they are parents of one son and four daughters. Mr. Palmer is one of the most enterprising men of his township. His parents, when they came here, moved into a log house, 16x18, furnished with home- made furniture. Mrs. Palmer's parents, James S. and Jane Campbell, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Tennessee, entered land and settled in this township in 1836, and there passed the remainder of ther lives.

JOSEPH WELKER, the youngest of a family of sixteen children, five of whom are living, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1821. His parents, William and Catharine Welker, were natives of Germany and Penn- sylvania, respectively. Joseph Welker came to this township in 1844, settling on his present farm. When he came, he had $25 in money, and a deed for eighty acres of land. After cutting three miles of road, he reached his farm, and built a log cabin, and for a number of years experienced the vicissitudes of pioneer life. He hauled his wheat to Fort Wayne, it then being the nearest market-place, and received 25 cents per bushel. Mr. Welker was married in January, 1844, to Miss L. Huffer, whose parents were Isaac and Julia A. Huffer, the former a native of England and the latter of Pennsylvania, and of English and German descent. Mr. and Mrs. Welker have a family of seven children-I. W., who is a minister of the U. B. Church ; Julia A .; Matilda N .; J. W., a physician ; L. W., a lawyer ; Susie and Carrie. Mr. Welker is one of the prominent and influential men of this township ; he has served nine years as Constable and seven years in the office of Justice of the Peace.

NOBLE CO. COURT HOUSE.

PART II.

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

CHAPTER I.

BY WESTON A. GOODSPEED.

TOPOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY-NOBLE COUNTY DRIFT-PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION- CRANBERRY MARSHES-METEOROLOGY- CLASSIFICATION OF THE MOUND- BUILDERS' WORKS-PREHISTORIC OCCUPATION AND REMAINS OF NOBLE COUNTY-THE MOUNDS AND THEIR CONTENTS-THE MIAMIS AND POTTA- WATOMIES DURING THE BORDER WARS-THE INDIAN RESERVATION-PER- SONAL INCIDENTS-CUSTOMS OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN.

T THERE is no subject more intimately connected with the interest of man- kind than history. It is much more comprehensive, universal and vital than shallow thinkers are led to believe from imperfect study. Perhaps its most important feature is its exposition of its relations of man to his fellows, to the laws under which he lives and enjoys, and to past events. Comparative history is extremely instructive, as the lights and shades of human character are thrown in spectral relief for man's inspection. His hopes and fears, his ambitions and aspirations, his desires and passions, his frailties and accomplish- ments, and his conduct under an infinite variety of opposing influences are re- vealed and analysed. Knowing, as the race does, that the greatest study of mankind is man, it has become the universal judgment that he who discovers the means of doing the greatest good has crowned himself with the grandest distinction. Men in pursuit of fame and a name have ransacked the world for knowledge of the human race in a primitive state. Every subject has been scanned by Argus-eyed scholars, and a vast fund of perishing historic lore has been rescued from oblivion, and forced to serve the purposes of an advan- cing civilization. The secret chambers of nature have been unlocked by the skilled hands of genius and the invariable sequence of immutable law, and the plastic transformations of dumb matter have been held aloft for human in- spection and guidance. No avenue, however solitary, if of value or interest to the race, has been left untraversed. The sciences have been the natural out-

HISTORY OF NOBLE COUNTY.

growth of the evolution of thought, and have multiplied the sources of happi- ness and the knowledge of human character.

Since the dawn of intelligence, no field of research has been more fruitful in affording bountiful evidences of the origin of animate and inanimate crea- tion than the testimony of the rocky structure of the earth and a knowledge of the natural laws which control the movements of the universe. Written in- delibly on the bright page of nature is the wonderful progress of evolution from the simplest combination of effects to the sublime mechanism that guides the circling spheres. The phenomena of nature are everywhere found to be under the control of unchangeable laws, many of which have been discovered and utilized by scientific men. The earth and its various surroundings are found to be a vast storehouse of knowledge. The theory is (and no intelligent man at present questions its correctness) that the surface of the earth through long and successive ages has been alternately above and below the waters of the sea, and that during the periods of submergence strata of earth have been deposited from the water .. When the land was raised above the water, it became covered with various kinds of vegetation, and afterward again submerged, and the vegetable remains were transformed into coal. Many of the plants which grew on the earth ages ago, have been named and classified from the remains found in coal-beds. As the strata were formed under water, various marine animals, such as mollusks and fishes, were also thrown down, and casts of these are found at all depths where the spade has gone, to show the character of the animals that were living at different epochs or ages on the earth.

While the geological features of Noble County are not unusual or striking, . yet, in some important particulars, they differ essentially from those in other neighboring counties of Indiana. The subject of geology is ordinarily consid- ered of but little practical value or interest, though the reverse of this is the case when it gives rise to sanitary or economic questions, as it often does. No extended nor instructive examination has been made in the county, as, so far, excavations have not reached sufficient depth to pass through the heavy glacial and drift deposit which covers all Northern Indiana, sometimes to so great a depth that even wells bored several hundred feet have failed to pass through to the underlying rock. It must be understood that Indiana, in com- mon with all this part of the continent, was alternately above and below the sea during the geological ages prior to the glacial epoch, and that during these ages strata of sand, clay, slate and various varieties of rocks were superimposed upon other strata, until a thickness of thousands of feet had been reached. Through these ages, the lot of Indiana was almost identical with that of all the surrounding States, and, consequently, when the earth in this State is pene- trated to the proper depth, the same, or nearly the same, strata are found as in neighboring localities. They are not precisely the same, because it is found that while the sea was depositing sand or clay at one place, perhaps but a com- paratively few miles distant the conditions were such that limestone, sandstone

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Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 47

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