Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 90

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 90
USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 90

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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JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.

was born March 4, 1871, and in the spring of 1881 wrote Gen. Garfield that he would be ten years old on his inauguration, and that he was a Republican. In reply, President Garfield sent a cabinet-sized photograph of himself, which the boy now cherishes as a valuable keepsake.

HENRY HILL, born in Niagara County, N. Y., April 22, 1819, is a son of Henry and Mary (Avery) Hill, who were natives of Connecticut and Vermont respectively. Mr. Hill was a farmer in New York, and in 1851 emigrated westward, locating in Jefferson Township, on the farm now owned by his son Henry. He here purchased 160 acres of land, where he lived until November 11, 1869, when he died. His widow is yet living, and resides with her son, at the advanced age of ninety-one. Our subject passed his youth on his father's farm, obtaining a common-school education. May 25, 1845, he was united in marriage with Eunice Eaton, of Niagara County, N. Y., and to this union were born Delos (deceased), Sarah and Lewis. Sarah is the wife of William H. Whitford, and Lewis married Katie Yeiser, who died, leaving him two children. His second and present wife was Martha Hupp. Since Mr. Hill's residence in Noble County, he has been known widely as an honest and upright man and a desirable neighbor. He is a Democrat and owns 120 acres of well-improved land.

JOHN HOFFMAN is a native of Pennsylvania, and when eight years of age moved with his parents to Morrow County, Ohio, where they died. The subject was raised on his father's farm, and also learned blacksmithing and wagon making. He came, in 1853, to Jefferson Township, where he has since been a resident, engaged in cultivating and otherwise improving his farm, that now consists of 240 acres of splendid land, furnished with large and com- modious buildings. He was married, in 1850, to Miss Elvira Walker, of Morrow County, Ohio. They have eight children living-Emeline, James (in Green Township), John, George, Allen, Jennie, William and Lucy. Mr. Hoffman, in addition to his farming, is engaged in stock-raising to a consider- able extent, and has some of the best blooded stock in the country. He is a practical and able farmer and one of the county's most valued citizens.

JOHN F. HUNT was born in Wayne County, Ind., in 1829, January 13. His grandfather, Charles Hunt, was a native of Chestershire, England. Previous to the Revolutionary war he was commissioned an officer in the En- glish army, and sent to do duty in the Colonies of America. When Great Britain declared war against the Colonies, he resigned, entered the United States Army as a private and served through the war with distinction. John Hunt, the father of John F. Hunt, was born near Guilford Court House in North Carolina. From the history of Wayne County, Ind., we find that this gentleman and a brother, in 1803, emigrated to what is now Wayne County, then a part of what was known as the Northwest Territory. They erected a grist- mill on the Elkhorn, said to have been the first in the State. In 1804, John married Mary Whitehead-this being the first marriage solemnized in the State. He was a blacksmith and gunsmith by trade, and his shop was often made a camping-place for the Indians during the Indian war. He was never molested by them, however, as his services were too valuable for them to lose. During the war of 1812, he served under the command of his brother-in-law, Col. William Whitehead. After the war, he returned to where he first settled, and there lived, working at his trade and farming, until he was eighty-six years old. He died in 1849. Their family numbered twelve children, only three of whom are now living. The oldest daughter, Caroline, was the first

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white female child born in Indiana. John F. Hunt, the youngest of this family, is the only one living, bearing his father's name. When yet a boy, he enlisted for the Mexican war, but after going as far as Covington, Ky., peace was declared, and he returned home. July 30, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, Seventy-eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and about the time his enlistment expired, he took sick at Vicksburg, and from there was taken home. After three months' sickness, he was reported dead, and not until July 30, 1880, was he regularly discharged from this regiment. However, after his recovery in 1863, he re-enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirtieth Regi- ment, Company F, and served the remainder of the war. He was at the siege of Vicksburg, bombardment of Prentice, Uniontown, Yazoo Pass and others. Mr. Hunt was married, in 1859, to Isabel C. Owen, of La Porte Coun- ty, Ind. They have had six children-Wilson W., Cyrus F., Mary C., Maria L., and two that died in childhood. Mr. Hunt learned blacksmithing under his father, but carpentering has been his principal occupation. He came to Noble County in 1868, and now owns 80 acres of land, on which he resides. He is a stanch Republican, and a member of the I. O. O. F. Mrs. Hunt is a member of the M. E. Church.

WILLIAM HUSTON is the third child of Joseph and Rachel (Will- iams) Huston, of Knox County, Ohio. He was born September 22, 1827; at two years of age his father died. When he was five years old, his mother married John Blair, after which he lived with his guardian, Judge J. McGib- ney, with whom he remained until 1842; when imagining himself abused, ran away, but soon came back and apprenticed to the carpenter's trade, the first two years receiving $3 per month and the last year $4 per month. Complet- ing his trade, he engaged at $1.25 per day to a company erecting ware and boarding-houses along the Newark & Columbus Railroad. In 1849, with a party of seven, he went to California, first to St. Louis, from there overland with ox teams. The trip consumed one hundred days.' They first stopped on Bear River, then moved to the North Fork of the American River. His suc- cess was varied. Having accumulated about $3,000, he, in connection with others, at great expense, diverted the course of a river. They were successful in draining, but found no gold in the river bed, and therefore lost all. He then borrowed $900, and went to mining. After four years' stay, Mr. Hus- ton returned, several thousand dollars ahead. In the spring of 1853, he came to Indiana to visit friends, and purchased a farm in Jefferson Township. He is the owner of 480 acres of land, and devotes considerable attention to rais- ing fine stock. November 8, 1853, he married Miss Nancy Knox. Ten children have been born to them-Elbert E., William W., George F., Mary I , Eva M., Frank C., Ella M. and Unity E. are living ; John K. and Elmer E., deceased.

WILLIAM INSCHO, deceased, was born December 28, 1802, in Sussex County, N. J. His father was a carpet weaver, but farmed in connection with his trade. The grandfather of William Inscho was a native of Denmark, and the progenitor of that name in America. Our subject, at about the age of nine- teen, learned the blacksmith trade and continued that business until about twenty years before his death. When three years of age, his parents moved to near Wheeling, Va., and from there to Huron County, Ohio, in 1815. Here he married Eliza Campbell, who died in Noble County in September, 1839. They had three children-George W., Hugh A. C. and Elizabeth, deceased. Mr. Inscho, in the fall of 1837, emigrated to Noble County, purchasing eighty

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JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.

acres on Section 17, where he resided until his death, February 22, 1881. He was twice married ; his last wife was Rebecca Skeels. They had one child- Ann (present wife of John Guthrie). George Inscho was raised a farmer. He was married, February 18, 1858, to Ruth Edwards, and they have two children -Frank and Ida. Since his marriage, he has made Jefferson Township his home. From 1864 to 1867, he was in Montana Territory searching for gold. He now owns ninety acres of land near the geographical center of Jefferson Township. Hugh Inscho was born April 30, 1836. October 18, 1863, he was united in marriage with Miss Elsie Edwards, daughter of Alexis and Eliza- beth (Foster) Edwards, and soon after moved on the old Inscho homestead, where he has since resided. They have had three children-Lavinia, born October 24, 1864 ; Anna E., August 22, 1869, died July 23, 1877 ; and Olive R., born August 27, 1874, died July 27, 1877. The two latter died of diph- theria. The mother was born November 13, 1839. He owns eighty acres of land. The Inscho family, from William, the old settler, have been noted for their honesty and sobriety, and have figured quite prominently from the early history of Jefferson Township.

KIMMELL FAMILY .- In the year 1627, when the State of Delaware was first settled, two brothers of this name, natives of Sweden and very wealthy, emigrated to the new country and settled on the Delaware River, near Wilmington, where, in after years, a town sprang up and received the name of Swedesboro. The great-grandfather of the present generation, who was a wealthy resident of Philadelphia, was, during the Revolutionary war, Commis- sary of Subsistence under Gen. Washington. While at Valley Forge, during the memorable winter of 1777 and 1778, when the British were in possession of Philadelphia he succeeded in entering the city and secured $25,000 in gold and silver, which was secreted in the cellar of his house, barely escaping capture in returning. This money he turned over to Congress, subsequently receiving in return continental paper money, which so depreciated in value as to leave him comparatively a poor man .. A grandson, Adam Kimmell, was the father of six children, five of whom are living, Joseph C. and Manias H. being among the number ; Adam was born March 22, 1791, and served as a soldier of the war of 1812. He was one of the early pioneers of Stark County, Ohio, and followed his trade, that of a gunsmith, until 1850, when he retired from active life. He married Miss Elizabeth Bowers in Canton. She was a native of Maryland, born June 26, 1800, and died April 29, 1849. Mr. Kimmell came to Albion in 1852, and died October 16, 1872. He was a man of sterling integrity. In politics, a Whig and then a Republican. While living in Stark County, which was strongly Democratic, he was elected and re-elected many times to the office of Justice of the Peace over his Democratic opponents.

JOSEPH C. KIMMELL, the eldest of the children, was born in Canton, Ohio, November 5, 1824, and received an education common to those of a new country ; being a man of good mind, and observing he has acquired extended information. He came to Albion, and was the first manufacturer of tinware in Noble County. This industry he prosecuted for ten years, and then moved to his present farm in Jefferson Township, which was at that time without improvement. It consists of 110 acres, and is now a well-improved and pro- ductive farm. He was married, September 9, 1847, to Miss Jane Spangler, of Stark County, Ohio. They have had six children-Eliza E., Elizabeth E. (deceased), Charles S. (deceased), Norman E., Warren (deceased) and Albert A.

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MANIAS H. KIMMELL is a native of Canton, Ohio, where he was born March 26, 1835. He came with his parents to Albion in 1852, and, in 1853, went to Auburn, where he learned the tinner's trade. In 1856, he opened a hardware store in Ligonier, which he conducted until 1858. In the spring of that year he went to Oregon, where, for one year, he was superintendent of farming in the Indian Department. In the winter of 1859, he returned to Albion, and in the spring of 1860, opened a hardware store. In 1862, he moved to his present farm, comprising 206 acres well adapted to general farm- ing and stock-raising. In the latter branch, Mr. Kimmell deals to considerable extent. He was married, April 1, 1860, to Emeline Bucher. Their children are Cora, Irene and Grant. Mr. Kimmell and his brother Joseph are Repub- licans, and during the years 1856, 1857 and 1858, the period of horse-thieving and general lawlessness in this section of country, they were active members of the " Regulators," whose decisive measures carried terror to the hearts of the desperadoes and rid the country of their presence.

M. KISER was born in Northampton County, Penn., November 16, 1826 ; is a son of John and Mary (Myers) Kiser, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and the parents of seven children, five of whom are yet living. Mr. Kiser, their father, worked at the carpenter's trade shortly after his marriage, but soon turned his attention to farming, which vocation he followed through life. He was a Democrat, and a zealous member of the Methodist Church. He died in 1876, but his widow yet survives him and resides in Huron County, where she came with Mr. Kiser in 1832. Their son, M. Kiser, received a good common- school education in youth, and was married in 1848, to Miss Elizabeth Stotts, of Huron County, Ohio. They have four children-George, Mary, Martha and Emma. George married Mary Phillips, and resides at home ; Mary is the wife of Benjamin Smith, and resides in Jefferson Township. After his mar- riage, Mr. Kiser farmed twelve years on shares for his father, and one year op- erated a grist-mill in Ohio. In the latter business he was unsuccessful, and lost considerable. He then followed Horace Greeley's advice to young men and came to Jefferson Township, purchasing his present farm, which consists of 103 acres. It was at that time a dense forest, but is now a finely-improved place. Mr. Kiser is a Democrat, and he and wife are members of the Lutheran Church. From a poor man he has risen to prosperity, achieved by hard labor and self-denial.

B. V. MELVIN was born in Madison County, Ohio, February 21, 1821, son of John and Sarah (Insor) Melvin, who were parents of seven children ; five are yet living. John Melvin was a farmer and a native of Tennessee. From that State he came to Madison County, Ohio, in 1812. During the war commencing that year, he took an active part. His father, Joseph Melvin, was an old Revolutionary soldier, and our subject, serving in the late rebellion, makes the Melvin family one of patriotism. Joseph Melvin was a native of Scotland, and his wife, Phoebe, of Ireland. John Melvin was an old Jackson Democrat ; was a man of good practical education and an exemplary citizen. He died the fall of 1858. Benjamin V. Melvin, next to the youngest child, began for himself at the age of nineteen, and from that time until his marriage worked at farming in his native county and Indiana. He emigrated to Noble County in February, 1843, and purchased his present farm in Jefferson Town- ship ; October 21, 1847, he married Jennie H. Palmer, of Whitley County, Ind., and in 1848 commenced life on his farm. In 1853, he returned to his old home in Ohio, remaining until the fall of 1858, when he returned to Noble

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County, where he has since resided. By industry and economy, he has ac- quired 320 acres of land, half of which has been distributed among his chil- dren. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin are as follows : Mary M., Sarah, Jane, John, Azora, Theodore and Theodocia (twins) and Vanvactor B. Mary M., Theodore, Theodocia and Azora are dead. The others are married, and living in Noble County, except Vanvactor, who is at home, single.

JOHN MOORHOUSE, born September 8, 1805, was a son of Samuel and Martha (Morrell) Moorhouse, who had nine children, John being the youngest. In his seventeenth year, he was left an orphan, his mother having died in 1807 and his father in 1821. He received a common education, and was reared a farmer, as was his father before him, in his native country, Yorkshire, England. In the spring of 1832, he set sail for the United States; arrived in New York City, he took passage for Delaware County, N. Y., where he engaged in farm- ing. From here he removed to Lockport, engaging in various pursuits for seven years. In 1840, he traded town property for fifty acres of land in Noble County, and upon which, in the spring of 1841, he made a clearing and erected a cabin, returning to New York the same year. In 1842, with his family, he returned and located here. Upon his arrival, he had only about $70, but by dint of hard labor, has acquired a fine farm of 160 acres. He was mar- ried, in 1829, to Miss Eliza Boddy, and they had seven children-Samuel, Eliza A., Henry, James, Joseph, Mary and John. Of these, Mary, Eliza and John, are dead. The mother died in 1860. Mr. Moorhouse is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and is an enterprising citizen.

WILLIAM MYERS was born in Berkeley County, Va., September 26, 1826. He is a son of Isaac and Catharine (Hudson) Myers, and is of Dutch destent on his father's and English-Irish descent on his mother's side. They were parents of eight children, five of whom are yet living. The fall of 1827, they moved to Greene County, Ohio, and after four years moved to Seneca County. They were good, honest people, and members of the Methodist Church. Mrs. Myers died in about 1845, and Mr. Myers in 1846. William Myeis was reared in Ohio, from the age of eleven years to that of twenty-four. He received but a meager education, sacrificing his schooling to assist on the farm. He was married, September 5, 1850, to Ann Rumbaugh, daughter of William and Mary Rumbaugh ; five days after their marriage, they started for Iowa, to build a home on the Western prairies. Not liking the appearance of that country, he returned to Indiana and purchased eighty acres of his present farm. The story of the hardships of early pioneer life is needless of a repeti- tion hele. Mr. and Mrs. Myers were industrious and economical, and have arisen to plenty through the medium of hard labor. Mr. and Mrs. Myers have an only child-Lucina, who is the wife of John Newton, and resides in Jef- ferson Township. They have reared a son by adoption, whom they have treated as their own. His name is Orlando Myers, and he is a steady and honest young man. Mr. Myers has been reasonably successful in life, and shows his gratitude ly assisting all laudable enterprises. Mrs. Myers was born in Vir- ginia May29, 1824, and she and Mr. Myers are among the leading citizens of the townshp.

JOSEPH OGLE was born in Morris Township, Adams County, Ohio, August 4, 1806, to which locality his parents, Enoch and Catharine (McCart- ney) Ogle, ame, previous to Ohio's admission into the Union. Here they were married, andhad ten children. The parents have long since passed away, fol- lowed by seve of their children. The paternal great-grandfather of the subject

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of this sketch came from Ireland. The McCartneys originally came from Scot- land. Joseph Ogle received his education from the schools of his native county. and worked at the tanner's trade until his majority, but from that time until he was twenty-six, he followed teaming. June 13, 1833, he was married to Miss Ruth- annah Wright, and remained in Ohio farming until October, 1845, when he came to Jefferson Township, where he made a clearing sufficiently large to erect his cabin. Mr. Ogle's wealth at this time amounted to $1; this he paid for flour that he might have bread to give the raisers of his cabin. Mr. Ogle has figured conspicuously in the history of Jefferson Township. He and wife are the happy possessors of a comfortable home and 120 acres of good land. They have had eight children-Mary, Charles H., George, Sarah L., William E., Lucina J., Albert H. and Lewellyn. The two oldest sons are dead. Charles was a volunteer in the war of the rebellion, and contracted a disease that rendered him unfit for service. He came home, and in 1864 died. Mary is the wife of Andrew Gunnett, and resides in Kendallville. Sarah is the wife of George I. Walters, and lives with her parents. William married Virginia Sallady, and lives in Kendallville, and Albert married Ella Ackerman and resides in Iowa.

ORANGE PROUTY (deceased) was a native of Morrow County, Ohio, where he was born April 22, 1830. His parents were Roderick and Mary Prouty, the former a native of New York State, and his mother, who was a farmer's daughter, of Ohio. His grandparents, Stephen and Elizabeth Prouty, were natives of Vermont and of English descent. These ancestors were all "tillers of the soil," and Orange Prouty followed in their footsteps. October 10, 1847, he married Miss Susan Haney, of the same nativity as himself, born September 10, 1830, and daughter of Jacob and Phebe Haney, who were farmers, natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. They commerced housekeeping in Ohio, but only continued there a few months. They came to Indiana in April, 1849, and settled in Jefferson Township, on what is now des- ignated as the "old Prouty " farm. Here he worked at clearing land for his father for three years, receiving as a recompense eighty acres of land in its natural condition, situated in Jefferson Township. Upon this, he built a log house in 1852, occupying it, and at the same time began clearing and improv- ing his farm. He subsequently made some additions to his land, increasing it by a purchase of forty acres; in 1863, located in Green Township, ard two years later forty acres that adjoined his farm on the east. Orange Prouy died October 14, 1867. The descendants of Mr. and Mrs. Prouty were right- Alma, Willard and John, now living. Those deceased were Phebe Kinsey, Edward, Homer and two infants.

JOHN K. RIDDLE, son of Joseph B. Riddle, was born in Morrow County, Ohio, April 20, 1845. He came with his parents to Noble County when about three years old, and has since made his home here. He was reared on the old homestead, where he assisted his father in the development of the farm. He received but a common education, and when twenty-one years of age began for himself, although still living with his parents January 29, 1871, he was united in marriage with Miss Jane A. Foster, daughter of the old pioneer, Jehu Foster. This lady was born in 1844, in Jefferson Town- ship. They had two children-Ava U., who died when seven months old, and Ottho F. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Riddle moved on his present farm. When he first came into possession of the original farm-eighty :cres-it was all woodland. This he has cleared and increased until he now orns 120 acres of good land. He is a Republican and a hard-working citizen.

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JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.

JOSEPH B. RIDDLE was born in Richland County, Ohio, January 5, 1816, one of fifteen children, whose parents were William and Sarah (Forsythe) Riddle, the father a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of Ireland. They were both early in Ohio, and on the Clear Fork, in Richland County, during the war of 1812, they were married and established a home in the wilds of Richland County. At one time, the mother had to be carried, with a three days' old infant, to a neighboring fort for safety from the Indians. He, though a farmer, was quite widely known as a surveyor. He was a prominent Whig, and held the positions of Associate Judge, County Land Appraiser and Justice of the Peace. Joseph B. was an assistant on his father's farm, and only re- ceived a limited education. In 1840, he married Miss Traney M. Knox. They had nine children-Elizabeth J., William, John K., Sarah L. (deceased), Homer F., Mary M. (deceased), Comfort E., Isoline D. (deceased) and Edith M. In 1848, Mr. Riddle moved to this county, and purchased a quarter sec- tion of land in this township, and began clearing. Through sickness and trouble, he has, by patience and perseverance, prospered, and now is sur- rounded with many comforts and a pleasant home. He is a Republican in politics, though not an active politician.

GEORGE RUMBAUGH was born in Berkeley County, Va., August 14, 1829. He is a son of William and Mary (Mussetter) Rumbaugh, who were natives of Virginia, but of Irish-German descent. From Virginia the parents came to Seneca County, Ohio, and there died, the mother in 1848 and the father in 1871. The latter was a farmer. His family numbered nine children, two of them now dead. George Rumbaugh remained with his parents in Ohio, assisting them until he reached his majority. He received but a common school education, and came to Indiana in 1850 and purchased a piece of land. He was married, in September, 1854, to Martha Pike of Jefferson Township, and shortly after moved on his place, which he sold after clearing twelve acres, and returned to Ohio, where he remained one winter, when he came back to Noble County and purchased sixty acres of the farm now owned by John Eley. In the spring of 1864, he purchased his present farm, and has since made it his home. He owns sixty-four and a half acres of good land, is a stanch Republican and a genial, intelligent gentleman. The fall of 1864, he entered the United States Army, in Company D, Thirteenth Regiment, and was dis- charged from Newbern Hospital, N. C., in June, 1865. He was in one severe engagement-Fort Fisher. He contracted disease while in the service, from which he is yet a sufferer. Mr. and Mrs. Rumbaugh have four children- Daniel, Willard, Laura A. and Nettie J.

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Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 90

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