Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 91

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 91
USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 91

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).

LEWIS SEELY was born in Elkhart County, Ind., June 8, 1830, son of Ephraim and Abigail (Runnels) Seely, and one of nine children, six of whom are yet living. Mr. and Mrs. Seely were natives of the State of New York, and at an early day came to Ohio, where they resided until about 1829, when they emigrated to Elkhart County, Ind., entered a piece of land and engaged in agricultural pursuits. This family were among the very first settlers of the whole country. From Elkhart County they moved to Milford Township, La Grange County, and after a number of years to Orange Township, Noble County, where Mr. Seely died in August, 1865, and Mrs. Seely in September, 1877. They were honest, industrious people, and an honor to the community. Lewis Seely resided with his parents, assisting them, until his marriage with Fidella Collins, daughter of Barten Collins, which occurred in 1856. Mr. Seely received a common-school education, and after his marriage, resided in

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Milford Township, La Grange County, until 1865, when he came to his present place. He owns 160 acres of well-improved land. They have had three children-Thirza, Charles and Meta. Mr. Seely is a Republican, and a wide- awake, enterprising citizen.

JACOB SINGREY was born September 5, 1826, in Troy Township, Richland County, Ohio, the native place of all his brothers and sisters. He is a son of Thomas and Catherine (Ackerman) Singrey, who were early settlers in Morrow County, Ohio, and who came from Pennsylvania in about 1816. They are now residents of this county. Jacob Singrey began life a poor boy, with a limited education. When sixteen years of age, he apprenticed himself for the term of two years to the carpenter's trade, after which he began work on his own responsibility. March 18, 1844, he was married to Sarah Ann Cockley, of Ohio, and to them were born five children-Elvirda J., William H., John P., Sarah P. and Thomas A. Elvirda is the wife of William Axtell, of Jefferson Township. After completing his apprenticeship, Mr. Singrey built a large barn for his father, for which he received eighty acres of his present farm, upon which he moved his family in April, 1854, and entered upon the task of clearing and improving. To the original eighty he has added, until he now possesses 160 acres. As the result of enterprise, Mr. Singrey has been prosperous. He is a Democrat, and a member of the Patrons of Husbandry.

JOHN A. SINGREY, one of the influential citizens of Jefferson Town- ship, was born in Richland County, Ohio, February 29, 1828. His father, Thomas Singrey, was a native of Baltimore County, Md., born March 12, 1801, and grandson of a Mr. - Singrey, who came from Switzerland to America, and who was the founder of that name in the United States. Thomas Singrey came with his father, in 1816, to Richland County, Ohio, and assisted in clear- ing a home there. In Knox County, Ohio, he married Catharine Ackerman, and to them were born four sons and two daughters. The parents are now residents of Jefferson Township, where they are well and favorably known. John A. Singrey was reared to manhood in Ohio, receiving a common-school education. At the age of twenty-four, he located in Noble County, where he and his father had purchased land in 1849. Soon after, he sold it and pur- chased a portion of his present farm. August 14, 1853, he was united in mar- riage with Ruth Ann Walters, daughter of Jacob Walters, of Morrow County, Ohio, and to them were born-Jacob (deceased), Rebecca, Thomas and Anna. When Mr. and Mrs. Singrey located on their present place, they began to improve and enlarge it, until they now have 150 acres of nicely improved property. Mr. Singrey is an active citizen, and a member of both the Odd Fellows and Masonic orders. He is a strong Democrat, and at present is serv- ing a term as County Commissioner.

WILLIAM SMITH was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, September 7, 1816. His parents, George and Elizabeth (Brady) Smith, were of German descent, and early settlers in Ohio; they came to Columbiana County when it was a wilderness, and engaged in agricultural pursuits. Mr. Smith, is now dead, but Mrs. Smith is yet living and resides in Ohio. William Smith is one of eleven children, and the only one residing in Indiana. He received a good education, and was married in 1838 to Amelia Ferrell, and soon after removed to Williams County, Ohio, where he resided until his wife's death, which oc- curred September 20, 1840. They had one child-Virginia, now deceased. Mr. Smith returned to his native county, where he married Mary A. Sanders in 1850. Their children were John G. (deceased), Matilda and Ella. Matilda

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and Ella are married, the former being the wife of Dr. Scott, of Avilla, and the latter of T. P. Kessler, who resides in Orange Township. Mr. Smith farmed in Ohio until 1861, when he came to Noble County, and purchased his present farm-160 acres-and has resided here ever since. Mr. Smith started out in the world dependent on his own resources, and is to-day a wealthy and esteemed citizen. He is a Democrat, and one of the well-to-do farmers of Jef- ferson Township, ever ready and willing to assist in the welfare of the county. WILLIAM STOREY is a son of George and Elizabeth (Sedgwic) Storey, and a native of Yorkshire, England, his birth occurring April 8, 1824. He was one of eight children, and during his boyhood attended the common schools. When old enough, he hired out by the year on a farm, and in this capacity labored for some time. Having two brothers in America, he deter- mined to cross the Atlantic, and shipped at Sunderland, on board the sailing brig, "England's Queen," bound for Quebec. After a stormy voyage of five five weeks, they neared their destination ; one foggy night, when but a short distance from mainland, the vessel struck the rocks of St. Paul's Island, and the crew had to be conveyed in boats to the island. From here they hired a fishing smack to convey them to Nova Scotia, where they reshipped and were landed in Boston. From here, Mr. Storey went to Lockport, N. Y., where he farmed for two years. In 1849, with his hard-earned savings, he emigrated to Noble County, where his brothers were, and purchased 160 acres of land in Sparta Township. After eight months, he disposed of this property, and pur- chased eighty acres in Jefferson Township. After clearing twenty-eight acres of this he sold it, and purchased 160 acres further south in the same township. He cleared twenty acres of this and then sold it. In about 1858, he purchased 100 acres-his present farm. In 1857, he was united in marriage with Sarah Ann (Skeels) Storey, daughter of William Skeels and widow of his brother, Matthew Storey, who had by her first husband three children-George, Mary and Elizabeth (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. Storey had two children-Thomas and William, the latter being dead. Mr. Storey is a Democrat, and has twice been elected to the office of Township Assessor. Mr. and Mrs. Storey are adher- ents of the Roman Catholic Church, and highly esteemed people.

ORANGE TOWNSHIP.

JOSEPH BAILEY was born in Ashland County, Ohio, April 1, 1834. He is one of eight living children born to Susan and John Bailey. Joseph's parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in an early day, and thence to Jefferson Township, Noble County, in 1836; then came with the Skinner family to this township and purchased 160 acres of land on Section 4, and returned to Ohio. In the fall of 1838, they moved out and permanently settled on the place. Mr. Bailey was a hard-working man, a member of the Protestant Methodist Church, and a Whig in politics, afterward a Republican. His wife died in 1865, and he in 1872. Joseph Bailey was raised on the farm clearing land and chopping cordwood. April 30, 1865, he married Mrs. Re- becca (Gibson) Collett, widow of Abraham Collett, and daughter of John Gibson, an early settler of Noble County. Mrs. Bailey bore her first husband one daughter, Sarah ; and her present husband two children-William and Eulilia, both of whom died in 1869. Mr. Bailey's chief employment has been farming

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but some years back followed threshing to a considerable extent. He came to Orange Township in 1865, where he has since farmed. The home farm consists of 350 acres of good farming and grazing land. Mrs. Bailey was born in Poca- hontas County, Va., April 15, 1826. Mr. Bailey is a Democrat, and he and wife are members of the M. E. Church.

CHARLES BEIDELMAN was born in York County, Penn., February 1, 1821. He is a son of Samuel and Eve (Miller) Beidelman, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and the parents of three children, two of whom are now alive. Mr. Beidelman was a distiller by occupation. He died when the subject was but a boy, and the mother with her family emigrated to what is now Morrow County, Ohio, in about 1835, where they resided until their removal to Indiana. Subject received but a limited education. His parents being poor, he had to work very hard in youth. At the age of twenty, he served an apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade, which was his principal employment previous to coming West. He was married, February 1, 1846, to Julia Ann Russell, and, in 1851, emi- grated to Noble County, and settled on his present farm in Orange Township. He and wife moved to Brimfield the spring of 1875, but still he works his farm. He owns ninety acres of land on Section 28. Has taken an active part in many public enterprises. Mr. Beidelman is a Republican, and he and wife are mem- bers of the M. E. Church. Mr. Beidelman's mother is yet living ; resides with her daughter, Susanna Lucas, at the advanced age of ninety-two years.

WILLIAM BLISS. This gentleman was born in Brimfield, Mass., Octo- ber 27, 1816. Timothy and Margaret (McDonald) Bliss, his parents, were of English and Scotch descent, and natives of Massachusetts and New York. Timothy Bliss was a farmer and quite an extensive stock-dealer. William Bliss was reared on his father's farm, receiving a good common school and academical education. At the age of twenty-one, he left home, went to Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and there commenced business for himself. He was employed by a woolen fac- tory as wool-buyer, and in this capacity served ten or twelve years. He was married at this place to Miss Fanny M. Vincent, daughter of Dr. J. H. Vin- cent, September 8, 1841. In 1857, he located in Wolcottville, but carried on the manufacture of woolen goods at Rome City, under the firm name of William Bliss & Co. After serving as Superintendent about two years, he removed to his present home, where he had purchased 210 acres of land. He has given his children good school advantages. He now owns about one hundred and sixty acres of land adjoining the village of Brimfield. A short time after the location of the railroad, Mr. Bliss laid out the village of Brimfield and named it after his native town in Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Bliss are parents of four children, viz., Frank T., Charles W., Emily M. and Mary L. The eldest son is single, and a resident of Chicago, and a member of the Board of Trade of that city. Charles married Nellie Clock, and resides in Orange Township. Both sons are graduates of a commercial college. The two daughters are single, the youngest being a graduate of music and a fine musician. Mr. Bliss is a Re- publican, and he and wife are Congregationalists in faith. They are old and esteemed residents of the place.

E. M. COLDREN, merchant, was born in Eden Township, La Grange County, February 28, 1846. Jacob Coldren, his grandfather, was a native of Germany, and came to the United States about the year 1795, shortly after- ward locating in Delaware County, Ohio, where they were among the first settlers. Harvey Coldren, son of Jacob and the father of our subject, was raised and married there. In 1837, he settled in Eden Township, La Grange

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County. The whole country then was an almost unbroken forest, with only Indian trails for roads. Mr. Coldren entered land, erected a rude log house, into which he moved his family. On his arrival he was a poor man, and was unable to hire work done. He was an unassuming man, and honorable in his dealings. He was the father of twenty children by two wives, ten by each. He died in March, 1879 ; was a member of the Baptist Church. E. M. Cold- ren lived on a farm from the age of eight to manhood. He received a good collegiate education, and was married February 24, 1869, to Miss Adda Pierson, of White Pigeon, Mich. This lady died November 26, 1871, leaving one child that followed her four months later. Mr. Coldren's second wife is Mary A. Andrews, to whom he was married September 24, 1872. This lady has borne him two children-Minnie and Ned. Mr. Coldren started farming in Kansas. Owing to ill health, he returned to Indiana, and started a grocery at Brimfield. In 1878, he formed a partnership with George Gaby, in a general store at the same place, which he has since continued. They are doing an average annual business of $25,000. Mr. and Mrs. Coldren are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Coldren is a Greenbacker. While in Kansas, he re- ceived the nomination for the State Legislature by this party, but was defeated by two votes.

STANFILL CORBIN. The spring of 1840, Stanfill Corbin, now a resi- dent of Section 7, Orange Township, Noble County, Ind., was living in Rich- land County, Ohio. His family consisted of a wife and three children, and he was living some sixty miles from his parents. John and Mary (Crane) Corbin, who then lived in Licking County, were natives of Virginia, and from there came to Licking County in 1824. The country there at that time was very new, and Mr. Corbin, being a great hunter, used to supply the family with meat while his sons would do the farm work. The spring of 1841, our subject and a son-in-law came to Noble County, Ind., and after clearing a place large enough on which to erect a cabin, went back for their families. Here the father, John Corbin, found a splendid place to satisfy his desire for hunting. In 1853, Mr. Corbin moved to York Township, where he died in May, 1864. His wife died on the old homestead, in Orange Township, in about 1850. Stanfill Corbin was born in Culpeper County, Va., April 17, 1814. The fall of 1834, while in Ohio, he married Margaret Lee, who bore him this family-Keziah A., Nathan H., Mary E., Philena E., Jane, Margaret, Franklin M., and three that died without names. Only the first six are now living. The mother died in September, 1858. Mr. Corbin is now living with his second wife, Mrs. Harriet Wyrick, to whom he was married in February, 1859. They have one daughter-Hattie V. Mrs. Corbin had by her first husband one son, Henry H., who served faithfully in the late war, and is now living in Orange Town- ship. Mr. Corbin owns over ninety acres of land ; is a Greenbacker in politics, and a first-class citizen.

CAPT. EDEN H. FISHER, son of Henry C. and Mary Ann (Eckert) Fisher, was born April 20, 1840, in Portage County, Ohio. His parents were residents of the village of Navarre, in Stark County, but at the time of the birth of our subject, the mother was with her parents in Portage County. The father was merchant of Nevarre. Came to Ligonier, Ind., in October, 1848, where he again embarked in mercantile pursuits. This he continued until about 1860, when he retired from business, and has since been engaged in farming. In 1869, he removed to Douglas County, Kan., where he is yet living. He is a prominent citizen there, and has been elected a Representative to the Legis-

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lature of that State by the Republican party. Eden H. Fisher, subject of this sketch, is the eldest of a family of fourteen children. When eight years old, he came with his parents to Indiana, and from that time until about the break- ing-out of the war, attended the schools of Ligonier and Hillsdale College at Hillsdale, Mich. June 6, 1861, he enlisted as private in Company A, Twenty- first Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into service at Indianapolis, July 24, 1861. This was one of the first regiments out under President Lincoln's three years' call, and they were assigned to the army of the Potomac. In November, 1861, they started with Gen. Lockwood on the East- ern shore campaign, which penetrated into Virginia for the purpose of dis- persing some rebel camps of instruction. After thoroughly scouring the peninsula, the returned to the old camp at Baltimore. In February, 1862, they were ordered to the front, and they then engaged in the celebrated Butler expe- dition around the coast. For a time they rendezvoused on Ship Island, then removed in time to be present but not participants in the bombardment of Forts St. Phillip and Jackson. From here Mr. Fisher, with his regiment, went to New Orleans, and after that they participated in the battle of Baton Rouge. Previous to this time, Mr. Fisher had been appointed Orderly Sergeant, but owing to the resignation of the Second Lieutenant, and the First Lieutenant acting Captain, who was then ill, Mr. Fisher was acting First Lieutenant, but only holding a Second Lieutenant's commission. At the first fire of the enemy, acting Capt. Seely was killed, and the command of the company then de- volved upon Lieut. Fisher, who continued commander until he was wounded on Atchafalaya River. After the battle, Capt. Fisher was ordered out under a hospital flag, by his Colonel, to take charge of the field, and look after the dead and wounded. In October, 1862, they moved for Berwick's Bay. They remained here for several months, and in February, 1863, embarked on gun- boats and began clearing the channel of the Atchafalaya River. On their way up the bayou, they were met by a rebel gunboat, and in preparing for the attack, a shell, from the cannon on the hurricane deck of the boat on which Mr. Fisher was stationed, prematurely exploded, killing Lieut. Wolfe; Capt. Fisher lost both legs. Speaking of this event, Indiana's Roll of Honor says : "The loss of two such gallant officers by accident was a terrible calamity." After

lying in the hospital several months, he was sent home for recruiting service under orders of Gen. Banks. When on his way home from the hospital, he stopped in New York City, and while there attended the theater at which Miss Caroline Richings was to sing. As he was carried into the densely-filled hall by officers, Miss R. was standing under the old stars and stripes singing, “ We are coming, Father Abraham," and the sight of a crippled officer just from the front, enthused the audience to such a pitch, that they arose in a body cheering loudly and waving their hats and handkerchiefs. In November, 1863, he was elected Auditor of Noble County and re-elected, serving in all eight years. He received the nomination for County Treasurer, but was defeated. Capt. Fisher, at one time, was a prominent candidate for State Auditor, but he was defeated in the nomination by a small majority. In January, 1873, he removed to Rome City, where he had charge of the woolen-mills until 1878, when they were burned. Since that time, he has been living a retired life in Rome City. He was married to Jennie M. Skillen, daughter of Judge Skillen, September 11, 1864. They have had five children-Milan W., Mortimer H., Clarence B., Mabel and Beulah. Mortimer and Clarence died of diphtheria in October, 1874.

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TIMOTHY GABY. The birthplace of Timothy Gaby was in Brown County, N. Y. His parents, George and Roxy (Caswell) Gaby, poor but honest farmers of Brown County, were natives of Vermont and New York, respectively. George Gaby, grandfather of Timothy Gaby, was a native of England, coming to America at the age of seven years. When grown to man- hood, he served in the Revolutionary war, as one of the defenders of Liberty, and during the latter part of his service was a commissioned officer. His son, George Gaby, father of our subject, was a farmer by occupation, but a hatter by trade. From Vermont, he moved to Herkimer County, N. Y., and there married a Miss Caswell. He worked at his trade for a time, afterward at farming. In Brown County, he and his father-in-law worked at saw-milling. Owing to his wife's ill health, Mr. Gaby moved back to Vermont, but her health not improving, he again returned to New York, where Mrs. Gaby died. Mr. Gaby served in the war of 1812, and died in Indiana a few years after the close of the rebellion. Timothy Gaby was born April 3, 1820. He came to Ohio with his father and started out for himself in Lorain County, with only an ax. Previous to coming to Indiana, his occupation was chopping cord-wood and clearing land. His marriage with Miss Mary Edmonds was solemnized April 12, 1841, and in 1844 he purchased 80 acres of land in Orange Township, Noble County, Ind., paying for the same a team, wagon and $40, that he had earned by chopping wood at thirty-one cents per cord, and $5 per acre for clearing land. Mr. Gaby was a man of energy. From poverty he has arisen to a position of wealth. He is a self-made man and owns over 400 acres of excellent land, which has been acquired by long years of labor and self-denial. He is a Democrat, and has held township offices. His wife is a member of the Baptist Church. There have been born seven children to them, viz .: Joanna, now Mrs. Schull; James, married Alice Bar- ber ; Etha L., wife of L. Emahiser; Emily, wife of W. Knox; George, mar- ried Geneva Pancake ; Charles and Esther A.

JEREMIAH GAULT, the subject of this sketch, is a son of William and Lydia (Fleck) Gault, who were both natives of Pennsylvania, and the parents of seven children, only five of whom are now living. The father was a farmer, and from Pennsylvania came to Seneca County, Ohio, the birth- place of our subject, where he resided until May, 1849, and then, to better his circumstances, came to Indiana, locating in Noble County, where he purchased 80 acres of land. There being a small log-cabin on the place, he moved his family into it and began to clear and improve the place. In 1869, he sold this property, and removed to Kosciusko County, where he afterward died. He was a member of the Christian Church, and a Republican. Jeremiah Gault was born October 15, 1832. He was reared on a farm and received a common- school education. At the age of nineteen, he commenced life for himself, and from that time to his marriage was employed by the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company, as foreman in the construction of a portion of that road. He was married January 1, 1856, to Mary Myers, daughter of John Myers, deceased; and they have had one son, John E., who is at present attending college at Fort Wayne, Ind. After his marriage, for one and a half years, he was employed as clerk at Rome City, after which he purchased his present farm, where he has since resided and farmed. He owns 167 acres of good land.

WILLIAM HALL is a native of Vermont, and was reared on a farm in the States of New York and Ohio. His father died in Sandusky, Ohio, and . VV

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his mother came to La Grange County, Ind., about 1846, where she died. William Hall came to La Grange County with his mother, and subsequently went West, where he remained but a short time, when he returned and located in Orange Township, this county, where he has been engaged in farm- ing most of his time since, and where he now resides. Mr. Hall is the owner of 100 acres of improved land, and owns a grocery in Milburn, Ohio. He is also at this time associated with J. M. Kinney, of Kendallville, in the livery business.

C. B. HART, station agent, was born in Richland County, Ohio, Janu- ary 15, 1853. He is a son of J. B. and Rebecca (Smith) Hart, who were na- tives respectively of Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Rev. J. B. Hart, father of our subject, was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in that capacity has traveled over a good part of Ohio. He was a man who com- manded the esteem of his fellow-people in whatever section he was located. He died in the fall of 1868, but his widow is yet living, and resides in Brimfield. C. B. Hart is one in a family of eleven children, six of whom are yet living. He received a good education, and at the age of fifteen began railroading, which has been his principal employment since. He was employed at Stryker, Edger- ton, and other places, and July 1, 1877, he was sent to Brimfield by the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company to take charge of the station at that place, and has made that his home ever since. The fall of 1879, he formed a partnership with J. W. Albright in the grocery business at Brimfield, and subsequently purchased the entire stock. February 1, 1881, he and broth er, C. T. Hart, formed a partnership under the firm name of Hart Bros., deal- ers in dry goods, provisions, groceries, etc., etc. They do an excellent busi- ness, and have an average annual trade of $11,000. C. T. Hart has charge of the store, while C. B. Hart still continues his services with the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company as station agent, and express agent for the United States Express Company. Mr. Hart was married, September 9, 1874, to Miss Eliza Buckler, of Wauseon, Ohio, and to this union have been born four children-Bertha C., Ray E., Katie May, and one as yet unnamed. Mr. Hart is a thorough business man, a stanch Republican, and a member of the I. O. O. F. of Brimfield.

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Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 91

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