Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 92

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 92
USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 92

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HENRY HITCHCOCK was born May 4, 1849, in Orange Township, and is one of the following family born to William H. and Roxanna (Hodges) Hitch- cock : Francis, Jeanette, two that died in infancy, Mary and Henry. The father of these, William Hitchcock, is a native of the "Bay State," and his father's name was Pliny Hitchcock. William moved from Massachusetts to New York, where his parents died, and where he married. In 1841, he and family moved to Orange Township, Noble County, and located on Section 8. Mr. Hitchcock is a hard-working, sober and industrious man, very decided in his views on politics, and religion, but reticent on such subjects. He is yet living, and owns 120 acres of land where he first settled. Henry Hitchcock received but a common-school education, and at the age of 20 began life on his own resources. September 12, 1871, he married Miss Minerva Dixon, and to them have been born five children-William H., May, Harry M., Pliny and Fred. Mrs. Hitchcock is the adopted daughter of William Dixon, her name originally being Miller, her mother dying when she was two years old. Henry Hitchcock is a successful farmer and enterprising citizen ; he owns eighty acres of well-improved land on Section 17.

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SAMUEL R. HOSLER was born November 10, 1820, in York County, Penn., and is one of six children born to George and Catharine (Rourbaugh) Hos- ler, who were both natives of Pennsylvania. George Hosler, father of our subject, was a carpenter, but during the latter part of his life engaged in farming. In 1831, he and family moved to Morrow County, Ohio, where Mr. Hosler died. The subject of this sketch, to his twentieth year, worked at farming. He then served three years at the carpenter's trade, after which he worked by the month two years; he then formed a partnership with a brother-in-law, which continued six years. In 1850, he emigrated to Albion, Noble Co., where for one year he worked at his trade. He then moved to Northport, Orange Town- ship, where he again took up his trade. He erected, in Noble and La Grange Counties, the Bliss Woolen Mill and grist-mill, store buildings, etc., at Rome City, and a saw-mill, etc., at Wolcottville. After residing in Northport a num- ber of years, he moved to his present farm. The first real estate he possessed in the county was the place now owned by Henry Hitchcock. He never lived there, however, but soon traded it for a part of his present farm. Mr. Hosler at one time owned 465 acres of land, but at present only owns 205 acres, hav- ing given the rest to his children. He was married to Barbara Keifer in 1843, and they are the parents of five children, as follows : John H., William W., Mary C., Minerva (deceased) and Ella B. The first named, John H., was born in Morrow County, Ohio, December 21, 1844. His early life was passed in Rome City and near Brimfield. He attended Hillsdale College the winter of 1865-66, and Eastman's Commercial College at Chicago the winter of 1866- 67, and there graduated. He taught school in Noble County the two following winters, and after that was employed as clerk and book-keeper at Brimfield, Spring Green, Wis., Kendallville and Chicago. In January, 1875, he com- menced keeping books for Kellogg & Harris, of Reedsburg, Wis., in which ca- pacity he continued five years. In February, 1880, Mr. Kellogg retiring from the firm, Mr. Hosler succeeded him, and the firm name now is Harris & Hos- ler, dealers in general merchandise, grain, farm produce, hops, etc. The firm is one of the most prosperous in a thriving town of 1,500 inhabitants, situat- ed in the heart of the hop-growing district of the Northwest. They are agents for the American Express Company, and Mr. Harris is Postmaster of the town, Mr. Hosler being Deputy. John H. Hosler and Anna B. Gibson were united in wedlock November 28, 1872. This lady died at her parents' resi- dence near Wawaka, June 12, 1877, leaving one daughter, Grace, born Feb- ruary 16, 1876. Mr. Hosler's second marriage, with Miss Grace M. Bell, of Tomah, Wis., was solemnized September 14, 1880. Mr. Hosler is at present a member of the Masonic Order and Chapter in Wisconsin. William W. Hosler, the second son, was born in Morrow County, Ohio, April 22, 1846. At the age of four years, he came with his parents to Indiana, and here received the benefits of the common schools. He attended Eastman's Business College with his brother, and ever since then, with the exception of clerking six months in Brimfield, has been farming. He was married, Decem- ber 10, 1874, to Miss Mary E. Imes, daughter of William Imes, Esq., whose biography is found elsewhere. To them has been born one daughter-Maud M. Mrs. Hosler was born in Noble County, Ind., March 14, 1856. Soon after his marriage, he moved to his present place, where he has since resided. He owns 160 acres of excellent land and is one of the prosperous farmers of Orange Township. The two living daughters of Samuel R. Hosler are Mary C., wife of T. L. Imes, and Ella B., who is yet single and resides with her

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parents. The Hosler family are among the oldest and most respected in the township. They are enterprising citizens, liberal in their views on all subjects. The father is a life-long Democrat in politics, while his sons are both Repub- licans.

WILLIAM IMES. This gentleman is a native of Ohio; was born in Belmont County July 19, 1829. His parents, Richard and Frances (Meeks) Imes, were parents of nine children, three of whom are now living. The father was a native of Virginia, and came to Belmont County, Ohio, in an early day, and from there to Richland County, Ohio, in 1829. Mr. Imes died here in 1844. He was a farmer and miller. He was a member of the M. E. Church, and a Democrat. William Imes was reared in Ohio, obtaining an education from the district schools. At the age of sixteen, he commenced learning the blacksmith's trade; but, since moving from his native State, has been farming. In 1850, he came to this township, where land was cheap, and purchased eighty acres on Section 34. He located on this, and began clearing and improving it. He was in ordinary circumstances on his arrival; but, by judicious management, has added to his first purchase, until at present, now owning 333 acres of finely improved land. March 1, 1849, he was united in marriage with Jane Halferty, and to them have been born seven children- Thomas L., John H., James P. (deceased), William A., Mary E., Milton E. and Isabell I. He is a Democrat ; has held the office of County Commissioner two terms, and the office of Township Assessor a number of years. Thomas L. Imes, his eldest son, was born in Ohio December 3, 1849. He came with his parents to Noble County, and lived with them until twenty-one, when he began for himself. He assisted his parents on the farm, and went to school. He taught school a number of terms, but has made farming his occupation. He was married to Miss Mary C. Hosler March 13, 1873, and they are the parents of one daughter-Mabel. Mrs. Imes was born January 21, 1848. T. L. Imes is a Democrat, and a member of the I. O. O. F. of Brimfield.

C. W. McMEANS, hardware. Among the old settlers of Noble County is the father of the subject of this sketch, John McMeans, who was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, November 23, 1807. He was married January 1, 1829, to Eliza Becher, who was born September 30, 1809, in Bedford County, Penn. Mr. McMeans learned the potter's trade, and, during the spring of 1838, came to Port Mitchell, then county seat of Noble County, and established a pottery. In September of the same year, his family joined him ; he after- ward removed to Green Township. Mr. McMeans was elected County Treas- urer in 1843 by the Whig party, and returned to Port Mitchell. While serving his second term, beginning in 1847, the county seat was changed to Albion, and with it removed to that place, where he has since resided. Mr. McMeans is yet living in Albion, but his wife died at that place April 12, 1877. They had ten children, five of whom are living. C. W. McMeans was born in Port Mitchell March 21, 1842. In youth, he learned the tinner's trade, and since the age of seventeen, has been doing for himself. July 10, 1861. he enlisted in Company G, Nineteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and joined the Army of the Potomac. While in Washington, he, in some way through his food, was poisoned, supposed by Southern sympathizers. He was sent home, and for months was unable to do anything. At times, he is yet a sufferer from its effects. The fall of 1867, he came to Brimfield, and, October 15, married Ann E. Seely, daughter of one of the old pioneers of La Grange County, and in 1868 purchased a hardware stock, in partnership, at that place. Mr.

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McMeans, since 1871, has carried on the business alone. He and wife are parents of one son-John E. Mr. McMeans is a member of the Masonic Order and a stanch Republican.

JAMES A. McQUEEN, one of the oldest living settlers of Orange Town- ship, was born July 25, 1804, in Mayfield, Montgomery Co., N. Y. His father, James McQueen, was a native of Scotland, and came to the United States, when he was five years old, with his parents. He married Grissel Waterman, in Montgomery County, and they were the parents of nine children, four only of whom are yet living. The parents died in New York. Our sub- ject was raised a farmer. In 1831, he married Statira Phelps, in Lewis County, and shortly after this he purchased a small farm in Oswego County, where he farmed five years. In 1836, he came to Indiana, and entered three eighty- acre lots, and then returned to New York. The spring of 1837, he came over- land with ox teams to his place in Orange Township, Noble County, and from Michigan he had to cut a road through the woods for the wagon to pass over. On his arrival, he cleared a place in which he erected a rude log cabin, which for fifteen years served as a shelter to the family. Mr. McQueen and family arrived in their new home the 1st of June, and by the middle of the following August the whole family were down with the ague, a disease very prevalent in an early day. For two years, they were unable to earn the bare necessities of life, and during this time death robbed the household of two of the brightest children. Mr. McQueen and wife were sufferers also. Indians were their nearest neighbors, and to make everything the more gloomy, the wolves and other wild animals would howl around their door, until the parents were almost crazy. They could not return to their old home, because they had no means. In speaking of this trying time, Mr. McQueen said, " God only knows how we suffered and got along in those days." Since then, civilization has changed the then unbroken forest to a prosperous and peaceful country. Mr. McQueen now owns 100 acres of good land, and a fine home. He and wife were parents of seven children-John D. (deceased), George, Bushrod (deceased). Clarrissa, C. E., Miranda and John L. Mr. McQueen was a Democrat in politics pre- vious to 1840, after which he became an Abolitionist, and then a Republican. For upward of fifty years he and wife have lived together, and there is a no more highly respected family in the township.

EDWARD P. MOORE is a son of Benjamin Moore, who was a native of Albany, N. Y., and a posthumous child, his father dying before Benjamin's birth. The latter was bound out to a farmer with whom he lived until thirteen years of age, when, owing to ill treatment, he ran away. When a young man, he went to Delaware County, N. Y., where he engaged in farming. He here met, and, in October, 1833, married Charlotte Goodenough, and succeeding that event resided in his native State, farming until the spring of 1837, when he came to Elkhart Township, Noble County, Ind., entered eighty acres of land and commenced the erection of a log cabin, but taking sick had to forego its completion until the next year. He worked at several trades after coming to Indiana, one of them being shoe-making. The family continued to reside in Elkhart Township, and near Lima, La Grange County, until 1864, when they removed to Rome City, where Mr. Moore died the following year. He was a member of the M. E. Church, and a leading Republican. His widow was born in Delaware County, N. Y., in 1814, and is yet living in Rome City. This couple were parents of two daughters and two sons, only the two latter being alive. Their names are Edward P. and William H. The latter married Jean-

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nette Hitchcock, and resides in Orange Township. Edward P. was reared in Noble County, and it has since been his home. He was married, November 7, 1861, to Amanda Gibson, daughter of William Gibson, of Kosciusko County. They have had seven children-William, Jesse, Samantha, Charley, Nellie, Kitty, and one that died in infancy. Only Jesse, Samantha and Kitty are liv- ing. Mrs. Moore was born August 25, 1843. Mr. Moore is a Republican. Owns sixty acres of good land.

A. J. NISWANDER, one of the early settlers of Orange Township, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, September 14, 1814. She who became his wife was Mrs. Eve (Moutz) Engle, a widow lady with four children. Mr. Niswan- der removed to Indiana, and, in 1849, purchased eighty acres of woodland on Section 31 of Orange Township. He was a poor man, and, after paying for his land, Mr. Niswander only had $1.50 with which to start housekeeping. The spring of 1850, he erected a hewn log-house on his property, which at the time was considered the best house in the neighborhood. After liv- ing here long years, clearing and improving the place, undergoing the hardships incident to a pioneer's life, Mr. and Mrs. Niswander sold the old place, and moved to the village of Brimfield, where they are yet living a retired life, mem- bers of the German Baptist Church. Isaac, their son, came with them to In- diana in 1849. He had but little advantages for an education. He began for himself at the age of twenty-two, and March 26, 1865, married Mary Mc- Ewen, daughter of William and Hannah (Dixon) McEwen. Their union has been blessed by the birth of two sons-Frank J. and James E. From the time of his marriage until he came to Brimfield, Mr. Niswander engaged steadily in farming with the exception of a few months in Kendallville, where he was in the dry goods trade. The spring of 1874, he formed a partnership with Dr. Endly in the drug business in Brimfield, but since 1876 he has car- ried on the trade alone. He is a successful business man ; is a Greenbacker, and a member of the I. O. O. F., and a first-class citizen.

M. F. OWEN, station agent, was born in Norfolk County, Upper Canada, in 1851. He is a son of J. W. and Mary Owen, who were natives of New York. In 1857, our subject moved with his parents to the United States, and here was educated in the common schools. At the age of twenty-one, he com- menced railroading, and for a time was in the employ of the M. C. & L. M. R. R., but in December, 1874, his services were secured as station agent at Rome City by the G. R. & I. R. R., where he has remained to the present. While yet in the employ of the railroad company, he formed a partnership with Charles Swinehart in the boating business on Sylvan Lake. A further notice of this will be found elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Owen is also President and local manager of the steamer interests on the lake. He was married in June, 1876, to Miss Mary Hautton, who has borne him two daughters-Lura De and Jessie. Mr. Owen is a Democrat, and a member of the Chosen Friends of Rome City. He is the agent at Rome City for the United States Express Company.

MRS. JANE PORTNER, widow of Daniel Portner (deceased), is the daughter of Daniel and Jane Dye, and is next to the youngest of eleven children. She is a native of Pennsylvania, where she was born April 24, 1820, and two years later accompanied her parents to Richland County, Ohio, where her father died in March, 1854, and her mother in August, 1857. The former was born in Virginia, 1776, and the latter in Maryland in 1779; they were married in 1797. They were members of the Baptist Church, and were

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respected by all. Mr. Dye held several offices of trust, and was a large land owner. Jane Dye and Daniel Portner were united in marriage February 5, 1843. They remained in Ohio until in 1854, when they came to this county, and settled on the farm where Mrs. Portner is now living, and where Mr. Portner died July 13, 1858. He was born in Germany September 10, 1813, and was the second of eight children; came to America with his parents, Daniel and Christina Portner, in 1824. He remained in New York until 1840, when he came to Richland County, Ohio, where his parents died about one year later. Mr. and Mrs. Portner were parents of eight children, viz., Louisa J., born March 28, 1844, married Dr. M. C. Bonar, and is residing in Knox, Ind. ; Mary A., born June 30, 1845, now Mrs. William Gouser, farming in La Grange County ; Henry D., born March 22, 1847, married Alma Snyder, and is farming in La Grange County ; Susan L., born June 30, 1848, now Mrs. Anthony Deffenbaugh, resident of Nebraska ; William A., born June 30, 1850, married Ruth Schooner, and is a marble dealer of Sturgis, Mich .; Samuel M., born January 10, 1852, married Isabelle Stewart, farming in this county ; Daniel D., born December 21, 1854, single, and farming old homestead ; and Albert F., born January 18, 1858.

J. S. RINEHART, merchant, was born in Knox County, Ohio, May 9, 1851. He is a son of Joel and Ebeline (Starmer) Rinehart, natives of Penn- sylvania, and who moved to Ohio when they were but children. Being a farmer, Joel Rinehart went to Michigan with a view of settling there, but re- turned to Ohio, and in 1855 came to Jefferson Township, Noble Co., Ind. Joshua S. Rinehart, in the spring of 1874, graduated at the Commercial Col- lege in Kalamazoo, Mich. He then engaged in clerking at Kendallville, after which he carried on a clothing establishment in Garrett for his former employers. In April, 1876, he opened a general store in Rome City, which he has since continued with increased success. His marriage with Miss Lucy Brothwell was solemnized April 4, 1876. This lady was born in Elkhart Township, Noble Co., Ind., October 29, 1847, and is the daughter of John F. (deceased), and Merilda (White) Brothwell. Mr. and Mrs. Rinehart have one daughter- Beda B. John F. Brothwell was one of the earliest settlers of Noble County, and among the old pioneers none were more honored than he. He died December 18, 1874, aged sixty-seven years. We quote the following from an obituary of him, published in one of the county papers : "Mr. Brothwell was a native of Bridgeport, Conn., and came to this county in 1836. Being gifted by nature with a well-balanced mind, which had been developed by education, he became the leader in all that had a tendency to elevate his race, and in all matters appertaining to educational advancement. For many years, he was one of the County Commissioners, and in the discharge of his public duties he ever acted upon the same principles of honesty and fidelity that were leading traits in his character. He was twice elected to represent the county in the State Legislature, in which capacity he gave abundant satisfaction to his constituents. In his home, he was noted for domestic virtues, and his hospitality and his memory is embalmed in the hearts of those who knew him best." In conclusion, we can say that, in every sense of the word, Mr. Brothwell was one of nature's true noblemen. He suffered much in sickness, but welcomed death in the belief of the salvation of the whole human family.

ROBERT D. RHEA. The father of the subject of this sketch, David D. Rhea, was among the earliest settlers of La Grange County. He was a native of Virginia, and the son of Robert Rhea, who came to America from Scotland,

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with a brother, previous to the Revolutionary war, and located in Pocahontas County, Va. David D. Rhea was a farmer, and married Ruth Kennison; be- tween 1830 and 1835, he emigrated to Indiana, and in about 1839 located in Clearspring Township. Mr. Rhea was a hunter, and has killed many deer. From Clearspring Township he moved to Clinton County, Iowa, in 1852, and he and wife lived there until their deaths. She died in 1856, and Mr. Rhea about ten years later. Robert D. Rhea was born in Benton Township, Elk- hart County, Ind., July 15, 1835. He received but a very limited education, and, with his parents, moved to Iowa in 1852, where he remained five years. He then came back to his native county, and one year afterward moved to La Grange County. The spring of 1861, he moved to his present place; he has since made it his home. September 1, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, For- ty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was wounded in the arm at the battle of Shiloh April 6, 1862. The wound was a severe one, and resulted in his being discharged July 31, 1862. He was united in marriage with Miss Nancy New- house in September, 1860, and this lady bore him the following six children- Ruth A., Walter, John, Jesse, and two that died in infancy. Mr. Rhea is a Republican, and the owner of 160 acres of well-improved land.

JOHN M. SCHERMERHORN. This gentleman's parents, Ernestus and Ann (Johnson) Schermerhorn, were old settlers of La Grange County, Ind., and natives respectively of New York and Massachusetts. The family genealogy is traced back to three brothers who left Germany and came to the United States previous to the Revolution. Becoming naturalized, they made America their home, and fought in the Revolutionary war. Ernestus Schermerhorn was a farmer; he emigrated to La Grange County in the spring of 1836, locating on the prairie near Lima. Living there two years, he re- moved to Clearspring Township, purchased a farm and resided there until his death, which occurred in February, 1876. Subject, July 25, 1862, enlisted in Company G, Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was finally dis- charged June 20, 1865. He was an active participant in the battle of Perry- ville, was in the Atlanta campaign and with Sherman on his march to the sea. At the close of the war, Mr. Schermerhorn returned home, and for one year attended the academy at Wolcottville. On the 20th of March, 1868, he was married to Miss Jennie Atwood, and the same year removed to Orange Town- ship, where he has since been farming. He owns 210 acres of land, and is a Republican. Mrs. S. is a member of the M. E. Church. Mr. and Mrs. Schermerhorn have had two children-Blanche, deceased, and Ernest. His mother died in July, 1863. His father took a decided stand in opposition to slavery a short time previous to the war.

JOHN TANNAR was born in Rochester, N. Y .- as were also his parents, William and Olive (Clow) Tannar-June 24, 1830. The family emigrated to Huron County, Ohio, in 1832, and from there to Allen Township, Noble County, Ind., in the fall of 1846. William Tannar, our subject's father, was a mechanic, but worked at farming principally in Noble County. . John Tannar is one of fourteen children, one of whom, a daughter, is dead. He assisted his parents on the farm in youth, and received a common school education. In 1858, he married Betsey Richardson, and to them were born two children- Rosetta Ann and Sarah Jane. The former is the wife of Albert Arehart; the latter is deceased. With the exception of ten years in Steuben County, Mr. Tannar has resided in Noble County, engaged in farming. He at present owns 60 acres of very good land. He started for himself at the age of twenty-one,

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a poor man. Since that time, he has acquired his present property. He is a Republican, and a man of progressive ideas. His father was one of the early settlers of Rochester, and in that city erected many of the public buildings. The first jail of that city was built by him. After his arrival in Ohio, he worked at his trade until coming to Indiana. He purchased 160 acres of land in Allen Township. He was one of the pioneers of Noble County. John Tannar's grandfather, John Clow, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. From a severe wound received at Bunker Hill, he received a pension of $96 per month. Mr. and Mrs. Tannar had each three brothers, who were in the late civil war.

HON V. R. TAYLOR. (See biography of Philo Taylor, deceased, Johnson Township.)

JOHN W. TEAL was born in Shelby County, Ind., December 23, 1831. He is a son of Nathaniel and Ann (Walker) Teal, who were parents of seven children, five of whom are now living. The father was a native of Ohio. After graduating at one of the principal medical colleges with honor, he came to Shelby County, Ind., where he began practicing his profession. On his arrival, his possessions consisted of a horse, pill bags and 75 cents in money. After practicing a number of years, he quit, and engaged in mercantile pursuits in Shelbyville. In 1847, he sold out and moved to Indianapolis, where he began office practice. He died there in about 1876. The subject of this biog- raphy obtained a common-school education at Shelbyville. At the age of six- teen, he moved with his parents to Indianapolis, where for four years he went. to school and clerked in stores of that city. In 1855, he married Christina Geisendorff, and after that event engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods at Indianapolis. In 1863, he came to Rome City, where he has since resided, and has been engaged in different kinds of business, among them being woolen manufacturing, mercantile and farming. He now owns 110 acres of good land near Rome City, a livery stable in that town, besides other town property. Mr. Teal is a Republican; his wife is a member of the M. E. Church, and they are parents of Emma (deceased), William, Frederick, Edmund (deceased), Na- thaniel (deceased) and John.

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Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 92

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