History of Carroll County Indiana, its people, industries and institutions, Part 57

Author: John C. Odell
Publication date: 1916
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 803

USA > Indiana > Carroll County > History of Carroll County Indiana, its people, industries and institutions > Part 57

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Mrs. Nace's father was a farmer, who also learned the cooper's trade when a young man. He operated a general store at Bridgeport, Indiana, for a number of years and then sold out and purchased the farm, where he passed the remainder of his days, being eighty-two years old at the time

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of his death in 1900. His wife had died many years previously, on Novem- ber 4, 1858. They were members of the Baptist church.

Mr. and Mrs. Jacob H. Nace have had four children, three of whom are living, namely : Estella is the wife of R. E. Crockett, of Michigan City, Indiana, and has four children, Renwick, Robert, Ruth A. and Paul; Pearl is the wife of George Arnold, assistant postmaster at Delphi; one child died in infancy; Hazel is the wife of Everett Hollon, of Indianapolis, Indiana, and has one daughter, Margaret.

Mrs. Jacob H. Nace is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Delphi. Mr. Nace, who is a Republican in politics, takes an active interest in the councils of his party, although he has never been a candidate for office. He is popular in the community where he lives.

JOHN B. HAUGH.

Among the citizens of Delphi, Indiana, who are well-known for their sterling traits of character and who have impressed their personalities upon the city of their residence, bearing their full share in the development of Carroll county, is John B. Haugh, an enterprising coal dealer of Delphi. He is a native of Delphi and, although still in the prime of life, has exerted a profound influence in behalf of a more aggressive, responsive and fruitful commercial spirit. His father, who was a native of Ireland, came to America when a lad. He also exerted an extraordinary influence in this county dur- ing the period of his active career. It was Mr. Haugh's father, who, as a city councilman, cast the deciding vote in favor of the present Delphi high school building and thus arrayed himself on the side of educational progress.

John B. Haugh was born on January 14, 1872, in Delphi, Indiana. Both of his parents, Michael and Mary (Corbett) Haugh, were born in Ire- land. Michael Haugh was born at Limerick, in 1835, and came to America in 1853 with his parents and settled with them in Delphi. Many years later they died in this city. Michael Haugh, who began life on his own responsi- bility at an early age, became the foreman in the old Spear, Case & Com- pany packing house at a time when they did an immense business in this part of the country. Michael Haugh came to Delphi on one of the old canal boats before the days of railroads. In partnership.with the late High Ker- lin, he purchased live stock and later bought the old Spear, Case & Company elevator. This partnership continued for some years, when Mr. Haugh

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retired on account of failing health. He died on October 23, 1915. His. wife died in 1875. She was a devout member of the Catholic church and her husband was also a devout follower of this faith. Michael Haugh served altogether seventeen years as a city councilman in the city of Delphi.

Reared in Delphi, Carroll county, Indiana, John B. Haugh received the rudiments of an education in the parochial and public schools of Carroll county. Having learned the printer's trade, he worked on the Citizen-Times for ten years. He then farmed for several years in Tippecanoe township. In 1914, Mr. Haugh established his present business and in a comparatively short time has built up a lucrative trade in the retail sale of coal. People patronize John B. Haugh because they know that he is honorable and upright in his dealings, and that high or low, rich or poor, are assured of a square deal at his hands.

Mr. Haugh has never married. He is a member of the Catholic church and votes the Democratic ticket.

MARION B. THOMAS.

Marion B. Thomas was born on October 10, 1868, son of Jacob and Margaret (Hill) Thomas, the former of whom was born in Greenbrier county, Virginia, in 1823, and the latter was born in the same county and state on April 19, 1831. She is still living at the present time and makes her home with her son, Mason B. Both were reared in the same neighbor- hood in Virginia and, after their marriage, emigrated to Carroll county, Indiana, locating in Burlington township, in the early fifties. Here the late Jacob Thomas lived until his death in February, 1897.

When Jacob and Margaret (Hill) Thomas arrived at Madison, Indi- ana, they had only five dollars. Subsequently they lived in Hendricks county, Indiana, for a short time and then removed to Carroll county, where Jacob Thomas worked by the day until he purchased eighty acres of land. This he owned at the time of his death. Jacob and Margaret (Hill) Thomas had eleven children, six of whom are now living. George L. is a retired farmer of Burlington; James F. is unmarried and is a resident of Kokomo, Indiana; Andrew J. lives in Denver, Colorado; Floyd L. served throughout the Spanish-American War in the regular army and now lives at Hot Springs, Arkansas; Lemuel E., who is an invalid, lives with his brother, Marion B., in Burlington township, Carroll county.

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JONAS W. BROWER.

Jonas W. Brower, a retired merchant of Flora, Indiana, who spent his early life on the farm, is one of the directors of the First National Bank at Flora and has various business houses in the town. He is a prosperous, energetic and highly successful man and citizen.

Mr. Brower was born in Monroe township, Carroll county, Indiana, June 18, 1871, the son of Francis D. and Catherine (Young) Brower, both of whom were born in Preble county, Ohio.

The late Francis D. Brower was the son of Joel H. and Delilah ( Parker) Brower. Joel H. Brower was a native of Franklin county, Virginia, who came with his parents to Preble county, Ohio, at the age of eight years. There he grew to manhood and there he married. Later he moved to Howard county, Indiana, and entered one hundred and sixty acres of land northwest of Kokomo ten miles, where he built a blacksmith shop. He combined blacksmithing and farming, living upon the pioneer homestead in Howard county and there rearing his family. In fact, he lived on this farm until his death. He was an elder in the German Baptist church. By his marriage to Delilah Parker, there were born six children, Alfred, Jonathan, Francis D., Jonas L., Sarah and Joel H., Jr., of whom three are now living.

Francis D. Brower was reared on a farm in Howard county, Indiana, and was educated in the neighborhood schools. On February 26, 1863, he married Catherine Young, who had come with her parents from Preble county, Ohio, to Carroll county, Indiana. When a small girl, her parents located on a farm near Flora, which her father had bought and where she was reared and educated. Their farm adjoined Flora on the south. Some time after his marriage, Francis D. Brower located in Burlington township, where he spent most of his life rearing his family. After the children were grown, he purchased a little farm near Flora, to which he moved and retired. He was a prosperous man at the time of his death a member of the German Baptist church and a deacon in the church. He passed away at his home on July 28, 1891. His wife survived him more than two decades, passing away on November 7, 1913. They were the parents of five sons, three of whom are now living, Solomon U., Jonas W. and Joel H. Solomon U. is a farmer in Burlington township and lives near where he was reared. Jonas W. is the subject of this sketch. Joel H. is a ranchman in South Dakota.

Reared on a farm in Burlington township, Jonas W. Brower, at the proper age, entered the district schools, attending school in the winter and

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working on the farm in the summer. There he remained until about twenty- two years of age.

On January 28, 1893, when Jonas W. Brower was twenty-two years old, he was married to Florence L. Witter, who was born in Monroe town- ship and was educated in the common schools. Mr. and Mrs. Brower have had three children, Bessie M., Edith M. and Catherine I. Bessie M., born on November 8, 1893, who graduated from the high school, is the wife of Elmer L. Kuns. They have one daughter, Isabelle. Edith M. is a graduate of the high school. Both Edith M. and Catherine I. live at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Brower are members of the First Brethren church. Mr. Brower is secretary of the congregation. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He votes the Democratic ticket but takes no active part in politics.

JOHN C. KENNEDY.

Among the prominent farmers and stockmen of Rock Creek township, Carroll county, Indiana, is John C. Kennedy, who, besides his own farm of one hundred and sixty acres, operates one hundred and sixty acres in Rock Creek township and eighty-eight acres in Jackson township. For many years Mr. Kennedy has specialized in raising Poland China hogs, Shorthorn cattle and Percheron horses.

John C. Kennedy was born in Rock Creek township, Carroll county, Indiana, on January 29, 1872. He is the son of Samuel K. and Elizabeth (Penn) Kennedy, the former of whom was born in Juniata county, Penn- sylvania, and who came with his parents when a mere boy to Rock Creek township, Carroll county, Indiana. Elizabeth Penn grew up in Jackson township, where she was born. She is the daughter of John and Hulda (Christie) Penn. Samuel Kennedy became a well-to-do farmer before his death. He owned two hundred and eighty acres at the time of his death on April 1, 1908. He was a Democrat in politics and a member of the Baptist church. By his marriage to Elizabeth Penn, there were born two children, Arthur P., who was born on September 28, 1868, and married Kate Steines, died on March 16, 1909. He was a graduate of Purdue Uni- versity. John C. is the subject of this sketch.

John C. Kennedy was educated in the public schools of Carroll county and at the Central Normal College at Danville, Indiana. After finishing his

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education he returned to the farm, and on March 29, 1899, was married to Daisy M. Bennett, the daughter of Zuinglius Bennett, of Camden, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. John C. Kennedy are the parents of three children, namely: Katheryn Elizabeth, born on April 3, 1900, is a student of the high school; Mary Agnes, born on November 14, 1901, is also a student in the high school; Margaret Cornelia was born on July 7, 1907.

Mrs. Kennedy is a daughter of Zuinglius and Mary Catherine (Frye) Bennett, the former of whom was born in Jackson township on April 5, 1850, and who was the son of Abner Bennett, who emigrated from Ohio in pioneer times. Mary Catherine Frye was the daughter of Henry Frye. She bore her husband three children, Mrs. John C. Kennedy, Mrs. Harry Gardner, of Jackson township, and Donald, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Gardner have had two children, Harry Bennett and Mary Eliza- beth.

Mrs. Kennedy is a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Kennedy is a member of Camden Lodge No. 32, Knights of Pythias. He is a Democrat in politics.

JOHN W. BOWMAN.

To have retired from active life on a farm means that one has arrived at the point of affluence, which cannot but render great satisfaction to one so fortunate, since the accomplishment of anything undertaken, no matter in what direction, gives to the performer a certain amount of pleasure. To John W. Bowman, the subject of the following biographical sketch, has come that just reward so deservedly due him, in view of the fact that while building up his own fortune he has also been instrumental in the advance- ment of the interests of his own township.

John W. Bowman, retired farmer, Camden, Indiana, was born on April 26, 1849, in Jackson township, and is a son of Charles A. and Sarah (Wilson) Bowman. He was reared on his father's farm, and remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age. His education was obtained at the district schools. Mr. Bowman has directed his attention to general farm- ing and stock raising, dealing principally in cattle and hogs, which business has proved a money-maker for him. Politically, he has always been a loyal advocate of Republican policies, and has been active in local politics, serving as justice of the peace in Jackson township for four years. Fraternally, he is allied with the Camden Lodge No. 151, Independent Order of Odd Fel-

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lows, of which he is past grand, and is also a member of St. Peter's Evangel- ical Lutheran church, of Camden. He is one of the directors of the Farm- ers State Bank of Camden, of which John V. Shanks is president, the direc- tors being John V. Shanks, Alonzo L. Doyle, John W. Bowman and O. W. Wyatt.

Charles A. Bowman was born in 1814, in Berkeley county, Virginia, and was a son of George Bowman. In his younger days he learned the tailor's trade in Virginia, and established a shop at Delphi, Indiana, which he conducted for several years. His wife, Sarah (Wilson) Bowman, was a daughter of William . Wilson, who came from Ohio. She was reared at Delphi, Indiana, and at the time of their marriage, they settled on the farm now owned by John W., and where Mr. Bowman died. This union .was blest with four children, George N., who died at the age of sixteen years; Jane E., who is the widow of William Hanaway, and lives at Delphi, Indi- ana; John W., the subject of this sketch, and Henry B., who died at the age of six months.

George Bowman, the paternal grandfather, lived and died in Berkeley county, Virginia.

William Wilson, the maternal grandfather, came from Ohio to Indiana at an early date, and settled in southwestern Indiana, coming from there to Delphi, where he entered land which is the present site of Delphi, and in order to secure the county seat, donated forty acres of his land, which cov- ered a large scope of territory around Delphi, consisting of about one thou- sand acres. His children were: William, Elizabeth, Anna, Sarah, Nathaniel, and one who died in infancy.

John W. Bowman was united in marriage on January 12, 1898, with Anna F. Eschker, daughter of William and Matilda (Hyman) Eschker. She was born on December 23, 1853, in Camden, Indiana, and was first mar- ried to Rev. John L. Guard, July 2, 1874, who died on October 18, 1895, leaving no children. Mrs. Bowman has lived nearly all her life in Camden, where she became a member of the Lutheran church.

William and Matilda (Hyman) Eschker, parents of Mrs. John W. Bowman, were natives of Germany, and emigrated to the United States in 1839, settling at Camden, Indiana.

The qualities of high personal character and his splendid business ability have placed Mr. Bowman in a position of high esteem throughout the entire community in which he resides, and where he has spent the best years of his life. His fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, located in sec- tion 19, is known as the "Bachelor Run Stock Farm."

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WILLIAM B. SIBBITT.

Those by whom great epochal changes have been made in the political, industrial and agricultural world, began early in life to prepare themselves for their peculiar duties and responsibilities. It was only by the most perse- vering and continuous endeavor that they succeeded in rising superior to the obstacles in their way and reaching the goal of their ambition. Such lives are an inspiration to others who are less courageous and more prone to give up the fight before their ideal is reached. William B. Sibbitt, an honorable citizen and farmer of Democrat township, this county, who is the owner of three hundred and forty-seven acres of fine farming land, began early in life to save his money and, at the time of his marriage, had savings amount- ing to practically one thousand dollars. From year to year, he has added to this original nest egg, each year spending a little less than he made until now he is one of the well-to-do citizens of his community.

William B. Sibbitt was born in Burlington township, January 19, 1855, the son of Alva and Elza J. (Jennings) Sibbitt, both of whom were born in Ohio and there grew to maturity and were married. After their marriage, they came to Indiana and located in Carroll county, where the father lived until the time of his death. He was a member of the Methodist church and active in church work. He was a Republican in politics. Alva and Elza J. (Jennings) Sibbitt had three children, of whom George is deceased. The two living children are William B., the subject of this sketch, and Lydia, the wife of William Unger, a farmer of Burlington township.

William B. Sibbitt was reared on a farm in Burlington township and was educated in the common schools of the township. Having remained at home until he reached his majority, he worked diligently during the next three years and saved about one thousand dollars.

On August 28, 1879, William B. Sibbitt was married to Emma McDonald, who was born on July 23, 1862, and who is the daughter of David and Eliza J. (Gant) McDonald. David McDonald was born and reared in the Old Dominion state, as were also his parents. They were of Scotch-Irish descent. When a young man, David McDonald immigrated to Indiana and located in Clinton county, where he learned the blacksmith's trade. He worked at this trade until his death, with the exception of the period he fought to preserve his country, in the great Civil War. David and Eliza J. McDonald were the parents of six children, of whom five are now living, Virginia, the widow of Charles Hamilton; Emma, the wife of

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Mr. Sibbitt; Mary J., the wife of George Pyle; Berdie, who married Steve Eads; Meddie, the wife of Frank Corns. Edward, the fourth child, died when about thirty-five years of age. Mrs. Sibbitt was educated in the com- mon schools of Clinton county and reared at Colfax. Indiana.

To Mr. and Mrs. William B. Sibbitt have been born nine children, Vera, the wife of J. C. Shanklin; Alva, who married Emma Tenbrook; Blanche, a graduate of the common schools, who married Charles Mann; Edward, also a graduate of the common schools; Fern, a graduate of the common schools, who married Dr. O. V. Kingery; Ethel, a graduate of the high school, who is the wife of Closs Cleaver; Guy, who is a graduate of the common schools; Carl, who is a graduate of the high school, and Elmer R.

Mr. Sibbitt owns three hundred and forty-seven acres of land of which two hundred and seven acres are located in Democrat township, this county, and the balance in Orange county, Indiana. There is not a dollar's worth of property which Mr. Sibbitt now has, which he has not made by his own personal exertion.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Sibbitt and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Ball Hill. Mr. Sibbitt votes the Republican ticket, but takes no active part in politics.

ALVA BLUE.

One of the well-known farmers of Carrollton township, who has lived in this county for about sixty years, is Alva Blue, who has done well his part in the agricultural development of this section.

Alva Blue, farmer, Flora, Indiana, was born on December 16, 1858, and is a son of John W. and Catherine (Mowdy) Blue. His youth was spent on his father's farm in Carrollton township, where he attended the district schools. At the age of twenty-one years he rented a farm near Rossville, Clinton county, where he remained fifteen years, and then pur- chased a farm of sixty-one acres in Carrollton township, Carroll county, to which he continued to add, until he now owns one hundred acres. Politi- cally, Mr. Blue has always been in sympathy with the policies of the Demo- cratic party, but has never taken an active interest in either local or county politics. His religious membership is with the Presbyterian church.

John W. Blue, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Illinois, and his wife was Catherine (Mowdy) Blue, by whom he had twelve chil-

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dren, only six of whom are living in 1915-Alva, of Carrollton township; Maggie, who became the wife of Arthur Clark, of Tippecanoe county, Indiana; Johanna, who was united in marriage with Joe Robinson, and lives in Carroll county; Arthur married Del Butcher, and lives near Flora; Anna is the wife of Mat Dawkins, of Riverside, California; Allie is married to Jesse Harper, and lives at Lafayette, Indiana. By his first wife, Mr. Blue had one child, Kizzie, who became the wife of Henry Landis.

Alva Blue was united in marriage on August 27, 1884, with Sarah A. Watson, daughter of Isaac and Ruth (Cambol) Watson. She was born on October 12, 1861, in Democrat township, this county, and obtained her education at the township schools. Mr. and Mrs. Blue have been blest with two children, Rossie, deceased, and Roy K., who graduated from the public schools and was married. His wife died, leaving one child, who is being reared by Mr. Blue. Mr. and Mrs. Blue also have an adopted daughter, Catherine, who is now twelve years old.

ISAAC SWARTZ.

Isaac Swartz, a well-known farmer of Clay township, Carroll county, Indiana, who owns three hundred and twenty acres of land equal in fertility and productivity to any other similar tract to be found in the county, and who is now traveling for the Western Implement Company of Indianapolis, is a native of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. Not only does Mr. Swartz own a magnificent farm, which is well known in this section as the "Pyrmont Stock Farm," but he also owns property in Delphi and at Pitts- burg. He also has other important interests. As a farmer and stockman he has made a large success with purebred Shorthorn and Holstein cattle. All of the buildings now standing on "Pyrmont Stock Farm" he himself has erected. At different times he has been interested in various corpora- tions of this state and at one time was a mill owner in Carroll county. He is a man with large business capacity and great breadth of vision.

Isaac Swartz was born on July 17, 1850, in Montgomery county, Penn- sylvania, and is the son of John and Suzanna (Hendricks) Swartz, the former of whom was a landowner and factory operator in the Keystone state. John Swartz manufactured washing machines and besides this owned a farm of forty acres. All of his brothers and sisters, Sarah, George, Maria and Abraham, are now deceased. All of his people resided in Pennsylvania.

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John Swartz, who was a Republican in politics and a member of the Church of the Brethren, died on August 26, 1876, in Carroll county, Indiana. Upon coming west he had located at Camden and, after spending three months in the far West, had purchased two mills and a farm in Tippecanoe county. He operated the mills for thirty years, employing assistants to operate the farm. Late in life he sold both mills and the farm and moved to Carroll county, where he owned two hundred acres of land and a mill. Here he employed considerable assistance to operate the mill and the farm. His wife's folks were all natives of Pennsylvania. Suzanna (Hendricks) Swartz was one of a large family. Her brothers and sisters were as follow : Henry, Ben and Sarah.

The late John Swartz was twice married, first to Suzanna Hendricks and later to Esther Fouts. By his first marriage he had two children, namely : Salonia, the wife of Aaron Root, of Tippecanoe township, and Isaac, the subject of this sketch. By the second marriage there were also two children. Anna and John. Anna is a resident of Pyrmont and John has a large farm.

Isaac Swartz began to make his own way in the world when he was twenty-one years old. For a number of years he bought and sold lumber and then engaged in farming in Carroll county, at the same time buying forty acres of land in Tippecanoe township. Upon selling the forty acres in Tippecanoe county he bought sixty-eight acres of the present farm in Car- roll county and then one hundred and thirty-two acres. He has cleared the land and erected many substantial buildings, besides thoroughly draining the soil.

On August 9, 1874. Isaac Swartz was married to Catherine Stude- baker, of Pyrmont, whose father, Samuel Studebaker, was born on Septem- ber 25. 1810, and whose mother. Catherine (Wetzger) Studebaker, was born on December 8, 1812. They were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio. respectively. They were married in Montgomery county, Ohio, on May 2, 1835. They had a large family of children, as follow: Jacob is deceased; Mary is a resident of Carroll county; Andrew Wagoner is married; Han- nah is deceased; David lives at the home of his brother-in-law, Isaac Swartz; Eliza C. is deceased: John died in infancy; Catherine is Mr. Swartz's wife; Samuel lives at Pyrmont.

To Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Swartz have been born five children. Edward died in 1913, at the age of thirty-eight years. He was married to Cecil Jacot, who is also deceased. They had three children, two of whom are with Mr. and Mrs. Swartz. Elmer, a fruit grower and stockman, lives at

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History of Carroll County Indiana, its people, industries and institutions, Part 57

Author: John C. Odell Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Number of Pages: 803

Author: John C. Odell
Publication date: 1916
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 803