History of Cass County Indiana : From its earliest settlement to the present time with biographical sketches and reference to biographies previously compiled, Volume II, Part 23

Author: Powell, Jehu Z., 1848-1918, ed; Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago (Ill.), pub
Publication date: 1913
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 662


USA > Indiana > Cass County > History of Cass County Indiana : From its earliest settlement to the present time with biographical sketches and reference to biographies previously compiled, Volume II > Part 23


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On March 27, 1895, Mr. Reed was married to Miss Lovina Wessinger, who was born in Miami county, Indiana, a daughter of Isaac and Mar- garet (Blubaker) Wessinger, and they have had two children : Roscoe E., who is dead, and Janice, who is attending school in Onward in the third grade. Mr. Reed holds membership in the Ancient Order of Gleaners lodge, located in Walton. With his family, he attends the Christian church, in the work of which he has always been active. The family name has always stood for reliability and good citizenship, and Mr. Reed is ably maintaining the high standard set by his forebears.


LEWIS B. WALTERS. The town of Onward, Indiana, is situated in the center of a great grain belt, and one of the chief industries of the locality is the handling of the products of the agriculturists of the section. A prosperous and growing enterprise of Onward is the grain elevator of N. E. Walker & Company, the superintendent of which, Lewis B. Walters, has risen to his present business through well-applied energy and inherent business ability. Mr. Walters has been identified with the grain business for nine years, and for four years of this time has been a resident of Onward, where he is known as a citizen who takes an interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his community. He is a native of the Hoosier state, having been born in Clinton county, near Frankfort, March 24, 1876, a son of Samnel and Amanda (Finney) Walters.


Samuel Walters was born in Pennsylvania and came to Indiana with his parents when still a babe, the family settling in Clinton county, where Mr. Walters was reared and educated. He became engaged in agricultural pursuits, and was working on a farm when the Civil war broke out, when he enlisted in the Eighty-ninth Regiment, Indiana Vol- unteer Infantry, for three years. In his first large battle, at Mumfords- ville, Kentucky, he was captured by the Confederates, but was ex-


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changed and sent home on a three months' furlough to recuperate from a serious illness contracted in a southern prison. On rejoining his regiment, he served under General Smith, in the Army of the Potomac, so continuing until receiving his honorable discharge at the close of his service. He was a faithful and gallant soldier, and when his military term had expired returned to the occupations of peace, and throughout the remainder of his active career devoted himself to the tilling of the soil.


Lewis Walters received his education in the district schools of his neighborhood and the public schools of Clinton, after which he became engaged in farming. In 1904 he entered the grain business and was on the road for one year. In 1909 he came to Onward and became associated with the firm of N. E. Walker & Company, where he has since remained. Faithful devotion to his duties and earnest appli- cation in behalf of his company's interests gained him rapid promotion, and at this time he holds the position of general superintendent of the Onward elevator. He is widely known in the grain trade, and has won an enviable reputation as a shrewd. capable man of business.


On September 6, 1899, Mr. Walters was married to Miss Effie Newlin, daughter of Alfred G. and Ella (Mote) Newlin, and they have the following children: Lawrence A., in the seventh grade of the public schools ; Samuel A., in the fifth grade; and Bernice and Gertrude. Mrs. Walters was born in Iroquois county, Illinois, March 7, 1880, the fourth in a family of ten children-six sons and four daughters-and three are living at present. Her mother is living in Clinton county, Indiana. Mr. Walters is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 455, at Onward, in which he has numerous friends. He has been a life- long adherent of Republican principles and has served his township as a member of the election board. With his wife and children, he attends the Christian church at Onward.


JOHN H. MINNICK. Among the successful agriculturists of Cass county who have devoted their lives to the tilling of the soil, and who now have large, well-cultivated properties to show for their years of labor, John H. Minnick holds a prominent place. He has spent his entire career within the borders of the county, and his life, from earli- est boyhood, has been one of industry and energy. Today he is the owner of a handsome tract of ninety-one acres, located on the Thomas road, which, through intelligent handling, he has made one of the valuable tracts of his locality. Mr. Minnick was born in Tipton town- ship, Cass county, Indiana, July 5, 1855, and is a son of Henry and Mary (Bechdol) Minnick. His father, a native of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, was brought by his parents to Cass county in boyhood, and here he took up agricultural pursuits, in which he was successfully engaged during the remainder of his life. Henry and Mary Minnick became the parents of eight children, of whom six survive at this time: Daniel, William, Charles, Joshua, Charlotte, who became the wife of Mr. Fred Gibson, of Tipton township; and John H.


The early education of John H. Minnick was secured in the old Flynn school in Tipton township, which he attended during the short winter terms, his summers being devoted to the hard and unremitting


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work of the home farm. An industrious and energetic youth, he was ambitious to thoroughly learn every detail of farm work, in which he was trained by his father, while by his mother he was taught to be honest and upright in his dealings. Thus growing to manhood, he continued to work with his parents, and to remain on the homestead until his marriage, when he established a home of his own and embarked upon a, career, following the training of his youth and engaging in agricultural pursuits. Selecting his present property on the Thomas road, he settled down to improve and cultivate it, and to make it one of the valuable tracts of the township, and in this he has been suc- cessful, as a visit to his well-tilled fields will demonstrate. His build- ings are substantial and of a modern style of architecture, and the general air of prosperity that pervades the whole place shows that Mr. Minnick made no mistake in his choice of a vocation.


October 3, 1873, Mr. Minnick was united in marriage with Miss Lillis Doud, and to this union there were born four children, namely : Merlon, who is deceased; Jennie, who married Wm. Ramer; Clarence, who is deceased; and Alvin, who resides at home and assists his father. The last named, Alvin, finished the public schools and then took a business course at the Miami Business College. The following para- graph is taken from one of the Walton papers:


"Lillis Minnick was born near Chili, Miami county, Indiana, April 10, 1853, and died at her home near Walton, Cass county, Indiana, June 10, 1907, aged fifty-four years and two months. She was the daughter of Lorenzo and Lydia Dond. On October 30, 1873, she was united in marriage to John H. Minnick. To this union were born four children, three sons and one daughter. A husband, one son, one daughter, three sisters, two brothers, two grandchildren and a host of friends are left to mourn her departure, two sons, three brothers, two sisters, father and mother having gone on before. She was converted and united with the M. E. church at Chili at the age of fifteen, but later united with the Christian church near her home, of which church she remained a faithful member until called to go to her Heavenly Father. She ex- pressed a desire to live, yet she was willing to go. There has departed from our midst a devoted wife, a faithful, sacrificing mother, a sincere friend, beloved by all. The funeral services were held in the Christian church northwest of Walton, June 13, 1907, at 10 a. in., conducted by Rev. W. M. Amos in the presence of many sympathizing friends, and interment was made in the Walton cemetery. 'We cannot say and we will not say that she is dead, she is just away. With a loving smile and a wave of the hand she has wandered into an unknown land, and left us dreaming; how very fair it needs must be, since she lingers there. And you, O you, who will often yearn for the old-time step and the glad return, think of her just the same, we say, she is not dead, but just away.' " FRIENDS.


On April 27, 1909, Mr. Minnick was married to Mrs. Edna (Pat- ton) Swafford, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Berry) Patton. Mrs. Minnick is a native of Cass county, born January 4, 1874, and she is the younger of two children, both living. She was educated in the com- mon schools and at the Walton high school. She wedded Archibald Swafford and six children were born and only two are living: Gettis O.,


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who graduated in the common schools and is a resident of Tipton, engaged with the Pennsylvania system; and Harry B., in the fourth grade. Mr. and Mrs. Minnick are members of the Presbyterian church, in the congregation of which they have many friends. He has taken a prominent part in township affairs, not particularly as an incumbent of public office, but as a man who is ever ready to give his time and means to promoting movements for the public welfare. He is held in high esteem by his fellow-townsmen, and may be justly named one of the representative men of his township. Mr. and Mrs. Minnick's beau- tiful estate is known as "Pleasant View Lawn."


WILLIAM P. BURKIT. One of the representative farmers of Wash- ington township, who has been an eye-witness of the marvelous growth and development of Cass county during the past four decades, and who has contributed materially to that development, is William P. Burkit, township trustee and a man who has always been devoted to the best interests of his community. During a long and honorable career, he has given his attention to the cultivation of the soil, and at this time is the owner of a well-cultivated tract of 380 acres of some of the best land in Washington township, situated about nine miles southeast of Logansport. Mr. Burkit was born February 21, 1866, in an old log cabin in Washington township, Cass county, which had been built by his father, Alvin Burkit. The latter was a native of Jefferson township, Cass county, where he received his education and was reared to man- hood, beginning his operations as a farmer when still a youth. A self- made man in the truest sense of the word, he was honored and respected by his neighbors as an energetic, industrious farmer, and reared a family that was a credit to the community. At about the age of eight years Alvin Burkit came to Washington township, and during the remainder of his lifetime cleared the greater part of the farm that is now the home' of William P. Burkit. He married Miss Sarah Small, also of Washington township, and they had a family of six children, of whom but two now survive: William P. and Charles A., the latter now resid- ing in the city of Logansport. The mother, now aged seventy-two years, is a resident of the city of Logansport, Indiana.


William P. Burkit passed his boyhood much as other farmers' sons of his day and locality. His early education was secured in the district schools, which he attended during the short winter terms, the summers being spent in assisting his father in clearing the home farm. He had reached his twenty-sixth year before he embarked in farming on his own account, at that time renting a small property from his father. An industrious, sober and thrifty youth, he was soon able to purchase a small tract of land, and to this he has added from time to time, until he now has one of the finest farms in his part of the county, 380 acres in area, all in a high state of cultivation. In addition to his home property, he owns two other valuable farms, and is justly considered one of his township's most substantial citizens. The homestead farm pre- sents a strikingly different appearance than it did during Mr. Burkit's boyhood. The little log cabin that was his birthplace has been replaced by a modern residence, erected by Mr. Burkit, and numerous other changes and improvements have been made, the entire property giving


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evidence of the presence of able management. A Democrat in politics, in 1908 Mr. Burkit became his party's candidate for township trustee of Washington township, and in the election that followed he was returned to the office by a handsome majority. He has since continued to discharge its duties, laboring faithfully in behalf of the best interests of his community and its people.


On June 17, 1891, Mr. Burkit was united in marriage with Miss Matilda Zollman, who died August 29, 1895, daughter of Charles and Martha (Bell) Zollman. One child was born to this union-Virginia A. -- who is now the wife of Chester Buschbaum. Mrs. Burkit was a de- voted member of the Presbyterian church, was actively interested in church and charitable affairs, and was widely known and greatly be- loved.


GEORGE H. SCHWALM. To its enterprising and progressive agricul- tural class, Cass county owes its marvelous development during the past several decades, a development that has transformed what was once almost a valueless waste to a center of agricultural, commercial and educational activity. A great many of the pioneers of this section have passed to their final reward, but their sons and grandsons are continuing their work, and just as sturdy, self-reliant and industrious a class of men may be found here today as those who braved the dangers of an unknown region during the county's formative period. A family that has contributed of its members to work of this development is that bearing the name of Schwalm, a worthy representative of which is found in George Schwalm, whose postoffice address is Logansport Rural Route No. 3, and who is cultivating his own property of 100 acres and the homestead, which consists of eighty acres, in section 26. Mr. Schwalm was born March 2, 1858, in Washington township, Cass county, Indiana, and is a son of Henry and Helena (Haemel) Schwalm.


Henry Schwalm was born in Germany, August 20, 1828, and was educated in the Fatherland, from whence he came to the United States in 1852 and began working for his uncle, Henry Schwalm. Subse- quently, he took a lease to clear forty-five acres of land in Washington township, and from that time continued to carry on agricultural opera- tions on his own account, becoming the owner of the old Schwalm home- stead. On May 21, 1857, he was married to Miss Helena Haemel, daugh- ter of Frederick and Elizabeth (Ellerman) Haemel, and they became the parents of eight children, as follows: George; Sarah E., who married Mr. D. P. Hurd; Mrs. Caroline M. Martin ; Eckert A .; Mrs. Augustina M. Kaufman; Louisa L., who is single and resides with Mr. and Mrs. Kaufman; William B., a resident of Logansport; and Mrs. Laura E. Martin. All the members of this family, except Mrs. Hurd, are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church and take an active part in church work.


George Schwalm received his education in the Flynn public school in Tipton township, and as the eldest son of his parents spent his boy- hood and early youth in assisting his father in the work of the home place. When he was twenty years of age, he began teaching school, carefully saving his earnings and investing them in farming land, and when he had accumulated a small capital he gave up the vocation of educator and returned to farm work. He has since been engaged in


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tilling the soil and in raising stock and has met with uniform success in all of his ventures.


On September 21, 1882, Mr. Schwalm was united in marriage with Miss Laura E. Martin, daughter of Simon and Eliza (Shuman) Martin, and she died, leaving four children : Grace, Edna M., Florence I. and Edith R., all living at home. Mr. Schwalm was married to Miss Orpha C. Bechdol, and they have two children: Mary H. and Elma C. Mrs. Schwalm is the ninth in a family of twelve children, three sons and nine daughters, born to Elias and Mary J. (Stough) Bechdol, and there are seven living. Both parents are deceased and both were members of the Lutheran church. The Schwalm family is connected with the Presbyterian church. Mr. Schwalm has not cared for the activities attendant upon public life, but, willingly lends his sup- port to progressive movements, and on a number of occasions has shown that he has the welfare of his section thoroughly at heart. The pretty estate of Mr. and Mrs. Schwalm is known as "Eutopia."


WILLIAM H. SNYDER. Many of Cass county's leading agriculturists are carrying on operations on the farms on which they were born, and which were taken up by their fathers from the government and devel- oped from their virgin state. Having spent their entire lives on these properties, their owners are thoroughly conversant with climatie con- ditions and the needs of the soil, and are thus able to secure a full meas- ure of success from their labors. In this class stands William H. Snyder, of Tipton township, an agriculturist of long standing, and a citizen who has at all times held the respect and esteem of his fellow- townsmen. In his early years Mr. Snyder was engaged in other lines of endeavor, but eventually returned to the old homestead, content that his abilities fitted him best for the occupation of his forefathers. Mr. Snyder was born on the old Snyder homestead in Tipton township, located about one mile west of Onward, at the junction of the Thomas and Snyder road, July 1, 1857, a son of Levi and Madeline (Rothen- berger) Snyder. His father, a native of Pennsylvania, left that state as a young man and came to Clinton county, Indiana, from whence he enlisted in the United States army for service during the Mexican war. After the close of that struggle, he came to Cass county, and here took up land, cleared a farm and spent the remainder of his life in farming, his death occurring in 1900, at an advanced age. He and his wife were the parents of three children : William H., Mary E. and Mrs. Martha J. Shank.


William H. Snyder was given excellent educational advantages, attending the district schools near his home in Tipton township, and completing his studies under Professor Neff, at the normal school. Dur- ing this entire period, he had spent his spare time in assisting his father on the home farm, being thoroughly trained in the vocation of farming. When he was twenty-one years of age he left the parental roof and engaged in school teaching for a period, but subsequently served an apprenticeship to the carpenter trade, which he also followed for some time. Eventually, however, he again turned his attention to the tilling of the soil, and in 1900 bought the interests of the other heirs to his father's land, of which he is now the sole owner. He has eighty acres


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of land, all in a high state of cultivation, and his able management of the property is evidenced by its general air of prosperity and the large crops raised thereon. He believes in the use of modern machinery and methods, has made a thorough study of crop rotation and other meas- ures which have so advanced agriculture during the past several decades, and his property compares favorably with any of its size in the township. Mr. Snyder is essentially a farmer and has not cared for public life, taking only a good citizen's interest in matters of a political nature. His fraternal connection is with the Knights of the Maccabees, and in religious matters he affiliates with the German Reformed church, while his wife belongs to the United Brethren faith and daughter to the Methodist.


Mr. Snyder was married to Miss Rachael M. Surface May 1, 1884, and they have had three children: Leotine B., deceased, who married W. H. Haas and died without issue; Edgar F., who resides at home; and William R. Mrs. Snyder was born June 17, 1865, and was edu- cated in common schools. Both of her parents are deceased. Edgar received his diploma from the common schools and was a student in the Marion Normal College. He was superintendent of the high school one year, and is again superintendent for 1913-14. He is a member of the B. P. O. E. and deputy county treasurer of Cass county. Wil- liam R. received a public school diploma and graduated from the county high school in Onward and was a teacher in Cass county but is now messenger at Logansport State Bank. IIe is a member of the Red Men.


JOHN W. KENDALL is another of the progressive farming men who have added not a little to the development and prosperity of Cass county and Noble township as a result of his up-to-date and modern methods of operation. He was born on August 26, 1855, in Carroll county, Indiana, and came to Cass county in 1883. He is the son of Thomas and Maria (Graves) Kendall, the father having been a Civil war veteran. He en- listed in an Iowa regiment and saw much of the hardships of actual war. It was during his service that he contracted an affection of the lungs that resulted in his death in 1908. The mother is still living in Cass county.


When John W. Kendall came to Cass county, a young man of twenty- three or thereabout, he settled on what was then known, and is yet called the Tabor farm, in Washington township. There he began the business of general farming, an occupation in which he has ever been successful and prosperous. In 1894 he branched out in the diary business, and in 1905 he came to Noble township, here settling on the farm he now oc- cupies on what is called College Hill. Here he has enjoyed a pleasing degree of success in his general farming and dairying. The farm, which comprises eighty acres, has under Mr. Kendall's care reached a splendid state of improvement and cultivation, and is known to be one of the best kept places in the township, while the place boasts one of the most com- plete and perfect silos in the state of Indiana, the same being built on a twenty-four inch foundation, four bricks deep, and is thirty feet high, --- one of the most valuable adjuncts in connection with the operation of his dairy farm.


On January 2, 1881, Mr. Kendall married Miss Henrietta Wright,


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THE COLLEGE HILL FARM, RESIDENCE OF MR. AND MRS. JOHN W. KENDALL


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and to them were born seven children, named as follows: Pearl, Gertrude, John Ellis, Harry N., Jesse, Hattie and Ethel. Harry N. died in 1897 at the age of four years, and Ethel was taken by death in the same year, at the tender age of two years. In August, 1912, the eldest daughter, Pearl, married Charles Emmery, a manufacturer of mineral waters and pop in Logansport. Gertrude married George Case, in 1906, and they conduct "The Island View Hotel" in Logansport, Indiana.


Mr. Kendall has always been an adherent of the Republican party, though not particularly active in the ranks, and his fraternal relations are represented by his membership in the Redmen and the Tribe of Ben Hur. The family attends the Universalist church. A man of much public spirit and enterprise, Mr. Kendall has always been a strong cooperator in every movement of a public nature that has for its ulti- mate object the betterment of the community and may always be de- pended upon to give generously of his means and his support in any worthy cause promulgated for the good of his fellows.


HON. DYER B. MCCONNELL, for many years one of the prominent legists of Cass county, was born in Highland county, Illinois, on Feb- ruary 15, 1835. He is one of the ten children born to Dr. James B. and Sarah Dean (Stewart) McConnell, five of that number now living.


James B. McConnell was a physician and came to Cass county in 1848, locating in Royal Centre, where he practically passed the re- mainder of his professional life. He died at the home of his father, Samuel C. McConnell, a farmer of Harrison township. Samnel C. McConnell came from Ohio to Cass county in 1839 and followed farm- ing in Harrison township. He was a native of South Carolina and of Scotch-Irish ancestry, but his southern nativity did not prevent him from being a strong abolitionist and a member of the first anti-slavery organization in the county. The McConnell family came to America in Colonial days, religious prosecution in their own country causing their emigration.


Dyer B. McConnell received his scholastic training of earlier years at Russelville, Brown county, Ohio. He came to Cass county in 1852 and finished his education with a four months' term in a private school, conducted by Messrs. Glenn and Rogers, graduates of Miami Univer- sity in Logansport. He was reared in the expectation that he would embrace the medical profession, but for seven years he taught school in Indiana and Illinois and subsequently engaged in the manufacture of lumber in Harrison township. On August 27, 1861, Mr. McConnell enlisted in Company K, Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry as a private. He went first to West Virginia and served three months on scouting duty on Cheat Mountain. In January, 1862, he camped with his com- mand at Felterman and at this time, January 29, 1862, was elected second lieutenant of his company. On April 12th following he was made first lieutenant, upon the death of Lieutenant Joseph S. Turner. Close upon this promotion followed his election to the post of captain on August 21, 1862. He continued in the service until October 29, 1864, when he resigned owing to ill health, but he was not mustered out until November 9, 1864. His military service from April, 1862, was join- ing the command of Don Carlos Buel at Nashville, Tennessee. They Vol. II-12




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