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 40
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Jerome Justice was reared to agricultural pursuits on the home farm, and as a youth was given excellent educational advantages, attending the district schools, the seminary at Logansport, the Ladoga Normal School and the Danville Normal School, and eventually was given a teacher's certificate, of which, however, he never made use. On com. pleting his education he made a trip to California, where he remained for two years, at the end of that time returning to Cass county, where he took up farming on the homestead. He now owns 118 acres, of which eighty were originally included in the property settled and cleared by his father, and the entire tract is now in an excellent state of culti- vation, producing large crops and giving ample evidence of Mr. Justice's ability as an agriculturist. In addition to farming he carries on stock raising and his ventures have proved successful, because he has applied himself to his work, has given his personal attention to each detail thereof, and has used intelligent, practical and modern methods, equip. ment and machinery.
In 1889 Mr. Justice was married to Miss Belle Martin, who was born and reared in Carroll county, Indiana. and there educated in the district schools, and she died March 29, 1890, having been the mother of one child, Martin E., a graduate of the Winona schools, of Indiana College and the University of Illinois, who is now engaged in farming in Carroll county. Mr. Justice was married November 16, 1892,
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to Miss Jennie Myers, who was born in Miami county, Indiana, and there reared and educated. One daughter, Ethel B., was born to this union, December 31, 1895. She was educated in the common schools of Clinton township, and has also been given a musical education in Lo- gansport, being a young lady of no small talent.
In political matters Mr. Justice is a Republican, although in the cam- paign of 1912 he was disposed to incline towards the young Progressive party. During his long residence here he has gained a wide acquaint- ance, among which he numbers many friends. He has been reliable and straightforward in all his dealings, and his neighbors and numerous acquaintances are invariably unstinted in their commendation of his methods.
CHARLES B. CHAMBERS. Undoubtedly travel and experience are helpful in the successful pursuit of any calling, for in this way the mind is broadened, new ideas are introduced and strange methods are given a trial, thus adding to the traveler's stock of information and widening his scope. Few of the citizens of Clinton township have enjoyed better advantages along this line than has Charles B. Chambers, who is engaged in farming and stock raising on section 10, and whose career is of in- terest because it has been marked by constant endeavor along well-defined lines, showing the success that may be gained by a poor boy whose only capital in early life is pluck and energy. Mr. Chambers was born on a farm in Clinton township, Cass county, Indiana, March 1, 1859, and is a son of Thomas and Christiana Chambers, the former a native of Ken- tucky and the latter of Germany. His parents came to Cass county as young people, were here married, and spent the rest of their lives in farming. They were the parents of four children, namely : Richard, Charles B., Samuel L. and V. P.
Charles B. Chambers was reared on his father's farm in Clinton township, and was attending the district schools at the time of his father's death. Although he was but fourteen years of age he was com- pelled to give up his studies and start to work to assist in the support of the family, his first employment being at wood chopping. Later he started to work on neighboring farms, and continued to be so engaged until his marriage, in 1879, when he became engaged in operations on his own account. Thrifty, industrious and energetic, as the years passed he added to his land from time to time, in the meantime carrying on general farming and stock raising. In this connection he has traveled through- out the southwest, observing the methods of breeding stock in various sections of the country and taking advantage of any innovations with which he was formerly not familiar. He has a fine home on his farm of 171 acres.
In 1879 Mr. Chambers was married to Miss Emma Neff, also a native of Clinton township, a daughter of Washington Neff, an agriculturist of this part of the county, and they had three children: Charles B., Jr., who was educated in the common, high and commercial schools; Bessie, the wife of Ira Cree, of Logansport, and a graduate of the common and high schools and a private school of Logansport; and Russell, who is taking a post-graduate course in the Logansport high school. The wife and mother died May 16, 1913.
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Mr. Chambers has interested himself in fraternal work to some extent, being a member of Eel River Lodge No. 417, I. O. O. F., at Logansport. In his political affiliations he was a Republican until 1912, in which year lie cast his vote with the new Progressive party. He has shown a deep interest in the cause of education, and all that tends towards the advance- ment of the moral, physical or material welfare of his community. He has done much to bring about desirable results and, as such men are all too few in any community, is esteemed and respected accordingly by all who know him.
ASA J. SHIDELER. Among the enterprising and progressive agricul- turists of Cass county who have spent their entire lives on the farmns which they now occupy, Asa J. Shideler, of Clinton township, holds a prominent place. Born and reared in Clinton township, from earliest youth he has been trained to a knowledge of soil and climatic condi- tions here, and the result has been the development of a property which produces abundant crops and gratefully repays its owner for the toil he has expended upon it. Mr. Shideler was born on his present farm, the old Shideler homestead, March 10, 1867, and is a son of Abraham and Elizabethı (Mummey) Shideler.
George Shideler, the grandfather of Asa J. Shideler, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1793, went to Lancester county in young manhood, and later to Preble county, Ohio, and as early as 1832 came to Cass county, settling among the pioneers of Clinton town- ship on a farm which he had purchased while on a visit some four years before. His subsequent years were spent in clearing, cultivating and developing this land, and throughout the remainder of his life gave his entire attention to agricultural pursuits, his only outside connection being that which he maintained with the Dunkard church, of which he was a faithful member. His death occurred at the home of his son, Abraham, in 1875, and his wife followed him to the grave in 1881. Mrs. Shideler had been Miss Elizabeth Neff, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Jacob Neff, a farmer of the Key- stone state. She and her husband had the following children: Lavina, who was the wife of Martin Miller; Mary, who was the wife of Thomas Dillard ; Catherine, who married Jacob Neff; Naomi, who married Adam Yost ; Jonathan ; Jacob; Elizabeth, the widow of Zachariah Cragun, of Clinton township; and Abraham and Isaac, twins, the latter a retired clothing merchant of Logansport. Of these children, Elizabeth and Isaac are the only survivors.
Abraham Shideler, son of George and father of Asa J. Shideler, was born on the Shideler homestead in Clinton township, July 22, 1835, and there spent his entire life, his death occurring in May, 1910. His parents trained him to habits of honesty, industry and thrift, and he was early taught to respect the dignity and value of hard work. While assisting his father in the work of the homestead, he attended the dis- trict log schoolhouse of his vicinity during the winter terms, this train- ing being supplemented in his after life by close observation, much read- ing and years of practical experience. He made farming his life work. and his unquestioned success was ample evidence of his intelligent and well directed efforts. Politically a Republican, he was widely known
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in public life from a period shortly after he attained his majority, when he was elected township assessor, a position to which he was re-elected in later years. In November, 1894, he was called to the office of county commissioner, in which he served until December, 1897, and during the last year was chairman of the board, the Market street bridge in Logans- port being but one of the many improvements brought about through the energy and influence of Mr. Shideler and his fellow-commissioners. He was fraternally connected with the Masons, in which he had reached the degree of master, and his religious faith was that of the Christian church.
On April 14, 1859, Mr. Shideler was married to Miss Elizabeth Mummey, daughter of John and Barbara (Libenguth) Mummey, the former a representative of a Pennsylvania family of German origin, and to this union there were born three children: Amelia, the wife of Herman Homburg, living at No. 209 Burlington avenue, Logansport; Elmer G., who died at the age of twenty-four years, five months; and Asa J.
Asa J. Shideler was reared on the home farm, and secured his educa- tion in the district schools, which he attended until he was about eighteen years of age. At that time he began to give his entire attention to farming, which has been his occupation to the present, and now resides on the old Shideler homestead of 160 acres, in addition to which he has a property of 132 acres in Clinton township. A man of congenial and affable manners, he has gained the esteem of his neighbors and business associates, and in his wide acquaintance numbers numerous warm friends. As an agriculturist he is recognized as a man who is thoroughly conversant with all the details of his business, and as a citizen he has demonstrated his public spirit whenever movements for the betterment of his community have been in need of his support. He is a popular member of Tipton Lodge No. 33, A. F. & A. M., and his family is prominently connected socially. Mr. Shideler has taken an active interest in politics, and at one time served on the Clinton town- ship Republican Central Committee, but in 1912 cast his fortunes with the new Progressive party, the principles of which he ardently sup- ports.
On November 25, 1896, Mr. Shideler was united in marriage with Miss Florence Tyner, who was born, reared and educated in Clinton township, daughter of William and Ella (Hynes) Tyner. Two sons have been born to this union: William Abraham, born December 1, 1897, a student in the district schools; and Elmer G., born April 25, 1899, also a district school pupil.
MATTHEW MORONEY. Celtic blood flows in the veins of Matthew Moroney in generous measure. Indeed, his paternal and maternal ances- try were of Irish birth and breeding, and his parents were born and. reared in County Clare, in Ireland, whence they came to America's shores in 1850. It may be said concerning these worthy people that they came to America in their early wedded life, the year being 1850, and from New Orleans, where they landed, their journey to Indiana, where they eventually settled, covered a period of about five years. They first stopped at Memphis, Tennessee, going from there to Cincinnati, where
Matthew Moroney and Wife.
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the father was employed variously. At Hagerstown, Indiana, he stopped with his little family for some time, then came on to Cass county, Indiana, where, in 1855, he settled on a farm some three and a half miles from Lucerne, the place being now owned and occupied by Jolin Hall. Four years he spent there, then moved to the farm that is owned today by his son, the subject of this review.
The father was Matthew, son of Matthew Moroney, and the mother was Marguerite Manix, both of fine old County Clare families, where they were born and bred. When they settled on the farm which is now the home of the subject, he was yet unborn. The place was more a wilderness than a farm, and the building that might be termed a dwelling was a one room log cabin. The head of the little family straightway secured the aid of a carpenter to make a suitable addition to the home, and while the work of building was being carried on Matthew Moroney was born, on November 8, 1860. The carpenter who was employed upon the new home, built a cradle for the new comer, which, though crude and rough as it doubtless was, held him as close and warm as any much more elegant shelter could possibly have done. The father later built the barn, which still stands on the old place, although it has in recent years been moved from its original location. At that early time, little if any clearing had been done on the place, hardly worthy as yet to be called a farm, but Mr. Moroney gave himself unreservedly to the task of cleaning up the land and making a productive farm from it. He succeeded most admirably, and when he died in 1876 left a fine place to his son, Matthew of this review. He was fifty-six years of age at that time, and his widow survived him for twenty years, passing away in 1896 when she was seventy-seven years old. She, it may be said, had been twice married. Her first marriage, also contracted in Ireland, culminated in widowhood, when she was left with three children, named as follows: Nancy Burke, who later married Patrick Kearney; Mary, the wife of David Campbell; and John Burke, who is unmarried. By her second marriage she had three children,-Matthew, Marguerite and Katherine. Marguerite married William Murphy, and is now deceased; Katherine married John Carroll, and is also dead.
Upon the death of the father, Matthew Moroney continued on with the home farm, and finally came into its ownership. He has made worthy progress in the farming industry and has carried to completion the work that his father began many years ago, winning the right to be regarded as one of the substantial and progressive farming men of the community.
On November 9, 1881, Mr. Moroney married Mary Backus, the daughter of Richard and Rose (Fitzsimmons) Backus. For one quar- ter of a century Mr. and Mrs. Moroney traveled life's journey- but in the year 1906, she passed away. Mrs. Moroney was an affectionate and loving wife and mother, and a friend to all. She was a lady who commanded the universal respect and friendship of all with whom she came in contact. She had faithfully reared her children in religious teachings, and her daily life was a lesson to her children. She was ever ready to counsel and advise her husband in life's battle, and when she passed "to that bourne from whence no
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traveler returns," the golden circlet in the home was severed. She was a devotee to the Catholic faith and was ever loyal to her church, which was the Saint Elizabeth Roman Catholic church in Harrison township, where her husband and children are also members. She passed away loved and respected by all who knew her, leaving her hus- band and nine children, named as follows: Alice, born August 25, 1882; Katharine, born January 21, 1884; William, born October 3, 1886; Matthew M., born March 29, 1889; Rose, born on September 19, 1890; Charles, born December 28, 1892; Nellie, born August 21, 1898; Mary, born February 25, 1901; and Richard, born September 18, 1902.
Mr. Moroney has taken his place among his townsmen as one of the wide-awake men of the community, and has been called to serve as trustee of Harrison township for one term, as well as in the higher office of county treasurer of Cass county, in which official position he acted with all efficiency for two terms, the quality of his service being one that fully justified the people in returning him to the office, and which marked him as a capable and praiseworthy citizen and public official. He is a Democrat, staneh and firm in his political convictions, and his religious affiliations are with Saint Elizabeth's Roman Catholic church, of Harrison township.
Mr. Moroney is also a member of the B. P. O. E. lodge, No. 66, and the Knights of Columbus, No. 561, located at Logansport, Indiana. The pretty homestead of Mr. Moroney is known as "Forest Lodge."
FREDERICK W. SEYBOLD. It is due to the efforts of the energetic, progressive and intelligent farmers that agricultural conditions in Cass county are now in such a healthy condition. Intelligent working of the soil, recognition of the value of crop rotation, and the use of modern machinery have improved conditions wonderfully during the past sev- eral decades, and one of those who have assisted in the advancement of the county, and especially in Clinton township, while at the same time he has furthered his own interests, is Frederick W. Seybold, the owner of a valuable tract of 240 acres, located in Clinton township. Mr. Seybold has carried on general farming and stock raising, and his ventures have proved uniformly successful, because of the intelligence and energy he has brought to his work. He was born in Cass county, Indiana, near Logansport. June 15, 1876, and is a son of Frederick and Mary A. (Wolfe) Seybold, the former now a resident of Logansport, while the latter is deceased.
Frederick Seybold was born near Dayton, Ohio, January 26, 1832, and is a son of John G. and Jacobenia (Fulmer) Seybold, both natives of Germany. They were the parents of twelve children, as follows: John G., Frederick, Henry, Jacob, William P., Mary A., Elizabeth, Catherine, Jacobenia, Margaret, Christ and David. The grandfather of Frederick W. Seybold remained in the Fatherland until his fourteenth year. at which time, in order to escape being forced into the army of Napoleon, he ran away from home and made his way to England. He had not yet reached his majority, in 1814, when he managed to secure passage to Montreal, Canada, which city was the home of a wealthy uncle, engaged in the wholesale clothing business, for whom he was
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an errand boy for two years, receiving for his services his board and clothing. The year 1816 saw his advent in the United States, where, at New York City, he learned the baker's trade, an occupation which he followed in the metropolis and other cities for several years, his next migration being to North Carolina, where he spent the year 1820. In 1821 he returned to New York and married Jacobenia Fulmer, and in the following year came west in a one-horse wagon and settled on a farm near Springsboro, Warren county, Ohio. In addition to farming, Mr. Seybold also worked on the Ohio canal and accepted whatever honorable employment presented itself, and by the year 1832 was able to purchase sixty acres of land in Montgomery county, near Dayton, Ohio, to which he later added forty acres more, and there passed the remaining years of his life, passing away in 1865. His widow sur- vived him some years and was ninety-two at the time of her death, which occurred in Ohio.
Frederick Seybold, the son of the progenitor, and father of Frederick W. Seybold, was born and reared on his father's farm in Montgomery county, Ohio, and in his youth attended school in a log schoolhouse near his home. When twenty-eight years of age, in 1859, he made his way to Indiana and purchased 108 acres of land, near the corporate limits of Logansport, in Cass county, and to this he added from time to time until he was the owner of more than five hundred acres of some of the best land in the county. His success in life has been due to his own efforts, as he started out in life with little capital save his own energy, ambition and ability, and won his way to the front solely through his own industry and intelligent management. On January 13, 1859. he was married to Miss Mary A. Wolfe, who was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, daughter of Jacob Wolfe, and to this union there were born seven children, of whom three survive: Lydia, the wife of Alva Myers, of Logansport. Indiana; Alfred, who married Eva Guthrie and lives in Logansport ; and Frederick W. Frederick Seybold is now retired and lives in his comfortable home in Logansport. He has always been a stalwart Democrat, and takes an intelligent interest in public matters, having been elected to a number of township offices dur ing his active years.
Frederick W. Seybold was reared on his father's farm, which was situated near the corporate limits of Logansport, and attended the public schools of that city, also spending two years in the high school. On completing his education, he at once entered upon his career as a general farmer and stockman, and has given the greater part of his attention to the latter branch, buying, shipping and feeding cattle, hogs and colts, and finding a ready market for his stock in the various large points. From time to time he has added to his land, now having 240 acres of excellent property, and as the years have passed has added to his buildings and equipment. His present residence, erected at a cost of $9,000, contains fourteen rooms, with seven rooms in the base- ment, and is fitted with every modern comfort and convenience. Like his father, he is an adherent of Democratic principles, and takes a keen interest in public matters, albeit more as a spectator than as an office seeker. His fraternal connection is with Lodge No. 323, of the Fra- ternal Order of Eagles, of which he is a member of the board of trustees. Vol. II-20
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On December 14, 1898, Mr. Seybold was married to Miss Mande Gotchall, who was born in Noble township, Cass county, Indiana, July 13, 1876, and to this union there have been born two children: Hazel, born September 4, 1899; and Madge, born February 20, 1900, both students in the district schools.
CLARENCE BRUCE REED. Agricultural conditions in Cass county have changed to such an extent during the past several decades that the enterprising farmer has been compelled to a large degree to alter his methods of treating the soil, if he is ambitious to keep up with the march of progress and attain a full measure of success; otherwise he falls into the rut of mediocrity and must be content to follow, not to lead, in the ranks of his vocation. New scientific discoveries have been made, power- ful machinery has been invented, new innovations have been introduced, all calling for close and constant attention on the part of the man of prog- ress, and Cass county can boast of its full quota of men who have been quick to recognize the advantages of the new school of farming. Among them may be mentioned Clarence B. Reed, of section 5, Clinton township, whose 120-acre tract bears mute but eloquent evidence of the pres- ence of able and intelligent management. Mr. Reed has spent his entire life in his present locality, having been born in Clinton township, June 8, 1858, a son of William and Catherine (Schney ) Reed.
William Reed was a native of Erin, and was brought to this country by his parents when a lad of ten years, the family settling in Indiana in the southern part of the state. There he was reared, and in young manhood came to Cass connty, where he was married to Catherine Schuey, who was born in Pennsylvania and was brought to Indiana in girlhood. After their union, Mr. and Mrs. Reed settled on the farm now occupied by Clarence Bruce Reed, here spending the remainder of their lives. The father passed away in 1884 and the mother in 1887, and they were the parents of a family of eight children, four being alive today, as follows: Clarence Bruce, Robert R., Thomas L., and Emma G., the last named being the widow of Fred J. Neville.
Clarence B. Reed was reared on the farm that he now owns and received his education in the district schools, which he attended until he was twenty-one years of age. He received a careful training in every detail of famn work, and on attaining his majority began farming and stock raising on his own account, in which he has since engaged, gaining unqualified snecess. Mr. Reed is now the owner of 120 acres of the old homestead, on which he has made numerous improvements, including modern buildings, tiling, draining, ditching, etc. He takes a pride in being able to increase the productive power of his property and to decrease the cost of production, thus placing himself among the men to whose efforts the cause of progress owes so much. In political mat- ters he is a Republican, but he has only interested himself in politics as a voter, never having had a desire for the struggles of the public arena. In fraternal circles he is a member of the Elks, of Logansport, and a popular member of Lodge No. 323, Fraternal Order of Eagles, of which he has served as a member of the board of trustees, and his wife is well known among the Ladies of the Maccabees, Lodge No. 86,
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of Logansport. She is also a property owner, having 110 acres of well- developed land in section 15, Clinton township.
On January 1, 1890, Mr. Reed was married in Clinton township to Miss Rosabelle Rhorer, also a native of this township, born December 11, 1862, daughter of Jacob and Jane (Justice) Rhorer, farming people of Cass county. Mr. and Mrs. Reed have been the parents of one child, Gail, who died in infancy.
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