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 43
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Mr. Banta, as might be expected, is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and affiliates with Logansport Post No. 14. He has always been a Republican, but in 1912 he cut loose from the old party and voted the Progressive ticket. He has taken a leading place among the citizenship of Jefferson township and has lived a life of the utmost beneficence from every standpoint. He and his wife are known and appreciated throughout the community for good friends, pleasant neigh- bors and thoroughly reliable and honorable citizens.
JETTHA M. MARTIN. The life history of Jettha M. Martin is closely identified with that of Jefferson township, where he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits for many years. His life has been one of untiring activity, and has been crowned by a degree of success reserved for com- paratively a few. He is of the highest type of agriculturists, and none more than he deserves a fitting recognition among the men whose labors and abilities have achieved results that are most enviable and com- mendable. Mr. Martin was born November 1, 1861, in White county, Indiana, and is a son of William and Malinda Jane (York) Martin.
William Martin was born August. 22, 1831, in the city of Belfast, County Down, Ireland, and came to the United States with an aunt and uncle, landing in New York City December 5, 1839, and going thence to Philadelphia. He remained in that city until 1843, at which time he went with Jesse McClure to East Waterford, Juniata county, Pennsyl- vania, there working at the blacksmith trade for some time. Commenc- ing work February 18, 1844, he remained until the fall of 1848, when he returned to Pennsylvania and remained for one year at Pine, then going to Juniata county, where he stayed until 1850. In that year Mr. Martin came to Indiana, settling first in the city of Madison, later going to Tippecanoe county, thence to Delhi and on to Logansport, and then settling at Camden, Carroll county, where he remained until the spring of 1853. At that time Mr. Martin located in White county, working there until the spring of 1854, when he went to Iowa, and following this was at various places in the West, but finally returned to Burnettsville, White county, Indiana. On November 11, 1858, he was married to Malinda Jane York, and they resided in Burnettsville until 1867, on
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April 15th of which year Mr. Martin purchased a farm on Lake Cicott, in Jefferson township, Cass county, Indiana, where they spent the re- mainder of their lives. Mr. Martin was a liberal supporter of religious bodies, and was known as a kind friend and exemplary citizen. His political faith was that of the Democratic party, although he was never an office-seeker. He was the father of seven children, of whom five are alive at this time: Jennie, who is the wife of Frank Pierce; Jettha M .; Henry, who makes his home in Montana; Flora, the widow of Harry. Spence; and Earl, living in Kansas.
Jettha M. Martin was about five years of age when he accompanied his parents to Jefferson township, and here he attended the district schools until he was nineteen years of age. He then began farming on the old homestead, and at the death of his parents he purchased this tract, where he now has one hundred acres in a high state of cultivation. This land, located on section 27, is devoted to general farming and stockraising, and the fine crops raised as well as the appearance of the stock proves Mr. Martin's unquestioned title of able agriculturist. Politically he is a Democrat, and at this time is efficiently serving in the capacity of Jefferson township trustee. His religious belief is that of the Baptist church, while fraternally he is connected with Logansport Lodge, Tribe of Ben Hur.
On June 15, 1882, Mr. Martin was married to Martha J. Byers, who was born in Carroll county, Indiana, July 2, 1862, and there educated in the public schools. Two children have been born to this union: Fred B., educated in the common schools of Logansport, married Lizzie Burkett, of Burnettsville, and has one son-Clyde, aged four years; and Elsie C., born September 27, 1894, a graduate of the public schools, who is now attending Burnettsville high school. Mr. and Mrs. Martin also reared an orphan, Pearl Young, from the time she was five years of age until her marriage to Ross Prescott, since which time she has resided in Logansport.
WILLIAM R. GRAY. All his life William R. Gray has passed thus far in the vicinity of his present residence in Jefferson township, and his record has been one sufficient to win for him the high regard and straight- forward friendship of all who have shared in his acquaintance during those years. Born in Jefferson township, Cass county, on a farm about a mile distant from his present home, Mr. Gray claims November 14, 1873, as the date of his nativity, and he is the son of James A. and Rebecca W. (Rogers) Gray.
James A. Gray, also a native of Jefferson township, was born here on September 28, 1836, and was the son of Alex and Elizabeth (Blight) Gray, both of whom were Pennsylvanians by birth, and pioneer settlers of Jefferson township, arriving here in about the year 1836. Both finished their lives in this township and here were well known and highly respected by all who knew them. They were true pioneers, and lived in primitive fashion, rearing their children in simplicity and honesty, and training them well in the simple but vital things of life. Their son, the father of the subject, settled in Jefferson township and there died. He married Rebecca W. Rogers and they became the parents of two . children-Harrison L., a farmer who lives in this township about a
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mile from the home of his brother; Milton R., who is the immediate subject of this review.
Milton R. Gray was reared on the old farm in Jefferson township and in connection with the work of the home place, he received such rudimentary edneation as the schools of his native community afforded. He continued in attendance at the district schools until he was twenty years old, after which he gave his exclusive attention to farming, a busi. ness in which he has since continned with a pleasing degree of success and prosperity. Today Mr. Gray owns a farm of some one hundred and twenty acres in section 14, this township, and general farming and stock raising occupy his attention. He gives close and careful study to the subjects which occupy him, and his diligence has been rewarded accordingly.
On September 5, 1904, Mr. Gray took upon himself the responsibility of a wife and was then united in marriage with Miss Goldie M. Mickel. the daughter of Jonas and Sarah Mickel. She was born in Pulaski county, Indiana, on the 4th of September, 1883, and was educated in the schools of her native community. Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gray : Ormus, born September 29, 1905, and Leo E., born March 27,1911.
Mr. Gray and his good wife are members of the Pisgah Presbyterian church of Jefferson township, and Mr. Gray is fraternally affiliated with the Eel River Lodge, No. 417, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Politically, he gives his allegiance to the Democratic party, but has not been active beyond the demands of good citizenship.
ANDREW THOMPSON. Among the many well known and estimable men of Boone township it is safe to say that none have a wider acquaintance or a better standing in the township than has Andrew Thompson, a native of this community, where he was born on January 15, 1861. He is now the owner and operator of a fine farm in section 21, Boone township, and is enjoying a pleasing degree of prosperity in his chosen vocation. He is the son of Kendall E. and Naomi (Thompson) Thompson, concerning whom the following brief facts are here set forth :
Kendall Thompson was born in Sussex county, Delaware, as was also his good wife. When they were children their parents, with a party of other homeseekers, left their Delaware associations and connections and sought the wilds of Indiana where they established homes and took prominent parts in the development of Cass county. Jefferson and Boone townships received the majority of them, and here, taking up government land according to the Homestead act, they became land owners and home builders. The parents of Kendall Thompson secured land with the others, settling in Boone township. At that time Kendall Thompson was a child of seven years. He was reared in the primitive home of his parents, became inured to the hardships of pioneer life and the rugged work of the farm, and in his young manhood married Naomi Thompson, who had migrated from Delaware with her parents in like manner as he had done. To them were born seven children, of which number five are still living. They are named as follows: Emma, the wife of Phelix Kistler, of Cass county ; Joseph, a resident of Logansport ; Andrew, the subject of this review; Martha, the wife of Rich B. King, of White county, Indiana ;
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Carrie E., who married Charles Kistler, and lives in this county ; Jane and Nettie are deceased.
Andrew Thompson was reared in his father's household and aided him in the work of the farm. He owned a place of two hundred and forty- two acres in Cass county, and one hundred and sixty acres in White county, and his total holdings required a deal of attention and care, so that the assistance of his son Andrew was of great value to him. Such advantages as the common schools of the community offered, Andrew Thompson embraced, and he finished with the elementary and graded schools of Burr Oak, after which he turned to the farm again.
When Mr. Thompson married in 1886, he became the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres in sections 20 and 21, and he has carried on a general or diversified farming business independently since that time, experiencing a pleasing measure of success in his operations, as becoming to one who was so well versed in matters of agriculture in the service of his father.
On March 4, 1886, was solemnized the marriage of Andrew Thompson with Emma Reed, of White county. She is the daughter of Charles Reed, who was a native of Scotland, and who came to Canada in his young manhood, thence to Ohio and later to White county, Indiana. He was a cooper by trade and has long been occupied in that work. He married Susanna Glazek, whose parents died while she was yet very young. Mrs. Thompson was born in White county, and there reared. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, one son and five daughters, brief mention of them being made as follows: Nora Pearl is the wife of Fred Tickfer, of Logansport; she was born in November, 1886, and attended school at Royal Center and Marion. Fred E., born August 4, 1888, married Opha Bird. Iva, born September 15, 1893, is at home with her parents. Bertha, born November 17, 1895, also at home, is attending the high school of Royal Center. May Thompson, born July 6, 1898, is also in school. Fern, born July 29, 1900, and the youngest of the six, is attending school in Burr Oak.
Mr. Thompson is a Republican in his political proclivities, but not more than ordinarily active. He is recognized as one of the substantial citizens of the community, and enjoys a wide circle of friends in the county.
WILLIAM HOLLIS, long and prominently known in Boone township, Cass county, Indiana, as one of the well-to-do farming men of the com- munity, is a native son of the township and county he now calls his home, and has passed his life within the confines of the county. He was born on May 10, 1869, and is the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Gid- dings) Hollis.
Joseph Hollis was born in Wesbadge, Lincolnshire, England, and came to America when he was in his early manhood. He came almost directly to Cass county, and secured work at whatever he could lay his hands to that offered honest employment until he became sufficiently forehanded to buy a farm. He then married and settled down to farm life, in which he continued as long as he lived. His wife, Elizabeth Gid- dings, came to Cass county with a party of friends when she was in her young womanhood, soon after which she met Joseph Hollis. Their
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acquaintance terminated in their marriage and to them thirteen children were born, of which goodly number ten are yet living. They are here named as follows: Robert G., living in this township; Mary, married Saul Mathewson, and lives in Jefferson township ; Joseph, also a resident here; John, living in Royal Center; Lizzie, the wife of George Wesley, of New Plymouth; Jane, married Thomas Wesley, of this community ; William, of this review; James, living in Mississippi; Thomas, living in this vicinity ; and Frank, a resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
William Hollis remained in the parental home until he married in 1896, after which he established an independent rooftree and became a farmer on his own initiative. After his marriage he settled in Monon, in White county, where he continued for four years, later moving about from time to time until he located in his present place in Boone township, which he had occupied in previous years. He has a farm of forty acres, which under his careful supervision yields abundantly, and he is recognized as one of the successful farmers in the township.
On October 26, 1896, Mr. Hollis married Dora Kerns, the daughter of Edward and Annie (Kerns) Kerns, both of Virginia parentage and birth. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kerns, of which three are now living: Ada, the wife of Thomas Balty, of Royal Center; Otha Allen Kerns, of Harrison township, and Dora, the wife of the subject. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Hollis, Lucy Esther, at home with her parents.
JAMES W. STEWART, M. D., of Logansport, Indiana, is a native of Car- roll county, Indiana, born on the Cass county line on May 27, 1857, and has made his home in Cass county practically all his life. He is a son of James Stewart and his wife, Elizabeth Cook, Pennsylvanians by birth, who were the parents of five children, and who moved from their native state to Indiana in 1850 and located on a farm. The father was a farmer all his life, and died in Carroll county in 1867. Two children were born to these parents after their location in Carroll county, the subject and one other, who was the youngest of the five.
Dr. Stewart was reared after the manner of the average country youth of his day and age, and he was early initiated into an intimate knowledge of the many tasks incident to farm life, while he attended the district schools with tolerable regularity, eventually completing the course of study in the Delphi schools at the age of seventeen. In June, 1875, he entered the Louisville Medical College, at Louisville, Kentucky, and in 1876 he was graduated from that institution, after which he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Indianapolis, which granted him his addendum degree in 1877. Following this he served a year as interne at the city hospital in Indianapolis, completing his term in 1878, when he was twenty-one years of age, a splendid record for the country youth.
Dr. Stewart located at Burrows, Indiana, and was for six years engaged in practice at that point, whereupon he moved to Rockfield and there practiced for ten years. In 1894-5 he took a post graduate course at the New York Polyclinic, and in 1895 he came to Logansport, which he has since made his home and the center of his professional activities. Until of late Dr. Stewart has been engaged in general practice, but giving
JAMES W. STEWART
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especial attention to surgery. His specialty now is internal medicine and surgery, and his ever growing office practice practically precludes any outside practice. He has taken a number of special courses on internal medicine and surgery at London, Edinburgh, Vienna, Berlin and Berne, and is considered an authority on that subject.
Dr. Stewart is a Mason and a member of the Country Club. His chief recreation is golf and chess, at both of which he is something of an expert.
SAMUEL P. HOFFMAN. In looking for a prosperous and progressive farmer who adheres largely to scientific methods in his operations, one might "go farther and fare worse," as the old saying has it, than the place of Samuel P. Hoffman. Farm life has ever been an attractive one to him, and he has made distinctive and praiseworthy progress in his agricultural activities with the passing years. His son, Ferdinand L., who assists him in the operation of the home farm, took a course in scientific farming at Purdue University, and is the able assistant of the subject. Mr. Hoffman was born in Pulaski county, Indiana, on March 26, 1863, and is the son of Charles and Susan (Hoffman) Hoffman. The father was a native German, born in that country in 1812, who came with his parents to America in 1824 and located in Seneca county, Ohio, where he was reared to young manhood. He came to Indiana while yet young in years, in about 1840, and in Fulton county he married a Miss Cox, and by that union had two children : Wm. H. Hoffman and Mary, the wife of Lewis Strahlem, of Logansport, Indiana. The wife and mother died and in later years Mr. Hoffman married for his second wife Susan Smith. Five children were born of this latter marriage: Isabella, now deceased ; Sarah, the wife of Eli Fink of Logansport, Indiana, where he is employed as a passenger conductor on the Pan Handle Railroad.
Samuel P. Hoffman was six years old when he came to Cass county to live. He was educated in the public schools up to the age of twenty years, after which he took up farming as his life work, to which he has ever since adhered, and in which he has attained a pleasing prosperity. He has a farm of eighty acres three miles southwest of Royal Center, his place being one of the best drained and improved farms in the township. He has for some years specialized in thoroughbred Norman horses, and is generally admitted to be one of the wide-awake farmers in the township.
Mr. Hoffman married Alice Berkshire, the daughter of William Berk- shire of Boone township, on December 12, 1882. She was reared in Boone township and received her education in the common schools. Two children were born to them : Ferdinand L. and Manford B. Hoffman. The eldest son, who is unmarried, is engaged in farming with his father, and as was previously mentioned, has made a scientific study of agriculture. He is one of the most capable young farming men of his day in this township, and it is expected that he will make a signal success of the business of farming should he continue in it. Manford B. Hoffman, deceased January 30, 1913, was educated in the common and high schools of his native community, and was married to Pearl S. Schlegelnilch.
Mr. Hoffman is a member of the Christian church, as are also the members of his family, and he has served in that body as elder and trus- tee, and has been for some time chorister in the church, as well as taking an active part in the Sunday school. His politics are those of an uncom-
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promising Prohibitionist. He has never been active in the political affairs of the town, but has ever performed well his part as a citizen of genuine worth in the community which has so long been his home and the center of his activities.
IRA A. KISTLER. As cashier of the Citizens State Bank of Royal Center, Ira A. Kistler occupies a position of prominence in Royal Center, one to which he is well entitled by reason of his native ability and accomplishments. A native son of Cass county, he has not felt it neces- sary to fare forth into the unknown world to achieve a measure of suc- cess, but has realized his business success in the identical township in which he was born.
Ira A. Kistler was born in Boone township, Cass county, Indiana, on Christmas Day, in 1876, and is the son of Martin L. and Sarah (Fultz) Kistler. The father, who still lives, was born in Boone township and at present lives at Bass, Indiana. The mother was a native of Findlay county, Ohio. They became the parents of nine children, seven of that number being yet alive in the year 1912.
Of the seven living children of his parents, Ira A. Kistler is the second oldest. He was born and reared on the farm which represented the family home in Boone township, and received his education in the dis- trict schools, after which he taught in the rural districts of Pulaski county, Indiana, for five years. In November, 1901, he married Adria J. Fultz, a daughter of Boone township who was educated in the public schools of Royal Center. Two children were born to them: Dowania, born in 1903, and Dortha, who was born in 1908.
In November, 1911, Mr. Kistler was appointed cashier of the Citizens State Bank, a position which he has since continued to occupy, with all of satisfaction to the bank and its patrons. The bank was incorporated under the laws of the state of Indiana on the date above mentioned, with a capital stock of $25,000, and its official personnel is as follows: A. Ross Beckley, president ; J. J. Schmidt, vice president; J. A. Kistler, cashier. The directors of the bank are George S. Kistler, A. M. Dell, A. Ross Beckley, Beecher House, Ira A. Kistler, E. D. Baughman, J. J. Schmidt.
Mr. Kistler is an adherent of the Progressive party, and is at present trustee of Boone township. He holds a high place in the regard of his fellow citizens, and is a man of many fine traits of character which have contributed in a great measure to his establishment in popular confidence and esteem. He is the owner of a fine little farm of eighty- two acres in section 25 in Boone township, which he farms indirectly, and has other property interests in the community. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is the present chancellor of the Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 462. of which he is also a member. Mrs. Kistler is a member of Grace Evangelical church, as are also her children.
THOMAS J. KISTLER. The name of Kistler is one that has been accorded an honored place upon the rolls of the pioneer history of Cass county since 1835, and many of that name have given praiseworthy service in the development and upbuilding of the county in the years
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that have passed. It is safe to say, however, that none has occupied a higher place in the county or has been more greatly esteemed than is Thomas J. Kistler, the subject of this brief review. Born in Boone town- ship, Cass. county, Indiana, on the thirtieth day of June, in 1863, he is the son of Jonas and Amelia (Simmons) Kistler, both now deceased.
Concerning the parentage and family of Mr. Kistler it may be said that the father came into the state when he was a lad of ten years, and there passed the remainder of his long and useful life. He was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, on the 9th day of September, 1825, and was the son of Jacob and Catherine (Mishamoor) Kistler, natives of Pennsyl- vania. Jacob Kistler, like his worthy father before him, was a miller by trade, and he migrated from Ohio to Indiana in 1835, locating on a farm in Cass county, Indiana. There Jonas Kistler spent the years of his youth from the age of ten to twenty-one, and when he set out in inde- pendent life for himself he still continued in that business, one which occupied him all his days and in which he achieved signal success and prosperity. He was ever the advocate of progress and advancement in the connty and actively participated in the development and promotion of the district which has eventually made Cass county on a par with the older counties of the state. Four times did Jonas Kistler venture onto the sea of matrimony. He married Lydia Kistler, a native of Boone township, on the 16th of January, 1847, and she died on April 1. 1857, leaving four children : George N., Lewis, Sarah M., another who died in infancy. On August 10, 1857, Mr. Kistler married Amy Simmons, and to them seven children were born : Andrew J., Jacob, Thomas J., Eliza- beth, William H., Cordelia A. and James. The wife and mother died on April 27, 1873. On October 1. 1873, Mr. Kistler married Ann E. Sim- mons, who died on March 9, 1877. On September 20th of that year, Mr. Kistler married Mary Kistler, whose death occurred on January 9, 1898. Mr. Kistler died in 1902, at the age of eighty-seven years. Of the mar- riage of Amy, or Amelia, Simmons and Mr. Kistler, four children are yet living : Thomas J., Jacob, William H. and Cordelia, the wife of William H. Walters.
Thomas J. Kistler was reared on the home farm to the age of thirteen years, and divided his time between the duties incident to farm life and the country school which his town afforded. When he was thirteen he left home and went to work on a nearby farm, where he earned his board and clothes and attended school in the winter seasons in exchange for what he could do about the place. He remained thus until he was seventeen, when he launched out in farming for himself. He continued the life of a farmer until he married on May 7, 1900, Carrie D. Kistler (not related) becoming his bride. She was born and rearcd in Boone township, and is one of the most esteemed women of the community.
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