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 54

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 54


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JOHN MYERS was among the earliest pioneers of Cass county, Indiana, the date of his location in Clinton township being in 1833. He was born in Franklin county, Virginia, on September 3, 1808, and was descended from Dutch Huguenot ancestry. His father was a soldier in the War of 1812 and his grandfather served in the American Revolution and was under General Washington at the defeat of Braddock. In 1814 his parents moved to Montgomery county, Ohio, and until he was nineteen years old he worked on the home farm. He learned the blacksimth's trade, at which he worked five years. In 1830, in Preble county, Ohio,


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he married Ann Swisher, and upon his arrival here in 1833 he bought two hundred and forty acres of heavily timbered land which he at once began to clear and improve. He participated in all the hardships and privations incident to pioneer' life, and died in Logansport on Sep- tember 7, 1890. He and his wife became the parents of four children : Isaac N., Henry C., Mary A. and Alfred B. The wife and mother died on February 26, 1877.


Isaac Neff Myers, the oldest son of John and Ann Myers, was born in Preble county, Ohio, his birth occurring on September 10, 1831. He was but two years old when he was brought to Cass county by his parents, and his early life was passed after the manner of the farmers' boys of those days, in clearing, grubbing, planting aud harvesting, and, to a limited extent, attending school in the old log school house which was an adjunct to practically every country neighborhood in his day. His life was an uneventful one. He followed farming and stock raising as his chief employment and for about fifteen years operated a sawmill somewhat extensively, furnishing the Wabash and the present Penn- sylvania railroads with the heavy timbers entering into the construction of these lines in this vicinity. Upon the breaking out of the Civil war he recruited a company for the Forty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, of which he was elected captain. Eleven employes of his farm having enlisted, Mr. Myers did not himself go to the front, but took upon him- self, at their request and his promise, the maintenance of the families of those of his employes, five in number, who did, which promise he faith- fully kept. He was first a Whig in politics and later a Republican, and he was twice the nominee of his party for the office of county sheriff, but was defeated because of the strongly Democratic tendency of the county at the times. On December 4, 1851, he married Rosanna Justice, second daughter of James Justice, a pioneer of Clinton township. They became the parents of five children, three of whom survive. Mr. Myers died on June 2, 1905, preceded by his wife on May 5, 1898.


Quincy Alden Myers, justice of the supreme court of the state of Indiana, is the eldest son of Isaac N. and Rosanna (Justice) Myers. He was born on September 1, 1853, on what is now known as the Hugh Fitzer farm, in Clinton township, Cass county, Indiana, and was reared to manhood in that township. His early education was in the neighbor- ing district schools. Ile prepared for college at the old Presbyterian Academy, in Logansport, from which he was graduated in 1870, after which he entered Northwestern Christian University, now Butler Col- lege, at Indianapolis. Owing to failing health he was compelled to relinquish active school work after a year of attendance there, but con- tinued his studies under a tutor and was enrolled as a pupil at Smith- son's College, in Logansport. In 1873 he matriculated at Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in June, 1875. Following this he read law at Logansport, under the direction of De Witt C. Justice and Judge Mau- rice Winfield, and in September, 1876, entered Albany Law School, Union University, at Albany, New York. In June, 1877, he received his diploma, graduating as valedictorian of his class. After his graduation he returned to Logansport, and was associated with Judge Winfield, his former preceptor, in the practice of his profession, until the election of


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his partner to the circuit court bench in 1882. He then formed a part- nership with Judge John C. Nelson, which continued until 1903, when Charles E. Yarlott became a member of the firm. The retirement of Judge Nelson in 1906 brought about the firm of Myers & Yarlott, which continued without interruption until January 1, 1909. In 1908 Mr. Myers was elected to the Indiana state supreme bench, and he has since filled the duties of that high office.


Judge Myers is a Republican in politics, a Knight Templar Mason, a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and a Methodist in his religion. He is a trustee of De Pauw University, has been city attorney of Logansport, county attorney of Cass county and was for thirteen years a trustee of the city schools of Logansport.


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On March 3, 1886, Miss Jessie D. Cornelius, eldest daughter of the . late Edward G. Cornelius, a leading merchant of Indianapolis, became the wife of Judge Myers, and to them have been born two daughters: Melissa, now the wife of Joel Whitaker, a leading physician of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Marie Rosanna, who died on November 6, 1910, when in the twenty-first year of her life. Mrs. Myers is a member of the Presbyterian church and an active and efficient member of the board of managers of the orphans' homes of Logansport and Indianapolis, and of the Home for Aged Women in the latter city.


H. H. MILLER, M. D. A graduate from medical college in 1897, Dr. Miller has since been engaged in the practice of his profession at Gal- veston, in Jackson township. He is one of the young and vigorous doctors of the county and, being a product of the modern school, his methods have made a very successful record and he is prominent socially in his home community. Dr. Miller was born in Brooksburg, Indiana, November 4, 1871, and is a son of William and Augusta (Johnston) Miller. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, whence he came to Indiana as a young man and has for many years engaged in farming in this state. His early education was received in Pennsylvania. The old farm where the father lived and died is now the home of the mother and some, of her children. There were eight children altogether in the father's family, and the six who are living now are named as follows: Evan C., Charles A., Sarah E., Ella, Harry E. and Dr. Harley II.


Dr. Miller was an attendant at the common schools near his home vicinity, and was engaged in farm work at the intervals of his schooling. Before beginning his studies for his profession he taught school, and from this and other sources he earned practically all the money with which he prepared himself for his profession. He was a student of the State Normal College at Terre Haute and afterwards entered the Louis- ville Medical College, where he earned his way and was graduated with the degree of M. I). in 1897. His practice is principally in general med- icine, but he has a recognized skill in surgery. Dr. Miller is a member of the Cass county and the Indiana State Medical societies, and in social circles in Galveston he and his wife play a very prominent part. He was married July 3, 1892, to Miss Elsie M. Thomas, and they are the parents of one child, Forrest Thomas. The doctor and his wife are members of the Baptist church and he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.


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WILLIAM ERROL PACKARD. One of the younger generation of enter- prising Cass county farmers, Mr. Paekard was born and reared in this county, and with a substantial training in both the praetieal details of his vocation and with school advantages appropriate for his career. he has already gained recognition as one of the prosperous and prominent young men in the rural activities of this eounty.


William Errol Paekard was born on the old D. K. Smith farm in Cass county on the seventeenth of February 1878. He is a son of Frank P. and Marietta (Snyder) Paekard. His father, whose life is sketehed on other pages of this work, is one of the best known citizens of Tipton township. The Packard family was established in this part of Indiana by the grandfather, and Frank P. Packard was born and reared in ยท Miami county, where he was trained to the occupation of farmer, and sinee attaining manhood has passed practically all his eareer on farms in Cass county. He is now a retired resident of Onward. He has also taken an active part in publie affairs of his township and county, and is one of the thoroughly esteemed men of this vieinity.


Mr. W. E. Paekard now farms and owns eighty acres of fine land in Tipton township, and has improved his place and brought it up to the highest standard of agricultural efficiency. He was reared in Cass county, received his edueation in the common schools, and throughout the time that he was a student, he was also acquiring practical experience on the home farm. He is a young man who has given his full attention to his business and has formed no marriage relations.


He began farming for himself in 1896, and in 1905 he bonght the farm he now owns and lives on.


GEORGE W. WEYAND. Suecess, in no uneertain degree, has attended the efforts of George W. Weyand, the untoward circumstances of his early manhood and his laek of worldly advantages notwithstanding. He established himself in the farming business in the vicinity of Royal Center after the elose of the War of the Rebellion, through which he had served valiantly from first to last, and there he continued until 1900, since which time he has been retired from active business life. Born in Boone township, Cass county, Indiana, Jannary 31, 1844, Mr. Weyand, who has ever been a resident of his native town, is the son of Daniel and Eliza (Beckley) Weyand, coneerning whom the following brief data are here incorporated :


Daniel Weyand was a native of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, as was also his wife. They came to Indiana in 1836 and settled quietly in Boone township, where the father of the family secured a farm and set about the business of farming. In that early day Indians infested the country, and he carried on his work at the risk of his life, subjected to the many annoyances of the tribes that were more or less hostile to the white invaders of their territory. Daniel Weyand served as the first postmaster of Royal Center. He was a stanch and true Demoerat and was ever active in the ranks of the party. He served his township as trustee for years, and was long a prominent man in the town and connty. He and his faithful wife became the parents of a family of seven sons, of which number two survive at this time: Enoch, now a


Geo M. Mayan


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resident of the state of Missouri, and the subject. The father died in March, 1896.


George W. Weyand was reared on the home farm and attended the public schools. He was yet a boy in his teens, busy with his books, when the call to arms in '61 put an end to his quiet humdrum life on the farm and in school, and he enlisted on November 23, 1863, in Company F, Twentieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He, with his regiment, became a part of the Army of the Potomac, with Generals Grant, Hancock and Meade in command, and he served until the close of the war. He saw much of active service, and participated in the Battle of the Wilderness, the battle of Cold Harbor, Appomattox and others of equal importance. The war at an end, George Weyand re- turned to Royal Center and there took up the business of farming. He came to be one of the prosperous farmers of the township and when he retired from active farm life in 1900 was known for one of the well- to-do men of the community. He owns today one of the finest homes in Royal Center, with other property in the township, and is a stockholder in the local electric light plant.


Fraternally Mr. Weyand is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he is treasurer of the order and past grand master. He is a Democrat and has always been active in the ranks of the party. As trustee of Boone township for six years, he gave most praiseworthy and valnable service to the township, and he has been a member of the local school board since 1905, and is secretary of the board at present. He and his good wife are earnest members of the Christian church in Royal Center.


In December, 1866, Mr. Weyand was united in marriage with Miss Mina Kramer, who was born and reared in the state of Ohio. She came to Indiana in 1864, when she was abont nineteen years of age, and there met and married her husband. Of the five children born to them, two are now living :- Morris A., a member of the firm of Weyand & Honse, and Addie, the wife of James M. Winn of Harrison township, Cass county, Indiana.


Mr. and Mrs. Weyand occupy a secure place in the regard of the best people of Royal Center and vicinity, and as honorable, upright and earnest people are peculiarly deserving of the position they hold.


JOHN E. SHEETZ, a prominent farmer in Jefferson township, and long a resident of Cass county, was born in Dolphin county, Pennsylvania, on March 6, 1864, and is the son of Josiah and Salome (Lankert) Sheetz.


Josiah Sheetz was the son of William and Barbara (Zimmering) Sheetz, both born and reared in Pennsylvania. The father, William, was orphaned when yet a small boy, and he stayed at home with his widowed mother and helped her in paying for a farm. When he was of age he married and later bought the farm from the heirs of his mother. On that farm William and Barbara Sheetz spent the rest of their lives, and there reared their family. He died in June, 1906. Josiah and Salome Sheetz lived on a farm which their parents gave them when they married. He was one of the eleven children of William and Barbara, and to each of their sons they gave a farm. All their lives were spent in Dolphin county, Pennsylvania, the mother dying there in May, 1885.


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John E. Sheetz came to Indiana in December, 1884, when he was twenty years of age. He came directly to Cass county, and began work at the trade of a carpenter in Cass county, in which he expected to con- tinne, but when he arrived at Logansport he change his mind and turned his attention to farming. For four years he worked on the farm for wages, but he married about then, and his new responsibilities gave him an incentive to greater accomplishments, so that he found himself soon the owner of a forty acre farm. In later years, when his prosperity on the farm made possible another venture, he bought some property at Ford's Crossing and established a store there. He remained in business at that stand for seven years, and during that time was post master and station agent at the place. He sold out after seven years and bought a farm in Jefferson township. He started to build a house on the place, but before it was completed sold the place and bought his present home. Ile has a tract of forty acres at his present location, with other holdings sufficient to make fifty-eight acres in all.


On March 6, 1889, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Sheetz to Jennie Cotner, the daughter of Easten and Mary Jane (Rector) Cotner. Easten Cotner was the son of Elia Cotner, who came to Indiana from North Carolina, and his wife was a daughter of the Logansport family of that name. Mr. and Mrs. Sheetz are members of the Christian church at Crooked Creek, and he is fraternally associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Royal Center, in which he is Past Grand Master, and has passed through all chairs in the order. Both are members of Purity Lodge No. 127 at Logansport. Mr. Sheetz is a Democrat, and has been a member of the advisory board of the party for four years


CHARLES E. TONEY. Here is another of the enterprising and pro- gressive young farmers of Cass county, Indiana, whose rise in the world has been brought about through personal effort and whose career is illustrative of the success to be gained through the application of well- directed industry combined with strict integrity in all business matters. From early boyhood Mr. Toney's life has been filled with persevering effort and landable ambition, and that his labors have borne fruit is testified by his present farm, a well-cultivated tract in Deer Creek town- ship, which, under his skillful management is yearly growing more valuable. Mr. Toney has the added prestige of being a native son of Cass county, having been born on his present farm October 28, 1879, a son of William S. and Mary (Moss) Toney. His father, a native of Union county, Ohio, came with his parents to Cass county when a young man of twenty-two years, and subsequently went into debt for his farm, which was then covered with a heavy growth of timber and was entirely devoid of improvements. Settling down in a little log cabin, he started the clearing of the land from the wilderness, and as the years passed added improvements as his finances would permit until he owned one of the best farms of his locality. He continued to engage in agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of his life, along with work in the ministry and heading a Mutual Insurance Company. He was a well known and highly esteemed citizen of his community. He and his wife became the parents of six children, namely: Frank H. and Elma O .;


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May, who married a Mr. Dutchess; Charles E .; Sylvia, who became the wife of a Mr. Bowman, and Wilbur E.


Charles E. Toney received his education under the preceptorship of John R. Babb, at the Babb school, subsequently attending the Young America High school and an institution at North Manchester, Indiana, where he completed his studies. During this time he had been assisting his father in the work of the home farm and receiving training and practical experience that has aided him greatly in his later life. On at- taining his majority, he began working for wages, which were carefully saved, and eventually, when he was twenty-seven years old, he purchased his present farm of eighty-four acres, in addition to which he rents other land, and now operates in all 314 acres. He has devoted his attention to the cultivation of the soil, raising diversified crops, and has also had a full measure of success in his stock raising activities. He has added materially to the improvements on his land and the general appearance of his property denotes the presence of able management and thrift. Among his neighbors he bears the reputation of being an industrious, hard-working farmer, who is rapidly gaining a place of independence in his chosen calling.


On January 18, 1904, Mr. Toney was married to Miss Maud Pierson, daughter of M. H. and Mary (Jeaness) Pierson, and to this union there have been born children as follows : Clarence O., Geraldine V. and Ernest W Mr. Toney is a member of the German Baptist church.


BENJAMIN F. CROCKETT. The visitor to Cass county, viewing for the first time its well regulated farms, fertile fields of flowing grain, herds of sleek, well fed cattle, modern residences and other buildings, finds it hard to realize that only a comparatively few years ago this section was practi- cally a wilderness, its land largely covered by timber for a large part, and its excellent resources entirely wasted. Yet such is the case, and the present prosperous condition of the county has only been attained through the untiring labor and persistent endeavor of men of energy and perseverance, whose lives have been devoted to the development of the interests of this part of the state. Probably no other family within its limits has contributed in greater degree to the material welfare of Cass county than that of Crockett, members of which have here tilled the soil for years. Among those bearing that name, a worthy representative of the younger generation is found in Benjamin F. Crockett, of Tipton township, who is conducting the eighty acre farm belonging to his father- in-law, Matthew H. Pierson. Mr. Crockett was born August 2, 1878, in Miami county, Indiana, and is a son of Henry and Catherine (Knight) Crockett.


Henry Crockett was born September 13, 1849, in Deer Creek town- ship, Cass county, Indiana, a son of Asher and Susannah (Plank). Crockett. Asher Crockett was a farmer and was born near Greenville, Ohio, whence he migrated to Miami county in 1831, and to Cass county, Indiana, in 1840, and in the latter spent the remainder of his life. Asher Crockett was the father of five children : Henry, Jane, Eliza, Sarah and James.


Henry Crockett received his education in the common schools of Cass county and Miami county, and has spent his entire life in agricultural


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pursuits, now being the owner of eighty acres of land on the Crockett and Richeson road. He is known prominently among his fellow citizens, and is serving in the office of justice of the peace. With his family, he be- longs to the Christian church. He was married Jannary 15, 1876, to Miss Catherine Knight, and to this union there have been born eight children, namely : Carrie, who lives with her parents: Benjamin F., of this review: Harvey, who married Ethel Hymon, and has one child, Opal; David and Laura, residing at home; Mae, who married Daniel Brunner and has three children: Wilmer, Florence and Velma; Chester, who married Hannah Pippinger, and June, who lives with her parents.


Benjamin F. Crockett was reared in Cass county, dividing his time between attendance at the district schools and work on his father's farm until fifteen years old and then worked on other farms until his marriage, and since that time has been carrying on operations on the farm of his father-in-law. He has won success, not only in material manner, but in gaining the confidence and friendship of the people of his community. Mr. Crockett was married in 1904 to Miss Mae Pierson, a daughter of Matthew H. and Mary Jenness Pierson, whose sketch will be found in another part of this work. Two children have been born to this union, namely: Gilbert Pierson and Herbert Landon.


Fraternally Mr. Crockett is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. With his family he attends the Rock Creek Valley Christian church.


CARL S. WISE. The firm of Wiler & Wise was established in Logan- sport in 1878, by Joseph Wiler and Sol. Wise, the fathers of the present members of the firm. The business was organized in 1867 by Jacob Wiler & Joseph Wiler. The style of the firm was changed in 1878 to Wiler & Wise and in 1906 to Wiler & Wise, Ine. The business has been continued uninterrupted by the family to the present time. Of these gentlemen, both now deceased, it may be said that Joseph Wiler came from Germany, his native land, in 1867, and was for a time associated with his brother, Jacob in the dry goods business on Market st. Follow- ing the accidental death of the brother, Joseph Wiler in 1878 associated himself in business with Sol Wise. Sol Wise was not only of German parentage, but was born in Laudau, Germany and came to America 'in 1860. He returned to Germany in 1862, where he was married on Sep- tember 10, 1862, to Miss Caroline Wiler. He came to Logansport from Toledo, Ohio. The firm was known as Wiler & Wise, and it is of interest to know that these names were originally spelled "Weiler" and "Weise," but that the almost invariable failure of Americans to give the words the proper pronunciation resulted in each of them dropping the super- fluous letter "e" from the names, the present form being the result.


Wiler & Wise began business at 213 Fourth Street, and after nearly a quarter of a century of established trade at that point, they moved to No. 409-11 Broadway, and finally to their present location at 412-414 Broadway.


Joseph Wiler was undeniably the foremost merchant of his time in Logansport. He was a man of superior business ability and he radiated hearty good fellowship wherever he was seen, so that to be numbered among his friends was an unqualified pleasure. The present business


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men of Logansport remember him with feelings of the kindliest affection and respect. He died on November 24, 1906. His long time partner Sol Wise, was no less a credit to the community where he so long resided. He was a man more retiring in his relations with the public than was Mr. Wiler, but his indomitable energy, sterling integrity and keen busi- ness sagacity had much to do with making the firm name synonymous with probity and success. He died September 28, 1897.


Following the death of these gentlemen, the firm was incorporated as Wiler & Wise, Inc., the principal stockholders being the sons of the founders. Carl S. Wise is the president, Victor S. Wise is vice president and treasurer, and Carl J. Wiler is secretary. These men are carrying on the business established many years ago by their worthy fathers in a manner that is wholly creditable to them as the sons of such fathers.




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