USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of DeKalb County, Indiana : together with sketches of its cities, villages and towns and biographies of representative citizens : Also a condensed history of Indiana > Part 48
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Henry Hull, farmer and stock-raiser, Concord Township, was born in Knox County, Ohio, March 24, 1834, the eldest son of Hiram and Sarah (Sloan) Hull, natives of Ohio, German of de- scent. He was reared by his grandfather, Henry Hull, living with him from his second till his twenty-sixth year. When he was fifteen years of age his grandfather moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on a farm near Orangeville. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and by close attention to business, and industrious and economical habits has acquired a large property. In 1855 he bought eighty acres of wild land, which he cleared, and to which he has added till he now has a fine farm of 188 acres, all well improved with good buildings. He was married Dec. 29, 1859, to Sarah A. Widney, daughter of Samuel Widney. To them have been born three children- Joseph A., Clarence H., and Delbert L. In his political affilia- tions Mr. Hull is a Democrat.
Henry Jenkins, farmer and stock-raiser, Concord Township, was born in Knox County, Ohio, May 1, 1834, the second son of John and Margaret (Hull) Jenkins. When he was ten years of age his parents moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on a tract of wild land where he was reared, his youth being spent in assisting his father to clear and improve his land. He received a common-school education attending the schools of his district. He remained at home till his marriage, Feb. 1, 1860, to Martha J. Johnson, daughter of Thomas and Lydia (Drag- goo) Johnson, and then bought 106 acres of land which is his present home. He has been successful in his pursuits and now. has a pleasant home. To him and his wife have been born six children, three of whom died in infancy. Those living are- Emma, wife of C. Elson, of Fairfield Township; Frederick A., and Clara B. In politics Mr. Jenkins is a Democrat. Mrs. Jenkins is a member of the Methodist Protestant church.
George Kimes, deceased, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., and died in Concord Township, De Kalb Co., Ind., March 17, 1878. He was a son of Peter and Nancy Kimes, who, when he
Randal Faurot
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was two years old moved to Dauphin County, Pa., where he was reared and married May 17, 1831, to Sarah Boyer, a native of Maryland, daughter of David and Elizabeth (Kramb) Boyer. In 1836 Mr. Kimes moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and in 1848 to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought eighty acres of unim- proved land in Concord Township, which he improved, and in 1861 added eighty acres of heavily timbered land to it. He was an enterprising citizen and a liberal supporter of all interests of benefit to the community. In 1831 he and his wife united with the Lutheran church, but in 1839 becoming dissatisfied with that denomination, united with the Church of God, of which they were ever active and consistent members. To them were born thirteen children, twelve of whom lived till maturity- David, Elizabeth, Josiah H., Jacob C., Catherine A., Daniel M., George, Andrew, William H. Sarah J., Harvey and Amanda L. Mrs. Kimes has reared two grandchildren-Cora Barr and Ellery Kimes. She still lives on the old homestead, and is loved and esteemed by all who know her. In his political affiliations Mr. Kimes was an old line Whig, but after its organization cast his vote with the Republican party.
Joseph Koch, son of Ulrich and Barbara (Repman) Koch, was born in Ashland County, Ohio, in July, 1832. His parents were natives of Germany, his father coming to America when sixteen and his mother when two years of age. Their family consisted of nine children, but three of whom lived till matur- ity. In 1852 Joseph Koch came to De Kalb County, Ind., and began clearing a tract of heavily timbered land which his father had bought some time before. He lived on and improved this farm till after the breaking out of the Rebellion when, Nov. 4, 1864, he enlisted in Company C, Thirty-fifth Indiana Infantry, and served till the close of the war. He participated in many hard fought battles, among others Franklin and Nashville. His health became impaired from exposure and as the result of an accident at Nashville, and he has never recovered from its effects. Since his return from the war he has followed agri- cultural pursuits, and now has one of the finest farms in the township, containing 160 acres, all under cultivation. He was married April 17, 1853, to Mary Ann Jenkins, daughter of John and Margaret (Hull) Jenkins. They are the parents of eleven children - Sarah L., John U., Reuben J., Wilson, Annie, Margaret E., Ida, Lillie, Della, Charley, and Amanda K. Mr.
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Koch is a member of John Carns Post, No. 144, G. A. R. Politically he is a Democrat.
Thomas Krise was born in Center County, Pa., in 1840, the sixth of seven children of Philip and Elizabeth (Smith) Krise. When he was six weeks old his parents moved to Lorain County, Ohio, and in 1854 his father came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought seventy-one acres of unimproved land, and re- turned to Ohio for his family. While making his arrangements to move he was taken sick and died in July, 1854, leaving his widow with five children. The following October the family came to their frontier home, which the sons cleared and im- proved, and where the mother still lives, in the eightieth year of her age. Thomas was in the fifteenth year of his age when he came to De Kalb County. He remained with his mother till after the breaking out of the Rebellion, and, Aug. 7, 1862, enlisted in Company H, Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry, and participated in many hard fought battles, among others being Perryville, and the Atlanta campaign. While on picket duty at McMean's Mill, S. C., he, with William Weeks, a member of the same company, was attacked by two rebels ,who placed revolvers against their breasts and commanded them to sur- render. Mr. Krise wrenched the revolver from him, although after a hand to hand struggle, and captured his opponent. The other rebel was killed. As a reward for his bravery the Gov- ernment gave him the captured revolver, which is among his most prized relics. He was discharged June 27, 1865. After his return home he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked nine years, at the same time having charge of the old homestead. He has been successful in his pursuits, and now owns 160 acres of valuable land under a good state of cultiva- tion. Mr. Krise was married Sept. 30, 1869, to Almira J., daughter of William Clark. To them have been born five children-Gertrude May, William H., Effie J. (deceased), Charles O., and Milton Thomas. Mr. Krise is a member of William Hacker Lodge, No. 326, F. & A. M., and John Carns, Post, No. 144, G. A. R. In politics he is a Republican.
Samuel Lawhead, one of the prominent pioneers of Concord Township, was born in Fayette County, Pa., March 26, 1822, the fifth of eleven children of James and Martha (McClelland) Lawhead, natives of Pennsylvania, of Scotch and Irish parent- age. In 1824 his parents moved to Greene County, Pa., and in
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1835 to Wayne County, Ohio, where they lived four years, re- moving in May, 1839, to De Kalb County, Ind., where his father entered 240 acres of Government land, which he cleared and improved and made his home till his death in 1848, aged sixty years. The mother lived till 1880 and died at the age of eighty-seven years. Eight of their children are living. They were active members of the Presbyterian church. Samuel was seventeen years of age when his parents moved to De Kalb County, and from that time till twenty-four years of age he as- sisted his father in clearing and improving his land. April 6, 1846, he was married to Martha Draggoo, a daughter of Peter and Nancy (Williams) Draggoo. In 1848 he bought eighty acres of unimproved land which he has cleared and cultivated and has now made his home for thirty-two years. He has been an honest, upright citizen, and merits the respect of his fellow · townsmen and has been entrusted by them with several posi- tions of responsibility. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. They have had three children ; but one is living-Nancy E. Mary E. and an infant are deceased. In poli- tics Mr. Lawhead is a Republican.
Jacob D. Leighty, merchant, St. Joe, Ind., was born in West- moreland County, Pa., Oct. 19, 1840, a son of John and Eliza- beth (Sowash) Leighty. He was four years of age when his par- ents moved to De Kalb County in 1844, and here he was reared. When he was sixteen years of age he began teaching school, and subsequently taught and attended school till the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, being at that time in the sophomore class at Wittenburg College, Springfield, Ohio. July 8, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Eleventh Indiana Infantry, and was appointed a Sergeant of his company. His first engagement was in the spring of 1862, at Fort Henry. Subsequently he participated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Raymond, Champion Hills, and others. At the last named battle he was wounded in the left hip and dis- abled from active service for sixty days. He joined his regi- ment at Baton Rouge, and from there went down the Missis- sippi to New Orleans and into West Louisiana as far as Opelou- sas, his regiment being in several engagements on the way. Then he returned to New Orleans, but as he was still suffering from his wound he resigned in March, 1864, and returned home. He was a gallant soldier, and for his bravery was com-
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
missioned Second Lieutenant Jan. 24, 1862, and First Lieutenant Dec. I following. After his return home he engaged in the mercantile business in Spencerville in company with Miller & Myers a short time, and then he and Mr. Miller purchased Mr. Myers' interest and the firm of Miller & Co. continued a year, when his father bought Mr. Miller's interest, changing the firm to John Leighty & Son. In 1872 he bought his father's interest and in 1874 sold his stock to P. Bishop. In 1875 he and his father laid out the village of St. Joe and the following year he became established in the mercantile business at this place. He was appointed Postmaster in 1875 and served till 1880, when he was elected Township Trustee. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Concord Lodge, No. 556; William Hacker Chapter, No. 56; Angola Council, No. 27 ; Apollo Commandery, No. 19. He is a member of John C. Carns Post, No. 144. G. A. R. In March, 1866, Mr. Leighty was mar- . ried to Kate A. Metzger, a native of Circleville, Ohio, daugh- ter of Judge Andrew Metzger, of Fort Wayne. To them have been born three children, but one of whom is living- John R.
John Leighty, one of the prominent and successful early set- tlers of DeKalb County, is a native of Westmoreland County, Pa., born Nov. 18, 1808, a son of John and Catherine (Welker) Leighty, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. When he was fifteen years of age he went to learn the shoemaker's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years. He then worked as a journeyman till his marriage and then settled on a farm in his native county, where he lived till 1844, when in the early part of June he moved to DeKalb County, Ind., and set- tled on section 33, Concord Township, where he built a cabin and began improving a farm. In 1859 he left the farm and moved to the village of Spencerville, where in 1865 he engaged in the mercantile business with his son. In 1875 he and his son moved to section 15, Concord Township, where they bought one hundred acres of land and laid out the town of St. Joe, which is now a thriving village. Mr. Leighty was married April 4, 1833, to Elizabeth Sowash, a native of Westmoreland County, Pa., a daughter of Abraham and Susan (Weaver) Sowash. To them have been born ten children, seven of whom are living-Catherine, Alexander, Jacob D., Maria, William, Charles B. and Mary. Susan, John and Elizabeth are deceased.
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Mr. and Mrs. Leighty are members of the Lutheran church. Politically he is a Democrat.
Stephen Lutz, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Knox County, Ohio, Aug. 11, 1849, a son of John and Elizabeth (Woodruff) Lutz, natives of Ohio, of German descent. · When he was sixteen years old, in the spring of 1866 he came to De- Kalb County with his parents and settled in Concord Town- ship, and lived with them till manhood. He has always given his attention to agricultural pursuits and now owns a good farm of eighty acres, all under cultivation, with good improvements. He was married Feb. 9, 1871, to Catherine Moore, a native of Ohio, daughter of Enoch and Rebecca (Johnston) Moore, who came to DeKalb County when she was a child. They have one child-Samuel J. W. In politics Mr. Lutz is a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Protestant church.
James Malone, farmer and stock-raiser, Concord Township, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, in 1820, a son of Elias and Catharine (Steffey) Malone, natives of Maryland, who moved to Ohio in an early day. He was reared a farmer, remaining with his parents till manhood. He was married Jan. 6, 1842, to Mary Ann Eller, a native of Maryland, daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Grime) Eller, also early settlers of Ohio. After his marriage he lived on the old homestead a short time, and then went to Knox County, Ohio, and rented land till the fall of 1850, when he came to De Kalb County, and bought eighty acres of wild land, which he has cleared of the timber and put under a good state of cultivation. To this he has added till he now owns a good farm of 154 acres of valuable land. He is a self-made man, being in limited circumstances when he came to De Kalb County, but by energy and industry has accumulated a good property. In politics he is a Democrat. To him and his wife have been born eight children, seven of whom are liv- ing-Henry, William, Jacob, Margaret, Sarah J., Harriet, Mary F., and Anna ; the latter is deceased.
Henry Maxwell, farmer and stock-raiser, Concord Township, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, July 31, 1835, the fifth of ten children of John and Polly (Thomas) Maxwell, natives of Ohio, of Irish and English descent. John Maxwell was a millwright by trade, and about 1840 built the first bridge across the St. Joseph River. In the winter of 1841-'2 he moved to De Kalb
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
County, and worked at his trade till 1849 in Newville Town- ship, when he bought the farm now owned by his son Hugh, where he lived till his death. Henry Maxwell remained with his parents till fifteen years of age, and then went to Michigan where he lived twelve years. He enlisted in the war of the Rebellion in Company K, Second Michigan Infantry, and the following June received a wound which disabled him for active duty, and from the effects of which he has never recovered. Since his return from the war he has followed agricultural pur- ·suits, and now owns a fine farm of eighty acres all under culti- vation. He was married in 1859 to Mary Ann Brown, and to them were born two children, Hugh and Rosa J. The former died aged three years. His wife died in 1861, and in 1863 he married Alvira Hull, who died Feb. 17, 1879. Oct. 8, 1879, he married Lura L. Jackson. They have one child-Winiferd Alene. Mr. Maxwell is a member of Newville Lodge, No. 326, F. & A. M., and John C. Carns Post, No. 144, G. A. R. In poli tics he is a Democrat.
J. H. Murray, of the firm Murray Brothers, millers, Spencer- ville, Ind., was born in Seneca County, Ohio, Nov. 7, 1839, the youngest son of James and Nancy (Herrin) Murray. Before he was a year old his father died, and he was reared by a widowed mother. When he was about fifteen years old he accompanied her to Allen County, Ind., where he lived till the fall of 1860, when he came to De Kalb County, and in company with John Zimmerman bought a saw and grist mill, which they conducted till the death of the latter, when he, with his brother Thomas, bought the interest of the heirs, and they have since carried on the business. Mr. Murray was married Jan. 30, 1873, to Maggie Langley, a native of Virginia, daughter of John and Elizabeth Langley. To them have been born two children-Mabel and Winifred. Mr. Murray is a member of Concord Lodge, No. 556, A. F. & A. M. His wife is a member of the Methodist Epis copal church. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party.
Thomas S. Murray, of the firm Murray Brothers, proprietors of the saw and grist mill, Spencerville, Ind., was born in Seneca County, Ohio, Oct. 28, 1837, the third of four children of James C. and Nancy R. (Herrin) Murray, natives of Pennsylvania and early settlers of Ohio, where his father died when he was three years old. In 1854 his mother came with her family to Indiana
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
and settled in Allen County, where in 1857 he began to work at the carpenter's trade, and followed it ten years. In 1865 he came to De Kalb County and settled on a farm in Concord Township, and in 1867 removed to Spencerville, and formed a partnership with his brother in the milling business, which they have since successfully conducted. He was married Dec. 20, 1860, to Pauline Opdyke, a native of Allen County, Ind., daugh- ter of Henry C. and Elinor (Sunderland) Opdyke. They are the parents of four children, three of whom are living-Laura A., wife of John Baltz, of Allen County ; Maud E. and Mary E. Charles L. died at the age of sixteen months. Mr. Murray is a member of Concord Lodge, No. 556, F. & A. M. In poli- tics he is a Democrat. In 1870 he was elected Trustee of his township and served two years.
Thomas Nelson, one of the most successful farmers and stock- raisers of Concord Township, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Aug. 14, 1816, the eldest son of Hugh and Mary (Wilson) Nelson, natives of Harrison County, Ohio, the former a son of John Nelson, who came from Ireland with his parents when ten years old, and settled in Pennsylvania, and when a young man moved to Ohio, and the latter a daughter of Thomas Wilson, a native of New Jersey, also an early settler of Ohio. Our sub- ject was born about the time the Indians left that part of Ohio, and his youth was spent in helping to clear a frontier farm. He was married in August, 1834, when eighteen years of age. He then entered eighty acres of land and built a pole-cabin in the woods, where he commenced housekeeping. He had thirty- five bushels of wheat and borrowed $15 with which he entered forty acres more land. The first winter he taught a subscrip- tion school which furnished them with provisions. After get- ting his land under cultivation, he sold it for $1,200 and bought 200 acres of unimproved land and again began to clear a second and larger farm. He afterward bought eighty-eight acres which he sold a year later for $500 more than he gave for it. He then bought 150 acres near New Philadelphia Landing, which he kept four years and sold for $1,700 advance of the purchase price. He then sold his 200 acres for $5,000, and in 1868 moved to De- Kalb County and bought 150 acres of land for $6,600, seventy acres for $925, forty-six acres for $1,500, and three acres near Newville for $400; now has a landed estate of 269 acres all under cultivation. He has some of the finest stock
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in the county, generally taking the first premium wherever it is exhibited. His family has consisted of ten children-Mary A. died at the age of twenty-two years; Elizabeth J. is the wife of Richard Crumb; John T. died, aged thirteen years; Rachel married Samuel Armstrong, who died, and she is now the widow of William Sechler; Levina is the wife of Job Worford ; Re- becca is the wife of John Deardorf; T. W. married Martha Warner; Lennie is the wife of Chester Hoisington; Hugh died, aged one year, and Sarah aged two years. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson joined the Methodist Episcopal church in their youth, but there being no church of their choice near them they are now members of the United Brethren church. Mrs. Nelson has for several years been afflicted with her eyes, and in 1884 entirely lost her sight. In politics Mr. Nelson was originally a Whig, but now casts his suffrage with the Republican party.
· Samuel N. Olds, one of the prominent business men of Spen- cerville, now retired, is a native of Franklin County, Vt., born June 24, 1818, a son of Elias and Abigail (Alcott) Olds, the former a native of Massachusetts, of Scotch descent, and the latter a native of Vermont. When twenty years old he left his native State and came to Indiana, locating in Fort Wayne, where he engaged in the manufacture of hats and caps, re- maining there till 1866, when he moved to Spencerville and engaged in general merchandising, which he followed success- fully till 1883, when he retired from active business. He is a shrewd business man, a good manager, and by close attention to his business and strict integrity, has been successful, and has surrounded himself with the comforts of life with which to enjoy the remainder of his days in this world. He was mar- ried Oct. 30, 1844, to Caroline Robinson, a native of Vermont, daughter of Paul and Elizabeth Robinson. To them have been born ten children, six of whom are living-Mary E., Mortimer E., Lena, William, Nellie, and Arthur. George H., Charles, Harriet, and Sarah are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Olds are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he casts his suffrage with the Republican party.
John A. Provines, druggist and Postmaster, Spencerville, Ind., was born in Wayne County, Ohio, July 22, 1843, the eld- est son of Alexander Provines. When he was ten years of age, in the spring of 1853, his parents moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Jackson Township, where he was
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
reared and educated, remaining with his parents till after the breaking out of the Rebellion, when, Sept. 5, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Thirtieth Indiana Infantry. The following October the regiment went to Munfordville, Ky., and in Feb- ruary, 1862, to Shiloh, participating in the battle there, pro- ceeded to Corinth, thence to Lavergne, Stone River and Chick- amauga. At the latter place, Sept. 21, 1863, he was captured and taken to Richmond, and from there, Nov. 13, to Danville, where he, with a comrade, L. C. Delano, made his escape the next day. They made their way to West Virginia, where they were recaptured the 25th of the month, having walked 240 miles in ten days. They were taken to Stanton, Va., and kept in a guard-house over night, and then taken to Richmond and confined in a dungeon three nights and two days. On the 29th they were taken to Belle Isle and kept in the guard-house till Christmas. March 10 they were taken to Richmond, and on the 12th were started for Andersonville. On the 21st he and two others cut a hole in the bottom of the car and escaped, but the 22d were captured by five men and thirteen dogs, and the fol- lowing morning were taken to Barnwell Court-House and re- mained one night; then were sent to Augusta, Ga., where they were kept in jail till April 12, thence to Macon, and the 14th landed in Andersonville, where he was confined till Sept. 9; thence to Charleston, where he was kept under fire of our own gunboats three days, and then taken to the Fair Grounds, and about three weeks later to Florence, and confined in the stock- ades till the 8th of December, and then taken to Charleston, and on the 10th was exchanged. He arrived at Annapolis, Md., Dec. 13, where, Dec. 25, he was given a thirty days' furlough, and arrived at home the 30th, weighing ninety pounds. Jan. 25, 1865, he was discharged. He followed farming till Oc- tober, 1872, when he moved to Spencerville, and engaged in the grocery business till the spring of 1873, and then became established in the drug business. In 1874 he erected the only brick building in Spencerville. He has built up a good busi- ness, and has gained the confidence of the residents of the vil- lage by his upright dealing and courteous manners. He has been Postmaster since July 28, 1873. He was married March 28, 1867, to Elizabeth, daughter of William Prosser. They have had five children, four of whom are living-Minnie, Clauda, Ella and Ethel. Their eldest child, Henry, is deceased. Mr.
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Provines is a member of Spencerville Lodge, No. 424, F. & A. M., and John C. Carns Post, No. 144, G. A. R. In politics he is a Republican.
Ira Ricketts, farmer and stock-raiser, Concord Township, is a native of De Kalb County, born May 20, 1838. His father, Jonathan Ricketts, was a native of Kentucky, and when a young man went to Morrow County, Ohio, where he married a Miss Van Treese, who died, leaving five children. In 1835 he married Mary Runnels, and to them were born five children -Jeremiah, Ira, Elza, Zerua, and Jacob I. In August, 1837, he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought 240 acres of wild land, to which he moved his family. Here he passed through all the hardships of pioneer life. He lived to get thirty acres cleared and improved and died in September, 1846, aged forty- two years. His widow still lives in Illinois. Ira Ricketts re- mained with his mother till manhood. The care of the farm and the maintenance of the family fell on him and his elder brother after the death of his father, and although so young they went bravely to work, and by the time they arrived at man's estate had the farm cleared and under cultivation. He was married Feb. 5, 1857, to Lydia Draggoo, daughter of Peter and Nancy (Williams) Draggoo, who came to De Kalb County from Ashland County, Ohio, in 1837. The father died in 1867 and the mother in 1872. After his marriage Mr. Ricketts lived in Elkhart County, Ind., a few months, and then returned to the old homestead, where he lived till the spring of 1872, when he moved to Dallas County, Iowa, and two years later to Macomb County, Ill., where he lived three years. In 1878 he returned to De Kalb County and bought eighty acres of the old homestead where he has since lived. Mr. and Mrs. Ricketts have had three children, but two of whom are living-Charles S. and Nancy. Mary A. died in October, 1881. Politically Mr. Rick- etts is a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the Prot- estant Methodist church.
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