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 51
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A. H. Deitz, farmer and stock-raiser, Fairfield Township, is a native of Holmes County, Ohio, born Feb. 27, 1829. His father, Henry E. Deitz, was a native of Pennsylvania. His first wife, the mother of our subject, Elizabeth Coverlase, died, leaving six children, five of whom are living. He afterward married Barbara Weaver, and to them were born five children. After her death he married Mary Ann McCasland, by whom he had five children, four of whom are living. Henry Deitz ac- companied his parents to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, when a child, and was there reared and married, remaining there and in Holmes County till the fall of 1853, when he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on sections 10 and 15, Fairfield Township, where he died in May, 1870. He was a successful farmer and accumulated a good property. He was a member of the German Reformed church, and in politics a Democrat. A. H. Deitz was reared a farmer, residing with his father till manhood. In 1851 he moved to Allen County, Ohio, and in
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the spring of 1854 to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought the farm where he now lives. The land was mostly uncultivated when he settled on it, but he has cleared it of timber and im- proved it, and now has one of the finest farms in the township. In 1870 he built a large barn, which is the finest in the town- ship, and in 1879 built his fine brick residence, with all modern improvements. He was married Sept. 5, 1850, to Maria Long, a native of Ohio, daughter of John and Esther Long. To them have been born nine children, eight of whom are living- Elizabeth, Sarah, Sophia, Louise, William, Susan, Oliver P., and Elmer. Edward is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Deitz are members of the German Reformed church. Politically he is a Democrat.
Moses Deitz, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Holmes County, Ohio, born Aug. 28, 1835, the fourth son of Henry E. Deitz. He was reared on a farm in his native county, and in the spring of 1853 came with his father to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Fairfield Township. He assisted his father in clearing and improving his farm, remaining with him till his marriage, March 2, 1862, to Miss Elizabeth Boyer, a daughter of Michael Boyer, one of the early settlers of the county. After his marriage he bought eighty acres of land on section 3, Fair- field Township, where he lived till 1875, when he sold his farm and bought a part of his father's old homestead. He owns fifty acres of choice land, under a fine state of cultivation, and his residence and farm buildings are comfortable and commo- dious. To him and his wife have been born two children; both died in infancy. They are members of the German Reformed church. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party.
Sebastian Eckart, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Fairfield Township, is a native of Germany, born Nov. 9, 1822, a son of Peter and Eve Eckart. His father died in March, 1830, and the following May his mother with her six children came to the United States and settled in Franklin County, Pa., where he was reared. In 1845 he emigrated to Wayne County, Ohio, and in March, 1855, to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought the land which is now his valuable farm. At that time there were but fifteen acres partially cleared, but now he has 120 acres all under a fine state of cultivation. He was a poor man when he came to De Kalb County, and his present prosperous condition is due to his energy and industry, coupled with good
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management and frugality. Mr. Eckart was married Dec. 14, 1848, to Susan Cox, a native of Wayne County, Ohio, daughter of Jacob and Jane (Denman) Cox. They have had a family of twelve children, but three of whom are living-Jacob H., Will- iam O., and Spencer F. Elizabeth, Francis A., Margaret D., Amiel C., Alice C., Florence E., Luther S. L., Kate, and Eva Bell are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Eckart are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church. In politics he is a Democrat.
George Emerick, one of the successful pioneers of Fairfield Township, was born in Somerset County, Pa., May 3, 1818, the seventh of nine children of John and Mary (Troutman) Eme- rick, and grandson of Andrew Emerick (who was a soldier un- der General Washington) and Peter Troutman, natives of Ger- many, who came to the United States prior to the war of the Revolution. When our subject was four years old his parents moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and there he grew to man- hood, residing with his parents till his majority. He then fol- lowed agricultural pursuits for himself till 1851, when he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought 280 acres of heavily tim- bered land. Here he and his wife commenced to make a home for themselves, and though obliged to endure all the privations and inconveniences of pioneer life, they were uncomplaining, having the assurance that the future was one of prosperity. They now have a landed estate of 400 acres and one of the pleasantest homes in the county. Mr. Emerick was married May 4, 1839, to Sarah Guthrie, a native of Richland County, Ohio, daughter of Richard and Mary (Vanscoy) Guth- rie, natives of Pennsylvania, of Irish and German descent. To them have been born six children, five of whom are living- Mary J., wife of Solomon Boyer; George W., Peter Alexan- der, Lucinda Catherine, wife of Benjamin Wilhoit, and Andrew Jackson. Francis M. died, aged five years. In politics Mr. Emerick is a Democrat.
George Frederick, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Ohio, born in Stark County, April 1, 1831, a son of John and Char- lotta (Aultman) Frederick, natives of Pennsylvania, of German and English descent. He was reared on a farm, residing with his parents till his majority. In 1852 he bought a farm adjoin- ing the old homestead, where he lived till 1864, when he sold his farm and came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought forty- four acres of land in Fairfield Township, and eighty acres in 36
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Salem Township, Steuben County. But very little of his land had been improved, the most of it being heavily timbered. He has been a hard working man, and has cleared and cultivated his land till he now has a fine farm with a good residence and farm buildings. In addition to farming he has been engaged in the marble business, which has been a successful enterprise. He was married Oct. 12, 1851, to Ann Maria Frybarger, daughter of John and Hannah (Zerbe) Frybarger, the former a native of Pennsylvania of German descent, and the latter of Vermont of - English descent. To them have been born fourteen children- Charlotta, David (deceased), John C., Franklin S., Henry, James R., Rachel, Della, Joseph W. R., Lydia M., Mary Belle, William A., George T., and Amos A. In politics Mr. Frederick is a Re- publican. His wife is a member of the German Reform and he of the Evangelical church.
Henry Freed, farmer and stock-raiser, Fairfield Township, was born in Stark County, Ohio, June 28, 1842. His father, Peter Freed, was born in Shenandoah County, Pa., and was a son of John Freed, a native of York County, Pa., of German descent. When Peter was nine years of age he accompanied his parents to Columbiana County, Ohio, where he was reared, and in 1819 married Hannah Miller, a native of that county, daughter of Anthony and Susan Miller. After their marriage they settled in Stark County, where eleven children were born, of whom our subject is the youngest, six of whom are living. His wife died in 1861, and in 1864 he came to De Kalb County, and has since made his home with his son Henry. Henry Freed was reared and educated in his native county, and was there married Aug. 2, 1863, to Barbara Haynes, a native of Stark County, daughter of Jonathan and Mary (Heinum) Haynes. The following fall he moved to De Kalb County and settled on the farm where he now lives, which contains seventy-eight acres of improved land. He and his wife have had a family of nine children, eight of whom are living-Peter L., Jonathan, Samuel, Alvin, Mary, William H., Martha, and Emma E. One died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Freed are members of the Mennonite church. In politics he is a Republican. His father was originally a Whig, but has voted with the Republican party since its organization.
John Freed, one of the prosperous farmers of Fairfield Town- ship, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, Aug. 12, 1825, a
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son of Peter and Hannah (Miller) Freed. When he was four years of age his parents moved to Stark County, Ohio, where he was reared and educated, attending the district schools. He remained with his parents till nearly twenty-four years of age, and Jan. 21, 1849, married Analiza Huet, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Huet. In 1852 he moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought a tract of unimproved land in Fairfield Township, which he has improved and is now a fine farm. He owns 120 acres all under cultivation, except thirty acres of woods, and his improvements are among the best in the county. Mr. Freed has been a hard-working man, and has earned his property by industry and frugality. He is a public spirited, benevolent citizen, and assists with both time and money every laudable enterprise. In politics he was originally a Whig, but now casts his suffrage with the Republican party. He is, as was also his wife, a member of the German Reform church. To them were born nine children, seven of whom are living-Lucinda, wife of Peter Gonser, of this township; Elizabeth, wife of Byron Mc- Endarfer; Lydia Ann, wife of Joseph Huet, of Smithfield Township; Alice, wife of Oliver Stoter, of Smithfield Town- ship; John A., Mary Ada, and William B. Peter and Joseph are deceased. Mrs. Freed died May 27, 1885, aged fifty-five years, seven months and thirteen days.
Henry Gardner, farmer and stock-raiser, Fairfield Township, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., Feb. 14, 1830, the youngest son of John and Barbara (Camp) Gardner, and was an infant when his parents moved to Holmes County, Ohio, where he was reared and educated, remaining there till 1859, when he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on a tract of land he had bought in 1850. He built a cabin for his family, and began to clear and improve his land. He now has a valu- able farm of 160 acres, and thirty-eight acres a short distance north of his homestead. Mr. Gardner has been an energetic, frugal citizen, and one of the most public spirited and influen- tial men of his township. He was married April 27, 1855, to Eliza Swihart, a native of Holmes County, Ohio, daughter of George and Catherine (Snider) Swihart. They had a family of five children-Sarah A., John Q., George W., William H., and one that died in infancy. Mrs. Gardner died April 10, 1864. Oct. 5, 1866, Mr. Gardner married Mrs. Sarah Ann (Miller) Dunn, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Ash) Miller. To
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them have been born five children-David S., Clarence E., Harvey E., Cyrus A., and Irvin H. In politics Mr. Gardner is a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church.
John Gardner, one of the most successful farmers of Fairfield Township, is a native of Westmoreland County, Pa., born Jan. 25, 1824, a son of John and Barbara (Camp) Gardner, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. In 1830 his parents moved to Holmes County, Ohio, where he was reared on a farm, re- ceiving his education in the district schools. Soon after reach- ing his majority he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and re- mained two years, entering a tract of land in Fairfield Town- ship. He returned to Ohio and remained till June 15, 1854, when he was married to Catherine Deitz, a native of Holmes County, Ohio, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Noll) Deitz. Im- mediately after his marriage he moved to his frontier home, and together they went to work to improve their land and make a farm, and how well they succeeded is proved by a visit to their beautiful home, where they have 160 acres of choice land all under cultivation and a pleasant residence and good farm buildings. They have a family of five children-Joseph D., Lydia A., Sarah, William A., and John H. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party.
David Goodrich, son of Philander and Salmeda (Jewett) Good- rich, was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., Jan. 31, 1838. He re- mained with his father till his death, and then worked by the month till after the breaking out of the war, and Aug. 8, 1862, enlisted in Company A, Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry. He participated in the battles of Perryville and Stone River, and was then placed on detached duty till the close of the war. He was discharged June 26, 1865, and returned to De Kalb County, and in 1866 bought his present farm, to which he has added till now he owns ninety-four acres of land all under cultivation. He was married Jan. 10, 1867, to Mary A. Phelps, daughter of Chauncey and Mary (Chadwick) Phelps. They have had a family of six children, but five of whom are living-Orrin G., Albert B., Laura B., Derward G., and Edna May. A son died in infancy. Mrs. Goodrich is a member of the Disciples church. In politics Mr. Goodrich is a Republican.
Philander Goodrich, deceased, was born in the State of New
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York in 1809, a son of Zebulon and - Goodrich, his father of Puritan and his mother of German descent. He was reared on a farm, remaining with his parents till manhood. He was married about 1836 to Salmeda Jewett, a native of Connecticut. In the fall of IS40 they moved to Lagrange County, Ind., where his wife died in 1841. Mr. Goodrich afterward moved to Steuben County, and in 1846 to De Kalb County and settled in Smithfield Township, but in less than a year moved to Fair- field Township and bought a tract of unimproved land, which he began to improve, and on which he lived till his death in 1856. His family consisted of three children, two sons and a daughter-David, William A. and Harriet. The latter is de- ceased.
Jonathan A. Gushwa, a representative of one of the pioneer families of De Kalb County, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, Jan. 15, 1835, and was ten years of age when his parents moved to this county. His youth was spent in assisting his father clear and improve a frontier farm, and six months before his majority, his father gave him his time and he then worked for wages till the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion. Au- gust 10, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and served thirty-seven months. The first half of his service he was detailed teamster. He contracted the erysip- elas in his leg while in the army, and has never fully recovered from its effects. After his return from the war he settled on the old homestead and took charge of the farm for his father till his marriage, Jan. 4, 1866, to Harriet Williams, daughter of David and Mary Williams. He then settled on a farm of his father's in this township, where he lived sixteen years, and then bought forty acres of land, but three months later sold it and rented a farm of his brother a year. Nov. 1, 1883, he moved to the farm where he now lives, where he owns eighty acres of choice land, with a pleasant residence and good farm buildings. His wife died Jan. 18, 1883, leaving two sons-Charles and Ed- ward. Oct. 4, 1883, he was married to Mrs. Margaret Jane Swinhart, a sister of his first wife. Mr. Gushwa has been a prominent man in his township, and held several offices of trust and responsibility; among others those of Supervisor, Con- stable, Road Supervisor; and in the fall of 1884 was elected Justice of the Peace. In politics he is a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the Albright church.
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Philip Gushwa, deceased, was one of the prominent pioneers of Fairfield Township. He was born in Somerset County, Pa., Sept. 7, 1802, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Phillips) Gushwa, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. His parents were in limited circumstances and he was early obliged to assist his father in the maintenance of the family. When he was four years of age his parents moved to Westmoreland County, Pa., and when he was twenty-two, in 1823, to Holmes County, Ohio. He was married Nov. 20, 1825, to Mary A. Mahr, a native of Pennsylvania, born July 8, 1806, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Mahr, of German descent. Mr. Gushwa
bought eighty acres of wild land in Ohio, which he cleared and improved, and then sold it and bought 160 acres. This he cleared and improved, and subsequently met with reverses in his business, and in 1845 came to De Kalb County, and the third time settled in the woods. He bought 200 acres of land at $2.50 an acre, which he went to work to improve. At his death he had 226 acres of land all well cultivated. He died Dec. 16, 1884. His widow is still living, in the seventy-ninth year of her age. They had a happy married life of nearly sixty years, and by their hospitality and kindness won many friends. To them were born eleven children, all of whom grew to maturity and ten of whom are living-Jacob, Elizabeth, Hannah, John, Su- san, Jonathan, William (deceased), Mary Ann, Philip, Jr., Sarah and Benjamin. In politics Mr. Gushwa was a Democrat. Mrs. Gushwa is a member of the Lutheran church.
Philip Gushwa, Jr., the fifth son and ninth child of Philip and Mary A. (Mahr) Gushwa, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, March 5, 1841, and was four years of age when his par- ents moved to De Kalb County. Here he was reared and edu- cated, remaining with his parents till the breaking out of the Rebellion. Nov. 20, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Twenty- ninth Indiana Infantry, and participated in many hard-fought battles, the more important being Chickamauga where he was wounded in the right thigh, the ball passing out of his leg. This disabled him from service for three months. He served till the expiration of his term and was discharged Nov. 20, 1865. After his return home he worked on his father's farm where he has since lived with the exception of three years, when he lived on land of his own in the same township. He was married Sept. 7, 1867, to Sarah Williams, a native of Holmes
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County, Ohio, daughter of David and Mary Williams, who came to De Kalb County in 1864. To Mr. and Mrs. Gushwa have been born three children-James F., Alva W., and Nellie M. In politics Mr. Gushwa affiliates with the Republican party. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episco- pal church.
Daniel Haller, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Germany, born March 14, 1824, the fourth son of Jacob Haller. He was three years of age when his parents came to the United States, and eleven when they moved to Wayne County, Ohio. He was reared and educated in Wayne County, and in 1845 accom- panied his parents to Noble County, Ind., and settled on the line of De Kalb County. In 1857 he moved a mile north into De Kalb County where he lived till April, 1878, when he bought the farm where he now lives, which contains eighty-nine acres of improved land. Mr. Haller was married in 1849 to Eliza- beth Bolenbaugh, a native of Seneca County, Ohio, but a resi- dent of Indiana at the time of her marriage. They are the parents of ten children, but four of whom are living-William B., John W., Annie E. and Minnie M. Nancy A., Mary M., Hiram A., James N., Henry H. and Susan V. are deceased. Mr. Haller, in politics, affiliates with the Republican party.
John F. Haller, farmer and stock-raiser, Fairfield Township, is a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, born July 16, 1821, a son of Jacob and Catherine (Weller) Haller. His father served eight years in the French army under Napoleon Bonaparte, and two years in the German army. In 1827 he came to the United States, landing in New York, and settled in Lancaster County, Pa., where he lived till 1835, then moved to Wayne County, Ohio, where our subject grew to manhood. In 1845 he moved to Noble County, Ind., where he died in 1853, aged seventy-two years. His wife died in 1864, aged sixty-five years. John F. Haller remained in Wayne County till 1851, and then come to De Kalb County and settled on the farm where he now lives, which contains 135 acres of valuable land. He also owns a farm of 130 acres in Noble County. He was in limited cir- cumstances when he commenced life for himself, but by indus- try and good management he has accumulated a competency for his declining years. He was married April 30, 1846, to Joanna Childs, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Cochran) Childs, the former a native of England, and the latter of Mary
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land, of Irish parentage. Mr. Childs died in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1850, aged seventy-five years, and his wife in 1876, aged ninety-two years. To Mr. and and Mrs. Haller have been born nine children, six of whom are living-Catherine E., Jacob, Sarah Ann, Nannie E., Samuel M. and Wilber L. The de- ceased are James, John T. and James H. Mr. Haller has al- ways taken an active interest in the welfare of his adopted county and has assisted materially in its growth and develop- ment. In politics he is a Republican, and a ready supporter of all the issues of his party. Mrs. Haller is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Leonard Hartman, one of the most successful of the pioneers of Fairfield Township, is a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Ger- many, born Sept 27, 1819, a son of Leonard Hartman. When he was about six years of age his parents moved to the United States and settled in Franklin County, Pa., thence to Wayne County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, remaining there till 1845, when he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought 160 acres of wild land in Fairfield Township, which is a part of his present farm. He had but $24 when he reached this county and was obliged to buy his land on time. He cleared and im- proved his land, paid for it, and has added to it till he now owns 450 acres, the greater part under cultivation. His suc- cess is due to his energy and industrious and economical habits, aided by a most estimable wife. He has assisted materi- ally in the growth and development of the township, and gives liberally of his means for the furtherance of every laudable en- terprise. Mr. Hartman was married June 24, 1841, to Mary Martz, a native of Germany, who came to the United States with her parents when seventeen years of age. They have had twelve children, ten of whom are living-Cassie, John, Susan, Sophia, Adam, Lydia, Joseph, Levi, Emma and Martha. The deceased are Solomon and Libbie. Mrs. Hartman is a member of the Lutheran church. In politics he is a Democrat.
Hon. Jacob Helwig, deceased, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, Sept. 10, 1804, a son of George Helwig. He, in his youth, learned the cabinet-maker's trade of his father, and worked at it several years in Ohio. He was a resident of Tus- carawas and Carroll counties, several years each, and was a prominent man wherever he lived, holding several offices of trust. In 1841 he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in
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Troy Township. He was elected twice to the Legislature from this district, and also served two terms as County Commissioner and one as Treasurer. He was a member of the Lutheran church in early life, but after coming to De Kalb County united with the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he was a strong Democrat. He was married to Jemima Jenkins, and to them were born five children-George, Elizabeth, Peter, Isaac, and John B. The latter was for eight years President of Wit- tenburg College, Springfield, Ohio, and is now pastor of the Lutheran church at Akron, Ohio. His wife died and he after- ward married Sarah Gossage. They had a family of five chil- dren-Barbara A., Kezia, Mary, Rebecca, and Christina. Mr. Helwig died Dec. 10, 1869.
Alonzo Hemstreet, deceased, was born in Ohio, Feb. 6, 1840, a son of Jeremiah and Mariam (Smith) Hemstreet. When he was a child his parents moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Smithfield Township, where he was reared and edu- cated, attending the district schools. He remained with his parents till his marriage, and then bought the farm in Fairfield Township where his family now live, and where he died Feb. 22, 1870. The farm contains eighty acres of valuable land, but when Mr. Hemstreet settled on it was some improved and neavily timbered. He was an energetic, frugal man, and with the assistance of a most estimable wife, cleared and improved his land, and at his death left one of the best farms in the town- ship. He was married Dec. 5, 1865, to Julia Zwilling, a native of New York, daughter of Henry and Julia (Howald) Zwilling, who came from Germany and settled near Utica, N. Y., and subsequently moved to Holmes County, Ohio, and in 1848 to De Kalb County, and settled in Fairfield Township, and re- moved to Smithfield where the father died. The mother is now living in Marshall County, Iowa, in the seventy-fourth year of her age. To Mr. and Mrs. Hemstreet was born one son-Clark A., who lives on the old homestead with his mother. Mr. Hemstreet in his political views was a Democrat.
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