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 53
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George Rufner is a native of Stark County, Ohio, born Feb. 5, 1830, a son of John and Rachel (Smith) Rufner, natives of Penn- sylvania, the former of Berks County, of German descent, and and the latter of Adams County, of German and Irish descent. He remained with his parents till the spring of 1853, when he moved to De Kalb County and settled in Richland Township on land now owned by the Lintz estate. Three years later he sold his farm and bought another tract of wild land in the same township, where he lived nine years, and in the meantime got his land cleared and under good cultivation. He then moved to Smithfield Township, where he lived thirteen years, and in April, 1878, moved to Fairfield Township and bought the farm of 138 acres where he now lives. His land is all under a good state of cultivation, and his improvements are among the best in the county. Mr. Rufner was married Nov. 27, 1851, to Nancy Boyer, daughter of John and Mary (Thomas) Boyer, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. They have had four children, but three of whom are living-Eliza Ann, Mary Ann and Josiah. Jeremiah is deceased. Oct. 16, 1859, Mr. Rufner united with the German Baptist church, and in June,
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1861, he was elected Deacon. June 4, 1874, he was appointed minister in the first degree, and June 8, 1877, minister in the second degree, and has since been pastor of the church at Cedar Lake. His wife and daughters are members of the same or- ganization.
Andrew Schmid, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Stark County, Ohio, born June 12, 1830, a son of Frederick and Tho- rida (Burch) Schmid, natives of Germany. The parents were reared and married in their native country, and, with two chil- dren, came to the United States and settled in Columbiana County, Ohio, removing later to Stark County. Four of their seven children are living. Andrew was reared on a farm, re- maining with his parents till manhood. When seventeen years of age he began to work at the carpenter's trade which he fol- lowed till 1854, when he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought a tract of heavily timbered land which he has cleared and cultivated, and now has eighty acres of valuable land under a good state of cultivation. He was married Aug. 26, 1852, to Susanna Wolf, a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, daughter of William and Catherine Wolf, early settlers of Ohio, from Pennsylvania. To them have been born six children-William X., John W., Henry B., Catherine Ann, Charles (deceased) and Edward J. In politics Mr. Schmid is a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the German Reform church.
Charles Schmipff, farmer and stock-raiser, is one of the promi- nent pioneers of Fairfield Township. He is a native of Ger- many, born Sept. 8, 1822, a son of Michael and Elizabeth (Keller) Schmipff. When he was eleven years of age his par- ents came to the United Sates, and after a short stay in New York City went to Albany, then to Buffalo, and from there to Cleveland, Ohio, and thence to Stark County, locating in Aus- tinburg, where his father bought a tannery. Charles spent his youth in his father's tannery, and when seventeen years of age went to Paris, Ohio, and began to learn the wagon-maker's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years. He then worked at his trade till his marriage in 1846, and then moved to Steuben County, Ind., and the following spring entered forty acres of Government land in Smithfield Township, De Kalb County, on which he lived four years, clearing a part of it. He then sold his farm and bought the one on section 3, Fairfield Township, where he now lives, and a second time began to
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make a farm out of the timber land of De Kalb County. In connection with farming he has worked at his trade, and by his industrious habits and frugality has accumulated a good prop- erty. He was married Jan. 18, 1846, to Eliza Ann Bair, daugh- ter of Daniel Bair, one of the early settlers of Stark County, Ohio. To them have been born thirteen children, eleven of whom are living-Alonzo, Melissa, Catherine, Susan, Amanda, Elizabeth, Mary, Charles, Electa, Daniel H., Cora R. The de- ceased are Eliza and Martin. Mr. and Mrs. Schmipff are mem- bers of the German Reform church. In politics he is a Democrat.
Park Seberts, farmer and stock-raiser, Fairfield Township, was born in Knox County, Ohio, July 4, 1840, a son of Henry and J- (Park) Seberts, his father a native of Germany and his mother of Virginia. In 1846 his parents moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Union Township, where his father died in 1850. His mother survived him twenty years and died in Richland Township in August, 1870. After the death of his father Park found a home with his sister, Mrs. Talbot, of Rich- land Township, and remained with her till after the breaking out of the Rebellion. Aug. 7, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry, and participated in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, and Mission Ridge. He started on the Atlanta campaign, but on account of ill health was sent back to Chattanooga, and was in the hospital till his discharge May 26, 1865. Since his re- turn from the war he has followed agricultural pursuits. He lived in Richland Township till 1868, and then bought the farm in Fairfield Township where he now lives. He owns eighty acres of valuable land, all well improved with large and com- fortable farm buildings. He was married Aug. 14, 1866, to Mary J., daughter of Edward Wright. To them have been born eight children, five of whom are living-Lila A., Edward E., Albert J., Flora O. and Polly. Politically, Mr. Seberts is a Republican.
John Seiler, one of the most prominent farmers and stock- raisers in Fairfield Township, was born in Lebanon County, Pa., Oct. 15, 1815, a son of Mathias and Barbara (Curry) Seiler, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. In 1832 his par- ents moved to Wayne County, Ohio, where his mother died at the age of fifty-three years, and his father aged ninety-three
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years. He was reared on a farm, but his father being a stone- mason he learned the trade in his youth, and upon reaching his majority went into business with his father, continuing four years. He subsequently followed his trade alone till 1864, when he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought the farm of eighty-five acres where he has since lived, in Fairfield Town- ship. His land is all well cultivated and his residence and farm buildings are among the best in the township. He has always been an industrious frugal man, and as a result has a good home and is surrounded by all the comforts of life. He was married Oct. 4, 1838, to Lucetta, daughter of Michael and Catherine (Fisher) Reinoehl, a native of Lebanon County, Pa. They are the parents of five children-Caroline, wife of Samuel Gallatin, of Clark County, Ill .; Cyrus, Treasurer of Elkhart County, Ind .: Michael, Professor of mathematical, physical and polit- ical geography in Indiana State Normal School, Terre Haute, Ind., from which he graduated in 1876; Franklin, a graduate of Eastman College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., is by profession a book- keeper and teacher ; and John Henry, a graduate of the College of Medicine in Michigan University, Ann Arbor, in the class of 1885.
Ephraim Shipe, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., March 31, 1823. His father was born in Lancaster County, Pa., Nov. 5, 1801, and when quite a lad moved with his parents to Westmoreland County, where he was married in May, 1822, to Catharine Deedes. Both were of German descent. In the fall of 1834, when our subject was in his twelfth year, they moved to Holmes County, Ohio. His father was in feeble health, and being in limited circumstances he was obliged to assist in the maintenance of the family, and had no educational advantages. When twenty-one years of age he commenced life for himself, without even a good suit of clothes, his only capital being good health and a determined will. He began to work at the carpenter's trade for $8 a month and worked for the same man four seasons. In the meantime he attended school four and a half months. In the winter time when not otherwise em- ployed he chopped and split rails and cut cord wood. In the fall of 1847 he pursuaded his father to move to Indiana, and to- gether they located in Noble County. Feb. 8, 1848, he went to Ft. Wayne and bought 160 acres of land in Fairfield Township, De Kalb County, for $440, paying $110 in cash, and the rest to
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be paid in three annual installments. He then went to Holmes County to take charge of two contracts he had made before leaving Ohio. The following October, having finished his work and paid his hands and for his tools, he started for Indiana. After making the payment on his land and paying the interest he had $2.50 left. He spent a few days with his parents and then proceeded to De Kalb County, and began to improve his land. Nov. 6, his father died leaving a large family with no means for their support. This burden fell on our subject, who built a cabin, and Dec. 31 moved his mother and nine children into his home. The future indeed was dark, but he was strong and went bravely to work. With the added expenses of his father's sickness and funeral he was unable to pay for his land as soon as he had hoped, but September, 1852, saw this accom- plishment. In the fall of 1850 his mother returned to her native county, and during the summer his eldest sisters had left. Thus he was without a housekeeper. Oct. 6, 1850, he married Sarah, daughter of John Kreighbaum. His mother took her youngest child, leaving five to his care. To Mr. and Mrs. Shipe were born seven children-A son born Dec. 12, 1851, died, aged two weeks; Ellen, born Sept. 14, 1853, died at the age of four weeks; Alma, born Dec. 21, 1854, is the wife of Isaiah Meas; John, born March 16, 1856, married Mary Eck- hart; David, born July 27, 1857 ; Leonard, born Jan. 23, 1859, married Amanda Heaney ; and a son born July 4, 1860, died in infancy. His wife died July 5, 1860. Jan. 24, 1861, he married Elizabeth Krogin, a native of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, born in 1834, a daughter of Daniel and Anna (Charlton) Krogin, the former of German and the latter of Irish descent. The mother died at the age of sixty-six years, and the father is still living in the eighty-ninth year of his age. Mrs. Shipe removed with her brother-in-law, Samuel Teters, to Steuben County in her nine- teenth year, and worked for her own support till her marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Shipe have been born six children-Sarah A., born Dec. 29, 1861, is the wife of Emra Teal; Ida Jane, born Feb. 20, 1863, died aged ten years and four months; Catharine I., born Oct. 16, 1864, wife of John Norman; Frank, born Oct. I, 1865, died in infancy ; Elizabeth, born Oct. 25, 1867, died aged two years and two months; Mary, born Dec. 16, 1871. In his finances Mr. Shipe has overcome all difficulties and has accumulated sufficient property to maintain him in comfort in
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his declining years. In 1869 he built a brick kiln on his farm, and in 1872 built the first brick house in Fairfield Township. In January, 1866, he and his wife united with the Methodist Episcopal church, and have since been faithful to its tenets and earnest workers in the cause of Christianity. In all his business transactions Mr. Shipe has endeavored to be honorable and prompt to fill every obligation, and has thus gained an enviable reputation among all with whom he has had any deal. In poli- tics he has been a life-long Democrat. Although he has never aspired to official honors, he was elected Justice of the Peace in 1860, and served efficiently four years. He was drafted into the service of the Union in 1864, but being in poor health and having a family of small children, he sent a substitute, giving him $825. Mr. Shipe's experience is a lesson to all young men in limited circumstances, as his prosperity is but the result of a life of hard work and economy, undaunted by trials, but with determination overriding all obstacles, and coming off conqueror at last.
Jonathan Shook, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Ohio, born in Jefferson Township, Stark County, Nov. 19, 1835, a son of Jonathan and Mary (Strawser) Shook, natives of Pennsyl- vania, of German descent. When two years of age he was bound to Frederick Strawser for his board and clothes till six- teen years old. He then worked for farmers for wages till twenty-one years old, when he went to Pennsylvania to visit his father, whom he had never seen. His father was a black- smith, and he went to his shop and asked for a night's lodging, not thinking his father would know him. But his father immedi- ately recognized who he was, and they had a pleasant visit of four days. He then returned to Ohio, and the next year began to work at the carpenter's trade, which he followed fourteen years. He was married Aug. 31, 1854, to Rebecca Conrad, a native of Summit County, Ohio, a daughter of Jacob and Re- becca (Fisher) Conrad, natives of Pennyslvania. In 1862 he rented a farm and followed agricultural pursuits till the fall of 1865, when he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on his present farm in Fairfield Township. He owns eighty acres of choice land, and his residence and farm buildings are large and comfortable. To Mr. and Mrs. Shook have been born eight children-Elma (deceased), Harriet, Nelson, David, Emery, Benjamin, Mary and Frank. In politics Mr. Shook is
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a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the Reform church.
George Slayman, deceased, was born in Cumberland County, Pa., May 27, 1824, and died in De Kalb County, Ind., Feb. 2, 1881. He was a son of John and Susannah (Gross) Slayman, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. His mother died when he was an infant, and when he was three years old his father moved to Wayne County, Ohio, where he was reared, and was married Feb. 26, 1847, to Miss Barbara Bales, a native of Wayne County, Ohio, daughter of David and Anna (Mor- gan) Bales, natives of Westmoreland County, Pa., of German descent. The following fall they moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on forty acres of wild land his father had en- tered from the Government. He bought forty acres adjoining this, and at once went to work to clear and improve a farm. He was successful in his agricultural pursuits, and added to his first purchase till he had a landed estate of 455 acres, all under cultivation. In politics he was a Democrat. Although he had no aspiration for official honors, he took an active interest in all public affairs and was ready with both time and means to assist any enterprise of benefit to his town or county. In his death Fairfield Township lost one of her most worthy and esteemed citizens, and his family a kind husband and indulgent and affec- tionate father. To Mr. and Mrs. Slayman were born eight chil- dren, but five of whom are living-Rebecca Ann, Sarah E., Maria J., Mary E. and Arwilda E. Ida Belle and an infant son and daughter are deceased. Mrs. Slayman is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and takes an active part in all the work of the church of her choice. She is a benevolent, kind woman, and is beloved by her neighbors and esteemed by all who know her.
Harrison Smith, one of the most prominent of Fairfield's pioneers, was born in Genesee County, N. Y., Oct. 23, 1824, a son of Enos and Clarissa (Jones) Smith, the former a native of Rhode Island, and the latter of New Hampshire, of English de- scent. His mother died when he was a boy, and his father sub- sequently took his children to Crawford County, Pa., remain- ing there three years, thence to Huron County, Ohio, remain- ing there till 1844, when he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on a tract of wild land. He bought forty acres and at once began to clear and improve it. Our subject was reared a
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farmer and by practicing the lessons taught him in his youth, has been successful, and now owns 107 acres of land, eighty acres under cultivation and the rest timber land. His farm buildings are large and convenient. His father died at his home Oct. 10, 1860, aged eighty-five years, nine months and one day. Mr. Smith was married Aug. 12, 1852, to Elizabeth Rohrer, a native of Holmes County, Ohio, daughter of David and Sarah (Wible) Rohrer, who came from Pennsylvania to Holmes County in an early day, and to De Kalb County in 1847. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had five children, but two of whom are living-David Edward and Walter D. Sarah J., Martha E. and Rebecca Ann are deceased. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church. Politically he is a Democrat.
James Stonebraker, a native of Holmes County, Ohio, born Feb. 2, 1845, is the second son of Daniel and Eliza (Gilmore) Stonebraker. He was but three years old when his mother died, and but four when he lost his father. He was reared by strangers, working for his board and attending school as soon as he was old enough. July 1, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry, and participated in many hard-fought battles, among others Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and Altoona. At the latter he was wounded in the right hand, and was in the hospital nine months, never again being able to join his regiment. He was discharged May 25, 1865, and returned to De Kalb County, where he has since followed ag- ricultural pursuits. In 1875 he settled on a part of his father's old homestead, and now owns 145 acres of choice land. In 1881 his residence was destroyed by fire, but the following sum- mer he built his large two-story residence with all modern im- provements, which is one of the finest in the township. Mr. Stonebraker was married April 7, 1871, to Rebecca A., daugh- ter of George and Barbara (Bales) Slayman. They have a family of three children-Celia R., Minnie S., and Jesse H. In politics Mr. Stonebraker affiliates with the Republican party.
John M. Stonebraker was born in Holmes County, Ohio, Jan. 27, 1842, the eldest of four children of Daniel and Eliza (Gil- more) Stonebraker. His father was a native of Ohio, born June 8, 1817, and lived in his native State till 1850, when he moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Fairfield Town- ship, buying seventy acres of land and subsequently adding eighty acres to it. His wife died in 1853, and the same year
and
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he married again. He died Sept. 24, 1854. After the death of his father John M. found a home in the family of his guardian, J. M. Brumback, with whom he lived most of the time till after the breaking out of the Rebellion. Aug. 27, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and partici- pated in the battles of Shiloh and Stone River. At the latter battle he was wounded in the right leg, and for six months was unable to perform any active duty. Nov. 13, 1863, he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, and was sent to Chicago where he remained till the expiration of his term of enlistment. He was discharged Aug. 27, 1864, and returned to De Kalb County, and worked most of the time in a saw-mill till 1867, when he began farming on the old homestead. He has a fine farm of 100 acres, and his improvements are among the best in the county. He was married March 12, 1867, to Har- riet, daughter of George and Almond (Page) Drowley. They have had six children-Otelia May, George M., Mary Bessie, John G., Louie, and Nellie (deceased). Mrs. Stonebraker is a member of the United Brethren church. Politically he is a Republican.
Henry Stomm, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Baden, Germany, born March 24, 1833, a son of George and Margaret (Holtzworth) Stomm. When he was fifteen years of age he began to learn the weaver's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years. He then worked as a journeyman two years, when he was drafted into the German army, but before he was mustered in he left the country and came with his parents to the United States. They located in Stark County, Ohio, but in the spring of 1854 he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought a tract of land in Fairfield Township, and the following spring sent to Stark County for his parents. His father was born in 1802 and died in 1874. His mother died April 3, 1884, aged eighty-three years. His land was unimproved, but a very little having been cleared of the timber, but he went bravely to work and now has about 160 acres of the best land in the town- ship, all under cultivation. His residence and farm buildings are among the best in the county. He was married Jan. 9 1856, to Maria Getts, daughter of William and Eliza (Hosler) Getts, early settlers of De Kalb County. To them were born ten children, eight of whom are living-Daniel, Eliza E., Moses, William, Mary L., Nore A. and Cora A. (twins), and Clara A.
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Sarah C. and Amanda are deceased. Mrs. Stomm died Oct. 1, 1882, and Jan. 22, 1885, Mr. Stomm married Mrs. Catherine Bickle, a native of Berks County, Pa., born in 1838, daughter of Conrad and Mary A. Schreber, and widow of Henry Bickle. Mr. and Mrs. Stomm are members of the German Reform church. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party.
John T. Urey, deceased, was a native of Coshocton County, Ohio, born June 6, 1828, a son of George and Nancy (Thomp- son) Urey, natives of Jefferson County, Ohio. He was reared on a farm, receiving a good common-school education. He re- mained with his parents till his marriage, and then engaged in farming for himself. In the fall of 1864 he moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on a tract of wild land on section 23, Fairfield Township, which he cleared and improved, making a good farm, on which he lived till his death, Jan. 31, 1879. He was a public spirited, energetic citizen, and was influential in promoting many enterprises of benefit to his township. He was a member of the German Baptist church, and most exem- plary Christian. He was married Dec. 29, 1859, to Elizabeth Hostetter, daughter of Jacob and Esther (Arnold) Hostetter, of German descent, who moved from Somerset County, Pa., to Coshocton County, Ohio, when Mrs. Urey was fifteen years of age, and thence to St. Joseph County, Ind., where the father died and the mother still lives. To Mr. and Mrs. Urey were born six children-George, John H., Samuel C., Nancy E., Rebecca E., and Etta May. The first three are school-teachers in this county. Mrs. Urey is a member of the German Baptist church.
Samuel Watts, farmer and stock-raiser, Fairfield Township, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., March 30, 1821, a son of George and Rachel (Zimmerman) Watts, natives of Pennsyl- vania. His grandfather, Thomas Watts, was a native of Ire- land and came to the United States prior to the war of the Revolution. His maternal grandparents were natives of Ger- many. When he was twelve years of age his parents moved to Holmes County, Ohio, where he lived with them till eighteen years of age, working in the meantime to assist in the maintenance of the family. In 1849 he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought a wild tract of land in Fairfield Township. Returning to Ohio he worked at the carpenter's trade till he had paid for his land, and in 1859 came again to De Kalb County and began
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to clear and improve his frontier farm. He has by industry and economy been successful and now has 200 acres of valuable land under a good state of cultivation. He was married June 16, 1853, to Barbara Gardner, daughter of John and Barbara (Camp) Gardner. To them have been born four children, two of whom are living-Josiah and William H. John and Sarah are deceased. In politics Mr. Watts is a Democrat. He is one of the most enterprising and public-spirited men of the town- ship, and is esteemed by all who know him.
Adam Weirich, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Lebanon County, Pa., born July 16, 1827, the youngest son of John and Elizabeth (Rupe) Weirich. When he was four years of age his parents moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and there he grew to manhood, living with his parents till his maturity. He then learned the blacksmith's trade, serving an apprenticeship of two years. He worked as a journeyman two years and engaged in business for himself two years in Stark County and then re- turned to Wayne County and followed his trade till 1858, when he moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on a tract of second-handed land he had previously bought. This he has cleared and improved and to his original purchase of ninety acres has added thirty-five acres, having now a fine farm of 125 acres. He has also worked at his trade in connection with farming and has been very successful, having acquired a com- petency for his old age. He was married Oct. 8, 1852, to Mar- tha Sidle, a native of York County, Pa., daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Wise) Sidle. They have had seven children- Martha E., wife of W. H. Gardner; Adam S., Jacob M., Sarah J., Samuel M., James W. and Catherine E. Mr. and Mrs. Weirich are members of the Lutheran church. Politically he is a Democrat.
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