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 54
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Jacob Weirich is a native of Lancaster County, Pa., born May 8, 1823, the eighth of twelve children of John and Elizabeth (Rupe) Weirich, natives of Pennsylvania, of German parent- age. . When he was four years of age his parents moved to Wayne County, and he lived with them on a farm till sixteen years of age. He then began to learn the shoemaker's trade, serving an apprenticeship of two and a half years. After work- ing some time as a journeyman he engaged in business for him- self, and in 1850 came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought forty acres of wild land on section 16, Fairfield Township. To
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this he afterward added ten acres, and after getting it partially improved sold it and bought the 120 acres which is now his fine farm, which he has brought from a wild-timbered state to one of advanced cultivation. He was married April 11, 1844, to Caroline Reinoehl, a native of Lebanon County, Pa., daughter of John and Catherine (Johnson) Reinoehl, early settlers of Wayne County. They have had a family of seven children, four of whom are living-Joseph, Jesse, John and Alice, wife of Samuel Smith. In politics Mr. Weirich is a Democrat.
Martin Wetzel, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Ger- many, born May 4, 1834, a son of Andrew and Caterlye (Smith) Wetzel. When he was twenty years of age, in 1854, he came to the United States, landing in New York Nov. 26, and from there proceeded to Ohio, finally locating in Erie County, where he worked three years by the month. He was married Nov. 22, 1857, to Elizabeth Hahn, a daughter of John and Barbara ( Men- dell) Hahn, who came to America from Germany in July, 1857. After his marriage he rented land in Erie County till the fall of 1863, and Nov. I came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought forty acres of land in Fairfield Township, twenty of which were partially improved. To this he has added forty acres, and now has a fine farm of eighty acres, with a pleasant resi- dence and good farm buildings. Sept. 27, 1864, he enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry and served till June 26, i865. While he was in the army, Feb. 22, 1865, his wife died, leaving four children, three of whom are living-Kate, Lucy and John. Margaret died Oct. 8, 1865, aged eight months. Sept. 18, 1865, Mr. Wetzel married Elizabeth Hommerhouse, widow of John Hommerhouse, and sister of his first wife. She died April 15, 1873, leaving six children-Augustus, John, Margaret, Christo- pher, Martha and Lydia, the first two being children by her first marriage. March 15, 1883, Mr. Wetzel married Mrs. Eliz- abeth Booran, daughter of Michael Treesh. She was first mar- ried to Frederick Rhom, who left three children. She then married William Booran, by whom she has one child-Francis Martin. Mr. and Mrs. Wetzel are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church. Politically he is a Democrat.
Samuel F. White, farmer and stock-raiser, is one of the most prominent and influential citizens of Fairfield Township. He was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, Jan. 7, 1808, a son of James and Jane ( Mitchell) White, natives of Ireland, where they
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were married and subsequently came to the United States, and settled first in Pennsylvania, moving to Hamilton County sev- eral years later, and when Samuel was a child, to Covington, Ky., where his father died in 1814. His mother afterward re- turned to Hamilton County, and about 1824 moved to Guern- sey County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. He was mar- ried Dec. 10, 1833 ,to Hannah Salt, daughter of Hugh and Eliz- abeth (Hively) Salt. They settled in Morrow County, Ohio, where they lived till September, 1853, and then moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought 132 acres of land, but a small part of which had been cleared of timber. Of this land he has made a fine farm, and is now one of the most prosperous citi- zens of the township. To Mr. and Mrs. White have been born eight children, but three of whom are living-James M., John O., and Albert M. The two eldest, James and John, were soldiers in the war of the Rebellion. In politics Mr. White was originally a Whig, but since its organization has affiliated with the Republican party. He and his wife are members of the Evangelical church.
William P. Wiley, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Jun- iata County, Pa., May 22, 1811, a son of Samuel and Nancy (Porter) Wiley. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, of Scotch descent, a son of Samuel Wiley, a soldier in the war of the Revolution. In 1812 his parents moved to Ohio and settled in Miami County where he grew to manhood. When sixteen years of age he began to work at the blacksmith's trade, and served an apprenticeship of four years. He then worked as a journeyman eight years. In 1839 he moved to Pickaway, Ohio, and engaged in business for himself four years; thence to John- son's Mills, and two years later to Lockport. In 1848 he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on the farm where he now lives in Fairfield Township. He bought 333 acres of wild land which he has cleared and improved, and now has one of the finest farms in the township. He was married Sept. 18, 1834, to Mary J. Winans, a native of Miami County, Ohio, daughter of Anthony and Hannah (Freeman) Winans. They have had a family of eight children, five of whom are living-Hannah, Catherine, Mary, Harriet and David. The deceased are Nancy E., Sarah Maria and Collista. Mr. and Mrs. Wiley are mem- bers of the Disciples church. He cast his first vote for Presi- dent Jackson, and has since affiliated with the Democratic party.
Lenard Hartman
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William H. Wilsey, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Greene County, N. Y., July 10, 1821, a son of Isaac and Jane (Carpenter) Wilsey, the former a native of New York, of Hol- land descent, and the latter of Puritan ancestry. When he was a child his parents moved to New Jersey, and in 1839 to Tomp- kins County, N. Y., where he lived till 1845, when he came to Indiana and entered forty acres of Government land in De Kalb County. He built a small cabin into which he moved his family, and began to make a home out of a tract of timber land. He cleared and cultivated his land, and by industry and good management has been successful, and has added to his land till he now owns 120 acres all well improved. He has erected good buildings on his farm, and has one of the pleasantest and most convenient homes in the township. He was married Jan. 25, 1843, to Ursula Jane Haskins, a native of Rutland County, Vt., daughter of Aris and Sarah (Warner) Haskins. They have had a family of eight children, but four of whom are living- Mary Jane, wife of George W. Anstett; Elizabeth Ann, wife of Walter W. Crise; John W. and Henry E. Sarah M., Sarah H., Charles L., and Frank E. are deceased. In politics Mr. Wilsey is a Democrat. He has served his township two terms as Trustee. Mrs. Wilsey is a member of the Evangelical church.
Jacob Wiltrout, deceased, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1806. When a young man he emigrated to Summit County, Ohio, and was there married to Sarah Kendall, a native of Penn- sylvania. In 1852 they moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Richland Township, where the mother died in 1857, aged forty-two years. In 1863 he moved to Fairfield Town- ship and settled on the farm now owned by his sons, where he died in March, 1875. His family consisted of four children, three sons and a daughter. The daughter, Alice, died before the mother, aged two years. One son, William R., was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, and died at Washington from the effects of his exposure and hardships, aged twenty years. The remaining sons are Benjamin S., born in 1839, and Franklin W., born Dec. 22, 1849. The latter was about three years old when his parents moved to De Kalb County. Here he was reared and educated, and since attaining manhood has given his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits. He now owns a part of the old homestead, his farm containing 110 acres of valuable land. He
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was married Oct. 9, 1878, to Maria Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Beuchat. To them have been born four children, but three of whom are living-Mary M., Essie May and Amos H. William F. died aged three months and twelve days. In pol- itics Mr. Wiltront is a Republican.
Edward Wright, retired farmer, is a native of New York, born Jan. 30, 1810, a son of Jephtha and Betsey (Gordon) Wright, natives of New Hampshire, of Scotch and English descent. He was married April 26, 1832, to Polly Barry, daughter of John and Eve (Failing) Barry. Her grandfather and his sister were captured by the French during the French and Indian war and taken to Canada. The sister was soon after released, but he was held and exchanged as a prisoner of war. Mrs. Wright died Feb. 14, 1885, after sharing the hardships and privations and the comforts and pleasures of married life with her hus- band nearly fifty-three years. Their family consisted of six children, four of whom are living-Louisa, wife of Moses Gon- ser; Elizabeth, wite of Jacob Ringer; George J., of Osborn, Kas., and Mary J., wife of Park Sebert. Hiram and Celestia died in childhood. George J. was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, enlisting in the Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry. In December, 1863, on account of ill health, he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, where he served till his discharge, July 17, 1865. In 1837 Mr. Wright left his native State and located about twenty miles from Detroit, where he kept a hotel during the building of the first railroad from Detroit to Chi- cago. In 1838 he moved to Steuben County, Ind., and settled on eighty acres of land his father had entered the year before. In the spring of 1839 he built a cabin into which he moved his family and began making a farm. He added to his land till he had 160 acres and made it his home till the winter of 1847-'8, when he moved to Fairfield Center and engaged in the mer- cantile business and in the manufacture of potash and pearlash, shipping to New York, and thence to England. In 1860 he moved to Sedan where he ran an ashery three or four years. Sell- ing this, he bought about thirty acres of land and built a tan- nery, and also manufactured gloves and mittens a number of years. He then in company with his son-in-law, Park Sebert, bought eighty acres of land, and subsequently added more to it till they had a large farm. They afterward divided their land, and Mr. Wright now has a good farm of 116 acres. He was
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Postmaster at Fairfield Center three or four years, and was the second Postmaster at Sedan. He has also served as Trustee of Fairfield Township. In politics he is a Republican.
Anthony Zonker, one of the successful and well-known pioneers of De Kalb County, was born near Lancaster, Pa., Sept. 23, 1818, a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Rode) Zonker, natives of Swit- zerland, who came to the United States after their marriage and settled in Pennsylvania. In 1825 they moved to Stark County, Ohio, where our subject grew to manhood. The father died in Seneca County, Ohio, aged sixty-five years, and the mother near Avilla, Ind., aged eighty-two years. In 1845 Mr. Zonker came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought 130 acres of unim- proved land, which he commenced to clear and improve. In 1855 he sold his land and bought a saw-mill on the outlet of In- dian Lake, which he ran ten years. He was successful, and in the mean time bought a large tract of land, and subsequently quit his mill and has since given his attention to agricultural pursuits. He now owns 500 acres of choice land, the greater part under cultivation. Mr. Zonker was married July 16, 1846, to Elizabeth Hosler, a native of Stark County, Ohio, daughter of Michael Hosler. They have had a family of nine children, six of whom are living-Mary J., Margaret Ann, Wayne A., John Edward, William A. and Eliza Ellen. Samuel, Eli and Emma are deceased. Mr. Zonker is one of the most practical and thorough farmers of the township, and has always taken an active interest in the growth and development of the county. In politics he is a Democrat.
CHAPTER XV.
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.
SITUATION .- GEOGRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY .- ORGANIZATION. -- JOHN HOULTON, THE FIRST SETTLER OF THE COUNTY .- OTHER PIONEERS .- ROADS, MILLS AND MARKETS .- FIRST ELECTION. - EARLY PREACHERS, SCHOOL-HOUSES AND SCHOOLS .- POPULATION .- PROPERTY AND TAXATION .- AG- RICULTURAL STATISTICS .- REMINISCENCES OF JOHN HOUL- TON .- ANECDOTE OF BEECHER .- JOHN DRISCAL .- NEAREST NEIGHBORS .- EARLY TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS .- BIOGRAPHICAL.
The township bearing this name is situated in the northeast- ern part of De Kalb County, in the northern tier. It is bounded on the north by Steuben County (Otsego Township), on the east by Troy Township, on the south by Wilmington Town- ship, and on the west by Smithfield Township. It is watered by the tributary headwaters of Cedar Creek and Fish Creek, and has two small lakes on its northern border. It contains neither railroad nor village, the nearest trading point being Butler, on the Michigan Southern Railroad, near the south line. The land is generally very good, and is worth, on an average, $40 an acre, while forty years ago it was selling at the Gov- ernment price of $1.25 per acre. It was originally heavily timbered, but a good proportion has now been reduced to cul- tivation. Franklin is the oldest township in the county, both in organized existence and in priority of settlement.
The first act of the first Board of Commissioners of De Kalb County, July 25, 1837, was, after appointing necessary officers, to provide for the organization of Franklin Township, with the following boundaries: "Commencing at the northeast corner of said county (De Kalb), thence west to the corners of ranges 13 and 14 east, townships 35 and 36 north, thence south six miles to township 34 north, ranges 13 and 14 east, thence east on the town line to the east line of said county, thence north to the place of beginning ; the above shall constitute the first town- ship in De Kalb County."
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The Board (Peter Fair and Samuel Widney) then appointed " Peter Boyer for Inspector of Elections for township No. I in said county of De Kalb, and do order a writ of election for one Justice of the Peace for said township on the first Monday of August next (1837), and do also appoint Isaac T. Aldrich for Constable of said township, to serve until his successor is chosen and qualified, and do also appoint John Holton for Su- pervisor of said township No. I, and district No. I, in said county of De Kalb." The limits thus provided made Franklin to include what is now Troy Township, in addition to its pres- ent territory ; but some years afterward Troy was organized, leaving Franklin of its present dimensions, six miles square.
John Houlton, the pioneer of De Kalb County, built his rude log dwelling on the bank of Fish Creek in the northeastern corner of the township in 1833. For a time he was the sole resident of the woods. Two years elapsing, his loneliness was then relieved by John Smith locating on section 4, where B. F. Greenwood afterward lived and died.
In 1836 the first few arrivals of pioneers began to come in and locate their future homes. Abner Smith entered part of section 9; Abram Beecher settled on section 4, a near neigh- bor to John Smith; Luther Keep settled on section 8 where Orrin Keep afterward lived; Charles Crain, a shoemaker by trade, cleared and built where Isaac Loutzenleizer afterward lived; and besides these there came Willis O. Hyde, Peter Boyer, Jacob Myers, Michael Boyer and Messrs. Deming and Corwright. In October of this year George Firestone and family moved in, driving his stock, and hauling his goods in a wagon by oxen, and on the 18th arrived on that part of section 23, which he cleared and made his life-long home. While build- ing his cabin he enjoyed the hospitality of Michael Boyer, and between these two an enduring friendship was then contracted.
Supplies of wheat and corn were obtained by these pioneers on Jackson Prairie. The rifle was speedily brought into service to provide venison, and intervals of rest from labor were spent in making acquaintances; among these being mem- bers of a roving band of Pottawatomie Indians. The land was heavily timbered, yet the settlers speedily felled and cleared small tracts and planted buckwheat, corn and potatoes. In the spring of 1837 grists were taken to the Union Mills in La- grange, distant thirty miles, and several days were required to
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make the journey. The pioneer roads were mere trails, bushed and logged by the settler in advance of his team. The first roads laid out in Franklin were the Defiance and Lima State road and the Fort Wayne and Lima State road, forming a junc- tion a half mile east of Hamilton.
Among the arrivals in 1837 were Daniel Kepler, Samuel Kep- ler, Arial Rood, Cranel Rood, Grant Bowers, M. L. Wheeler, John Matson, Elisha Waterman and John Farley. Later came Jason Hubbell, Daniel McEntarfer, William Letz, Levi Nelson, John and Edward Jackman, Preston Bowman, Cyrus Bowman, and James Bowman.
The voters who attended the first township election, in Au- gust, 1837, were twelve in number, and they chose Abram F. Beecher as Commissioner, and Luther Buck as Justice of the Peace. At the next election, held at the house of George Fire- stone on the first Monday in April, 1838, thirty-five votes were polled, and John Linsey was elected Justice. Irregularity in mak- ing the returns prevented the receipt of commissions. The first legal election was held in the spring of 1839, at the house of M. L. Wheeler, he being chosen Justice of the Peace, and George Firestone, Constable.
Early preachers in the township were Addison Coleman, a Methodist, and Elder Staley, a Baptist. The latter preached his first sermon at the house of John Houlton in 1837. The first church organization took place in 1843, at Kepler's, now Haverstock's Corners. Here the denomination, the Evangeli- cal Lutheran, under the pastoral care of Rev. James Cather, flourished, meetings being held in the school-house. A church building was erected in 1851 by Elisha W. Beard. Reorganiza- tion was effected by Jacob Seidle, who, dying, the church was completed during the pastorate of Rev. William Waltman. Rev. John McCurdy was the first local minister. The fifteen members who reorganized the church were: Samuel Haver- stock and wife, George Firestone, wife and daughter, Elizabeth King, William Oberlin and wife, John Eckhart and wife, Elias Kepler and wife, William Ashley and wife, and a Mrs. Kene- strick. A wonderfully effective revival resulted in January, 1870, from the efforts of Revs. John McCurdy and James Cather, and about seventy-five were converted, of whom about thirty joined that class. The society enjoyed another remark- able revival in January and February, 1872, conducted by Rev.
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Nathan Pedychord. In 1883 the place of worship was removed to College Corners school-house, and the society again reorgan- ized as the College Corners M. E. Church. The membership at this time was about twenty-five, and the pastor was Rev. C. H. Wilkinson. For a year past the society has had no regular services. C. M. Lewis is class-leader and superintendent of the Sunday-school. At College Corners also is the Church of God, whose members are called also Winebrennerians. This society was organized with about twenty members, in March, 1885, by Rev. Mr. Fuller. J. W. Shultz is class-leader.
Belle Fountain U. B. church, situated on section 2, on the Belle Fountain road, was organized in February, 1858, in the Houlton school-house on section 11. The society was formed at the close of a series of meetings held by Rev. Mr. Crosslin. They worshiped for some time in the school-house, and then in an unoccupied dwelling on section 2, opposite where Samuel Kepler now lives. In 1862 they built their present commodious house of worship, 30 x 40 feet, with a fine spire. There are now forty-five communicants. Services are held on alternate Sundays by Rev. George Robinet, and prayer-meetings on Wednesday evenings and on alternate Sundays. The Sunday- school is kept up six months in each year.
Jerusalem U. B. church was organized at Jerusalem school- house on section 24, in March, 1882, by Rev. Alonzo Gaff, with seven members. The next year Rev. Aaron Lilly was pastor, and in 1884, the pulpit was filled by Rev. Mr. Brown. The present minister, Rev. James Martin, commenced his labors in January, 1885. There are now about forty communicants. Ser- vices are held every other Sunday, and prayer-meetings every Thursday night and on alternate Sunday evenings. Sunday- school is maintained six months in each year.
The first school-house was built on section 12, the present site of No. I, and was known in 1840 as the Houlton school- house. The first teacher was Miss Lucy Orton, of Angola, Steuben County. The first physician was William Sheldon, who resided for a year on section 2. At an early day a saw- mill was built at Taylor's Corners, and this was also the site of a post-office. The latter has long since been discontinued. A good grist-mill known as the Franklin Mills is located on Fish Creek in the northeastern part of the township. It was erected in 1856, by Samuel Kepler.
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The population of Franklin in 1880 was 1,231, or 34 to the square mile. This is a decrease of 12 from the population in 1870. In 1884 the rate of taxation was $1.61 ; poll tax, $1.50; number of acres of land, 22,493.14; value of lands, $320,298 ; value of improvements, $46,377 ; value of lands and improve- ments, $366,675 ; value of personal property, $88,860; total value of taxables, $455,535 ; number of polls, 204; number of children of school age, 409 ; valuation per capita, $372.89.
In 1881 Franklin had 3,706 acres in wheat, producing 25,942 bushels, or 7 bushels per acre; 2,343 acres in corn, produc- ing 58,575 bushels, or 25 bushels per acre ; 1, 491 acres in oats, producing 52,185 bushels, or 35 bushels per acre; 680 acres in meadow, producing 850 tons of hay, or a ton and a quarter per acre; 86 acres in potatoes, producing 4,300 bushels, or 50 bushels per acre.
REMINISCENCES.
From John Houlton's narrative in " Pioneer Sketches," we extract the following :
" When the county was organized, Sheriff Park came here, put up notices for an election of county officers, and appointed me Inspector. I chose Luther Keep and A. F. Beecher, Judges. In organizing the township, Mr. Keep, being the oldest man told me that as I was the first settler I should name the town- ship ; and we agreed together on the name of Franklin. This is a good township; though not so 'propitiously blest as Butler, flowing with milk and honey.' True, honey was very plenty, yet milk was tolerably scarce, till after a while we got some cows in the township."
ANECDOTE OF BEECHER.
"" As Mr. Abram F. Beecher was one of the early settlers, and of the first Board of County Commissioners, I feel it due to his memory, as he has gone from earth, to relate an adventure of his, and of another of our citizens in his company. Dr. Pink was living in Hamilton, and the 'blacklegs' of Noble County stole his horse. Beecher and Willard Eddy started on horse- back for the Tamarack House to look for the horse. Although they did not find the animal, yet they did find about a dozen of the most noted blacklegs in a barn, distributing their counter- feit money to their runners. They had quite a pile of it.
" Beecher made a lunge among them and grabbed a lot of
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their money, and started to run away ; but Latta, their Presi- dent, knocked him down, and they got all the paper back. It was certainly lucky that the two did not get hurt. They went to a Justice to take law, but the Justice was either one of the gang or afraid of his life or property. It was about that time that several barns were burned in Noble County by the black- legs. Pity Beecher's strength had not been equal to his noble courage. Pink went out to look for his horse, but got nothing but a severe raw-hiding from Latta for his trouble and his horse. I myself have lost about $200 by the same gang of vil- lains. This Belle Fountain road was one of the principal routes leading to their nest."
JOHN DRISCAL.
" About a week after moving on my place, in 1833, a stranger rode up to my house. He was an awful looking man, but car- ried the prettiest rifle I ever saw. Said I, 'Stranger, you have the nicest kind of a gun; will you let me look at it?' ' Yes,' said he; and I took hold of it; but he jerked it back, saying that he would not trust his gun in the hands of strangers. He went on, and passed the road several times afterward. About twelve years ago the people of Northwestern Illinois took the same man out in the open prairie, formed a half-circle on one side of him, and told him to run for his life, and they would all shoot at him as he ran. He started and fell dead pierced by twenty bullets! Such was the end of John Driscal."
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