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 61
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Infantry, Aug. 10, 1862, and served nearly three years, his dis- charge bearing date of June 7, 1865. He was in the campaign with General Buell against General Bragg, and in the battles of Perryville, Tullahoma and Stone River with General Rose- crans, in battles of Stevenson, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge and Tunnell Hill and inter- mediate skirmishes with Generals Thomas and Sherman ; in battles of Ringgold, Buzzard's Roost, Rocky-face, Resaca, Kingston, Rome, Allatoona Pass, Kenesaw Mountain, Chatta- hoochie River, Decatur and Atlanta, and all intermediate skir- mishes ; with Sherman to the sea, through the Carolinas, via Richmond to Washington City, D. C., and was in review at Richmond, May 11, 1865, and also in grand review at Washing- ton, May 24, 1865. After his discharge he returned to Indiana. March 3, 1866, he married Mrs. Lydia J. Steward, a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Tarney, early pioneers to Indiana from Ohio, and widow of his brother James L., who was a soldier in Company B, Thirteenth Indiana Infantry, and died at Fort Fisher, N. C., Feb. 14, 1865, leaving six children, Samuel T., Elizabeth T., now Mrs. Samuel George; Jasper N., Ida A., now Mrs. James Furnish ; Lewis W., Eva J., now Mrs. Wm. C. Reed. To Mr. and Mrs. John M. Steward have been born two chil- dren-Adelbert Sherman and Rosella Myrmetta. Mr. Steward is of patriotic parentage, his father having served in the war of 1812. His brother, David W., served in Company E, Eleventh Indiana Zouaves.
Samuel J. Tarney, youngest child of Samuel and Elizabeth (Wyatt) Tarney, is the oldest native resident of Jackson Town- ship. He was born on the old homestead, Feb. 4, 1841. His father was born in Pennsylvania in 1794, and was left an orphan before his recollection. In his boyhood he went to Ohio, where he was apprenticed to the miller's trade, and there grew to manhood. He married Matsey Maloy Sept. 14, 1820. She died April 14, 1822. Aug. 21, 1823, he married Catharine Horn, who died Oct. 1, 1826. Nov. 8, 1827, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Nathan Wyatt, and in 1837 came to De Kalb County, Ind., with the Wyatt family and bought 160 acres of land on section 24, Jackson Township. He was also engaged in milling in the pioneer days, and was the first miller of Spen- cerville. To this last marriage were born six children, all of whom are living-Mrs. Magdalina Henderson, of Allen County,
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Ind .; Mrs. Lydia Jane Steward, John W., Nathan, Simeon N., and Samuel J. A daughter by the second marriage, Mrs. Mary Ann Galloway, is living in Ashland County, Ohio. Mrs. Tar- ney died June 20, 1867, and Aug. 7, 1870, Mr. Tarney married Mrs. Ann Berry, also a daughter of Nathan Wyatt. Mr. Tar- ney died Feb. 18, 1878. He was an energetic, public-spirited man, and is remembered by the pioneers for his many good qualities. He helped organize the township and was for eigh- teen years Town Clerk, in addition to holding other positions of trust. Samuel J. Tarney lived with his parents till man- hood. He was married May 22, 1862, to Nancy Walter, a na- tive of Wayne County, Ohio, born Aug. 27, 1842, and came with her parents, Joseph and Sarah Walter, to De Kalb County in 1846. She is the third of a family of fourteen chil- dren. Her father died Dec. 31, 1882, aged sixty-five years. Her mother is living on the old homestead on section 16, Jack- son Township. Sept. 20, 1864, Mr. Tarney enlisted as a recruit in Company D, Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry, and served till July 27, 1865. He participated with Sherman in the march to the sea and through the Carolinas. After his return home he remained on his father's farm till the fall of 1868, when he bought 100 acres on sections 15 and 22, where he has since re- sided. His farm is well cultivated, and his residence and farm buildings are amongligne best in the township. Mr. Tarney is a Democrat in politics. He is a very popular man with his fellow townsmen, and has held several official relations. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Tarney-Sarah E., a graduate of the Indiana State Normal School, now Principal of the High School at Bourbon, Marshall Co., Ind. ; Walter Marion died in 1871, aged four years ; Cora Olive, Estella May, Joseph Byron, and Frank Marion are at home.
Daniel Wyatt, son of William and Nancy (Strong) Wyatt, and grandson of Nathan Wyatt, was born in Concord Township, De Kalb County, Ind., Dec. 8, 1845, where his parents settled after their marriage. His father died in January, 1870. His mother still lives on the homestead, four children, Isaac, Israel, James and Lydia, living with her. Daniel Wyatt lived with his parents till his marriage. In the spring of 1874 he moved to his present residence on section 13, where he has a finely improved farm of fifty acres, with good farm buildings. He was married Dec. 12, 1869, to Susan Beaty, a native of De Kalb County,
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
born Feb. 14, 1849, a daughter of William and Rebecca Beaty. Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt have had four children, but two of whom are living-Charles W. and Blanch Pearl. Ida Alice and Will- iam Oscar died in infancy, the latter aged seventeen months. Mr. Wyatt is a most worthy representative of the Wyatt family, being an energetic, industrious, and liberal-minded citizen.
John Wyatt, son of Nathan and Mary Wyatt, was born in Mercer County, Pa., April 4, 1811, and came to De Kalb County, Ind., in 1836. He was married April 1, 1834, in Medina County, Ohio, to Eva Kitchen, who died Feb. 12, 1839. Their only child, Rachel, was born about sixteen months after they came to this county, and died at the age of four years and twelve days. Sept. 12, 1839, Mr. Wyatt married Sarah Jane Robe, a native of Cumberland County, Pa., born in 1820. They have had a large family of children, viz :- Mary Jane, wife of Jacob Hull, M. D., of Spencerville; Rebecca H. died in infancy ; William T., of Allen County, Ind .; Rachel M., wife of Israel Horn ; Re- becca A., wife of E. J. Coder ; Matilda J., wife of S. T. Gallo- way ; Maggie M., at home; Samuel W. died Nov. 27, 1881, aged twenty-eight years; Andrew R., a physician of Rome City ; Euphemia E., at home, and John Edmund. Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he adheres to the Republican party. Mr. Wyatt has one of the finest farms in De Kalb County, consisting of 240 acres of improved land. His residence is large and comfort- able, and the host and hostess are hospitable to friend and stranger alike. Their home is the home of the oppressed, peace reigns supreme, and a happier home is not to be found. Frugal- ity and industry have gained them a competency for their de- clining years. [For a more extended account of Mr. Wyatt's coming and early life in De Kalb County, see his " Recollec- tions," page 639.]
Nathan Wyatt, the pioneer, settled on section 34, Jackson Township in June, 1837, bringing with him from Richland County, Ohio, his wife, Mary, and three sons and one daughter. Of these children, William afterward settled in Concord Town- ship and died several years ago; S. Bostwick lives in Rome City, Ind .; James lives in Allen County, and Rachel married Charles Watson, of Jackson Township. The eldest son, Samuel, came to the county in 1842, and lives in Newville Township, aged
672 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
eighty-four years. Another son, Thomas, came with his family, in company with his father, and now lives in Allen County. Two daughters, Jane and Mary, wives of two brothers, Amaziah and Abraham Johnson; Susan, wife of William A. Squiers, and Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Tarney, with their families, com- pleted what was called the tribe of Wyatt, a most valuable ad- dition to the infant settlement of Jackson Township. About two years later another daughter, Ann, came with her hus- band, James P. Plummer. After the death of Mr. Plummer she married Mr. Berry, and after his death became the fourth wife of Samuel Tarney, her sister, Elizabeth, Mr. Tarney's wife, having died in 1867. She is now the widow of Mr. Tarney. In 1847 Mr. Wyatt's daughter, Lydia, with her husband, Samuel Watson, moved to the township. She died in 1849, and still later another daughter, Rebecca and her husband, Jacob Maurer, (now deceased) came and settled where she still lives. Nathan Wyatt joined the Methodist Episcopal church in his boyhood, but the last forty years of his lite was a member of the Methodist Protestant church, the greater part of the time a class-leader. His influence was felt on the side of right and was a power for good in the new settlement. He was loved and honored by all who knew him, and his death was a bereave- ment to many friends as well as his own family. He died Dec. 28, 1862, in his eighty-fourth year. His widow lived till Sept. 20, 1874, and died in her ninety-seventh year, retaining her mental vigor till nearly the close of her life journey.
CHAPTER XVII.
KEYSER TOWNSHIP.
YOUNGEST TOWNSHIP IN THE COUNTY .- SITUATION .- GEO- GRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY. - ORGANIZATION. - REMINIS- CENCE OF HARRISON ROGERS. - POPULATION. - PROPERTY AND TAXATION .- AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS .- GARRETT .- BUSINESS. - PRESENT BUSINESS DIRECTORY. - PROFES- SIONAL .- PAPER .- TOWN OFFICERS .- CHURCHES AND SOCIE- TIES .- BIOGRAPHICAL.
The youngest township of the county is Keyser, in the west- ern tier. It is bounded on the north by Richland Township, on the east by Union and Jackson, on the south by Butler, and on the west by Allen and Swan Townships, Noble County. It is drained by several small creeks, tributaries of Cedar Creek. Its territory is crossed by three railroads. The Baltimore & Ohio runs east and west through the center of the township, and the Wabash and Michigan Southern lines run across the southeastern corner.
Keyser owes its organization to the construction of the Bal- timore & Ohio Road, which led to the founding of the town of Garrett on the line between Richland and Butler townships. To avoid having the town on two townships, a new township was formed by the Board of Commissioners at their June term, 1876, when it was " ordered, directed and decreed by the Board that the territory bounded by a line commencing at the north- east corner of section 25, township 34 north, range 12 east, and running from thence west on the north line of sections 25, 26, 27,28, 29 and 30, to the west line of said township of Richland ; thence south on the west line of said township 33 north, range 12 east, to the southwest corner of section 7 in Butler Township; thence east on the south line of sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, to the east line of said township; thence north along the east line of said township to the place of beginning; shall be known by the name and style of Keyser Township." It thus includes
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674 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
twenty-four sections, or two-thirds of a Congressional township.
The following is the reminiscence of Harrison Rogers, of this township:
"In the fall of 1846 I moved from Medina County, Ohio, with my family, my wife and son Charles, then three years old. I hired Orrin Rogers, my cousin, to help me to remove to the eighty acres previously bought and still my land. Orrin traded his team for the piece of land on which John Bell now lives, and gave me a job of chopping to enable me to pay a debt of $6. We stopped for a few days with Henry Clark, where Jo Strouse now lives; then moved into an old cabin which stood on an eighty owned by O. C. Clark at the time, now the property of Henry Probst, and situated a hundred rods west of Hope- well church. I was laid up by a cut in the knee during the winter, yet managed in the spring to put out a truck patch and some corn. The deer fed at night upon my corn, and watch- ing for them, I was able to kill some of them. Oct. 16 we moved into the woods where we now live. My father moved in and entered forty acres. Building a house for him, we all moved in together, and April 1, following, we raised a cabin for ourselves. I bought a yoke of stags of Uriah Wigent on time for $40, and mortgaged my land as security. Parties ad- vised me not to pay the note, and to let the land go, but I re- deemed the land, six acres of which I have since sold for $100 per acre.
" We had no road farther north than to the present site of Hopewell church. I prepared a petition, obtained signers, and presenting the same to the Commissioners, a road was located as far north as the present site of Altoona ; and from that point it ran a zigzag course until intersecting the State road near the residence of Albert Hathaway. Later we had the route changed north from Altoona, and intersecting the State road in front of John Yaw's place. My team was the first to go through the old road. I hauled a saw-log to Hight's mill, west of Hathaway's. Robert Showers entered the land now owned by James Downend. O. C. Clark, R. B. Showers and myself worked together to make ' black salts.' A tract of timber land abounding in elm was chosen. Trees were felled, cut, hauled by oxen, and piled, trunks and branches. When burned, the ashes were leached, the lye boiled into the ' black salts,' and this product sold at Fort Wayne for two to three dollars per hun-
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
dred pounds." Mr. Rogers has killed 330 deer since he moved to Indiana.
The population of Keyser Township, exclusive of Garrett, is estimated at 944, or about 40 to the square mile. The rate of taxation in 1884 is $1.71 ; poll tax, $1.25. The number of acres of land assessed is 14,589.27 ; value of same, $317,726 ; value of improvements, $21,780 ; value of lands and improvements, $339,- 506; value of lots, $3,564; value of improvements, $4,311 ; value of lots and improvements, $7,875 ; value of personal property, $54,080; total value of taxables, $401,461 ; total number of polls, 224 ; total amount of taxes levied, $7,267.1I.
The following crop statistics are for the year 1881 : Acres in wheat, 1,956; product of same, 23,572 bushels, or 12 bushels per acre ; acres in corn, 1,036 ; product of same, 31,845 bush- els, or 30 bushels per acre of upland, and 45 for lowland ; acres in oats, 380 ; product of same, 11,400 bushels, or 30 bush- els per acre; acres in meadow, 420 ; product of same, 630 tons, or a ton and a half per acre ; acres in Irish potatoes, 63 ; pro- duct of same, 1,260 bushels, or 20 bushels per acre.
GARRETT.
The town of Garrett, named in honor of the lately deceased John W. Garrett, President of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, is indebted to that road for its very existence. It is located four miles west and one mile south of Auburn, on sec- tions 34, 33, 4 and 3, of Keyser Township, and is a flourishing town of varying population, which may now be fairly stated at 1,200. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company has extensive repair shops here, and Garrett is the home of many train men, conductors, engineers and other employes. On the old town- ship line (which divided Butler and Richland, before the for- mation of Keyser) is located the round house, a semi-circle of masonry 265 feet in diameter, and containing stalls for 32 loco- motives. A machine shop, 265 x 100 feet in dimensions, built of brick, stone and iron, contains a number of lathes, drills, planes and bolt-cutters and other machinery. These buildings have a capacity to employ a thousand men.
Fifty acres were set apart by the railroad company for their purposes, and several hundred acres were purchased by B. D. Thomas, with a number of Ohio men. The tract was laid out and desirable building lots placed on the market. The first
676 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
town lots were sold in April, 1875, and within a year 150 build- ings had been constructed, ranging in cost from $150 to $76,- 500. In the time named $125,000 worth of lots and land had been sold to the enterprising men, and fully $300,000 has been spent in improvements and valuable buildings. A large three- story brick hotel (now the De Kalb House) was built, and meantime, while this and other accommodations were being prepared, not a few resorted to the expedients of pioneer times.
An incident worth recording is that a prize was offered to the first child born in the new city. The parents of two chil- dren claimed the honor and reward, and each child was duly honored. William Penfield, Esq., of Auburn, was the orator on the felicitous occasion.
BUSINESS.
There were as yet but five houses in Garrett when John L. Davis, of Auburn, started the pioneer hardware store of the place, and installed John Robbins (brother of Albert Robbins, of Auburn) as manager. In the same building, occupied in part by the hardware, F. E. Davenport, also of Auburn, started the first drug store, in company with Eli Kuhlman. Among the hotels put up were the De Kalb House, owned by M. & G. Ohmer, and operated by C. Kennecht ; City Restaurant, by J. W. Wagner; Tarney House, by N. Tarney ; and the Sargent House, by W. E. Sargent.
Dry goods stores were started by Litman Bros. & Co., T. E. & N. W. Lancaster, Joseph Wyman & Co., and L. Covell. A boot and shoe store was opened by H. Upmeyer, a wholesale grocery by Samuel G. Lemmon, and a furniture store by Roons & Rowe. E. Wing, H. Bicknell and Putt Bros. opened drug stores. Charles Beckmeyer was the first jeweler; Messrs. Clark & Embry the first butchers, and W. G. Pierce was the pioneer in the lumber trade. Saloons were soon under head- way. R. Beuniston, formerly of Auburn, was the first black- smith ; and E. F. Allen, A. Landers and S. O. Hinkley followed painting. The pioneer carpenters were W. McMorgan, R. W. McLean, M. Thomas and W. J. Frederick. At the present writing, those following the trade of carpentry are, William Sanders, Walter Vaughn, Newton Hall, Harry Vaughn, C. A. Branch and Chris. Watz.
6. Kelham
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
The following are the business firms of Garrett :
E. B. Alsbaugh, jeweler and watchmaker ; Austin Bros., boots and shoes ; Charles Bacon, blacksmith and wagon shop; Asa Bennett, grocery; R. Bloom, saloon; Miss Phemie Bender, milliner ; Boyd & Smith, jeweler and newsdealer ; Fritz Behler, shoemaker ; George Behler, saloon; Albert W. Behler, barber ; H. M. Bicknell, drug store ; C. W. Camp, drug store ; Miss J. Co- mesky, jewelry and notions ; John Crow, saloon ; Isaiah Decker, livery stable; John L. Davis, hardware; Emil Duck, furni- ture; P. K. David, grocery ; Mrs. Elizabeth Downend, Bowen House; W. J. Frederick, lumber ; Fyke & Gunnett, millers ; E. Grover, broom factory ; Frank Gilmore, barber ; A. B. Haynes, blacksmith and repair shop; B. Hunsel, tailor and dealer in boots and shoes ; Haynes & Ray, dressmakers; Will- iam Imler, bakery ; Jaques, barber ; C. B. Jones, saw-mill, plan- ing-mill, wood and lumber ; N. Korniske, renovating establish- ment ; Mrs. C. Lindorfer, millinery and fancy goods; G. W. Lackey, dry goods; Charles Linkenhelt, saloon; Mager & Bevier, meat market ; B. W. Ocker, De Kalb House; A. H. Phillips, postoffice ; Otho J. Powell, Herald ; Mrs. Rice, dress- maker ; J. V. Reyher, sewing-machine ; C. Reyher, dry goods ; George Reeves, saloon; Mrs. V. Schnitzer, grocery; R. L. Simpson, repair shop ; Miss F. G. Stickney, millinery and fancy goods; Joseph Single, grocery ; A. J. Stewart, grocery ; T. C. Sargent, Sargent House ; Thomas Sullivan, photographer ; N. Tarney, Tarney House ; J. William Wagner, saloon.
PROFESSIONAL.
The first physician to locate and remain, was S. M. Sherman. Others who came later were: A. S. Parker, C. E. Pratt, S. Simpson and J. F. Thompson. Those practicing at present are : A. A. Kester, J. F. Thompson, D. B. Roether, T. H. Stewart and Dr. Dunn. The legal profession is represented by L. Covell and F. M. Bacon (Justice of the Peace and Notary Public).
PAPER.
The press was first represented by the Garrett News, pub- lished by C. W. Wing & Co., and edited by Thomas Maloney. It was started in October, 1875, but was of brief existence. In August, 1877, the present Garrett Herald was started, for an ac- count of which see the Press chapter.
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTV
TOWN OFFICERS.
The first township officers, elected in the fall of 1875, were as follows : Trustees, William A. Pratt, Jr. (3d district), Charles Lin- kenhelt (2d district), and Hiram M. Hodge (Ist district) ; Clerk, Thomas Maloney; Marshal, James R. Skelling ; Treasurer, Joseph Hyman; Assessor, A. Harvey Putt; Attorney, Lewis Covell. At present the Trustees are: Walter Vaughn (3d dis- trict), Joseph Singler (2d district), and John Mclaughlin (Ist district); Clerk, W. H. Schnitzer ; Marshal, George Reeves; Treasurer, Barney Hunsel.
RELIGIOUS.
The first sermon at Garrett was preached by Rev. William Long, brother of Michael Long, Sr., so well known to the old residents of the county. There are now three well-supported religious organizations in the town.
The Protestant Episcopal church was built in 1876, and dedi- cated in July, 1877. The land was purchased, building erected, furniture put in, and everything provided for use by John King, Jr., and William Keyser, First and Second Vice-Presi- dents, respectively, of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, and presented as a free gift to Bishop Talbot of the Indiana Diocese. It cost $3,000, is of brick, and will seat 250 to 300 people. The first pastor was Rev. B. L. Trimble. After he left, the pulpit was unfilled for a time, and then for some months a Rev. Mr. Weatherby, of Lagrange, came here to hold ser- vices once in two weeks. After another vacancy, R. H. Dennis was here as pastor about one year. The church was then closed once more. In the winter of 1883-'4 Rev. S. M. C. Orpen came from Lima, Ind., and preached every two weeks. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. Benjamin R. Phelps, who resides now at Gar- rett and holds services on alternate Sundays. He is from East Orange, N. Y. Mr. Phelps also acts as Superintendent of the Sunday-school, The church is located at the corner of Ijms and Houston streets.
The Methodist Episcopal people have built a neat brick edifice on Cowan street, at a cost of $3,000. It was constructed in 1879. Among the pastors who have served at Garrett are: Revs. Adams, Sawyer, Diven, Hunter, Stout, Madden and Mc- Carthy. Rev. C. King, the present incumbent, came in the spring of 1883. The well-attended Sunday-school is presided over by C. B. Jones.
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
The Catholic church is a neat white frame structure, built under the direction of Father Young, of Auburn, who still min- isters to the Garrett Catholics.
SOCIETIES.
The town is well supplied with benevolent and social orga- nizations, of which the leading are here enumerated :
Garrett City Lodge, No. 537, F. & A. M., was instituted in 1876 with D. Nichols as Worthy Master. It now has a mem- bership of sixty-five, and meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month in the Duck building. The present officers are as follows: G. W. Lackey, W. M .; W. Gill, S. W .; H. M. Bick- nell, J. W .; J. H. Kooken, Sec .; W. J. Frederick, Treas .; Ed- ward Hilgardner, S. D .; James Kellum, J. D .; F. Behler, Tyler. The lodge is in an excellent financial condition.
Garrett Lodge, No. 602, I.O.O.F., was instituted Aug. 29, 1883, with T. C. Sargent as N. G .; H. M. Bicknell as V. G .; Charles W. Camp as Sec .; B. D. Thomas as Treas. At present Charles W. Camp is N. G .; Lyman Lockwood, V. G .; Thomas S. Merica, Sec., and H. F. Sembowen, Treas. The lodge is in a flourishing condition, having thirty-five members in good standing, and meets every Wednesday evening at Odd Fellows' Hall.
Charles Case Post, No. 233, G. A. R., was instituted in Sep- tember, 1883, with William E. Sargent as Commander; W. J. Frederick as Senior Vice-Commander; J. H. House as Junior Vice-Commander, and William A. Shreve as Adjutant. The present officers are : W. J. Frederick, Commander ; William A. Shreve, Senior Vice-Commander ; J. H. Houser, Junior Vice- Commander; D. B. Rother, Adjutant; R. L. Simpson, Chap- lain; M. L. Duck, Quartermaster. The post has twenty-five members, and meets the first and third Saturdays of each month at the B. of L. E. hall.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers holds its meetings in the Duck building on Randolph street. The brakemen and conductors have recently organized lodges. Garfield Lodge, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, No. 203, meets Friday evenings at the B. of L. E. hall.
The B. & O. reading room was established by the company in 1882, and has a library of several hundred volumes, besides keeping on file many standard papers and periodicals. The W.
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
C. T. U., established in the winter of 1883-'4 by Misses Jennie Smith and Addie Sherman, assisted by Mrs. C. B. Jones, of Garrett, holds very interesting meetings Sunday afternoons at the reading room. Mrs. C. B. Jones is President of the Union.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Isaac N. Askew was born in Richland (now Ashland) County, Ohio, Feb. 19, 1824, the son of Isaac T. and Mary (Harvout) Askew, his father a native of Maryland, and his mother of Ohio, and a grandson of Colonel Jonathan Harvont, of Revolutionary fame. He was reared in his native county on a farm, remain- ing there till 1847, when he came to Indiana and bought an un- improved tract in Allen County, residing there about six years. He then sold his land and moved to De Kalb County, buying a farm east of Spencerville, on the St. Joe River, which he im- proved. He subsequently sold this farm and bought one west of Spencerville, where he lived till April, 1874. He then sold out and moved to Keyser Township, buying the farm where he has since resided. He owns eighty acres of finely-cultivated land, and is surrounded with all that makes life pleasant. For the past twenty years he has in connection with attending to his own farm assisted his neighbors during harvest, running a threshing-machine. Mr. Askew was married Nov. 27, 1853, to Rebecca H. Squiers, daughter of William A. and Susanna Squiers. They have had five children-W. T. M., born March II, 1855 ; George W., born Sept. 16, 1858 ; Perry, born Dec. 16, 1860, died in infancy ; Nettie, born Oct. 4, 1877, and Jennie, born Aug. 29, 1871. Mrs. Askew is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically, Mr. Askew affiliates with the Democratic party.
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