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 67
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Que 23-1898
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
J. W. Helmer, dealer in general merchandise, grain and pro- duce, Corunna, Ind., was born in Allegany County, N. Y., Jan. 12, 1824, a son of Godfrey and Barbara Helmer, natives of New York, of German descent. He was reared on a farm, attend- ing the district schools till sixteen years of age, when his par- ents moved to Ashtabula, Ohio, where he began to work at the cabinet-maker's trade, and served an apprenticeship of three years, receiving as a remuneration $30 a year, and was also to have the privilege of attending school eleven months, which was not given him. After completing his time he went to Buffalo and worked as a journeyman two years. He then came west to Conneaut, Ohio, and bought the shop that he formerly learned his trade in and employed his old boss, and continued in busi- ness at that place for himself for the next three years, during which time he married Miss A. Z. Spalding, and bought a home. He rented his property and moved to Pierrepont, where he built a saw-mill; after running it one year he sold it and built another, three miles from the first, running that one year and sold it, making $3,500 in two years. At this time his health failed and he went to Sheboygan, Wis., where he engaged in the livery business till 1852, when he went to California, re- maining there two years, then returned to Ohio and bought a farm ; he remained ten years (till 1864) when he sold and moved to Goshen, Ind., and engaged in the livery business and a stage route from there to Warsaw, which he'sold a month later, mak- ing $1,200. In 1864 he moved to Kendallville, and the following fall to Corunna, where he engaged in the general mercan- tile business till 1870. He then moved to a farm in Steuben County, which he had traded for, and subsequently engaged in the mercantile business in Kendallville till 1876, when he re- turned to Corunna, where he has since resided. Mr. Helmer was married in April, 1847, to Anna, daughter of D. Spalding. They have two children-Guilford S. and Hattie. Mr. Helmer is a member of the Presbyterian and his wife of the United Brethren church. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. Helmer's life is a strong incentive to our young men, as by hard labor and close economy and strict honesty in business he has succeeded in accumulating a handsome fortune.
Horatio S. Hine, miller, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Erie County, Ohio, Aug. 10, 1822, the second son of Shelden and Sally Hine, natives of Connecticut who settled in Ohio in
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
1819, where the former spent the rest of his life. Mrs. Hine died in De Kalb County, at the age of eighty-three years. In the district schools and at the academy at Norwalk, Ohio, our subject obtained a good education. Nov. 15, 1847, he was mar- ried to Cynthia, daughter of Deacon Lonson Brooks, of Erie County, Ohio. Mrs. Hine died Sept. 22, 1855, leaving three children-Shelden, Charles and Frank. His second marriage was celebrated with deceased wife's sister, Jane S. Brooks, Nov. 10, 1857. They have three children-Nellie, Brooke and Lemon. In 1838 Mr. Hine's father bought 384 acres of land in Richland and Fairfield townships, now the site of Sedan. When nineteen years old our subject came to pay taxes on this land, but considering it worthless after seeing it, he returned home with the money in his pocket. In 1856 he returned and began making improvements, cleared a site for a saw-mill, and in six weeks time had a mill running, which for ten years he operated successfully. In 1868 he bought a flouring-mill, and run the two for about two years. In 1873 this business was left in charge of his sons, and he went to Williams County, Ohio, where he had interests, remaining there ten years, after which he returned to De Kalb County where he has since lived. At present he owns 280 acres of highly improved land. He and wife are consistent members of the Lutheran church. Politi- cally he is Republican.
Christian B. Kagey was born in what is now Ashland, then Richland County, Ohio, Oct. 21, 1829, the second child of Isaac and Ann (Brinker) Kagey, natives of Virginia, of English and German descent. He was reared on a farm, attending school till twelve years of age, when his father died, and being the eldest son the care of the farm devolved on him. He remained with his mother till her death which occurred the day he at- tained his majority. After the estate was settled, in 1852, he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought eighty acres of his present farm, six acres of which were partially cleared. He has cleared his land, and to his first purchase has added twenty- six acres, having now a good farm, and his buildings are among the best in the township. Mr. Kagey was married March 23, 1854, to Mary Ann, daughter of Michael Treesh. They have five children-John F., Sarah C., Daniel E., Eliza Ann, and Nancy Bell. They have also taken a nephew, John Frederick Rohn, now nine years old, to rear and educate. Mr. and Mrs.
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Kagey are members of the Lutheran church. Politically he is a Democrat. He has held the office of Township Trustee one term, and Assessor three terms.
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George Keen, farmer, section 17, Richland Township, was born in Somersetshire, England, in 1825, a son of Samuel and Jane (Dorsetter) Keen. In 1835 his parents came to the United States and settled in Onondaga County, N. Y., and three years later moved to Huron County, Ohio, where he grew to man- hood. In 1849 he came to Indiana and built a log house on land he had previously purchased in De Kalb County ; then re- turned to Huron County and was married in the spring of 1850 to Caroline Parker, a native of New York. The next fall he moved to his frontier home, where the following spring his wife died. Mr. Keen's first purchase was eighty acres of uncul- tivated land. To this he has added till he now owns 300 acres of choice land, all well improved. He was married a second time, in 1852, to Minerva Franklin, a daughter of George and Esther (Loomis) Franklin, who moved from Sandusky County, Ohio, to Steuben County, Ind., in 1840. Mr. and Mrs. Keen have had twelve children-Mary J., Caroline (deceased), Al- via, Millie Bell (deceased), Amos, Sarah, Henry, John, Ed- ward (deceased), Boyd, Wesley, and one who died in infancy. Politically, Mr. Keen is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Joseph Kirkpatrick, farmer, section 7, Richland Township, was born in Perry County, Pa., March 18, 1830, a son of Jo- seph and Matilda ( Murphy) Kirkpatrick, natives of Pennsyl- vania, of Irish descent. When he was eighteen months old his parents moved to Richland County, Ohio. When he was thir- teen years old his father died. He remained with and assisted his mother on the farm till he was eighteen years of age, and then went to learn the blacksmith's trade, but on account of his health was obliged to abandon it after working a year, and then learned the carpenter's trade at which he worked and was successful till 1857, when he moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on land he purchased in 1853. His original pur- chase was 160 acres. This he cleared and improved, and in 1872 bought eighty acres adjoining, and now has one of the best farms in the township. Mr. Kirkpatrick was married Sept. 16, 1855, to Elizabeth Marks, a native of Richland County, Ohio. They have had eight children-Francis M. (deceased), John R.,
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
George W., Matilda M. (deceased), William H. (deceased), Charles L., Joseph E. and Sarah A. Mr. and Mrs. Kirkpatrick are members of the Protestant Methodist church. Politically he is a Democrat.
Charles H. Knapp, of the firm of Wallace & Knapp, hardware dealers, Corunna, Ind., was born in Richland Township, De Kalb Co., Ind., May 30, 1851, the only son and child of Charles and Sarah (Calkins) Knapp. The former was a native of Liv- ingston County, N. Y., and removed to Michigan in an early day, thence to De Kalb County, Ind., where he was married to Miss Sarah Calkins, a daughter of the late Coburn Calkins. Mr. Knapp died while engaged in the Auditor's office in Auburn, when our subject was ten months old, after which Mrs. Knapp and her son resided with her father for about fourteen years, when he went to work for himself, working with his uncle, P. N. Calkins, for about ten years in the summer season and attending school in the winter. After completing his education at J. B. Jordan's Commercial College, Toledo, Ohio, in 1876, he went to Portland, Mich., and engaged as clerk in a general inerchan- dise store for two years. In 1883 he engaged in his present business, where he is meeting with flattering success. June 26, 1877, he was married to Miss Clara, daughter of John McCul- logh, of Fairfield Township, De Kalb County. They have had two children born to them-Inez M. and Karl C. Mr. Knapp is a member of the Portland, Mich., Lodge, No. 22, A. F. & A. M. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party.
David Lawrence, one of the earliest settlers of Richland Town- ship, was born in Philadelphia County, Pa., Nov. 30, 1821, a son of John and Sarah (Ritzer) Lawrence, who were of English and German descent. His mother died when he was ten years old. He remained with his father till manhood, receiving a good education in the district schools. In 1845 he came to Indiana and went to work for Jacob Case. De Kalb County at that time was heavily timbered. He was determined to have a home, and worked by the month till he had paid for sixty acres of wild land. He then began to clear and improve his land, and has since added to it till he now owns 200 acres of highly cultivated land. His farm buildings are among the best in the county. His residence, which was built in 1884, is the finest frame residence in, the county. Mr. Lawrence was married Nov. 30, 1848, to Mary Charlotte, daughter of James and Sarah
Dicial y
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
(Camp) Symonds, who came from Genesee County, N. Y., to De Kalb County, Ind., in 1841. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence have had three children; two are living-Emily and John. Politi- cally Mr. Lawrence is a Republican.
Jacob Lehner, retired farmer, was born in Germany, March 10, 1807, and is the youngest of twelve children born to Jacob Lehner. His mother died when he was eighteen months old, and his father when he was six years old. He lived with his oldest brother till fourteen years of age, after which he worked for one man till he was twenty-three years old, at which time he was drafted into the army and for six years served as a sol- dier. In the spring of 1836 he emigrated to America, landing in New York, where he worked for one month to get funds to carry him farther west, and eventually landed in Stark County, Ohio, where for eighteen months he worked for Will- iam Treesh. May 27, 1838, he was married to Mary A., daughter of his late employer. The September following he removed to Knox County, Ohio, where he bought fifty acres of land, on which he lived six years; then removed to Richland County, Ohio, where he bought land and lived for seven years. In 1854 he came to De Kalb County and bought eighty acres of timbered land which he cleared and improved, and has added to it till he now owns 140 acres of good land. To him and wife were born eleven children; eight are living-Susan, Christian, W. H., George, Washington, Michael, John and Rachel. The deceased are William, Catherine and Nancy. His wife died Oct. 24, 1877. Both were exemplary members of the Lutheran church.
Irwin Lockwood is one of the pioneer children of De Kalb County. He was born in Jackson Township, April 12, 1844, and is a son of Alonzo and Rosamond (Phelps) Lockwood. His youth was spent with his parents, and he was early inured to the duties devolving on a farmer. His education was limited to the district school. Arriving at man's estate he began farm- ing for himself, and now owns a good home in Richland Town- ship. His land is well improved, and his residence and farm buildings are pleasant and convenient. Mr. Lockwood was married April 20, 1865, to Mary E. Lawhead, a native of Con- cord Township, born April 3, 1843, daughter of Isaac and Jane M. (Widney) Lawhead, pioneers of De Kalb County. They have had two children-Carrie and Emil, the latter deceased. Politically Mr. Lockwood is a Republican. Died march 6 .-
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Daniel Linty, deceased, was a native of Germany, born Sept. 10, 1816, a son of Daniel and Catherine Linty. In 1818 his parents came to the United States and lived in New York City seven years, then removed to Stark County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. He was married May 23, 1839, to Sarah Shuman, a native of Center County, Pa., born March 28, 1820, a daughter of George and Hannah (Arney) Shuman, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. After his marriage Mr. Linty settled on his father's farm, and cared for his parents till their death. In October, 1855, he moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought the farm in Richland Township where his family reside, and where he died Aug. 21, 1883. The farm con- tains 120 acres of choice land, well cultivated, with a good resi- dence and farm buildings. Mr. Linty was an honorable, upright citizen, a kind husband and father, a good neighbor, and an honored member of society. To him and his wife were born eight children, but four of whom are living-Catherine, Aman- da, Eli and Nettie. The deceased are-Hannah, George, Ella and Artie. Politically Mr. Linty was a Democrat. He was, as is his wife, a prominent member of the Lutheran church.
Elijah S. McDowell, farmer, section 24, Richland Township, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, April 18, 1826, a son of John and Mary A. (Marshall) McDowell, natives of Pennsylvania, of Irish descent. He received a good education, completing it at the high school in Dalton, Ohio. He remained on the farm with His parents till 1850, when he went to California, and was ninety days in making the trip from St. Joseph, Mo. He re- mairied there four years, engaged in mining the greater part of the time, and in July, 1854, returned to Ohio, where he followed agricultural pursuits till 1862. In 1862 he moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and located near Auburn. In 1864 he bought the farm in Richland Township where he has since resided. He owns 1941/2 acres of choice land, all well improved. Mr. Mc- D'owell was married May 29, 1855, to Mary Ann George, a native of Ashland County, Ohio, daughter of James George, an early settler of De Kalb County. Mr. and Mrs. McDowell have had eight children ; but six are living-I'da, James F., Min- nie, Mollie, Nannie and Roy. Jennie and an infant are deceased. Politically Mr. McDowell is a Republican. He has served his township two terms as Trustee. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church.
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Hon. William M. Mercer, M. D .- In France, the home of the paternal ancestry of this honorable gentleman, the name was spelled M-e-r-c-i-e-n, which has been changed by the descend- ants of those who settled in this country to the present ortho- graphical mode, which has been universally adopted in America by all of that name. The time of settlement and the Christian names of the founders of the family in the New World are unknown to the present generation, which prevents the biographer from going farther back in the Doctor's ances- tral lineage than his worthy parents, who are Samuel and Sarah (Cavender) Mercer, of the State of Ohio by birth and education ; his mother being a descendant of English stock. Samuel Mercer died in Ohio in 1834, leaving his wife with the care of two children-William M., born in Miam: County, Ohio, Oct. 30, 1830, and Samuel, who was two years his broth- er's junior. Mrs. Mercer subsequently married Johr B. Blue, who still survives and is a resident of Newville, this county. For six years following his father's death our subject was cared for by his widowed mother, who to him proved a ivise and faithful counselor, and by her early teachings inculcate'd in him principles that later in life have resplendently shown to his credit and honor. At the age of ten years his mother's mar- riage with Mr. Blue was consummated, and from that time until sixteen years of age he resided at home-having had only such advantages for obtaining an education as the primitive schools of that day offered. Upon leaving the home of his youth he went to Fort Wayne, Ind., which was the opening of his career, and from which time on he vigorously applied himself to the irksome duties of a clerkship in the store of John Hamilton, with whom he found employment for three years, having cle- voted a portion of that time to attending school. Leaving Fort Wayne he returned to his former home and entered a store df which his stepfather was proprietor, and labored assiduously for two years in the capacity of clerk, after which he took up the study of medicine with Dr. John Champer, of Leo, Ind., at pioneer physician, of note, who was his preceptor for three! years, and during that time his leisure hours were spent in as- sisting his stepfather in the store. The Doctor was now twen-) ty-four years of age, one-third of which time his existence had been maintained by his own efforts, and only by the strictest. economy and greatest self-denial had he been able to save the
Прота Respectfully M mercer .
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
small sum he then possessed. Desiring to take medical lectures, but hindered by the inadequacy of his means, he was in sore perplexity to find a way out of the difficulty, which was event- ually accomplished by the generosity of his brother Samuel, who contributed the " mite" he had saved (which was after- ward repaid), and thus by " doubling teams" the Doctor ma- triculated at the Ann Arbor School of Medicine and Surgery in the winter of 1854. The following spring he entered upon the practice of his profession at Fairfield Centre, De Kalb County. This section at that time was comparatively new and sparsely settled by men of small means, who, nevertheless, to the Doctor's advantage, were subject to the ills to which flesh is heir, and he had an extensive practice during the summer season, which upon settling the following winter he found to exceed his most sanguine expectation. At Leo, Ind., on the 9th day of November, 1856, he was united in marriage with Miss Rachel Ann, daughter of Henry A. and Hannah McEwen, pioneer settlers in Indiana. Always ambitious, the event of his marriage spurred him to greater efforts and risks, and becom- ing infatuated by glowing accounts from Iowa, which was then settling up, he and his young wife started for the Eldorado of the West and selected a location at Penora, Guthrie County. Here he found himself confronted by seven other physicians, all competitors for a practice that two or three could easily have attended to. Nothing daunted, however, by the array of professional talent ahead of him, he entered the "lists " and soon made his competition felt by the other disciples of Escula- pius and built up a paying practice. At this juncture his for- mer friends and patrons at Fairfield Centre earnestly solicited him to return to them, and after careful deliberation assented to their request. After a stay of six months in Iowa he returned and was installed in the practice he had previously vacated. The labors of his practice were of the most arduous kind, his calls, owing to the treacherous and at times almost impassable roads, were made mostly on horseback, and at times in inclem- ent weather the horse had to be dispensed with. After six years of unremitting toil and incessant hardship, in which he won laurels in his profession and put dollars in his pocket, he went to Auburn where he purchased a stock of drugs. This venture proved unfortunate, and after a year's operation it ter- minated in a failure, and the Doctor once more returned to his
47
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
former field of success, this time locating at Corunna, near Fairfield Centre. In 1864 he was commissioned by the late Governor, Oliver P. Morton, Assistant Surgeon of the One Hundred and Fifty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which capacity he creditably served till the close of the war. Upon his return to civil life he entered upon the duties of his profession at Corunna, and the following year entered the medical department of the University of Medicine and Surgery at Buffalo, N. Y., from which he graduated with honors. In 1870 he entered the Rush Medical College, Chicago, Ill., and afterward the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis. and re- ceived diplomas from both institutions. He has spared neither time nor expense to acquire such skill in his profession as the most learned could impart. His library comprises one of the best private collections in the State, embracing both literary and medical works of all best known authors. In his cabinet is also to be found all the modern instruments used in the most delicate and difficult surgical operations. For nearly thirty years the Doctor has gone in and out before the people of this county in a professional way, and by his prompt and efficient responses to the call of duty he has endeared himself to a host of patrons and friends. In 1876 he received the nominatian of State Senator in the Republican Senatorial Convention of this district, to which office of responsibility and trust he was sub- sequently elected, and served his constituency. ably and well for one term. By his zeal and party devotion in the promulga- tion of Republican principles he evidenced the ability of an able legislator. Of late years he has not been active in his practice, having during his service in the army contracted inflammatory rheumatism, from which he at times suffers severely. Other- wise the Doctor is well preserved considering his age and the amount of exposure he has endured. To him and his estimable wife have been born six children, four of whom are living- Charles E., Frank M., Arthur E. and William M. The de- ceased were-Warren E., aged two years, and Katie, the only daughter, aged ten years.
G. B. Monroe, farmer, section 11, Richland Township, was born in Knox County, Ohio, Dec. 6, 1831. His father, William Monroe, was born in Fairfax County, Va., in 1803, and when a boy moved with his uncle, William Harris, to Knox County. His uncle was a distiller, and he worked with him till thirty
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
years of age. He was married in 1823 to Rachel Knight, a na- tive of Knox County, and in 1836 moved to De Kalb County, and settled in Concord Township, paying $1.25 an acre for eighty acres of heavily timbered land. He also engaged in the manufacture of brick, and was the first to establish that industry in the county. He was a man of influence in the township, and held several offices of trust. He died July 14, 1867, and his wife Sept. 20, 1881. He was a member of the Disciples church, and his wife of the Methodist Protestant church. They had a family of thirteen children; but six are living-Greenberry, Aseneth, Susannah, Rhoda, Missouri and Mary. The deceased are: David, William, Elias and Elijah (twins), Sophronia and Priscilla. G. B. Monroe was five years of age when his par- ents moved to De Kalb County. He was reared on a frontier farm, his early education being obtained in the Sunday-schools. After he had reached man's estate he helped build the first school-house in his district. He was married May 20, 1855, to Didamia, daughter of Jonathan and Mary (Van Gordon) Hall, who came to De Kalb County from Pennsylvania in 1842. After his marriage Mr. Monroe settled on the farm in Richland Township where he now lives. He has 130 acres of improved land, and is one of the most successful agriculturists of the township. He and his wife are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church. They have had five children-Ella, William (deceased), Nettie, Jonathan, Mary Belle. Politically he is a Prohibitionist.
Peter Moody was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, Sept. 1I, 1824, the eldest of ten children of Peter and Nancy (White) Moody. The former was a native of Waynesburg, Pa., and when twenty years of age came to Ohio where he was subse- quently married to the above. She was a daughter of James White who immigrated from Ireland to Ohio a short time previous to the birth of Mrs. Moody, where he taught school for many years. Mr. Moody followed farming in Ohio until 1840 when he removed his family to De Kalb County, Ind., where he entered seventy-two acres of Government land in Richland Township, which he cleared and improved, and re- sided here until 1871, when he sold out and removed to Noble County and purchased a farm where he passed the balance of his days, and where his widow now resides at the age of eighty- four years. When our subject was sixteen years of age he
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