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 68
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
came with his parents to De Kalb County, remaining with them until he was twenty-six years of age. He was married Nov. 13, 1850, to Miss Matilda M. Barnes, a daughter of Edmund and Susan H. (Beardsley) Barnes, who were natives of New York, and came to Ohio when Mrs. Moody was three years old, and to Lagrange County, Ind., in 1844. Mr. Moody has cleared and improved several tarms in Richland Township, and in 1869 he settled on the place where he now resides, which is one of the finest in the township. To Mr. and Mrs. Moody were born five children; three are now living-Mary E., Ida I., and Frank B. The deceased are: John R., and one died in infancy.
Henry Ober was born in Mifflin County, Pa., June 26, 1822, the eldest son and second child of John and Nancy (Bechtel) Ober, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. He re- mained with his parents till his marriage and then bought sixty acres of heavily timbered land in his native county, which he cleared and improved. In 1852 he moved to Stark County, Ohio, and rented land four years. He then bought eighty acres of land and made it his home till 1862, when he moved to De Kalb County and bought the farm in Richland Township, now Keyser, which he still owns, and where he lived till 1879. In 1879 he bought twenty acres in Richland Township and built a fine residence, rented his farm and retired from the active scenes of agricultural life. He was married March 31, 1846, to Elizabeth Deihl, a native of Germany, who came with her par- ents, John and Margaret (Stilser) Deihl, to America when four years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Ober have had five children-Isaac, Margaret, John, Aaron and Nancy. The latter is deceased. Politically, Mr. Ober is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Brethren in Christ church.
Harlan Page Mead, deceased, was born in Auglaize County, Ohio, Oct. 2, 1840, a son of Julius C. and Marium (Barr) Mead. When he was an infant his parents moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Richland Township, and here he was reared and educated, receiving a common-school education. He was married Sept. 1, 1861, to Mary Ellen Hathaway, a native of Rich- mond, Lake Co., Ohio, third daughter of Nathan and Hannah Hathaway, early settlers of De Kalb County. He remained on his father's farm five years, and then moved to Smithfield Township. In 1873 he moved to Keyser Township, where he died, June 12, 1873. He was an industrious, energetic man, a
1875 a ed 32, cres 8
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
good manager, economical and enterprising, and although but a young man when his life work was finished he had accumulated a good property, and had the prospects of a prosperous and useful future. During his last sickness he said to his wife, "Mary, my time has come, prepare to meet me in heaven." He was unable to speak above a loud whisper, but conversed with all who visited him till the last, urging them to prepare for death. He said he would like to see all his friends and neighbors, and told his wife to tell them how he died in the triumph of a living faith, and urge them to prepare to meet him with the blood-washed throng. He talked constantly of his Savior, and at one time said, "I suffer, Mary, but my sufferings are not to be compared with those of my dear Savior's, for he sweat, as it were, great drops of blood." At one time he called Mrs. Hathaway to his bed- side, and said : " Mother, I came here with good intentions to care for you in your old age and make you comfortable, but God has ordered it otherwise. My time is about to close on earth, I will leave you in the hands of your Savior and my Savior, and he will eventually take you home." At one time he laughed, and said : " Mary, can't you laugh? If you could see what I see you would laugh." His wife said : " Page, what do you see?" He said : " They are all there, and there is my Savior spreading for me his precious hands. I have but one thing to make me cling to earth and that is my dear wife, but I will leave her in the hands of a just God and he will take care of her." " Mary, prepare for death, and when the pale horse comes mount on and I will meet you." He told his two brothers-in-law and nephew to care for his wife, and never see her trampled on or abused. He selected the hymns to be sung at his funeral and the text for the discourse. The latter was Job xiv: 14, 16. He had no fear of death. " It is just a step and I am on the other side where Jesus stands ready to receive me," he said. He was very anxious to make his will, that his wife · might have all the property, and after that was done was con- tent. Mrs. Mead is living on a farm in Richland Township, which she superintends, and is a woman of unusual energy and ability. She was a member of the Disciples church in early life, but in 1875 transferred her allegiance to the German Baptist church. In politics Mr. Mead was a Democrat.
Jacob S. Palmer, farmer and gunsmith, section 15, Richland
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Township, was born in Stark County, Ohio, Dec. 10, 1810, a son of John and Margaret (Swihart) Palmer. In 1812 his father took the family to Washington County, Pa., and left them with the mother's father and enlisted in the war of 1812; was taken ill and died five days later. Our subject was reared by his grandfather, Peter Swihart, remaining with him till twenty-one years of age. His grandfather was a gunsmith and also carried on a farm, and he learned the trade and worked on the farm. He received a good education in the subscription schools. Af- ter reaching his majority he worked as a journeyman till 1833, when he moved to Ohio, and in 1836 opened a shop of his own. In 1850 he moved to De Kalb County, arriving in Auburn, Sept. 6. He remained in Auburn till the following spring, when he bought a farm in Richland Township, which he has carried on in connection with his trade. He was married April 5, 1831, to Susan Tiger, a native of Pennsylvania, who died March 10, 1866, leaving five children-Margaret, John, Maria, Caroline and Eli. Sept. 12, 1867, Mr. Palmer married Mrs. Abigail (Walford) Baird. They have five children-Amos, Sabina, Annie May, David L. and Marion Edwin. Politically Mr. Palmer is a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the German Baptist church.
Gilbert I. Patterson .- Among the prominent citizens of De Kalb County, none are more worthy of notice than the gentle- man, whose name stands at the head of this sketch. He was born near Canandaigua, N. Y., April 5, 1834. He is a twin son of William and Rachel (Ireland) Patterson, natives of New York, and probably of Irish descent. In 1836 they settled in Steuben County, then a dense wilderness. In 1838 Mr. Patter- son died, leaving his wife with six children to care for. After this our subject lived with John R. Moody, his brother-in-law, in De Kalb County, till of age, at which time he went on a pros- pecting tour through the Western States and purchased land at Government price in Waupaca County, Wis. March 10, 1859, he was married to Mary Ann, daughter of George De Long, an early settler of De Kalb County, and 'with his wife moved to their new home in the West, remaining there about three years. In the fall of 1861 they returned to this county where his wife died March 28, 1862, leaving one son-John R., who died aged about three years. The following August he sold his Wisconsin property and enlisted Oct. 12, 1862, in Com-
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
pany H, Thirtieth Indiana Infantry, serving ten months. He was discharged July 31, 1863, and then took another trip West, going through Texas and New Mexico, returning in 1864, and in November of that year enlisted in Company H, Fifty-third Indiana Infantry, and served till the close of the war, participating in the grand military review in Washington, June, 1865 ; was discharged July 21, 1865, at Indianapolis and returned to his home in De Kalb County. March 1, 1866, he was mar- ried to Mrs. Eliza E., widow of Harry McClellan, and daugh- ter of John T. George. He lived on a farm west of Corunna one summer, and then purchased where he now lives in Rich- land Township, owning at this time 140 acres of highly improved land. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Patterson -Mary Ann, Clara Ellen, Amy Estella, Ida Irene and Rosa. Mr. Patterson has held many local offices of trust and responsi- bility. Politically he is a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the German Baptist church. Mr. Patterson is a self-made man in every sense of the term, and from his means, which are ample, contributes with unstinted hand to every laudable enterprise, calculated to benefit the public.
Joseph Quince, son of Acla and Mary (Rogers) Quince, was born in Lincolnshire, England, May 17, 1825. He resided in his native country till he was almost twenty-six years of age when, in 1851, he came to America, and worked on a farm two years. He then came to Richland County, Ohio, and rented land till 1864, and in the fall of 1864 he came to De Kalb County, Ind., and purchased the farm where he has since re- sided, and which contains eighty acres of well-cultivated land. He was married Jan. 1, 1857, to Miss Christina Liprett, a daughter of Anthony and Mary Liprett, who came from Ire- land and settled in Richland County, Ohio, at an early day. To Mr. and Mrs. Quince have been born five children, of whom three are living-Emma J., Ida Bell and Thomas E. Those deceased are : Henry L. and Willie E. Mrs. Quince and her daughter are members of the Protestant Methodist church. Politically, Mr. Quince affiliates with the Republican party.
Jacob Ringer was born in Stark County, Ohio, Aug. 4, 1826, and is the only son of George and Mary (Herbster) Ringer, his father a native of Pennsylvania, of German descent, and his mother of Maryland, of German and English descent. He grew to manhood in his native county, receiving a common-school
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
education. He learned the shoemaker's trade after his mar- riage and worked at it several years in Ohio. In September, 1853, he moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on eighty acres of timbered land which he had bought in the spring of 1851. He now has a good farm, all well improved, with a pleasant residence and farm buildings. Mr. Ringer was mar- ried Dec. 8, 1846, to Mary M., daughter of Peter Raub, of Stark County, Ohio. She died Sept. 9, 1865, and March 25, 1866, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Wright, an early settler of De Kalb County. They have three children- Mary M., Sarah A. and Martha S. Mr. Ringer and his family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church. Politically he is a Republican.
Gilbert Showers was born in Greene County, N. Y., March II, 1828, a son of Solomon and Mahala (Greene) Showers. When he was four years old his parents moved to Michigan, and five years later to De Kalb County, Ind., where he was reared and educated. He helped to build the first school-house in Richland Township. With the exception of three years, when he was engaged in the manufacture of lumber at Show- er's Corners, he has lived near the old homestead, and in 1864 settled on the home farm where he still lives. He was mar- ried Oct. 6, 1854, to Elizabeth, daughter of Charles and Bar- bara (Thomas) Chancy, who moved from Ashland County, Ohio, to De Kalb County, Ind., in 1853. They have three children-Ida, Gilbert M. and Almeta M. Mr. and Mrs. Show- ers are members of the United Brethren church. Mr. Showers is the only surviving member of a family of eight children. His father was born in New York. in 1801, and was married to Mahala Greene in 1827. They moved to De Kalb County in 1837, there being at the time of their settlement but three other settlers in Richland Township. Their deceased children were -Catherine J., Jane M., Emily, Seth, Alfred, Rosetta and Solo- mon. Alfred died while in the defense of his country in the war of the Rebellion. Mr. Showers was a member of the first Board of Township Trustees of Richland, and a man univers- ally respected. He and his wife were members of the United Brethren church. He died April 24, 1851, and his wife Sept. 1, 1884. The April following his settlement, his brother Will- iamı, a bachelor, followed him to the township and became one of the most prominent citizens. He was the first Justice of the
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Peace of Richland, and a County Commissioner several terms. He died Aug. 8, 1861.
Henry A. Shull, farmer, section 24, Richland Township, was born in Stark County, Ohio, April 3, 1817, the eleventh of thir- teen children of Henry and Catherine (Reed) Shull. His grand- father, Peter Scholl, came from Germany to the United States when seven years of age, being the only one of his father's fam- ily to reach America, the rest all dying on shipboard. At that time the name was spelled S-c-h-o-1-1, but when our subject's father moved to Ohio he spelled it Shull, and it has never been changed by the family. Henry A. Shull received his education in the German and English schools in his native county. Here- mained with his parents till his marriage Sept. 8, 1844, when he moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought 160 acres of heav- ily timbered land in Richland Township. This land he cleared and improved, and now has one of the best homes in the town- ship. He was married Feb. 4, 1841, to Ann Eliza Weaver, a native of Stark County, Ohio, daughter of Henry and Susanna (Bender) Weaver. But one of their five children is living- Elias. Levina, Ephraim, Isaac, and an infant are deceased. Ephraim enlisted in the Rebellion in Company K, Thirty-third Indiana Infantry, and died while in the service, Nov. 15, 1861. Mrs. Shull died May 27, 1849. April 7, 1850, Mr. Shull mar- ried Rebecca Bain, a native of Stark County, Ohio, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Thomas) Bain. To them have been born nine children, but four of whom are living-Daniel B., Peter, Josiah and Rebecca Ann. The deceased are-Obadiah, Hen- rietta, Harvey, Mary C., and Edward. Mr. and Mrs. Shull are members of the Lutheran church. Politically he is a Republican.
George Simons, farmer, section 21, Richland Township, was born in Devonshire, England, Oct. 23, 1823, a son of Charles and Sarah (Trout) Simons. When he was thirteen years of age his parents came to the United States and located in Portage (now Summit) County, Ohio, where his youth was spent in as- sisting his father clear and improve a farm, attending the sub- scription schools a portion of the time. He was married Dec. 31, 1846, to Mary A., daughter of Peter and Fanny (Saunders) Pipher, natives of Pennsylvania, but early settlers of Ohio. After his marriage he settled on a part of his father's farm, re- maining there till 1851, when he moved to De Kalb County,
Fried Man 14-1901 and
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Ind., and bought the farm in Richland Township where he has since resided. He was actively engaged in agricultural pur- suits, and was very successful till the breaking out of the Rebellion, when, Nov. 5, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, One Hundredth Indiana Infantry. After serving about one year he was taken sick with typhoid fever, and for weeks his life was despaired of, but he finally recovered sufficiently to be taken home, after two years' service, where he partially regained his health, but has never been able to endure manual labor. He was discharged from the service Oct. 29, 1864. Politically Mr. Simons is a Republican. He has never aspired to official honors, the only office he ever held being Constable two years in the early part of his settlement in the county. He is a member of Charles Case Post, No. 233, G. A. R. Mr. and Mrs. Simons have had seven children ; but five are living-Lucinda, Charles, Sevilla, Eliza Jane and Wesley. Alice and an infant are deceased.
James L. Smith, farmer, section 20, Richland Township, was born in Dalton County, Pa., July 13, 1837, a son of Joseph and Annie (Guist) Smith, natives of Pennsylvania, the father of English and the mother of Scotch descent, his paternal ances- tors coming to America with William Penn. In 1839 his parents moved to Columbiana County, Ohio, where he was reared and educated. When he was sixteen years of age he went to Stark County, Ohio, and served a two years' appren- ticeship at the carpenter and joiner's trade. He then worked as a journeyman till twenty-one years of age, when he engaged in business for himself. In 1865 he moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and bought 100 acres of land in Keyser Township, a part of which is now the town site of Garrett. He rented his farm and worked at his trade till 1875, when he sold out and bought the farm of 100 acres in Richland Township, where he has since resided and has given his attention to agriculture. He has been successful in his business transactions, and has a good home, where he is surrounded with all the comforts of life. Mr. Smith was married Oct. 4, 1858, to Amanda, daughter of Samuel and Leah (Baker) Shirk, who came from Lancaster County, Pa., to Stark County, Ohio, in 1846. To them were born eight children-Isaiah J., Elmer (deceased), Harrison H., Alice E., Ida W., Ella, Minnie, and Samuel (deceased). Mrs. Smith died Sept. 6, 1877. Sept. 13, 1878, Mr. Smith married Priscilla
Died Inny 13- 1501 Stand 9 months
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Wyant, a native of Champaign County, Ohio, born Dec. 20, 1847. They have had four children-Arta May, Cora (de- ceased), James M. and Frances B. Mr. Smith is a member of Garrett Lodge, No. 537, F. & A. M. Politically he is a Demo- crat.
Daniel Thomas was born in Stark County, Ohio, Oct. 30, 1831, and is the second son and third child of David and Anna (Batchie) Thomas. The former was born in Washington Coun- ty, Pa., in 1805, and was a son of John and Mary Thomas, who settled in Ohio in 1810. John Thomas was a soldier in the war of 1812. The mother of our subject was born in Switzerland, and was twenty-one years of age when her parents came to America ; her father dying at the age of 100 years and nine months. The parents of our subject were married in Stark County, Ohio, where they lived till 1846, removing then to Louisville, Ohio, and in 1848 came to this county and township, where they lived the remainder of their lives. Eight children were born to them, five still survive. Mr. Thomas died March 3, 1862, and his wife April 26, 1883. Daniel lived with his parents till twenty- two years of age, and in his minority obtained a limited educa- tion in the district schools. He began life by working by the month, and in this way earned eighty acres of land which he yet owns. By close attention to his business and hard work he has grown in wealth, and now owns 115 acres of good land and a living compensation, besides his improvements being among the best in the county. Mr. Thomas ranks among the self-made men of the county, having hewn from the rough his fortune by his own industry, and is now surrounded by all the comforts of life. He is known by all as a man of much public spiritedness and generosity of heart. He was married Oct. 14, 1858, to Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Rietenwald, an early settler of De Kalb County. To them have been born two children- Milo and Elmira. The latter died aged six weeks. The son received a practical education at the State Normal School, Valparaiso, Ind. They have reared two other children, Thomas and Martha Wiseman, now grown and in homes of their own ; and have recently taken another little girl to raise, Minnie Ann, aged fifteen years, daughter of J. J. Thomas. Mr. Thomas and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. Politically he has voted the Democratic ticket all his life.
Levi W. Treesh was born Jan. 10, 1846, in Stark County, Ohio,
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
and is the third son and ninth child of Michael Treesh. When seven years of age he removed with his parents to De Kalb County, Ind., where he was reared on a farm, and educated in the district schools. He remained at home till Sept. 10, 1854, when he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Forty- second Indiana Infantry, and served in the armies of the Poto- mac and Cumberland till the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged June 28, 1865, at Nashville, Tenn. After the war he worked out during the summer and engaged in teaching vocal music during the winter seasons till 1872, when he settled on a part of his father's farm, and has since followed agricultural pursuits. He was married April 3, 1873, to Miss Margaret, daughter of Henry Ober, and to them have been born four children-Olive May, Chester Lloyd, Jesse Eugene and Earl Leroy. Mr. and Mrs. Treesh are members of the Lutheran church. Politically he is a Democrat. He was elected Justice of the Peace in the spring of 1884. He has been Superintendent of the Sabbath-school for five years, and is President of the De Kalb County Sunday-School Association.
Michael Treesh is another of the early settlers of this county. He was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., March 28, 1811, and is the second of eleven children of William and Christina (Barlien) Treesh, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German . descent. His Grandfather Treesh was a Captain in the con- tinental service during the Revolutionary war, and his Grand- father Barlien was a soldier in the ranks during the same strug- gle. Both were brave and intrepid soldiers, and did their country excellent service. When our subject was seven years old his parents removed to Stark County, Ohio, where his youth was spent in assisting his father on the farm, with whom he remained till twenty-two years of age. Nov. 15, 1832, he was married to Catherine Wagner, a native of Pennsylvania. In 1833 he and his bride settled in the woods and cleared up a farm on which they lived till 1853, when they removed to Indi- ana. Fifteen children were born to this couple, nine now liv- ing-John, Mary Ann, Eliza, Michael, Sarah, Levi W., Eliza- beth, Lydia and Silas. The deceased are Harriet, Daniel, William A., Catherine and two infants. In 1853 Mr. Treesh removed to this county and purchased 160 acres of land in De Kalb County, which he has mostly cleared and improved. Mrs. Treesh died Sept. 28, 1858. March 29, 1860, he was married to
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Mrs. Nancy Vail, a native of New York, who has borne him two children-Amy and Martin Luther. Mr. Treesh is a self- made man, having by his own exertion acquired the wealth he possesses, owning at this time 234 acres of excellent land. He and his wife are exemplary members of the Lutheran church. He is a Democrat in politics.
Peter Treesh, farmer, section 16, Richland Township, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., March 3, 1815, a son of William and Christina (Barlien) Treesh. His father was a na- tive of Bedford County, Pa., a son of John Treesh, a native of Holland, who was married on shipboard while en route to America, and after his arrival enlisted in the war of the Revo- lution. His mother was a native of Westmoreland County, Pa., a daughter of Jacob Barlien, who was a native of Holland. In 1819 his parents moved to Stark County, Ohio, where he was reared and educated. He was married Nov. 10, 1836, to Rachel Hubler, a native of Stark County, Ohio, daughter of Abram and Elizabeth (Darick) Hubler. After his marriage he settled in Richland County, Ohio, and Oct. 28, 1842, moved to De Kalb County, Ind. He purchased the northwest quarter of section 10, Richland Township, which at that time was heav- ily timbered. He cleared and improved his land, residing on it till 1865, when he sold it and bought the northeast quarter of section 16, where he has since resided. When Mr. Treesh came to De Kalb County, after paying for his land he had but $1.50 in money and a small team of horses. He went to work with a determined will and has outlived the hardships and pri- vations of his early life, and can now enjoy the fruits of his early life of toil. Mr. and Mrs. Treesh have had eleven chil- dren-William Philip, Jacob, Samuel, Caroline, Sarah, Henry, Daniel, Mary M., Josiah, Almira and Joel. Samuel and Al- mira are deceased. Mr. Treesh is politically a Democrat. He was the second Trustee of Richland Township. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church.
William Treesh, the youngest of eleven children of William and Christina (Barlien) Treesh, was born in Stark County, Ohio, Dec. 28, 1830. He was reared on a farm and resided with his father until the death of the latter. He was first mar- ried Aug. 30, 1853, to Miss Christiana Hontz, of Stark County, Ohio, and to them were born three children-John H., Mary M. and Anna R. He lost his wife by death Nov. 18, 1860, and
Died A/2 30-1889 aged 74 y 1ou 2% days
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HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
was again married May 18, 1861, to Miss Lydia Horten, of Stark County, Ohio, and to this union were born four children -Jonathan H., Emanuel, Sarah C. and Lydia A. In 1863 Mr. Treesh removed to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on his present farm of 100 acres of highly improved land. He and his wife are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church. Po- litically he affiliates with the Democratic party.
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