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 82
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Augustus S. Leas, ex-Sheriff of De Kalb County, was born in Stark County, Ohio. In 1852 he came with his parents to De Kalb County, Ind., where he married Nancy Ford, by whom he had one child-Franklin. Mrs. Leas died, and he then mar- ried Electa Fay, of Bryan, Ohio, and to them were born four children, three of whom are living-Frederick, Nannie and Agnes. Mrs. Leas died, and he was again married to Arrella Amidon (better known by the name of Teems). In early life he was a clerk in a store. In 1878 he was elected to the office of Sheriff of the county, and filled the same for four years. He is a Republican in politics.
Obe Leas is a native of Steuben County, Ind., born Nov. 5,
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1851, the seventh of twelve children of John and Susan (Schimpff) Leas, natives of Pennsylvania. In 1849 his parents moved to Stark County, Ohio, and thence to Steuben County, Ind., locating on the line of De Kalb County ; now live in Smithfield Township, De Kalb County. Obe Leas was reared on a farm, receiving a good education, completing it at Water- loo. He remained with his parents till manhood, and soon after his twenty-first birthday was married to Lydia, third daughter of Joseph and Nancy Plum. After his marriage he settled on the farm where he has since lived, known as the old Middleton farm, near the city of Waterloo. It contains ninety-six acres of choice land, the greater part under cultivation and the im- provements are all substantial and in good repair. He devotes considerable attention to raising horses, having several of the celebrated Clydesdale breed. He is one of the enterprising young men of the township and a prominent and prosperous citi- zen. He has three children-Byron, Franklin O, and Lulu M.
William Lessig was born near Hancock, Md., Feb. 12, 1818, a son of John and Elizabeth (Keifer) Lessig. His maternal grandfather was a hero of the Revolutionary war, and his father was a descendant of Peter Stuyvesant of Colonial fame. His parents located soon after in Franklin County, Pa., where they resided until his father's death which occurred when he was seven years of age. Sept. 10, 1840, he married Miss Frances Barclay, a native of Franklin County, and located in Bedford County, Pa., where he engaged in the hatting business, then a lucrative occupation. In 1842 they moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and in 1850 Mr. Lessig went to California by the over- land route, through Salt Lake City. In the spring of 1851 he returned home via Mexico. In Sept., 1853, they moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in the woods two miles east of Auburn, clearing and opening up a fine farm on which they lived till the fall of 1878, when they moved to Auburn where they have since lived retired, renting their farm. They have endured many hardships and privations, and are now reaping the benefits of their many years of toil. In all the struggles which fate heaps upon the pioneer his noble wife has stood by his side, and has done her share toward making a home and a competency for their old age. They have had four children, of whom all died in infancy, save one, a daugh- ter-Ella E., wife of B. F. Culbertson, of Auburn, Ind. Mr.
HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY. 895
and Mrs. Lessig have been for many years members of the Presbyterian church.
John J. Littlefield, M. D., was born in Verona, Oneida Co., N. Y., March 13, 1831, a son of Josiah and Rachel Littlefield. He lived with his parents in Oneida County, N. Y., and Mon- roe County, Mich., till manhood, and was given a good English education, attending the district schools and Holley (N. Y.) Academy. From 1854 till 1856 he superintended his father's mills at Grafton, Mich. Having had from his youth a desire to be a physician, in 1856 he entered the office of Dr. John L. Near, at Flat Rock, Mich., and began to study the profession. He remained with Dr. Near till 1861, and then entered the medical department of the Michigan State University and took two courses, 1860-'61 and 1861-'62. Ill health prevented him from finishing the last course. After his recovery, in May, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, Twenty-fourth Michigan Infantry, as a private. Soon after he was mustered into the service, while at Fort Lyons, Va., he was detailed dispenser of drugs in the regi- ment hospital, and also acted as Assistant Surgeon till his discharge for disability in August, 1863. He returned to Mich- igan and began the practice of medicine at Dundee, remaining there till August, 1864, when he was appointed recruiting officer and the following October was commissioned Assistant Surgeon of the One Hundred and Eighty-eighth Michigan Infantry, and served till the close of the war; was mustered out July, 1865. He returned to Dundee and resumed his practice. In 1868 he removed to Petersburg, Mich. In March, 1870, he entered the Philadelphia (Pa.) Eclectic Medical College and graduated the following June. He continued his practice in Petersburg till March, 1871, when he moved to Auburn, Ind., where he has built up a fine practice. Dr. Littlefield has been twice married. April 15, 1853, he married Mary A. Hawley, of Monroe County, Mich., from whom he was divorced in 1871. To them were born four children-Francis, Daniel, Carrie ( wife of J. H. Pilk- ington, of Parsons, Kan.) and Addie (wife of Dr. Frank Pratt, of Jackson, Mich.). In June, 1872, Dr. Littlefield married Eliza E. Burdenow. They have one child-John. The doctor and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of Mentor Lodge, No. 591, I. O. O. F., and is agent and Examining Surgeon for the Odd Fellows' Mutual Aid Society of the State of Indiana.
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896 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Edgar E. Long, of the firm of Long & Trout, liverymen, Auburn, Ind., was born in Pleasant Lake, Steuben Co., Ind., June 15, 1850, a son of Benajah B. Long, who settled at Pleasant Lake in 1836, thence to Waterloo in 1859, and was for a number of years a leading merchant of that place. He was also engaged in the livery business eighteen years, and our subject remained with him all the time when not in school. He received a good educa- tion in the schools of Waterloo. He was married March 7, IS72, to Dora A. Dickinson, daughter of Timothy Dickinson, an early settler of Auburn. They have one child-Mary O. Mr. Long became proprietor of Long's Hotel in 1878 and carried it on six years. He moved to Auburn in September, 1884, and in company with Eugene Trout became established in the livery business. They have a good trade, their stock being valued at $3,000. Mr. Long was Marshal of Waterloo in 1874 and 1875. He is a member of the Knights of Honor, Union Lodge, No. 1,436, at Waterloo.
Rev. Isaac W. Lowman is a native of Indiana, born in Wabash County, April 7, 1851, the eldest son of Martin and Priscilla (Pike) Lowman, natives of Ohio, and early settlers of Wabash County, Ind., and latter moved to Kosciusko County where they both died. Isaac was reared and educated in the last- named county, receiving his early education in the district schools. After teaching he subsequently began to study for the ministry, and in 1869 began preaching in the Church of God, his first circuit extending over a part of Lagrange and De Kalb counties. He continued preaching eight years, and since then has given his attention to agricultural pursuits. He was mar- ried in 1873 to Ellen F. Kutzner, only daughter of Augustus and Amanda Kutzner. After his marriage he lived on the Willaman farm till 1884, and then moved to the farm where he now lives, where he has eighty acres of finely improved land. Mr. and Mrs. Lowman have two children-Vernon W. and Mar- vin Bliss.
John Lutz, one of the early settlers of De Kalb County, came to the county with his parents, Michael and Magdeline (Crawford) Lutz, in 1847, and located in Union Township. His father died soon after their arrival, and the farm was cleared and cultivated by Mrs. Lutz, assisted by her children. Mrs. Lutz was an energetic, ambitious woman, and worked hard to make a home and rear her children. She died in 1882 after a
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J. Matheny MS
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long life of usefulness. Our subject was born in Stark County, Ohio, in 1826, and was, therefore, about twenty-one years of age when he came to De Kalb County. He assisted his mother as long as his services were needed, and then commenced to work for himself. He has been successful, and now owns 270 acres of land, 100 acres under cultivation. He was married March 24, 1868, to Susannah Oberholtzer, a native of Union Township, De Kalb County. To them were born six children, but four of whom are living-Jennie, Ada, Martha and John. Mrs. Lutz died April 24, 1880. She was a most estimable, cultured woman, and her friends were legion. A devoted wife and mother, and a kind, considerate neighbor, her loss cannot be estimated.
Timothy G. Matheny, M. D., a prominent physician of Auburn, Ind., was born in Morgan County, Ohio, April 20, 1830. He is a son of Nathan and Anna (Sheckley) Matheny, natives of Pennsylvania. His mother, who was a worthy member of the Baptist church, and a very estimable lady, was much beloved by all who knew her, and although idolized at home she was removed by death in 1837, when only thirty years old. After his mother's death he was sent to live with an uncle, George Daugherty, where he remained until eighteen years of age, re- siding in Washington and Hardin counties, Ohio. From 1848 to 1851 he attended school at Kenton, Ohio, working between sessions to defray expenses at school; thus heroically battling with poverty, determined to acquire as much of an education as his surroundings would permit. In those youthful days of hardships, without the sympathy and parental guidance which the young heart so much craves, he developed powers of inde- pendent thought and self-reliance, that with the maturer judg- ment of later years, goes far to make him the safe, careful, conscientious and valuable counsel, which reputation now crowns him with the desirable popularity he now enjoys with his patrons. On the 17th day of August, 1851, he was married to Miss Abi Hatch, daughter of Waterman and Mary (Young) Hatch. He is the third of five children in his father's family. Barbara A., Joseph E., Timothy G. and Martha J. yet living. One brother, Wm. N., died in Fort Wayne, Ind., in the spring of 1876, at the age of forty-four years. While at Kenton he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Russell. In the fall of 1854 he removed from Kenton, Ohio, to Decatur, Adams Co., Ind., where he continued the study of medicine
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under the instruction of Dr. Pierce. Later he attended medi- cal lectures at Cincinnati, Ohio. While located at Decatur and prosecuting his studies, he found it necessary to do some- thing to secure the necessary revenue to meet expenses in rais- ing a family, and being a practical millwright he engaged in the milling business, where he had the reputation of turning out more flour, and of as good quality, as any of his compeers. In 1862 he was appointed by Gov. O. P. Morton as enrolling offi- cer for Adams County. He enrolled the county during the summer, made the draft in October that year, and his men were mustered in the United States service in November at Camp Sullivan, Ind. He also enlisted a company, and was about to be commissioned as its Captain, when he was attacked with typhoid fever, which so prostrated him that for about one year he was unable to do manual labor. He continued his medical studies, and in 1863 removed to the north part of De Kalb County, and began the practice of medicine at Barker's Corners, and a few years later removed to Hudson, Ind., where he purchased some land and continued his practice at that place where he was blessed with a large and lucrative busi- ness. After moving to Hudson he opened a drug store, which he managed till 1877, when he sold his drug stock to and ex- changed locations with Dr. J. J. Littlefield, and removed to Auburn. In 1879 he formed a partnership with Dr. J. B. Case- beer in the practice of medicine and surgery, also in the drug business. They are now proprietors of the Physicians' Drug Store, located on Main street, next door to the First National Bank, and are not only occupying a beautiful room, but are en- joying a nice drug trade as well as a very popular practice in medicine and surgery. The Doctor is a graduate of the Fort Wayne Medical College, and is an honor to his " Alma Mater" by the honorable and energetic manner in which he engages in the profession of his choice. In politics he is a pronounced Democrat, serving his party faithfully whenever opportunity occurs. He is a Master Mason, a member of De Kalb Lodge, No. 214 ; has also been a member of I. O. O. F. since 1851. Has five children living-David B., Sarah A., Robison W., Mary L. and Brownell. A daughter, Emma Z., died June 3, 1853, aged three months. Dr. Matheny has been a student all his life, keeping pace with the advancement of the medical pro- fession. He comprehends his duties as a family physician, and
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conscientiously performs them, and thus has endeared himself to the many families who have employed and thus become in- timately acquainted with him. He is heavily built, but at the age of fifty-five his step is very firm and elastic. In conversa- tion he is genial ; in the social circle he is lively, and enjoys dealing in innocent jokes with as much zest as those that are younger.
J. F. Maxson, of the firm of Bassett & Maxson, jewelers, Wa- terloo, Ind., is a native of Greenbush, near Albany, N. Y., born April 4, 1832, a son of Jehu J. and Luna (Tompkins) Maxson, his father of Irish and his mother of Scotch descent. In 1836 his parents moved to Jackson County, Mich., and entered a farm from the Government. His mother died in August, 1839. Of her seven children six are living. His father afterward married Harriet Eastman, and to them were born eleven chil- dren, nine of whom are living. One son, Walter, was killed while in the service of his country in the war of the Rebellion. J. F. Maxson was reared on a pioneer farm, at a time when Indians and wild animals infested the country. When twenty- one years of age he went to Coldwater, Mich., and there learned the jeweler's trade of C. H. Thompson. While there he made the acquaintance of Charles Bassett, who was a fellow- apprentice, and after completing their trade, in 1859, together they came to Waterloo, Ind., and opened a store, at that time the only one of the kind in the place. They have the largest jewelry store in the county, and keep a complete stock of everything in their line. Their shrewd business qualities, com- bined with their thorough knowledge of their trade, has gained for them a high position among the business men of the county. Mr. Maxson was married in 1863 to Martha J., daughter of James and Mary Maybee, of Lockport, N. Y. They have four children-Mattie, John C., Agnes and Earl H. Mr. Maxson cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont, and has since been a strong advocate of Republican principles. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren church.
William B. Maxwell is a native of Ohio, born in Wayne County, Aug. 9, 1841. His parents, William and Elizabeth (Woods) Maxwell, were natives of Pennsylvania, the father born March 1, 1801, and the mother July 8, 1806. They were married in Ohio, but in 1842 moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Wilmington Township. Of the twelve children
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born to them seven are living. The father was an influential man in his neighborhood, and held several offices of trust. The mother died Oct. 25, 1855. Our subject received his early edu- cation in the district schools of his adopted county. When sixteen years of age he began to learn the cabinet-maker's trade, and served an apprenticeship of four years with J. & R. Ettin- ger, of Auburn, receiving $140 a year for his services. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundredth Indiana Infan- try, Company A, and participated in the siege and battle of Vicksburg and battle of Jackson. While at Belfort, Ala., he was taken with rheumatism and was sent to the convalescent camp at Huntsville, where he remained till October, 1864, when he was given a furlough to go home and vote. After his return to Huntsville he was assigned duty in the light artillery service. He was mustered out at Nashville, Tenn., May 13, 1865. His health being impaired he was unable to work, and therefore attended school till the spring of 1866, when he went to Bureau County, Ill., and the following fall to Peru, LaSalle County. In 1867 he went to Omaha, and was in the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad till 1870, when he returned to De Kalb County and located in Waterloo. He was married in 1873 to Emeline Stroh, a native of De Kalb County, born Oct. 13, 1846, a daughter of William and Sarah Stroh. To them have been born three children ; but two are living-Albert E., born Jan. 25, 1875, and Arthur A., born July 26, 1884. Frank W., born May 9, 1878, died Dec. 28, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of Waterloo Lodge, No. 221, I. O. O. F., and Waterloo Post, No. 52, G. A. R.
Robert Wes McBride, Judge of the Thirty-fifth Judicial Cir- cuit, was born near Mansfield, Richland Co., Ohio, Jan. 25, 1842, a son of Augustus and Martha A. (Barnes) McBride. His father was a volunteer soldier in the Mexican war, and died in the City of Mexico in February, 1848. His mother, now the widow of James Sirpless, resides at the old home, five and a half miles southeast of Mansfield. When thirteen years of age Mr. McBride went to Iowa and remained seven years. He acquired a good education in the common and high schools, and when seventeen began teaching in Mahaska County, Iowa. He taught three years, and in 1862 returned to Ohio and clerked in the hardware store of B. S. Runyan a year. In 1863
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he entered the service of the United States as a member of Union Light Guards, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, an independent squadron of cavalry of picked men organized by Governor David Tod, and remained a member of this organization till it was mustered out, Sept. 14, 1865. After about eight months of active service he became disabled and was assigned to de- tached service as clerk, and served successively from clerk to a military commission at the central guard-house, Washington, and in the Adjutant-General's office till mustered out. He was then appointed to a citizen's clerkship in the Quartermaster- General's office, which he resigned the following November and returned to Mansfield. He taught school at his old home in the winter of 1865-'6, and devoted his leisure time to the study of law. In the spring of 1866 he came to Waterloo, Ind., and obtained employment as clerk and bookkeeper for R. M. & W. C. Lockhart, still continuing his law studies. Dur- ing the session of 1867 he acted as one of the clerks of the Indi- ana State Senate, and at the April, 1867, term of De Kalb Circuit Court was admitted to the bar. In September, 1867, a partnership was formed with Hon. James I. Best for the prac- tice of law, but in July, 1868, this partnership was dissolved and he practiced alone till December, 1870, when he formed a partnership with Joseph L. Morlan, the firm being McBride & Morlan. In 1876 William H. Leas was admitted to the firm which was dissolved by the death of Mr. Morlan, Aug. 23, 1878. After Mr. Morlan's death, Mr. McBride practiced alone till November, 1882, when he was elected Judge of the Thirty-fifth Judicial Circuit, composed of Noble, De Kalb and Steuben counties. Judge McBride was for several years Captain of Waterloo Rifles, Company A, Third Regiment, Indiana Legion, and is now Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment. He was mar- ried Sept. 27, 1868, to Miss Ida S., eldest daughter of Dr. J. N. Chamberlain, of Waterloo. They have four children-Daisy I., born Sept. 25, 1869; Charles H., born Nov. 11, 1871 ; Her- bert W., born Oct. 15, 1873, and Martha C., born Feb. 13, 1876.
J. P. McCague, lumber dealer, Waterloo, Ind., is a native of Holmes County, Ohio, born July 12, 1846. His parents, Sam- uel C. and Eliza J. (Barfoot) McCague, were natives of Penn- sylvania, but in early life went to Ohio, where they were married. Of their three children, two were born in Ohio and
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one in De Kalb County, Ind. His father died in 1852, and in 1855 his mother married Aaron B. Smith, of Stark County, Ohio, and to them was born one son, Sanford S. The mother died in August, 1880. J. P. McCague was early in life thrown on his own resources, and therefore early learned the lesson of self-reliance. In 1861 he went to Winnesheik County, Iowa, and in July, 1862, enlisted in the Twelfth Iowa Infantry, but was discharged on account of his youth. He subsequently served in the Indian campaign in an independent company, and was present at the capture of 600 Sioux, who were sent to Davenport. While on a skirmish he was captured, and was tied to a guard, but while the guard was sleeping he loosed himself. In so doing he disturbed a dog, which he killed with the guard's knife. By this time the guard awoke and he then killed him and made his escape. He carries the scars of this combat on his hands to this day. He returned to Winnesheik County and attended school till the spring of 1864, when he enlisted in Company F, Forty-sixth Iowa Infantry, Sixteenth Army Corps, and participated in the battles of Tupelo and Guntown ; was mustered out in August, 1864. After his dis- charge he came to De Kalb County where he has since resided. He is one of the most enterprising and influential business men of Waterloo. He is First Lieutenant of Company A, Third Indiana National Rifles (Waterloo Rifles), and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was married in 1872 to Nancy A., daughter of James Bowman. They have six chil- dren-Charles A., Nellie, Eddie, Blanche, Eston and Eugene.
Hon. Charles A. O. McClellan, attorney at law, and President of the First National Bank, Auburn, Ind., was born May 25, 1835, in Ashland, Ashland Co., Ohio. His parents, William and Eliza (Wiggins) McClellan, were natives of New Jersey, his father of Scotch-Irish, and his mother of German descent. In his boyhood and youth Mr. McClellan had but limited educa- tional advantages, only attending the district school in the win- ter months, assisting his father in his business the rest of the year, until reaching the nineteenth year when, having become a fine penman, he gave instruction in penmanship and pen-draw- ing for two years. Notwithstanding his meager opportunities he, by extra personal efforts, acquired an excellent English education. In 1856 he came to Indiana, settling in Auburn, De Kalb County, where he was employed as deputy in the County
21-1899 aged 62 m.d.
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Auditor's office under M. F. Pierce, serving in that position five years. In early life his inclinations were for the profession of the law, and while in the Auditor's office at Auburn he de- voted his leisure time to its study, and at the same time made a complete abstract of the county records. In the spring of 1860 he was appointed one of the two United States Marshals to take the census of De Kalb County. In the fall of 1861 he went to Waterloo and engaged in the real-estate business, although he still pursued his law studies, and in 1862 was admitted to the bar. In January, 1863, he became associated with Judge J. I. Best in the practice of his profession and remained with him till February, 1879, when he accepted the appointment of Judge of the Fortieth Judicial Circuit of Indiana, and filled this re- sponsible position with ability and honor. As a lawyer he oc- cupies a distinguished position among his professional brethren. He has always been a leader in public improvements in De Kalb County, and was one of the original stockholders and a director of the Fort Wayne, Jackson & Saginaw Railroad, and exerted his influence to have it brought through the county, and is now Trustee of the Nickel Plate Railroad. In 1868, in company with Judge Best, he built the Star Mills at Waterloo, at a cost of $18,000, which were operated only a short time, when they were destroyed by fire without insurance. In 1873 he was one of the incorporators of the De Kalb Bank of Waterloo in which he still retains an interest. He is also a stockholder of the First National Bank of Auburn, and was its Vice-President from 1878 to 1882, and since the latter year has been President of the cor- poration. He removed from Waterloo to Auburn in 1883. In 1884 he purchased the Snyder Wagon Works and organized the Snyder Wagon Company, the largest manufacturing estab- lishment in the county. Mr. McClellan is a pronounced Demo- crat in his political views, and was a member of the Democratic State Central Committee of Indiana in 1878. He is a promi- nent Mason, having taken the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Knights Templar degrees, and has served as Worshipful Master and Eminent Commander. He was married Nov. 10, 1859, to Eliza- beth, daughter of Samuel D. Long, one of the pioneers of De Kalb County. They have three children-Jennie L., wife of Don A. Garwood, an Attorney at Waterloo, associated with Mr. McClellan in practice at that place ; Charles, a member of Governor Gray's military staff, and a graduate of Michigan
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