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 85
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Company. To Mr. and Mrs. Reed have been born two sons- Curtiss D. and J. H.
Gilbert Rhodenbaugh was born in Summit County, Ohio, Sept. 24, 1834, the eldest son of Peter and Maria (Young) Rhoden- baugh, natives of Pennsylvania. In the fall of 1835 his parents moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Butler Township where the mother died in 1855. His father is now a resident of Noble County. Our subject was reared and educated in De Kalb County, remaining on the farm till his majority when he took an extended trip through the Western States. On his re- turn to Indiana he engaged in agricultural pursuits. He im- proved a farm of eighty acres near the town of Garrett, remaining there till 1874 when he moved to Auburn and opened a harness shop, which he carried on two years. His fine two-story residence on Fifth street he bought of D. Z. Hoffman. Mr. Rhodenbaugh was married in 1857 to Mary E. Hallopeten, daughter of Rev. Hallopeten, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have two children-Maria C. and James L. Mrs. Rhodenbaugh is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church.
Albert Robbins, cashier of the Farmers' Bank, Auburn, Ind., was born near Amsterdam, Jefferson Co., Ohio, July 8, 1843, a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Knox) Robbins. When he was eight years of age his parents moved to De Kalb County, set- tling in Butler Township three miles southwest of Auburn, where he lived with them till nineteen years of age. He was educated in the district schools of the township and the graded school at Auburn. After leaving home he clerked in Auburn and was in the grocery, dry goods and hardware business till 1878, when he was elected on the Republican ticket, Auditor of De Kalb County. In February., 1883, he, with Jacob Wat- son, Nicholas Ensley, Guy Plumb and J. C. Henry, organized the Farmers' Bank, and he was elected cashier. Mr. Robbins was married Jan. 5, 1865, to Anna, daughter of Russel Bumpus, of Auburn. They have two children-Albert C. and Edward. Mr. Robbins is a member of Mentor Lodge, No. 591, I.O.O.F., and of the Grand Lodge of Indiana. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Auburn.
James E. Rose, attorney at law, of Auburn, Ind., was born Dec. 22, 1832, in Mecca, Trumbull Co., Ohio. His father, John Rose, was a native of Maryland, and his mother, Sarah (Coats)
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Rose, was a native of New York. The ancestors of both the Rose and the Coats families came from England. On Sept. 2, 1836, John Rose, with his family, consisting of his wife and four sons, of whom James was the youngest, and two daughters, started from their home in Mecca, Ohio, on a journey to a new home in the West, arriving in this county, in what is now Staf- ford Township, on the 3d day of October, having spent thirty- one days in performing a journey that can now be accom- plished in six hours. De Kalb County was then a wilderness, there being but a few "settlers" and not twenty acres of improved land in the county. It was several years be- fore the settlement became large enough to enable the neighborhood to organize a school, and in the meantime James was instructed by his mother and an older brother, im- proving the evenings in receiving instruction by the light gen- erously reflected by the cabin fire-place. At the age of sixteen he had acquired sufficient education to teach a common school. He taught school during the winter months and worked on his father's farm during the summers until he had reached his twentieth year, when, being desirous of obtaining a better edu- cation than the schools of the county afforded, he went to Leoni, Mich., and entered the preparatory department of the Michigan Wesleyan University. After one year spent in that department he entered upon the scientific course in the univer- sity proper, and continued in the university until May, 1858, with the exception of a few terms spent in teaching to raise funds to enable him to pay his expenses. In May, 1858, at the close of the junior year, he left the university and married Miss Mary J. Moss, of Leoni, Mich. He then returned to his old home in this county and worked on a farm until October, 1862, when he moved to Auburn and accepted the principal- ship of the Auburn schools. At the close of the winter term of school he entered the law office of James B. Morrison, Esq., as a student, where he remained until December, 1863, and then removed to Butler, in this county, and formed a partnership for the practice of law with Hon. E. W. Fosdick, devoting his time assiduously to his studies ; the business of the firm not being sufficiently large to interfere materially with his study for two years. This partnership continued until the firm of Rose & Fosdick had established a good business, when by mutual agreement the firm dissolved, Mr. Rose continuing in the prac-
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tice at Butler until October, 1872, when he removed to Auburn and continued the practice of his profession alone until July, 1873, when he formed a partnership with Hon. E. D. Hartman, which continued under the firm name of Rose & Hartman un- til July, 1881, when they dissolved the partnership, Mr. Rose continuing in the practice alone. Mr. Rose's wife died Feb. 5, 1872, leaving three children, two sons, Frank E. and James H., and one daughter, Ella J. He was again married during the summer of 1872 to Miss Ellen D. Aldrich, of Butler, who died March 22, 1873, leaving one child, who died soon afterward. He was again married in September, 1873, to Miss Mary F. Nim- mons, of Butler. They have three children-May E., Ines P. and Laura A. Mr. Rose has been actively identified with the Republican party since arriving at his majority, contributing liberally of his time and money for its success ; not for the per- sonal reward that it may bring him, but in the zealous discharge of a duty. He is a member of the Presbyterian church of Auburn, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having attained to the degree of Knight Templar. He is a zealous ad- vocate of temperance and a practical temperance man.
William E. Rush is a native of Royalton, Fairfield Co., Ohio, born Nov. 17, 1814, a son of Jacob and Rachael (Bull) Rush. When he was fifteen years of age his father died, and he was thus early thrown on his own resources. He had obtained a good education in the Lancaster schools. After the death of his fath- er he began to learn the cabinet-maker's trade, working by the month for William Busby, of Royalton, remaining there five years. He then went to Washington, Ky., and a year later to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained a year; then returned to Royalton and became associated with his brother in the mer- cantile business. Four years later his brother retired from the firm, and he continued the business alone three years. In 1843 he built a hotel in Royalton, which he kept a short time. In 1845 he ran a peddler's cart in Fairfield, Franklin, Pickaway, Fayette and Ross counties, Ohio, for Wm. L. Clemment, and then entered his store and clerked for him till 1849, when he came to Indiana and engaged in the grocery business in Auburn with John L. Butt. In 1850 he withdrew from the firm and went to California which proved a disastrous adventure, as he lost all his former accumulations. He then returned to Royal- ton and was employed by Wm. L. Clemment to take charge of
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a store in Greencastle, Ohio. He soon after became associated with Michael Bowman & Jacob Joseph in the mercantile busi- ness, the firm name being Bowman, Joseph & Rush. In 1854 he retired from the firm and returned to Auburn. In 1858 he engaged in the furniture business with John Cannon, the firm name being Cannon & Rush. The next year Daniel Altenburg succeeded Mr. Cannon and the name was changed to Rush & Altenburg. About this time he was attacked with sciatic rheu- matism and was unable to attend to business for three years. During this time, however, he was appointed Assistant Post- master at Angola, and was elected Assessor of Union Township, serving two years. In 1862 he obtained employment in the cabinet shop of Christopher Shafer at Auburn, and in the win- ter of 1864 was appointed Postmaster at Auburn and served eighteen months. In 1868 he became associated with A. Hall in the furniture business. F. Buchanan succeeded Mr. Hall, but the business was closed out in 1870. He then engaged in the manufacture of brackets and picture-frames till October, 1873, when he added the grocery business, and from that time till 1883 was engaged in either the grocery or feed business. In December, 1883, he opened his present confectionery and sta- tionery store where he is doing a good business. He was mar- ried Feb. 16, 1843, to Jemima A. Rigby, of Royalton, Ohio. They have seven children. Mr. Rush is a member of De Kalb Lodge, No. 214, F. & A. M. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Thomas J. Saxton, one of the oldest teachers of De Kalb County, is a native of New York, born in Baldwinsville, Onon- daga County, Oct. 15, 1837. When he was sixteen years old his parents, Russell and Dorinda (Tappen) Saxton, moved to Lorain County, Ohio, and settled near Oberlin, where he lived with them on a farm most of the time till manhood. He re- ceived a good education, attending the Oberlin College and the High School at Fort Wayne, Ind., and in 1859 began teach- ing. He taught ten terms in Ohio, and twenty-six or more terms in De Kalb County, Ind .; four years of this time in the graded schools of Auburn. In 1873 he was appointed Deputy County Treasurer under N. Ensley and served four years, and has also at different times been employed as deputy in the offices of the Clerk of the Court and Auditor of De Kalb County. In 1876 he was nominated by the Republican party
928 HISTORY OF DE KALB COUNTY.
for County Treasurer, but was defeated by 248 votes. In the spring of 1884 his health became impaired, and he left the school-room and has since been engaged in the insurance busi- ness. He was married Dec. 25, 1871, to Ruth, daughter of John U. and Mary Ashleman. They have three children-Erle S., Nora D., and Hugh J. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, of which he is Treasurer. He is also Treasurer and Secretary of the " Twelfth Congressional Dis- trict Christian Temperance, Union," and has for several years past been Secretary of the "De Kalb County Sabbath-School Association." With many disadvantages to overcome and poor health, thus far through life it has been with a great de- gree of energy and perseverance that much has been accom- plished by him in the direction of this world's goods and an education, the latter of which he strove eagerly for, but was not able to accomplish much until after launching out upon the great ocean of life for himself.
Z. W. Shepherd, M. D., is a native of Wayne County, Ohio, born May 17, 1838, a son of Rev. Robert C. and Catharine (Jewell) Shepherd, his father a native of Virginia, born April 28, 1808, and his mother of Pennsylvania, born March 8, 1813. Robert C. Shepherd was by trade a shoemaker, and followed that vocation for sixty years, and fifty years of this time preached on Sunday. He is a self-made and self-educated man, and is well posted on all the public affairs of the country. A strong anti-slavery man, he has helped many a poor negro to escape from the land of bondage across the borders of the United States to Canada. His wife died in 1870. He is still living in Ohio. But three of their seven children are living. Z. W. Shepherd received a fair education in his early life, never attending any institution above the common district school. He also learned the shoemaker's trade, his father thinking every boy should have a trade. When seventeen years of age he commenced teaching school and taught four years, during which time he learned to read and speak the German lan- guage fluently, and studied higher mathematics without a teacher. In the summer of 1858 (July 4), when twenty years old, he preached his first sermon in the Disciples church, and since then has preached in different localities, a part of the time being engaged as an evangelist. During his ministerial life he studied and became familiar with Greek and Latin, especially
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New Testament Greek. He commenced reading medicine in 1866 with I. J. Whitfield, of Big Rapids, Mich., and in the win- ter of 1876-'77 graduated from the Hahnneman Medical Col- lege, of Chicago, Ill. He commenced the practice of his profession in 1868 in Michigan, and subsequently went to Scranton, Pa., and practiced under the supervision of Dr. A. J. Clark. In the fall of 1873 he located at Quincy, Mich., and practiced till the fall of 1876. In July, 1877, after his gradua- tion, he located in Waterloo, where he has built up a good practice. Dr. Shepherd was married when twenty-two years of age to Mary Ann, daughter of Rev. Stephen H. Heath (a Baptist clergyman) and Catherine (Everett) Heath, of Trum- bull County, Ohio. They have four children living. One (the youngest) died in 1882. Mrs. Kate A. Kircher, Principal of the musical department of the American Normal College, Lo- gansport, Ind .; Mellie M., wife of H. L. Hutson, Deputy Clerk of Steuben County, Ind .; Robert P. and William E. Politi- cally Dr. Shepherd is an Independent Republican and Prohibi- tionist.
George Shoner, tanner, Waterloo, Ind., is a native of Ger- many, born Sept. 28, 1838, a son of John and Catherine Shoner. When he was thirteen years of age he came to America with acquaintances and located in Defiance, Ohio, where he worked at the cooper's trade two years. When eighteen years of age he began to learn the trade of a tanner, to which he has since devoted the greater part of his attention. In the spring of 1867 he moved to Waterloo, where he now has one of the largest tanneries in the county, doing an annual business of $15,000. He also superintends his farm of 150 acres in Smith- field Township. He has a pleasant residence and five acres of land adjoining Waterloo. Mr. Shoner was married May 27, 1865, to Adeline Harris, widow of Peter Hermer, who was a member of the Sixty-eighth Ohio Infantry and died at Bolivar, Tenn., of disease contracted in the service. Mr. and Mrs. Shoner have three children-Lillie, Emma and Charles. Mrs. Shoner has one daughter by her former marriage-Mary. In politics Mr. Shoner is a Republican. He is a straightforward business man, and has the confidence of his fellow citizens. He has held several offices of trust in the township. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of Union Lodge, No. 1,436, K. of H.
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Philip W. Silver, dealer in lumber, lath, shingles and building material, Auburn, Ind., was born near Dayton, Ohio, May 13, 1834, a son of Joseph C. and Margaret (Mills) Silver, natives of New Jersey. When he was six months old his parents moved to Fort Wayne, Ind., and in 1839 to a farm in Allen County, where he lived till nearly twenty years of age. His first at- tendance at school was in a rude log house, erected by a few neighbors; but his school days were rare, as he was permitted to go only when his services were not required on the farm. He was an expert hunter and enjoyed the sport, and as their only meat was game, his rifle was often put to use. His father was a large landowner, but money was scarce and he often helped his mother spin and weave flax and wool into cloth for the large family. Before leaving home he had helped his father clear 200 acres of land. He worked by the month three months, saving his wages that he might see something of the world. His first stopping place was Cincinnati. From there, in the fall of 1853, he started down the Ohio River for New Orleans, but it being a sickly season, when he reached Memphis re- turned to Cincinnati, where he worked the next winter chop- ping wood, and the next spring started across the country for the South. At a small town in Kentucky he got a job of bridgebuilding on the Licking River Valley Railroad, receiv- ing $1.50 per day. He worked till the following October, and while in Covington, Ky., where he went to draw his wages, learned of a colony forming to go to Kansas which he joined, but his parents wishing him to visit them before going West, he returned to Indiana and, while visiting a brother in Lima, was persuaded by him to remain and engage with him in blacksmithing. In the spring of 1857 they closed out their business and went to Manhattan, Kan., near where he pre- empted 160 acres of land which he partially improved. In 1860 he and his brother went to the plains on a buffalo hunt, and in about a month had 4,000 pounds of dried buffalo meat, 700 pounds of tallow and a large number of tongues. They re- turned to Leavenworth, Kas., expecting to dispose of their stock, but found no market and so peddled from house to house till they reached the C. B. & Q. Railroad in Iowa, where they left their team and shipped their meat to Chicago where they sold a part of it at a good price. The rest they shipped to Fort Wayne. April 7, 1861, on the first call for troops, he en-
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listed in Company G, Twelfth Indiana Infantry, and was as- signed guard duty. After being out two months the regiment became restless and wanted to be sent to the front, but the President refused to allow them to do so unless they re-en- listed for a longer period, and the 15th of June they enlisted for one year. They were then ordered to Baltimore and from there to Harper's Ferry, and were on guard duty on the Po- tomac River till February, 1862, when they were assigned to General Shields Fourth Brigade, under General Abercrombie, and went to Winchester and from there to Bull Run, and had charge of building the railroad from Washington to Richmond. May 21, 1862, he was discharged, and after his return to Indi- ana assisted in raising Company C, Eighty-eighth Indiana In- fantry and enlisted as a private, but on its organization was commissioned First Lieutenant and subsequently promoted to Captain. In December, 1863, he resigned on account of poor health and returned home. He participated in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, and all the skirmishes from there to Chattanooga, Chickamauga and Mission Ridge. After his re- turn home he engaged in the lumber business in Sedan, Ind., till April, 1867. Then moved to Bluffton, Ind., where he bought a saw-mill, and in 1876 sold it and moved to Auburn. He was married June 24, 1862, to Angeline, daughter of Will- iam Park, of Allen County, Ind. They have four children- Alice, wife of Jefferson Boyles; Maggie B., Desdemona and Ray Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Silver are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. He is a member of De Kalb Lodge, No. 214, F. & A. M., and De Long Post, No. 67, G. A. R.
A. J. Sinclair, of the firm, Sinclair Brothers, hardware mer- chants, Waterloo, Ind., was born in Oneida County, N. Y., Sept. 9, 1833, a son of John and Elizabeth Sinclair. He was three years of age when his parents moved to Jonesville, Mich., and there he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the common schools. He was married in Coldwater, Mich., in 1858, to Ellen M., daughter of Emerson Marsh. They have four children-Arthur V., Agnes E., George G. and Harry.M. In 1862 Mr. Sinclair moved to Effingham County, Ill., and re- mained two years. In 1864 he came to Indiana and located in Waterloo, and became established in the hardware business. In 1867 his brother John W. came to Waterloo and bought an in- terest in the business which they have built up, and are now
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numbered among the most enterprising and successful citizens of the city. Mr. Sinclair has held several local offices of trust in the township and has been a member of the City Council. He is a member of Waterloo City Lodge, No. 307, F. & A. M.
John W. Sinclair, of the firm, Sinclair Brothers, hardware merchants, Waterloo, Ind., was born in Monroe City, Mich, Sept. 6, 1831, a son of John and Elizabeth Sinclair. John Sinclair, Sr., was a native of Glasgow, Scotland, born in 1810, and when twelve years of age came to the United States and lived for a short time in New York City; then moved to Oneida County, and was there married. In 1830 he moved to Monroe City, Mich. Subsequently he returned to New York, but in 1836 again moved to Michigan and settled in Jonesville ; is now liv- ing in Hillsdale, Mich. In politics he is a Republican, and in religious faith a Unitarian. His family consisted of four sons and three daughters. John W. Sinclair received a good educa- tion, remaining with his parents till twenty years of age, when he went to California and remained sixteen years. In 1867 he returned East and located in Waterloo, and the same fall was married to Florence L. Arnett. To them were born five chil- dren, four of whom are living-Abbie E., Robert W., Florence L. and Tannie. Mr. Sinclair is a member of Waterloo City Lodge, No. 307, F. & A. M. In 1868 he was appointed Agent of the United States Express Company, and also for five years was agent for the American. In politics he is a Republican, and is well posted in all county, State and National affairs.
David Sink, son of George and Polly (Linkenfelter) Sink, was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, in July, 1845, and was an in- fant when his parents moved to De Kalb County. In this county he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the schools of Union Township. He was early inured to the duties of farm- life, and since the death of his father has had charge of the homestead. He is an industrious, frugal young man, and a worthy successor of a worthy father. His ability has been manifest in the management of the estate and care of the younger children. He was married in 1870 to Louisa M. Wherly, daughter of Randolph and Mary Wherly, of De Kalb County. To them have been born three children-Tillie S., Ada E. and Adolphus H. Mr. and Mrs. Sink are members of the German Reformed church.
George Sink, deceased, was a native of Hesse, Germany, born
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in 1800. He remained in his native country till after his mar- riage, coming to the United States with his wife and three chil- dren. He settled in Columbiana County, Ohio, where his wife died, leaving four children, one of whom was killed in one of the old-fashioned tread-mills. In 1844 Mr. Sink married Polly Linkenfelter, and in 1846 they moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on the farm now owned by Mrs. Sink. It contains sixty acres of choice land in a high state of cultivation. Here Mr. Sink lived till his death, of heart disease, in October, 1868. To his second marriage were born six children-David and Solomon (twins), Henry, Samuel, Elizabeth, wife of Dr. Fagton, of Waterloo, and Sophia, wife of Benjamin Fagton, brother of the doctor. Mr. Sink was an energetic, enterprising citizen, and was influential in the advancement of many interests of public benefit, both to the town and county.
Archibald T. Smith, of the firm A. T. Smith & Co., agricult- ural implements, Waterloo, Ind., was born in Medina County, Ohio, May 3, 1836, a son of Archibald and Mary (Thompson) Smith, his father a native of Teregles, Scotland, born Dec. 27, 1788, and his mother of Cumberland County, England, born Oct. 29, 1794. The parents were married in Liverpool, Aug. II, 1818, and immediately started for America, and were ten weeks crossing the ocean. They lived in New York a short time and then moved to Stark and Medina counties, Ohio, and there followed agricultural pursuits till 1841, when they re- moved to De Kalb County, Ind. The father died April 27, 1861, aged seventy-two years, and the mother Dec. 4, 1876, aged
eighty-two years. Eight of their ten children lived till ma- turity. A. T. Smith remained on the farm with his parents till manhood, receiving a good common-school education. In 1880 he was married to Bena Boyer, and to them has been born one son-Lisle Archibald. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Presbyterian church. In November, 1845, a cyclone passed over Franklin Township, De Kalb County, and damaged con- siderable property. Mr. Smith, Sr., had just erected a frame house, and the carpenters were at work inside. Archibald and two sisters started for the new house for shavings, and the black clouds and wind frightened them. As soon as they opened the door in the back of the building, the men who were at work saw what was coming and jumped through a trap-door into the cellar. One of them was caught by something in the 59
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wall, but was uninjured. In a second's time the front part of the house was torn to atoms, and at the same time the timbers and joice came down with a rush and struck his sister Agnes, crushing her head and killing her instantly. The other sister and Archibald escaped with a few bruises.
David T. Smith, the fourth of twelve children of David H. and Margaret (Treash) Smith, was born in Indiana County, Pa., April 5, 1837. His parents were married Dec. 27, 1831, and in 1848 moved with their family to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Butler Township, where the mother died July 10, 1868, and the father July 2, 1870. David H. Smith was a well known and much respected citizen of the county, and was in- fluential in advancing many of its public interests. Of a family of twelve children eight are living, all, save two, in De Kalb County. David T. Smith received the greater part of his edu- cation in Butler, completing it at the seminary. He remained on the old homestead till manhood, a part of which he once owned. In 1864 he went to Idaho, but remained only a few months. Returning to De Kalb County he worked at the car- penter's trade till 1877, when he settled on his farm and has since given his attention to agriculture and stock-raising. He owns eighty acres of good land a mile east of Auburn, which is well improved and on which is a good residence and farm buildings. He was married May 4, 1875, to Julia A. Plum, daughter of Jeremiah Plum, ex-Sheriff of De Kalb County. They have one son-Marion. One son died in infancy. Mr. Smith is an active politician of the old Jeffersonian school, al- though he never seeks nor desires office for himself.
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