History of Dekalb County, Indiana, with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families, Part 33

Author: B.F. Bowen & Co., Pub
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1182

USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Dekalb County, Indiana, with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families > Part 33

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Mr. Lawhead died on March 27, 1913, and his death was universally mourned throughout the locality where he was acquainted, for there were combined in his make-up those elements which commended him to the good will and esteem of all who knew him. He was not only a loving and faith- ful father, a kind and indulgent husband, but to all those with whom he came

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in contact he bore kindly relations and at all times endeavored to spread the gospel of good cheer, being generous in his attitude toward others, regard- less of their faults or foibles. A man of good judgment and ripe experience he was often sought for advice by those starting out in life's battles and he cheerfully and wisely advised those who sought him. The best that can be said of any man may be truthfully said of Mr. Lawhead, namely, that the world was better for his having lived, and though he has passed to the better world his influence still pervades the lives of those who came within the range of his life and character.

FRANK W. WILLIS.

Not too often can be repeated the life story of one who lived so honorable and useful a life and attained to such notable distinction as he whose name appears at the head of this sketch, who was one of the most successful and dis- tinguished newspaper men of northeastern Indiana. His character was one of signal exaltation and purity of purpose. Well disciplined in mind, maintain- ing a vantage point from which life presented itself in correct proportions, guided and guarded by the most inviolable principles of integrity and honor, simple and unostentatious in his self-respecting, tolerant individuality, such a man could not prove other than a force for good in whatever relation of life he may have been placed. His character was the positive expression of a strong nature and his strength was as the number of his days. In studying his career interpretation follows fact in a straight line of derivation and there is no need for indirection or puzzling. As the day, with its morning of hope and promise, its noontide of activity and accomplishment and its evening of completed and successful efforts, so was the life of this good and honored man. His career was a long, busy and useful one, and his name is revered by all who had occasion to come into contact with him on life's pathway. His life was one of consecration to his calling, and well does he merit a place of honor in every history touching upon the lives and deeds of those who have given the best of their powers and talents for the aiding and betterment of their kind.

Frank W. Willis was born in Syracuse, New York, June 13, 1842, and died at his home in Waterloo, Indiana, May 19, 1913, at the age of seventy years, eleven months and six days. He was a son of Henry and Emerline (Hewitt) Willis, and came to this county in 1844 when his parents located

FRANK W. WILLIS

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on a tract of land in Richland township, where they resided until 1864, at which time they moved to Waterloo when the senior Mr. Willis was elected sheriff of DeKalb county. The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm belonging to his father and attended the common schools. In addition to this he attended the schools at Auburn and Waterloo, and also spent some time at the Orland Seminary. At the age of eighteen years he offered his services to the United States at the time of the Civil war outbreak and en- listed as a member of Company K, Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving his country for over three years. During these years of service he spent the best part of his life for his country, and engaged in the battles of Shiloh, Chickamauga, Stone's River and other important engagements, and was wounded three different times, but was always ready to do his duty as a soldier.

After his discharge Mr. Willis was appointed assistant assessor and deputy collector of the tenth congressional district, by William Pitt Fessender, secretary of the treasury under President Johnson. For four years he dis- charged his duties in this capacity with the full satisfaction of his superiors. Soon after the war he commenced to practice before the department of in- terior, and as a claim agent secured many pensions for old soldiers and their widows. He was well known among the soldiers of the county and elsewhere and had many tender comrades who thought of him during his illness and were kind to him. After his return from the army he was stricken with violent illness and at times suffered greatly, due to his exposure in the service for his country. At times regaining his health, he thought that he would eventually become stronger, and for a number of years was much improved, but after the fire of 1896 he again lost his health, and from that date gradually failed, although he held on to life always with a tenacious grip, and his sturdy constitution gave him courage to live as long as he could, until he had passed the three score years and ten. Many a time he seemed cheerful when he was suffering from pain that cannot be described. He enjoyed his home and reared a large family. On January 1, 1884, Mr. Willis formed a partnership with E. P. Dickinson, and the new firm bought out the Waterloo Press, then owned by C. K. Baxter. For a number of years Mr. Willis had editorial charge of the paper and later bought out the interests of his partner and con- tinued the Press, being in editorial charge until the time of his death. In 1867 he purchased the book store of H. K. Davis and with C. K. Baxter, purchasing that of T. Y. Dickinson, the two then consolidated their business under the firm name of Baxter & Willis. In December, 1868, Henry Willis, father of the late deceased, purchased the interest in the book store of Mr.

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Baxter, and the firm was then known as Willis & Company, and remained so until 1896, when in February of that year their business was destroyed by fire, including that of the Waterloo Press. It was at this time that Frank W. Willis and his son, Herbert C., formed a partnership and continued the publication of the Waterloo Press, and also succeeded the firm of Willis & Company in the book and stationery business, Henry Willis then retiring from active business on account of his age. From the time of his entering the newspaper business Mr. Willis was actively identified with the general inter- ests of the county and community, and always conducted an editorial column in the paper up to the time of his last illness.

In the fall of 1894 he was elected to the state Legislature as representa- tive from this county, being elected by the largest majority ever accorded a Republican in this county to that office, which spoke for the high esteem in which he was held by the voters of the county. After serving for two years, during which time he was foremost in the passage of good legislation, he re- tired from active politics, but was always active in the interests of his party until his health failed to such an extent that he could not longer take active part in the work. However, he was very forceful in his editorial writings, and was ardently enthusiastic in advocating his party principles so long as he believed them right.

When a young man Mr. Willis joined the First Presbyterian church of Waterloo, and remained an active member to the time of his death. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church for nearly forty years, and never missed attending services when he was at home and not detained by illness. As a worker in the Sunday school he was a teacher fifty years, being active in that work at the time of his death. He served as superintendent of the Sunday school for many years, and also was an enthusiastic worker in Sunday school conventions, both in county and, in earlier years, in the state conventions.

Among the many beautiful tributes to the life, work and character of Mr. Willis was the following from John B. Stoll, the veteran journalist of South Bend and life-long friend of the deceased: "He was what I consid- ered the ideal country newspaper man-discreet, vigilant, intelligent, consid- erate, conscientious, patriotic. His death is a distinctive loss to the newspa- per fraternity, as well as to the community, which for many years enjoyed the benefit of his inspiring example and his well directed efforts for civic righteousness and the moral uplift. Though now numbered among the dead, his splendid record as a man, citizen and patriot will live long in the memory of those who prize nobility of purpose as cardinal virtues of man."

It is eminently fitting that there should be incorporated- in this memoir

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the splendid tribute paid the deceased by his son and business associate: "In the passing away of the senior editor of this paper, the community loses one of its oldest citizens, and a man who has been identified with public interests to a very large extent. As a man he lived a life that stood for itself. No comment is necessary as to his character. He was possessed with a Christian character that stood foremost in his life. Since a young man he was inter- ested in Sunday school and church work and was active up to the time of his last illness. As a soldier, his active service stands as a tribute to his loyalty to his country. As a man for right, he was always found unflinching for all that was good and honorable. As a business partner the writer has been actively associated with him for the past seventeen years, and during all that time has been in such close relationship that he knew him better than anyone else outside the immediate family circle. As a parent for over two score . years the writer knows that he has always been kind and loving and had a desire that his children should be trained in honorable paths, and that they should live such lives that they would be as ready to be called to their eternal homes as he was. During the twenty-nine years that he has been at the editorial head of this paper he has been honest in his editorial opinions, and while there have been many incidents that perhaps have been left uncovered in his editorial writings, his scope has been so general that it was made plain where he stood on all important subjects of the day. His writings have been widely copied and no doubt he will be missed among the journalists of the state. All the years that he has been broken in health he has done his part in making life cheerful, not only to himself, but others as well. The close association in business causes a grief on the part of the writer that but few can understand. It is hard to fight life's battles and it is hard to give them up. He has fought for his life and was ready to give up at the call of the Master. He was a good man, and no one can dispute that he has been con- sistent in his life's habits, and he had the confidence of his friends and those with whom he had done business. The end came like a shock, and while it has been known for some time that he could not get well. yet while there was life there was hope, and at last that hope vanished. There might be no more fitting tribute to be paid a father by a son than to say he has been a good father and one who has done all he could in rearing a family of nine children, all of whom today survive."

On September 27, 1868, Mr. Willis was united in marriage with Josephine Dickinson, who was born in Auburn, Indiana, on May 17, 1850, the daughter of Timothy R. and Mary (Youngman) Dickinson, her father having been at one time one of the most prominent attorneys in DeKalb

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county. During the Civil war he was drafting officer for this county and thus filled a very difficult position, which inevitably aroused animosity and enmity among many, especially those Southern sympathizers who then in- fested this locality and who assaulted him with stones, eggs and other missiles, so that at times it was necessary for him to be guarded by his friends. He was even asked by a committee from his church to resign his membership be- cause of his strong anti-slavery views, but he was fearless and upright, stood staunchly for freedom and the perpetuity of the national union. Soon after the war he bought a tract of land north of Waterloo and laid it out, naming it Waterloo cemetery and incorporating an association to own and control it. There have been several additions to this cemetery, the last one being laid out by Frank W. Willis. Probably twice as many people have been buried there as comprise the present population of Waterloo. For awhile Mr. Dickinson practiced law in Auburn, but eventually moved to Waterloo, where he lived during the remainder of his life. Mrs. Willis, who lived at home until her marriage to Mr. Willis, had attended Oberlin College and also had received some academic work. To Mr. and Mrs. Willis were born nine children, six sons and three daughters, namely: Herbert Clyde, who was his father's business partner and associate for a number of years, and who is now editor and owner of the Waterloo Press, being represented elsewhere in this work, by a specific sketch; Mary Gertrude is the wife of James P. Hornaday, news- paper correspondent at Washington, D. C .; Fred I. is connected with the Hearsey-Willis Company, automobile dealers and bicycle manufacturers at Indianapolis ; Raymond E. is postmaster at Angola, Indiana, and part owner of the Steuben Republican; Edward D. is also interested in the Steuben Re- publican; Dora E. is the wife of R. G. Dilts, of Waterloo; Frank B. is en- gaged in the automobile business in Indianapolis; Josephine lives at Waterloo and William H. is engaged in employment at Indianapolis. These children all received good educations and have been reared to honorable manhood and womanhood, a credit alike to their community and an honor to their parents.

JACOB D. LEIGHTY.

A publication of this nature exercises its most important function when it takes cognizance, through proper memorial tribute, of the life and labors of so good a citizen as was Jacob D. Leighty, who was for many years one of the best known business men and most representative citizens of DeKalb

yours truly J. D Leighty.

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county, Indiana, having been an influential factor in the general development of the community. He ever stood as an exponent of the most loyal citizen- ship and was a noble personality whose memory will be long cherished and venerated in the community to whose civic and material progress he con- tributed in a most generous measure. A man of great business capacity and of the highest principles of integrity and honor, he made his influence felt along diverse lines and he was long a leader in the promotion of legitimate enterprises which conserved the general welfare of the city and county of his adoption. He matured his plans carefully and patiently and was a man of splendid initiative power and constructive ability, so that he was well fitted to become one of the upbuilders of a thriving community. He gave gener- ously of his superb powers in furthering the industrial, commercial and civic upbuilding of the locality so long honored by his citizenship, and his name is one that merits a conspicuous place on the roll of those who have worthily conserved such progress. His integrity was of the most insistent and un- swerving type and no shadow rests upon any portion of his career as an active business man and sterling citizen. He had his limitations, as do all, but he gave of the best of his talents to the world and to aiding his fellow men. Mr. Leighty was a man of impressive personality, was broad of mental ken and had the characteristics which ever beget esteem, confidence and friendship. Viewing his life in its perspective, none can fail to have an ap- preciation of his great accomplishments at a time when such powers as his were at a premium, and he should ever be remembered as one of the noble, kindly and public-spirited men of affairs who played a conspicuous role in the development and progress which characterized this section of the state.

Jacob D. Leighty was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, on the 30th of October, 1839, the son of John and Elizabeth (Sowash) Leighty, and his death occurred in St. Joseph's hospital, Fort Wayne, Indiana, on October 17, 1912, in the seventy-third year of his age. He was the third in order of birth of the ten children born to his parents, and he was but four years of age when the family came to DeKalb county, Indiana. Here he was reared and secured a good, practical education in the common schools, in which he became a teacher at the early age of sixteen years. He con- tinued his pedagogical labors several years, and then became a student in Wittenberg College, at Springfield, Ohio, where he was a member of the sophomore class at the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion. His patriotic spirit was quickly aroused at the attack on the national flag and on July 8,

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1861, he gave practical evidence of his loyalty and courage by enlisting as a member of Company E, Eleventh Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he was appointed a sergeant. His military record was a most creditable one, characterized by courage of a high order, and he took part in a number of the most notable struggles of that great contest. His first engagement of importance was that of Fort Henry, in the spring of 1862, after which fol- lowed the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Ray- mond, Champion's Hill, and others of scarcely less importance. In the en- gagement at Champion's Hill Mr. Leighty was severely wounded in the left hip and was disabled from active service for sixty days. Upon partially re- covering from his wound, he rejoined his regiment at Baton Rouge, Louis- iana, and from there went down the Mississippi river to New Orleans. He served with an expedition into western Louisiana, extending to Opelousas and engaging the enemy several times on the way. After his return to New Orleans and because of the effects of his wound, from which he still suffered, he resigned in March, 1864, and returned home. That Mr. Leighty was a good soldier was indicated by his successive promotions, to second lieutenant · on January 24, 1862, and first lieutenant on December Ist of the same year.

Upon his return to peaceful pursuits, Mr. Leighty engaged in mer- cantile business at Spencerville, Indiana, acquiring an interest in the firm of Miller & Myers. Shortly afterwards he and Mr. Miller purchased Mr. Myers' interest and the firm of Miller & Company was continued a year, when the subject's father. John Leighty, bought Miller's share, the firm naine being changed to John Leighty & Son. The business was thus conducted, with eminent success, until 1872, when Jacob Leighty purchased his father's in- terests and ran the business alone until 1874, when he sold his mercantile stock to P. Bishop. In 1875, when the Baltimore & Ohio railroad was pro- jected through this section to Chicago, Mr. Leighty, with the foresightedness and sagacity characteristic of him, saw the possibility of a thriving town between Hicksville and Auburn, and, with this in view, he and his father bought what was then known as the Blair farm, on which they platted and laid out what is now the town of St. Joe. Three years later Mr. Leighty engaged in the mercantile business in the new town, having associated him- self in business with M. T. Bishop. About seven years later Mr. Leighty bought his partner's interest in the business, which he thereafter conducted alone until about 1894, when he disposed of his business to W. C. and C. A.Pat- terson. J. K. Stafford and M. E. Olds. In many other ways he was a prominent figure in the upbuilding and development of the town, having assisted in the

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organization of a bank, of which he was elected president, owning an interest in the grist mill and other enterprises which contributed in a definite way to the welfare of the town, especially in its earlier days, when men of strong character and positive action were needed. He was active in the erection of the grain elevator and he built the substantial brick store building now occu- pied by C. A. Patterson. After moving to St. Joe Mr. Leighty and his wife first lived in the residence which was standing on the Blair farm, but later he built a comfortable residence in the town, just east of the present commod- ious and attractive brick residence, which he built in 1889. No enterprise which promised to benefit the community ever appealed for his assistance in vain, for he was public spirited to a notable degree. In all that constituted true manhood and good citizenship he was an example, his career having been characterized by duty faithfully performed, and by industry, thrift and wisely directed effort.

Under a full page-wide heading of "Our Leading Citizen Gone," the St. Joe News made the following editorial comment on the life and character of Mr. Leighty, the same having special value because of the writer's long personal acquaintance with the deceased and knowledge of his life and works: "St. Joe has lost by death its foremost citizen, Hon. J. D. Leighty, and by his taking away the town suffers an almost irreparable loss. What he did for the place and his interest in its welfare has been recognized and appreciated. but the full measure of his worth will be better known and more fully under- stood as time reveals the extent of our loss. He took what may well be termed a fatherly interest in the little town that he and his father, John Leighty, had platted, for, as he had been instrumental in bringing it into ex- istence, he took just pride in its advancement and felt keenly any failure. Hence, with his pocketbook, his counsel and his hands, he stood ever ready to help forward all movements for the betterment of St. Joe. In every emer- gency he could be depended upon, and in every move for civic or moral re- form, he never was classed among the doubtful ones. St. Joe feels its loss deeply and our citizens are in mourning. But the loss is not confined to St. Joe alone. In a relatively decreasing degree, as they are farther removed from the scenes of his activities and influence, the county and the state suffers loss by the death of Mr. Leighty. He was a well known figure in councils outside the sphere wherein he chiefly moved, always on the side of what he believed to be right .* * * An honest man has been styled 'the noblest work of God.' J. D. Leighty was an honest man-honest in his dealings with his fellow men : honest in his ontspoken advocacy of the right. as he saw it;

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honest in his abhorrence of hypocrisy and sham; honest to himself in shaping his course through life to the dictates of a conscience governed by a high sense of right and wrong. Men differed from him in opinion and in judg- ment, but they never questioned his honesty nor impugned his motives, for he stood out in the open, never resorting to questionable means, and his op- ponents respected him. His veracity was unquestioned, for his word was known to be his bond of honor. His acts of kindness-and they were many -were not performed in public places nor accompanied by display. He was a true scion of the 'Pennsylvania Dutch' stock, which has left an impress for good upon many parts of the country.

Politically, Jacob D. Leighty was a stanch supporter of the Republican party and took a deep interest in public affairs. He was called upon a number of times to serve his fellow citizens in a public capacity, always acquitting himself with credit and to their entire satisfaction. In 1875 he was ap- pointed postmaster at St. Joe, holding the office until his election to the office of township trustee, when he resigned. In 1897 he received at the hands of President Mckinley the appointment as state pension agent, a position he ably filled for four years. In 1894 he was elected to Congress as a Republi- can from the twelfth district by a plurality of about two thousand seven hundred, his election being especially notable from the fact that the district was normally Democratic by from fifteen hundred to two thousand five hun- dred votes-certainly a marked testimonial to his popularity and ability. Two years later he was again the nominee of his party for Congress, but was de- feated, though he ran far ahead of the balance of the ticket. Fraternally, Mr. Leighty was an appreciative member of the Masonic order, in which he had received distinctive preferment, having received the thirty-third and last de- gree of the order in 1889.

In March, 1866, Jacob D. Leighty was married to Kate A. Metzger, who was born in Circleville, Ohio, the daughter of Judge Andrew and Elizabeth (Driesbach) Metzger, of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Judge Metzger was a native of Ohio, his family having come originally from Pennsylvania. He followed farming until his removal to Fort Wayne, in 1853, he being numbered among the early and prominent settlers of that locality. He was interested there for a number of years in journalism and also served for a time as deputy county clerk. To him and his wife were born six children, namely: Kate A. (Mrs. Leighty), George, Mary, Jennie, Harry and Frank, of whom George, Harry and Frank are deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Leighty were born three children, two of whom died in infancy, the only survivor being John R., of Kansas

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History of Dekalb County, Indiana, with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families, Part 33

Author: B.F. Bowen & Co., Pub Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1182

Author: B.F. Bowen & Co., Pub
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Indianapolis : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1182