USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Dekalb County, Indiana, with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families > Part 40
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Politically, Mr. Denison is, as before stated, a Republican and has been a stanch supporter of his party during the campaigns, and in this connection it is noteworthy that the official positions held by him have all been attained without any solicitation on his part-certainly a marked testimonal to his personal standing and efficiency. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in the latter order he has passed the chairs in the local lodge and served as a delegate to the grand lodge.
Mr. Denison has clear recollections of DeKalb county at a time prior to many of the public improvements which now characterize this county, having, in early childhood, come here on a trip with his parents, who were looking for land. He recalls the rough and unsightly appearance of the country, which was characterized by the entire absence of good roads and bridges, necessitating many detours in order to avoid streams and swamps.
In the Denison family the military spirit has been prominent for many generations, the trait having been marked even in the first ancestor in America, who had been a valiant officer of high rank in the English army and pos- sessed a coat-of-arms. Although Mr. Denison was legally too young for military service in the Civil war, he enlisted, but was too late to see any active service in the field. He has since been a member of the Waterloo Rifles, a well known local military company. His brother, Levi L., was a cap-
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tain during the Spanish-American war, in which the subject's nephew, Wilson H. Denison, was a lieutenant, and the subject's son, Bradford, is now a lieuten- ant in the National Guard, and is considered one of the best marksmen in the state, having been one of the eighteen sharpshooters chosen by contest at the state encampment to go to Sea Girt, New Jersey, where they took part in the great contest of National Guardsmen from the different states. He has been twice selected for this contest.
GEORGE CAMPBELL.
The best history of a community or state is the one that deals most with the lives and activities of its people, especially of those who, by their own endeavors and indomitable energy, have forged to the front and placed themselves where they deserve the title of progressive men. In this brief review will be found the record of one who has outstripped the less active plodders on the highway of life and among his contemporaries has achieved marked success in the business world, the name of George Campbell being honored by all owing to his upright life and habits of thrift and industry.
George Campbell, a well known citizen of Auburn and one of the most active members of the well known carriage manufacturing firm of Campbell & Sons, was born in Auburn, Indiana, on September 3, 1873, the son of Samuel L. and Mary (Palmer) Campbell. George Campbell was reared in Auburn, securing his education in the public schools and then at the age of seventeen years he commenced working in a trim shop. Not satisfied with this line of work, a few months later he began to learn the carpenter trade, at which he remained about eight months and then turned his attention to blacksmithing. Here he found employment to his liking and energetically applied himself to learning this trade. In 1892 he opened a blacksmith shop of his own in Auburn, where besides the regular custom work he also did the blacksmithing for his father's carriage shop. Soon afterwards he ac- quired an interest in his father's business and has continued with him ever since, being now the active manager of the business, which is one of the important industrial concerns of Auburn. In the management of this enter- prise he has shown a business ability and a soundness of judgment that has not only gained for him financial success, but has also commended him to the confidence and good will of all who had dealings with him.
On April 26, 1894. George Campbell married Ada Miers, the daughter
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of Eli and Julia ( Daley) Miers, her birth having occurred in Fairview town- ship, this county. When eight or nine years of age her parents moved two miles west of Auburn, where she lived until her marriage. Her father was one of the early settlers of DeKalb county, having come here with his mother when only eight years old, their former home having been in Stark county, Ohio. Eli Miers was thrown on his own resources at an early age, which fact developed his latent talents and he formed habits of self reliance and, going out into the world on his own account, by strict integrity and indus- trious habits and rigid economy he was enabled to accumulate a competence, having eventually owned a fine farm west of Auburn. He died in Septem- ber, 1909, at the age of seventy-nine years, the last two or three years of his life having been spent at the home of his daughter, Mrs. George Campbell, in Auburn. To Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have been born two children, Esther and Wilbert. Mr. Campbell is a member of the Maccabees and the Tribe of Ben-Hur. Genial in disposition and courteous in manner, he has won a large and warm following among his acquaintances in Auburn.
Samuel L. Campbell, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Champaign county, Ohio, on May 2. 1841, and is the son of Joseph and Susanna ( Kessler) Campbell. When Samuel L. Campbell was four years old his father died of typhoid fever and the mother and six children con- tinued for a while on the farm, one child having died in infancy before the father's death. In the fall of 1868 the mother and her sons, Samuel L., Isaiah and George W., came to Wabash county, Indiana, and bought a farmi. When Samuel L. Campbell had reached his majority he went to the city of Wabash and learned the wagonmaker's trade, at which he was employed about six years, then he was employed in a like capacity at Ligonier two years, after which he came to Waterloo in 1869 and was employed as a wagonmaker for two years. In 1871 he came to Auburn, since which time he has been closely identified with the business interests of the city. In the latter eighties Mr. Campbell started a wagon shop, where he made and repaired wagons, and such was the quality of his work that he soon gained an enviable reputation throughout the county, and many of the splendid wagons he turned out at that time are still in active service. About two years after he en- gaged in business on his own account his son, George, came in as a partner and this firm has continued to the present time, enjoying an enviable reputa- tion throughout this section of the state. About twenty years ago the firm began the manufacture of delivery wagons and carriages on a rather exten- sive scale, their first location being at the northeast corner of Fifth and
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Jackson streets, but so rapidly did the business increase that they were com- pelled to seek larger quarters, and in 1898 they came to their present location, where they are well situated and splendidly equipped for all classes of work in their line. They have a substantial building, fifty-two by eighty feet in dimensions, two stores and basement. In addition to the manufacture of light wagons and carriages they also deal in automobiles, handling the Stude- baker and R. C. H. machines, and also sell Milwaukee binders and mowers and Alamo gas engines.
Mr. Campbell has for many years enjoyed a splendid standing among the business men of Auburn, who regard him as a man of exceptional busi- ness ability and good judgment.
In 1870 Samuel L. Campbell married Mary Palmer, the daughter of George and Catherine (Hoover) Palmer, her birth having occurred in Stark county, Ohio. At the age of about two years she accompanied her parents on their removal to DeKalb county, Indiana, locating on a farm three and one-half miles west of Auburn. Later they located in the city of Auburn, where she has resided ever since. To Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have been born four children, three sons and one daughter, the latter dying at the age of fourteen months of scarlet fever. The sons are Frank S., George and William E. Fraternally, Mr. Campbell is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees and the Tribe of Ben-Hur.
Frank S. Campbell was born in Pleasant Lake, Steuben county, Indiana, on November 28, 1871, being the first child born to his parents, Samuel L. and Mary (Palmer) Campbell. When he was a baby of but three or four months the family moved to Auburn and here he was reared to manhood, receiving a good practical education in the public schools. In his youth he accepted employment with the Kibblinger Company, now known as the Mc- Intire Company, where, under his father's tutelage, he learned carriage body building and designing. He was with that company twenty-five years, and for a number of years was foreman of the wood shop there with six to twenty-five men in his department. He made and built all kinds of bodies from buggy bodies to automobile bodies, ambulance and casket wagons. About 1900 his health failed and he and his wife went to New Mexico. While there he taught orchestra, band and piano music, also organized and directed a band. He remained there for two years, then returned to Auburn and returned to the Kibblinger Company. On January 2. 1913, he resigned and came in with his father and brothers in the firm of Campbell & Sons, in which place he is now engaged. He is a man of good business ability and
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has contributed largely to the splendid success which the firm is now en- joying.
On September 1I, 1894, Mr. Campbell married Jennie Husselman, daughter of Henry and Ellen Husselman, she having been born and reared north of Auburn, and being the representative of one of the old pioneer families of this county. To this union has been born a son, Charles J., who first saw the light of day on November 11, 1895. Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Campbell belong to the Lutheran church, in which he has been an active mem- ber and where he conducts an orchestra in the Sunday school. During the past twelve years Mr. Campbell and his orchestra have missed but one Sun- day in each year and their music is appreciated highly by the attendants of the school. He gives instructions to the orchestra members free, having a rehearsal every Wednesday night and the organization is one of which he is deservedly proud.
William E. Campbell, son of Samuel L. and Mary ( Palmer ) Campbell, was born on April 3, 1875, and was reared in this city, receiving his educa- tion in the public schools here. In his early youth he entered the employ of Kibblinger & Company, where he learned carriage trimming and was after- ward employed in several other cities, including about three and one-half years at Butler, two years at Ligonier, two years at Albion, two years at Logansport and two years at Linden, Michigan. Later he was employed tor two years by the Modern Buggy Company at Auburn. That he was a com- petent workman is evidenced by the fact that in every shop in which he was employed he was foreman. In January, 1911, Mr. Campbell started the Auburn Auto Top Company and did a thriving business for two years. He is now connected with the Campbell & Sons Company, referred to elsewhere in this sketch. In 1890, at Fostoria, Ohio, Mr. Campbell married Rosa Spruck and they have three children, Ruth, Eugene and Mary Louise.
Fraternally, he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and Fraternal Order of Eagles. He is a man of fine qualities of char- acter and enjoys a marked popularity in the circles in which he mingles.
JOHN J. OBERLIN.
An enumeration of those men of the present generation who have won honor and public recognition for themselves and at the same time have hon- ored the locality to which they belong would be incomplete were there failure to make mention of the one whose name forms the caption of this sketch.
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During a period of many years he sustained a very enviable reputation in educational circles, and today is giving thoughtful and intelligent direction to the financial affairs of DeKalb county, being the present county treasurer.
John J. Oberlin is a native of the old Buckeye state, having been born in Summit county, Ohio, on May 4. 1847, and is the son of Abraham, Jr., and Mary (Stewart) Oberlin, both of whom were natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. The subject's paternal grandfather also bore the name of Abraham. John J. Oberlin was reared on the paternal farmstead in Ohio, and received his educational training in the common schools of the neigh- borhood, his vacation periods being spent in assisting his father on the home farm. He finished his education in the high school at Manchester, Ohio, and at the age of eighteen years began teaching school. He was eminently suc- cessful in this calling, which he followed for twenty-two terms.
In 1872 Mr. Oberlin came to DeKalb county, Indiana, locating near Butler, and during the following four years taught school there. He then moved to Marshall county, this state, where he resided for seven years, teach- ing school during six years of that time. While carrying on his educational work he had also engaged in farming, at which calling he was equally success- ful. Returning to DeKalb county Mr. Oberlin located on a farm south of But- ler, to the operation of which he devoted his attention until 1893, when he was appointed postmaster of Butler, holding this position four years to the entire satisfaction of the government and the patrons of the office : then for a year he was on the road as a traveling salesman, after which he engaged in the general mercantile business at Butler. In 1903 he was nominated for county commissioner by the Democratic party and was elected, holding the office three years. His services were entirely satisfactory and he was renominated for the position, but owing to the Republican landslide of that year he went down to defeat with the rest of the ticket. However, as evidence of his popularity it may be noted that while Roosevelt carried the county by six hundred and twenty-five plurality, Mr. Oberlin was defeated by only ninety- seven votes. Many Republican friends of his assured him afterwards that had they thought there was any chance for his defeat, they would have voted for him. In the fall of 1910 Mr. Oberlin was the successful candidate of his party for county treasurer, and in 1912 was re-elected by the largest majority of any candidate on the ticket, being the present incumbent of that office. His sterling integrity, sound business judgment and wise discrimination in the administration of the county's finances have commended him to the con- fidence and respect of all the citizens regardless of political lines.
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Politically, Mr. Oberlin is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and has for a number of years taken an active part in the campaigns, his counsel and sound judgment being considered invaluable by his party col- leagues. Religiously, he and his wife are members of the United Brethren church, to which they are liberal contributors.
In 1869 John J. Oberlin was married to Catherine Beerer, a native of Summit county, Ohio, and a daughter of George and Julia N. Beerer. To Mr. and Mrs. Oberlin have been born eight children, all living, namely : Minnie, wife of C. W. Beard, of Butler; Lemuel, who is a billiard ball turner at Cincinnati, Ohio, married Blanche Jewell, and they have two children, Clark and Gale; Charles, a farmer living at Butler; Jesse, who is in his father's store at Butler, married Belle Newton, and they have two daughters, Lucile and Catherine ; Clyde B., also in the store at Butler, married Luella Farley, and they have one daughter, Mildred: Lloyd, who is employed as a molder in the plant of the Butler Company at Butler, married Goldie Hart- man, and they have two sons, Lindley and Burton; Grace Viola is at home with her parents ; Earl Leroy is his father's assistant in the county treasurer's office.
In Mr. Oberlin's record there has been much that is commendable and his character forcibly illustrates what a life of energy can accomplish when plans are wisely laid and actions are governed by right principles and high ideals. In his business career as well as his private life no word of sus- picion has ever been breathed against him. Successful in business, faithful in the performance of public duty, respected in social life, and as a neighbor discharging his duties as becomes a liberal minded, intelligent citizen. he has won and retains the sincere regard of all who know him.
J. PERRY LONG.
A man who boldly faces the responsibility of life and by determined and untiring energy carves out for himself an honorable success exerts a power- ful influence upon the lives of all who follow him. Such men constitute the foundation of our republican institutions and are the pride of our civilization. To them life is so real that they find no time to plot either mischief or vice. Their lives are bound up in their duties, they feel the weight of their citizen- ship, and take pleasure in sowing the seeds of uprightness. Such has been the career of the subject of this brief notice.
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J. Perry Long, who enjoys a favorable reputation as a successful car- penter and builder at Auburn, was born about one mile north of Garrett, DeKalb county, Indiana, January 25, 1867, and is a son of Samuel Harrison and Marietta (Wyant) Long. Samuel H. Long was a native of Ohio, and in an early day came to DeKalb county with his parents, Christian Long and wife, who were lifelong farmers and settled in this county when but little of the land had been cleared. Indeed, where Garrett now stands was practically an untouched wilderness in which deer and other wild animals roamed un- disturbed. The land which Christian Long owned was located where now stands the Baltimore & Ohio railroad shops, this land being sought by the railway company when the subject of this sketch was a lad of nine years.
Perry Long was reared on the home farm, where he remained until at- taining his majority, having performed his part of the work of tilling the soil and harvesting the crops and in the meantime secured a good practical education in the public schools. At the age of twenty-one years he came to Auburn and learned the carpenter's trade, which he has made his life work. For about eight years he was employed as a journeyman and then he formed a partnership with Ora J. Brandon, building contractor. Two years later Mr. Brandon retired from the partnership to go into the lumber business, since which time Mr. Long has continued the business alone. For many years he has been numbered among the leading contractors of DeKalb county, and many of the best residences and business blocks in this section have been constructed by him. His work has always been characterized by thorough- ness in every detail and his absolute reliability in the performance of his con- tracts has gained for him the confidence of the public. Personally, he is a man of splendid qualities and genial address and has well merited the high standing which he enjoys among his acquaintances.
Politically, Mr. Long is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and in 1904 was elected a member of the city council, the duties of which position he discharged to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. His fraternal affiliations are with the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of the Maccabees.
Mr. Long has been twice married, first on May 13, 1888, to Florence Dirrim, daughter of William Dirrim, to which union were born three chil- dren: Ruth and Vesta, who live with their father, and Ethel, the wife of Orange Wasson, a farmer near Auburn, to which union have been born two children, Walter and Ruth. Mrs. Florence Long died in 1900, and in June, 1902, Mr. Long married Rosa Rupert, of Newville. Her parents were
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Manassa Rupert and Mary ( Borden) Rupert, the father a native of Ma- honing county, Ohio, and the mother of Allen county, Indiana. To Mr. and Mrs. Long have been born five children, namely: Perry Waldo, Rupert D., Mozelle Rosamond, Marietta Evangeline, and a baby not yet named.
WARREN McNABB.
The gentleman to a brief review of whose life and characteristics the reader's attention is herewith directed was among the foremost business men of DeKalb county, and by his enterprise and progressive methods con- tributed in a material way to the industrial and commercial advancement of the city and county. He was in the course of an honorable career most suc- cessful in the business enterprises of which he was the head, and is well deserving of mention in the biographical memoirs of DeKalb county. Among the prominent citizens of DeKalb county who have been well known because of the part they have taken in public affairs was he whose name appears at the head of this memoir, and who until recently was recorder of DeKalb county.
Warren McNabb is a native of DeKalb county, in which he spent his entire life, his birth having occurred there on July 26, 1857. His parents, David and Sophia ( Dunfee) McNabb, were among the early settlers of the county. David was a native of Center county, Pennsylvania, born December 9, 1819, and was a son of John and Mary ( Young) McNabb, also a native of that state, the father being of Scotch descent and the mother of Swiss and English ancestry. When David McNabb was but thirteen years of age the- family moved to Ashland county. Ohio, where they remained until 1843, when they came to DeKalb county, Indiana, and entered eighty acres of wild land in section 35, Fairfield township. There he built a cabin home in which he resided for twenty years and then sold that place and bought one hundred and twenty acres in section 32. When he first came to Fairfield township there were but five other families there, and in the early affairs of the county he took a prominent and leading part. The land was covered with a dense forest, not a stick of timber having been cut on the land which he secured. and the family lived with a neighbor, Mr. Powell, about a mile distant, until their log house could be raised, which was done with the assistance of the neighbors.
On October 18, 1842, David McNabb married Sophia Dunfee, the dauglı --
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ter of James and Sophia ( Hazlett) Dunfee, who removed from Adans county, Pennsylvania, to Ohio in 1833. To David and Sophia McNabb were born eight children, namely: James, George, John, Francelia ( Mrs. Harris ), Warren, Ella (died at the age of five years), Martha ( Mrs. F. M. Dellen- bach), and Frank.
Warren McNabb was reared on the home farm and his education was received in the public schools of the neighborhood. At the age of twenty years he learned the trade of house painter and shortly afterwards secured a position in the Baltimore & Ohio railroad shops at Garrett as foreman of the painters, holding the position from March, 1881, until 1912. In the fall of the latter year he was elected to the position of county recorder after an active but clean campaign, and discharged the duties of this office until April 18, 1913, when he died after a brief illness, being succeeded in the office by his son-in-law, Harvey O. Williams. He had retained his residence in Gar- rett until about ten days before his death, when he moved to Auburn. He stood higli in the general esteem of all who knew him and his death was con- sidered a distinct loss to the community, for he had always stood for the best things of life and had ever given his support to all movements having for their object the advancement of the best interests of the community.
Fraternally, Mr. McNabb was an enthusiastic member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, having been the first person initiated in the Gar- rett lodge of that order after its institution, the event taking place August 29, 1883. Politically, he had been for many years a prominent supporter of and worker in the Democratic party, and had served efficiently as a member of the school board at Garrett.
Shortly after accepting his employment at Garrett, Mr. McNabb was married to Laura McCague, of Elkhart, Indiana, who was born east of Corunna, this county, the daughter of George and Jane (Harper ) McCague. Both parents were natives of Ohio, the mother having been born in Wood county, and they were married in that state, coming to DeKalb county in an early day and settling near Corunna. They had been preceded there many years by George McCague's parents, who settled in the same locality. Mrs. McNabb's parents moved to South Bend when she was a small child, and there she was reared until her marriage, first meeting Mr. McNabb while on a visit to Corunna. To Mr. and Mrs. McNabb were born four children, namely : Harry, deceased; Frank, who resides in the west; Maude, the wife of Lee Hunt, of Kendallville; and Edith, the wife of Harvey O. Williams. who succeeded his father-in-law as county recorder.
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