USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Dekalb County, Indiana, with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families > Part 48
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On June 23, 1908, Mr. Atkinson married Mary E. Rose, the daughter of Judge James E. and Mary F. Rose, and to this union have been born a daugh- ter, Virginia Rose, and a son, Joseph Edward.
RALPH L. THOMAS.
The career of the well known and highly respected gentleman whose name heads this review illustrates forcibly the possibilities that are open in this fair land of ours to men of earnest purpose, integrity and sterling busi- ness qualifications. A well spent life and an honorable career constitute his record, and he is esteemed by a host of friends in the city of Auburn, where he maintains his home, and throughout DeKalb county.
Ralph L. Thomas, of Auburn, Indiana, ex-sheriff of DeKalb county and now deputy sheriff, was born in this city on the 6th day of April, 1874, and is the son of David F. and Jemima (Link ) Thomas, the former being the son of David and Anna ( Batchie) Thomas, his birth having occurred near Canton, Stark county, Ohio, in 1841. David Thomas was born in Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania, in 1805, and was the son of John and Mary Thomas, who settled in Ohio in 1810, being numbered among the early pio-
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neers of that state. John Thomas was a soldier in the war of 1812. Anna Batchie, who was a native of Switzerland, was twenty-one years of age when their family came to America. Here her father lived to an advanced age, his death occurring at the age of one hundred years and nine months. David Thomas and Anna Batchie were married in Stark county, Ohio, where they resided until 1846, when they moved to Louisville, that state, and eventually came to Richland township, DeKalb county, Indiana, where David Thomas died on March 3, 1862, being survived a number of years by his widow, who died on April 26, 1883. David F. Thomas, who accompanied his parents to DeKalb county in 1850, was reared on the home farm in Rich- land township and lived there until his marriage to Jemima Link in 1866, re- siding there also for a short time afterward. In 1870 he moved to the Link farm, on which the city of Garrett is now located, where he resided two years, moving then to Auburn, where, with the exception of two years, 1891 and 1892, spent in Chicago, he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1909. He was an expert all-around mechanic, ran a threshing inachine and could construct an engine or build a house from foundation to roof. He was a Democrat in his political views, but was not an active parti- san. His wife, whose maiden name was Jemima E. Link, was born in Ash- land county, Ohio, in 1844, and was the daughter of Samuel and Susannah (Lantz) Link. Samuel Link was the son of Adam Link, who was the son of Jacob Link, and it is believed that both Samuel and Adam were born in Penn- sylvania. Jacob Link was a gunsmith and also manufactured gun powder. He owned four hundred and twenty acres of land where the city of Wheel- ing, West Virginia, now stands, his land now being the site of a large semi- nary. About the beginning of the Revolutionary war he and all his family, excepting his son, Adam, were massacred by Indians. Adam, who was away from home at the time of the disaster, was warned on his return and fled for his life. He never returned to claim the estate, nor would he permit his chil- dren to do so. He became a soldier in the war of the Revolution, participat- ing in many of the hardest fought battles of that struggle, and was an aid-de- camp to a general in that war. He died in Crawford county, Ohio, at the age of one hundred and seven years, being the last survivor but one of the war for Independence. Samuel Link, father of Mrs. Jemima Thomas, was married in Ohio to Susan Lantz, and they reared eight children. While liv- ing at Ashland he was employed as a pump maker. In the spring of 1853 two of his sons came to Auburn and in the fall of the following year he and his entire family came to DeKalb county, locating in Jackson township. Here
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Samuel Link continued to make pumps and put down nearly all the wells in his part of the county, in which he was very successful financially. About 1863 he bought eighty acres of land on which the town of Garrett now stands, though at the time he purchased the land it was covered with a dense growth of timber. He built there a log cabin which was the first house in Garrett. This house remained until about twenty years ago and was a well known landmark. There the Link family lived until they sold the land to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, and then bought another farm, a smaller place located near their son, Holmes Link, where they spent their old age.
Ralph L. Thomas was reared in Auburn and received his early educa- tion in the public schools. When about fourteen years of age he began learn- ing the baker's trade and a year later went to Lima, where he established a small bakery for another man. In 1890 he and his brother, William A., en- gaged in the bakery business in Auburn, but the following year they were so unfortunate as to lose their entire property by fire. For a short time they engaged in the wholesale and retail candy business, but later again entered the bakery business, buying a place in the north part of Auburn, where there had been a creamery established. This they overhauled and established machinery for a steam bakery when they again suffered the loss of their plant by fire. Immediately afterwards they put in a temporary plant on Ninth street and continued their business until they could rebuild. Their new bak- ery was located on the south side of Seventh street, at the corner of East street. and here the two brothers continued the business together until 1905, when the subject of this sketch was appointed city marshal, an appointment which came to him without any solicitation on his part. but which he was urged to accept by the city authorities. He held the position two years and rendered efficient service to the city, maintaining good order without any trouble worth mentioning and giving excellent satisfaction during the period of his service. In 1907 Mr. Thomas opened the Interurban restaurant. hav- ing a partner. C. E. Frick. A year later he sold out and then entered into a partnership with his brother in the bakery business, in which he was engaged until January, 1909. In the fall of 1908 Mr. Thomas was elected sheriff of DeKalb county by a majority of nearly a thousand, the largest majority ever cast for a candidate in DeKalb county up to that time. In 1910 he was re- elected by a majority of twelve hundred thirty-nine, figures that have never been equalled in this county. During the four years' tenure of his office he has had more than five hundred prisoners in charge, including law breakers
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and insane persons, and also was busily engaged in the discharge of other offi- cial business, but never lost a prisoner and had no difficulty in the perform- ance of his duty. In 1911 Mr. Thomas organized the DeKalb Detective As- sociation and since then every horse stolen in this county has been recov- ered. The society has seventy-two members distributed over the county, covering all the main roads in each township. On the commission of a crime a notice is sent out to each member to be on the lookout and he warns all his neighbors, so that many are on the alert all over the county when a crime is committed, and it is thus comparatively easy to apprehend a horse thief and other criminals. Mr. Thomas has thus had a varied career, having been a baker, a manufacturer of candies, and a public official, and in every phase of life's endeavors to which he has devoted himself, he has performed his part as a man among men, ever receiving the confidence and regard of all who have known him. While engaged in the candy business, he and his brother manufactured what was known as Thomas Brothers Cough Drops which attained a marked degree of popularity and reached a wide sale.
Politically, Mr. Thomas has been a life-long supporter of the Demo- cratic party, having been active in the state and county organizations and doing effectual work during campaigns. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of the Maccabees, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and also helped institute the local lodge of the Modern Samaritans. Personally, Mr. Thomas is a man of splendid physique, a good mixer, makes friends easily and was a brave and fearless officer in the discharge of his official duties, though with malice toward none and charity to all. In his relations with his fellow men he is courteous and genial and possessing marked domestic taste, he finds his chief enjoyment in his home where, laying aside the cares of business life, he enjoys the companionship of his wife and children.
When but seventeen years old Ralph L. Thomas married Olive Kiplin- ger, of Waterloo, the daughter of Michael and Flora (Dennison) Kiplinger, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. To this union were born five children, namely: Victor, who is engaged with the Home Telephone Com- pany at Auburn. married Edna Baumgartner, of Warsaw; Bernard died at the age of four years; Ruth died at the age of three years, their deaths oc- curring but four days apart, fom diphtheria ; La Vone died at the age of two and one-half years of scarlet fever; Dale is now eight years old, and is the idolized member of the family.
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JOHN C. LOCHNER.
Few citizens of DeKalb county, Indiana, are as widely and favorably known as John C. Lochner, one of the county's most useful and highly es- teemned men, and editor and publisher of the Auburn Weckly Bec. His life has been closely identified with the community and his honorable business career has brought him before the public in such a way as to win the esteem and confidence of his fellow men and give him an enviable reputation among his contemporaries. Keen perception, tireless energy and honesty of purpose, combined with mature judgment and every-day common sense have been among his most prominent characteristics and, while laboring for individual success, he has also been instrumental in promoting the advancement and prosperity of the community with which he is identified.
John C. Lochner was born in Jackson township, DeKalb county, Indiana, on August 1, 1871, and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Wyatt) Lochner. Jacob Lochner was born in Germany, coming to America in his boyhood with three brothers and a sister. For a time he was employed in driving mules along the towpath of the old Wabash & Erie Canal, but was wisely economical of his earnings, so that at length he was enabled to buy eighty acres of land in Jackson township, this county. It was raw and unim- proved land, but he cleared it and developed it into one of the best farms in this locality, the place being now owned by his son, P. P. Lochner. The father lived on this farm until late in life, when he went to live with a daughter, Mrs. Beaty, in Auburn. He had followed farming continuously from the time he first obtained possession of his land, and added to his origi- nal tract until his farm comprised one hundred and twenty acres. His hobby was in keeping his place up to the highest possible standard of perfection, and in this he was successful, for he would not rest while a weed grew in the fields, nor allow a needed nail to remain missing. He erected a good, sub- stantial brick residence, commodious bank barn, and every thing about the place was strictly up-to-date according to the ideas of his day.
Jacob Lochner was twice married, first to Mary Wyatt, the daughter of Thomas Wyatt, and they became the parents of six children, three sons and three daughters, namely: Henry, of San Diego, California; P. P., who is engaged in the operation of the home place; Etta, deceased, who was the wife of S. S. Potter, grocer at Auburn; Anna E., the wife of J. E. Beaty. of Auburn; Sarah, wife of C. W. Bartles, of Jackson township, this county ; John C., the immediate subject of this sketch. The mother of these children
JOHN C. LOCHNER
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died in 1874 and a few years later Mr. Lochner married Anna Gerrig. who died some years age, without issue.
John C. Lochner was reared on the home farm until the age of fifteen years. He had no great liking for farm work, but after leaving home was employed at farm work for two years by a neighbor. He was then employ- ed for two years in a saw-mill at Auburn, when he suddenly resolved to try his hand at the printing trade. Among his acquaintances was W. B. Camp- bell, owner of the Auburn Dispatch, and with him he obtained a place. He was a large, strong boy, and he began his work as a "printer's devil" at the weekly wage of one dollar and fifty cents. His board cost him two and a half dollars, but he got credit for a part of that and was thus able to get by. In the printing office Mr. Lochner was in his proper sphere and from that time to the present he has never regretted the step which started him in the business. In the Dispatch office he made rapid progress and inside of a year he was made foreman of the shop, holding that position about three years. He then bought a half interest in the Times, a Populist paper which had been started at Auburn, but in less than a year he sold his interest to his partner and joined the Auburn Courier, which was then owned by James A. Barnes, one of the veteran newspaper men of DeKalb county. On March 4. 1896, Mr. Barnes started the Daily Courier and placed Mr. Loeher in full charge of it. The paper espoused the Democratic cause and, as party feeling ran high that year, some exciting experiences were passed through. After remaining with the Courier a few years, he went to Argus, Indiana, and bought the Reflector, in, March, 1898, which he sold at the end of six months and returned to Auburn. He now erected several houses and for a time was engaged in the real estate business. Going then to Keithsburg, Illinois, Mr. Lochner bought the Times, which he ran about six months and then sold it at a good profit, which he at once invested in more houses in Auburn. He then went to Colon, Michigan, bought the Erpress and for nine months published it, building it up to a point where he sold it at a handsome profit. Returning then to Auburn again, he started a job printing office, which he managed with continuous success until 1907 when he was induced by a handsome salary to join the sales force of the Auburn Automobile Company and for two years was on the road for that concern. In the fall of 1910 Mr. Lochner again found himself engaged in newspaper work, having been employed by W. H. McIntyre, then owner of the Daily and Weckly Courier, to manage that paper. He continued in that capacity only a few months when Mr. McIntyre
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transferred him from the management of the paper to the position of sales manager of his automobile factory.
The printing business had not lost any of its charms for Mr. Locher and in the fall of 1911 he re-purchased the job printing office, and on January 3, 1912, he started the Auburn Weekly Bec, an independent weekly paper, and probably the only paper in its class sold at a subscription price of fifty cents a year. His natural talent and experience enabled him to conduct this paper along such lines as secured him a large circulation, which has steadily increased since the first issue, until today it is considered one of the best newspapers and advertising mediums in DeKalb county, the equipment of his office being the best to be found in the county, including an Intertype typesetting machine. Mr. Lochner possesses the genuine instinct for news so essential to the successful newspaper man and, wielding a forceful and trenchant pen, his columns are never dull or monotonous, but always spicy and readable. Besides his printing and newspaper interests, Mr. Lochner is also interested somewhat in manufacturing concerns. He has for a number of years been an active member of the Commercial Club, has served two years as its secretary, and is now a member of the board of directors.
On May 9, 1804, Mr. Lochner was united in marriage with K. Darley Clark, of Auburn, the daughter of William and Mary ( Scott) Clark, and they have two children, Don M., born June 13, 1896, and Clellah F., born April 25, 1900.
Fraternally, Mr. Lochner is an enthusiastic member of the Knights of Pythias, in which he has passed through all the chairs of the subordinate lodge, and is now serving his second term as deputy grand chancellor of the first district of Indiana. In military affairs Mr. Lochner has long Leen deeply interested, and he has been identified with the Indiana National Guard for eighteen years. Enlisting as a private at the same time Colonel Kuhlman became identified with the guard, Mr. Lochner has gradually risen in the ranks and was on the staff of Colonel Kuhlman when the latter was major. He is now on the staff of Major Groll, as battalion adjutant, with the rank of first lieutenant, and but very few officers in the state are his senior in the lineal list.
Personally, Mr. Lochner is affable and popular with his fellows and stands ready at all times to encourage and aid, by mouth and pen. all laud- able measures for the general good. By a life consistent in motive and be- cause of his many fine qualities he has earned the sincere regard of all who know him and his success in his chosen field of endeavor has been honestly earned.
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DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
GEORGE SHONER.
Among the successful, self-made men of DeKalb county, whose efforts and influence have contributed to the material upbuilding and general business activity of their respective communities, the gentleman of whom the biog- rapher writes in this connection occupies a conspicuous place. Being ambi- tious from the first, but surrounded by none too favorable environment, his early youth was not especially promising, but he accepted the discouraging situation without a murmur, and, resolutely facing the future, gradually surmounted the difficulties in his way and in due time rose to a prominent position in the business circles of his community, besides winning the confi- dence and esteem of those with whom he was brought in contact, and today he stands as one of DeKalh county's most representative citizens.
George Shoner, than whom no citizen of Waterloo, Indiana, enjoys a greater degree of confidence and esteem on the part of his fellow citizens, is a native of the Fatherland, having been born in Bavaria, Germany, on Sep- tember 23. 1838, and is a son of John Shoner. When the subject was a lad of but thirteen years of age he came with a company of about a dozen others to America, locating first at Defiance, Ohio. For a time he had an exceedingly hard time to get along. Ignorant of our ways of language he was the victim of unscrupulous men and beaten out of his wages and at one time even had to pawn his clothes in order to exist. For several years he was knocked ahout from pillar to post and many times even suffered hunger. When he did find employment he was compelled to work from early morning to ten or eleven o'clock at night and the views he had previously had in mind of the golden opportunities for young men in the American republic were well nigh shattered. However, he eventually obtained employment in sawing wood for
a man in Ohio who owned a tannery. Later he was given regular employ- ment by the tanner, and under his direction later learned the tanner's trade. He worked nine years for this man, drawing only what money he actually had to have and with the fear of what might happen to him in case of sick- ness he saved every cent possible, leaving the remainder of his salary with his employer, for which he always took a note. At the end of the nine years' employment he found himself in the possession of the sum of one thousand dollars which had been made entirely through his own efforts. Mr. Shoner then went to Striker. Ohio, about 1863, and engaged in the tanning business for himself for two years. In 1865 he married and immediately afterwards sold his tannery and went into the general store business at Waterville, Ohio.
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Two years later, in 1868, he disposed of that business and, coming to Water- loo, Indiana, bought a tannery, in which he continued for twenty years or until the spring of 1888, when, at the age of fifty years, he retired from active business. By dint of the most assiduous labor, persistent energy and sound business methods he has been prospered in everything he has under- taken and besides the tanning business acquired other valuable properties which enabled him to retire without worry as to the future. He owns a splendid residence property in Waterloo and several business houses and also owns six or eight valuable rental properties in Toledo, besides two farms, ag- gregating fully three hundred acres. Since retiring from business Mr. Shoner has traveled a great deal, having been to Europe, where he visited the scenes of his childhood and other interesting places. He found the older members of his family all gone, but a few of his schoolmates were left, with whom he had a pleasant visit. He has a brother and sister still living there who are engaged in business. He has also been to California several times and has spent two or three winters in the South. Mr. Shoner has been active in local business affairs and was for a time director of the Savings, Loan and Trust Company at Garrett, and a director of the Savings, Loan and Trust Company at Auburn, being still a stockholder in the latter institution.
Politically, Mr. Shoner has always been a Republican and earlier in his life he was active in political affairs. He was once nominated by his party for county commissioner, but it was an off year for his party and he was de- feated with the balance of the ticket. He served several terms as town trustee of Waterloo, rendering efficient service in that capacity. Fraternally, he is an appreciative member of the Free and Accepted Masons.
In 1865 Mr. Shoner married Adeline Homer, who was born and reared on a farm near Delta, Ohio, the daughter of John and Emmeline ( Ross) Harris. Her parents came from New York state and spent most of their lives in Ohio, their death occurring near Wauseon. To this union have been born five children, namely: Della, who died in September, 1893, at the age of nineteen years; Mary is the wife of J. Peter Kunz, of Toledo, Ohio, who travels for a wholesale grocery house, and they have one child, John Homer ; Lillian M., who is the widow of Charles Covert, now lives with her parents, though she has formerly resided at Los Angeles, California, and Seattle, Washington; Charles, born January 30, 1869, lives in Garrett and is a rail- road engineer. He married Maude McBride and they have five boys, Fred- erick, Robert, William, George and Donald; Emma, a twin sister of Charles, is the wife of George Bell, of Coate's Grove, Michigan, where he is a suc- cessful farmer, and they have two children, Charles and Ruby.
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Mr. Shoner has shown what an honest, earnest, hard-working man can accomplish, although he had to hew his own fortune from the obstacles which beset his way, for he started life with no aid from any one, but he has been industrious and economical so that today he has a comfortable competency and can look forward to his remaining years with a guarantee of comfort and quiet. He is a friendly man and has a very large number of admiring ac- quaintances. He is known to be a man of upright principles and no man in his locality is better or more favorably known than he, for he has always taken a lively interest in local movements for the political, educational and moral welfare and can always be depended upon for his support of all movements looking to the good of the community.
WILLIAM A. THOMAS.
The subject of this review enjoys distinctive prestige among the enter- prising business men of the thriving city of Auburn and as a neighbor and citizen is highly esteemed by all who know him. He has earned the right to be called one of the progressive men of DeKalb county, having fought his way onward and upward to a prominent position in industrial circles and in every relation of life his voice and influence are on the side of right as he sees and understands the right. The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch is well known through his business activities, his partici- pation in important political affairs and his social connection with fraternal organizations, and is also widely known because of his interest in the Island Park Inn at Hamilton lake, which he and his partner, H. C. Henry, have recently established, and which is rapidly becoming one of the most popular summer resorts of the country.
William A. Thomas was born on the present site of Garrett, Indiana, on November 14, 1868, and is a son of David and Jemima (Link) Thomas. He is also a brother of Ralph L. Thomas, in whose sketch, found elsewhere in this work, are given the particulars of the Thomas family history. At about the age of three years the subject of this sketch came to Auburn with his parents and has ever since been a resident of this city. He received his education in the public schools and in his young manhood he learned the baker's trade. In 1890, in partnership with his brother, Ralph L., he en- gaged in the bakery business, with which he has been identified practically all of the time since, in partnership with his brother up to the time the latter was
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