USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Dekalb County, Indiana, with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families > Part 52
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Politically, Mr. Jackman is an earnest Republican and has long been an active worker in the interests of that organization. For five years, from 1895 to 1900, he served as trustee of Smithfield township. In 1898 he was elected chairman of the Republican county committee, serving with ability and success for six years. In the campaign of 1910 he served on the state central com- mittee as a member of the advisory board. Fraternally, he is a member of Waterloo Lodge No. 307. Free and Accepted Masons, and Waterloo Lodge No. 221, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has been active in these bodies, having passed all the chairs in both lodges, and being twice a repre- sentative to the Masonic grand lodge." He and his wife also belong to the Order of the Eastern Star.
Mr. Jackman's domestic life began in 1882, when he was married to Laura A. Kennedy, who was born in Smithfield township, this county, the daughter of William and Olive ( Holmes) Kennedy. Her father was a native of Wayne county, Ohio, and came to this county in an early day, while her mother came here in .1842 with her parents, Benjaminfand Nancy
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(Knapp) Holmes, who became early settlers in Smithfield township. Here William Kennedy and Olive Holmes were married in 1856 and made their home there until late in life. Mrs. Kennedy died in 1898 and he now lives in Michigan. Mrs. Jackman attended the schools of her home community and was also a student in the normal school at Valparaiso, this state. From 1875 to the time of her marriage she was a successful and popular teacher in the schools of DeKalb county. She is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and while a resident of Auburn belonged to the Ladies Literary Society. She is especially active in the cause of temperance and is president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union at Waterloo. "She has represented this body, as well as the Taine Club of Waterloo, at district and state meet- ings at Indianapolis, Elkhart, Terre Haute, Muncie and Ft. Wayne. She has also been a representative to the grand chapter of the Order of the East- ern Star. Mr. and Mrs. Jackman move in the best social circles at Waterloo and, because of their genuine worth and splendid personal qualities, they are universally held in high esteem.
Mrs. Jackman has a brother, W. A. Kennedy, who is telegraph operator and station agent åt Corunna for the Lake Shore railroad. He married Philena Kratzer, a native of Steuben county, this state, and they have three daughters, Oliva, Bessie and Lulu. Oliva became the wife of Sherman Kimmel, foreman of the Dispatch printing office at Auburn. Bessie is the wife of Roy Stephenson, operator for the Lake Shore Railroad at Wauseon, Ohio. Lulu lives at home with her parents.
J. R. SKILLING.
Among the citizens of DeKalb county, Indiana, who today enjoy the unlimited respect and confidence of their fellow citizens, none has risen to a higher degree in the esteem of those who know him than J. R. Skilling. of Garrett. Mr. Skilling was born on August 19, 1840, in Richland county, Ohio, and in November, 1846, when but a little past six years old, he was brought by his parents to DeKalb county, locating in Richland town- ship. At that early day but few settlers had located in that section of the county, and but little of the land had been cleared. In the winter of 1847 Mr. Skilling attended school in the first school house erected in Richland town- ship at Green's Corners, half a mile south of the present town of Sedan. This was a log building, heated by a big fireplace, which was constructed of
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log ore, a deposit of iron, which was located in the swamps of this locality, it being prior to the introduction of stoves in DeKalb county. At that time the qualification required of a school teacher was to be supplied with two pocket knives, a large jack knife, with which to cut whips in the woods to enforce discipline among the larger boys, and a pen knife. with which to make goose quill pens for those who were learning penmanship. Mr. Skilling's family resided in DeKalb county from 1846 until March, 1854, when they moved to Noble county, where they resided until March, 1864, when they returned to DeKalb county, locating in Smithfield township. In 1862 the subject of this sketch went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and entered upon government work in the William Cramp & Son's ship yards, the largest concern in that line in the country. In June, 1864, he returned to DeKalb county, but two years later he again went to Philadelphia, where he resided until September, 1875. He then came to DeKalb county, locating in the new town of Garrett, which had just been founded on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad line, and in January, 1876, Mr. Skilling was appointed marshal of the new town. In November of the same year he entered the service of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad company, with which he served in various positions, chiefly in the bridge and building department until May 6, 1912, when he received a serious injury, from the effects of which he has been confined to his home continu- ously since. Though suffering and comparatively helpless, Mr. Skilling re- mains cheerful and takes a deep interest in everything about him. He has for many years been a close student of local history and is well informed on cur- rent events relating to DeKalb county, being an authority in this line. Be- cause of his splendid career, which was during his years of good health char- acterized by steady and persistent industry, he earned the regard of all with whom he associated, as well as the confidence of the company by which he was employed, and today no citizen of his community stands higher in the public esteem.
October 19, 1873, the subject was married to Mary A. Kane, daughter of Bernard and Ann (Campbell) Kane. Bernard Kane lived in Philadelphia and was employed as an engineer on the Chicago, Wilmington & Delaware railroad. He died while his wife was yet young.
To the subject and wife have been born eight children: John K. is an inspector of accounts for the Baltimore & Ohio railroad system; James C. lives in Joplin, Missouri, and is employed by the Missouri Pacific railroad; Rose is deceased; Alice lives in Chicago; Joseph is an employe of the clerical department of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad; Ann is at home; Mary lives in Fort Wayne; Bernadette is also at home.
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SAMUEL G. HAVERSTOCK.
The life history of him whose name heads this sketch is closely identified with the history of DeKalb county, Indiana. His life has been one of untir- ing activity and has been crowned with a degree of success attained by those only who devote themselves indefatigably to the work before them. He is of a high type of business man and none more than he deserves a fitting recog- nition among the men whose genius and ability have achieved results that are most enviable and commendable.
Samuel G. Haverstock was born near Butler, Indiana, on February 15. 1858, and is a son of Jonathan and Anna (Gardner ) Haverstock. Jonathan Haverstock was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on April 17, 1843, and when about fourteen years old was brought to DeKalb county, Indiana, by his parents, Samuel and Phoebe Haverstock. Samuel Haverstock bought a farm north of Butler and there established the family home and spent the remainder of his life. He started here in a very moderate way, having bought farm land for which he went into debt, but, by persistent effort and rigid economy he was prospered, and at length was cnabled to buy more land from time to time until at one time he owned twelve or thirteen hundred acres of land. and to each of his seven children he gave two hundred acres to start them in life. He bought and sold a great deal of land and was numbered among the substantial and enterprising citizens of the community. Polit- ically, he was a staunch Republican, but not an office seeker, while religiously he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Jonathan Haverstock was reared near Butler and followed agricultural pursuits throughout his active life. He married Anna Gardner, who died two days after the birth of their first child, Samuel G., the immediate subject of this sketch. Anna Gardner was a native of Williams county, Ohio, and her mar- riage to Mr. Haverstock occurred on December 6, 1866. Some time after her death Mr. Haverstock married Eleanor Cole, of DeKalb county, and to this union were born six children, of whom four are living-Leone. Charles H., Burl and Belle. Mr. Haverstock continued farming near Butler during the remainder of his life and was successful in his efforts. He was a Republican in his political views, an Odd Fellow and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a good neighbor, always ready to lend a helping hand to those in need of assistance, and took an especially active part in Sunday school work. His death occurred on July 16, 1911. When Mrs. Anna Haverstock died, she gave her two days' old baby to the subject's grandparents, Samuel and Phoebe Haverstock. by whom he was reared, he
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being about nineteen years old when they died. The boy grew up on the farm and attended college at Angola, and, when he was twenty-one years old, he took charge of his grandfather's farm, continuing its operation until about 1905. About that time Mr. Haverstock left the farm and moved to. Butler, where for about four years he was employed in the live stock busi- ness, in which he was very successful. He was then elected to the office of county recorder, assuming the duties of that office on January 1, 1909, and in the following month he moved to Auburn, where he now resides, having recently sold his farm. He performed his official duties to the entire satis- faction of his fellow citizens and retired from the office with the commenda- tion of all who had been familiar with his work there.
In 1890 Mr. Haverstock was united in marriage with Maude Walter, who was born in Defiance county, Ohio, the daughter of Jamies R. and Eliza (Stiffler) Walter. Mrs. Haverstock's parents had come from Tuscarawas county, Ohio, to Defiance county, that state, and subsequently moved to DeKalb county, locating near Butler, where Mr. Walter followed farming and where his death occurred in 1904. His widow now lives with a daughter at Defiance, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Haverstock have been born two chil- dren, Hazel A. and J. Harold. Fraternally, Mr. Haverstock belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is highly esteemed among his fraternal brethren. He is a man of splendid qualities of character, honest and upright in all his dealings with his fellow men, and, because of his earnest efforts and successful career, he has earned and retains the warm regard of all who know him.
AUGUSTUS C. GRUHLKE.
The life of Augustus C. Gruhlke, a highly respected citizen of Waterloo, Indiana, has been one of consecutive endeavor along lines that seldom fail to bring satisfactory results, and now, in the evening of his life, he finds himself very comfortably situated as a result of his former years of activity. Augustus C. Gruhlke, of Waterloo, was born in Prussia, Germany, on March 6, 1850, and is the son of Daniel and Wilhelmina (Tietz) Gruhlke. When he was about nine years old his parents came to America, locating in Pulaski county, Indiana, on a farm. When he was about seventeen years old, Augustus Gruhlke started out in life on his own account, working at various employments, such as farming, and then railroading. In 1872 he came to-
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Waterloo, Indiana, in the employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, having charge of the tower at the railroad crossing. About three years later, when the Lake Shore depot was built, he put up a restaurant across the street from the depot, and for eighteen years this restaurant was operated by Mrs. Gruhlke, while Mr. Gruhlke attended to his duties at the tower. In 1897 Mr. Gruhlke sold the restaurant and in 1899 quit the employ of the railroad. In 1895 he had invented the first practical electric cigar lighter and went into partnership with Mr. William Kessler, of Auburn, to manufacture them. After the business was well started Mr. Gruhlke sold out his interest to Mr. Kessler. In 1899 he began giving his entire time and attention to manufacturing and inventing, and made improvements on the old cigar lighter, and at the same time organized the Star Electric Company to manufacture cigar lighters. He also organized the Waterloo Cigar Com- pany. The lighter business was continued about six years, when Mr. Gruhlke sold his interest in it, and in 1908 he sold the cigar business. He has been very successful in original patents and has taken out five different patents on electric cigar lighters, each one an entirely different one from the other. He has also patented other inventions, including a formaldehyde generator for disinfecting purposes ; a combination handle and castor, intended primarily to be used on rough boxes, so they could be either rolled or carried, but the holder can be used on any kind of a box. He also has applications filed for a patent on a cigar bunch making machine. Mr. Gruhlke has probably the largest collection of old firearms in the state of Indiana, and is an inveterate collector of curios, having at one time a collection of about twenty thousand pieces of Indian relics, but these he disposed of. He has a large and valuable collection of American and foreign coins, probably comprising two thousand specimens. He also has many minerals, fossils, shells and other natural curi- osities, all of which would make an interesting museum collection. He has generously offered to loan these collections to a public museum at Waterloo if the citizens will provide a safe place for their care and protection. Mr. Gruhlke has a shop where he carries on his work as an inventor and designer and is an interesting man to talk to, for he has an intelligent comprehension of mechanics in all the details and is well posted on the current events of the day.
In 1879 Mr. Gruhlke married Almira Wheeler, who was born and reared in New York, a daughter of Seth and Mary Wheeler, and she was living at Norwood, New York, when she and Mr. Gruhlke were married.
Mr. Gruhlke has taken a deep interest in local public affairs and served three years as a member of the Waterloo school board, being treasurer of the
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board the first year and president during the last year. Fraternally he belongs to the Free and Accepted Masons and he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star. In 1893 Mr. Gruhlke started the publication of a monthly magazine called the American Archeologist, which attained a wide circulation among the scientists and archeologists. However, after he went into the manufacturing business his interests demanded his time to such an extent that he was compelled to give up the publication of the magazine, which he sold to Professor Warren K. Moorhead, of Andover College, the man who had charge of the government exhibit at the Columbian World's Fair at Chicago, and one of the best posted men in his line in the country. The magazine was afterwards merged with Popular Science, published in New York city. Mr. Gruhlke possesses business ability of a high order, as is emphasized by his business enterprises, and among his associates his advice and judgment are valued highly. Personally he is a man of fine qualities of character, genial and unassuming, and he has won a host of warm personal friends in this community, where he has spent so many of his active years.
In 1913 he reorganized the Waterloo Cigar Company, taking in his former foreman, Frank A. Stevens, as a partner, and they are now engaged in the manufacture of cigars and cigar bunch making machines.
ROBERT W. CROOKS.
The record of Mr. Crooks is that of a man who by his own unaided ef- forts worked his way from a modest beginning to a position of comparative affluence and influence in the business world. His life has been one of un- ceasing industry and perseverance and the honorable methods which he fol- lowed while actively engaged in business won for him the unbounded confi- dence of his fellow citizens of Waterloo.
Robert W. Crooks was born on December 9, 1830, in Trumbull county, Ohio, and is the son of William and Jane ( Norris) Crooks. William Crooks was born probably in Scotland and his parents lived in Glasgow. He came to this country in childhood and was reared to manhood probably in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, where he married Jane Norris. Her father, James Norris, was a native of Ireland. William and Jane Crooks moved to Trum- bull county, Ohio, being the first family to locate in what afterwards became the county seat. To them were born eleven children, of whom five became residents of DeKalb county, Indiana, two of them, William and Matthew,
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coming here in April, 1836, and locating on the St. Joe river, three miles be- low Newville. They had come by way of Defianee, Ohio, with a brother-in- law, Mr. Hull and several other families, and for about fourteen miles of the distance they had to literally eut their way through the woods. They entered land first three miles below Newville. In September, 1836, their mother eame here with two other sons, Robert M. and Thomas. The latter was married to Eliza Davis. A year and a half later the widow and her two sons just named returned to Ohio, locating about ten miles west of Cleveland. Robert M., at the early age of nine years. went on the lake and for about thirteen years he traveled about a great deal, laboring in various capacities on the lake and canal, and then in 1859 came to DeKalb county and made his permanent home here. He bought a farm on Cedar creek, one and one-half miles south of Waterloo, where he lived until about 1806, when he moved into the town of Waterloo, where he has since made his home. He owned at one time one hundred and sixty acres of land, but sold forty acres of that, which has since been bought by his son. In the fall of 1894 Mr. Crooks and John Lightner engaged in the furniture business in Waterloo. About a year later Mr. Light- ner sold his interest to Mr. Crooks and went to California, Mr. Crooks con- tinning the business alone until 1900, when his grandson, D. E. Newcomer. came into the business as a partner. In March, 1903, the store was burned, but a new building was immediately erected and business resumed. In 1909 Mr. Crooks sold his remaining interest in the business to his son-in-law. Christian Newcomer. and finally retired from business, residing now at his comfortable home at Auburn, where he enjoys the quiet and rest which his strenuous years of activity so richly entitle him to.
In 1852 Robert M. Crooks married Mary A. Burdick, who was born in Onondaga county. New York, the daughter of Samuel and Nancy (Spencer ) Burdick. They moved to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, about 1833, where Mary A. Burdick lived until her marriage. Her mother died at Waterloo and was taken back by Mr. Crooks and buried at her former Ohio home. Thirteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Crooks, namely: Martha, the wife of Christian Newcomer, of Waterloo; Mamie, the wife of Franklin B. Fretz. well known citizen of Auburn, but finally moved to Rochester, where she died ; Hattie is the wife of George Crowell, of Wilmington township, this county ; Mary Rebecca is the wife of Philip Seiberts, of Auburn : Lucy is the wife of John Carper, who lives a half mile east of Waterloo; Eudora is the wife of Isaac MeDaniel and lives in Wilmington township, this county ; Laura Belle is the wife of Henry Gingerich, of Waterloo: Robert Wilson, who is engaged
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in the restaurant business at Akron, Ohio, married Annie Houshalter; Fred- erick, who lives on a farm about three miles south of Garrett, this county. married Dora Stafford, and they have three children, two boys and a girl; Victor, who lives on a part of his father's farm and owns forty acres on the south edge of Grant township, married Henrietta Haynes and they have four children, two boys and two girls; Delbert, who is on a part of his father's farm south of Waterloo, married Maude Soules and they have two sons; James Burdick is a railroad man and lives in Waterloo; he married Blanche Morgan and they have two sons; Clyde died at the age of thirteen years. The mother of these children died in 1864, and in 1866 Mr. Crooks married Mrs. Queen C. (Atkinson) Crooks, the widow of the subject's deceased brother, William Crooks. She died in September, 1900, and on June 8, 1902, Mr. Crooks married Mrs. Ellen ( Hammond) Denison, who was born in Ohio, and came here in infancy with her parents, Daniel and Sophia (Wolfe) Hammond. They came from Columbiana county, Ohio, settling in Franklin township, this county, but later moved to Kosciusko county, Indiana, where they lived until the father's death, and the mother spent her last years with her daughter, Mrs. . Crooks. Mrs. Crooks was but a child of six years when her father died and the mother being left with a large family of small children, she was reared by strangers in Kosciusko county. In 1867 she became the wife of George Washington Frick, of Grant township, this county. who was born in Stark county, Ohio, on April 25, 1837, the son of George and Elizabeth ( Harold) Frick. When he was about eight years old the family settled about two miles east of Waterloo, this county, where the father had entered a tract of government land and there they made their permanent home. George Washington Frick was one of seven children and lived on the home place until his marriage in 1867. At that time he owned forty acres of land, which he traded in on an eighty-acre tract, giving five hundred dollars cash to balance the trade and later bought twenty-two and one-half acres more. Mr. and Mrs. Frick were the parents of five children, namely: Rosa Jane, born on April 19, 1868, is the wife of Riley Moore and lives on a farm in Franklin township, this county; Charles Herbert, born September 24. 1869, lives on the home place two miles southeast of Waterloo; Lucy Bell be- came the wife of Joseph Morr, of Garrett, this county; Adella May, born July 6, 1875, is the wife of William Powell, and lives in Wilmington town- ship, near Butler; Earl W. lives on the home place. George Washington Frick died on April 12, 1891, in the fifty-fourth year of his age. He was an industrious man of regular and steady habits and enjoyed to a notable de-
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gree the respect of all who knew him. He and his wife both belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church. After her husband's death Mrs. Frick lived on the farm until her marriage to Mr. Crooks, whose farm was separated from hers by a roadway and they had long been acquainted prior to their marriage.
Mr. Crooks has for many years been actively interested in the success of the community in which he lives and has been a potential factor in its advance- ment and improvement. He was township trustee of Union township for fourteen years and as ditch viewer he and the surveyor laid out over two thousand miles of ditch, mostly in DeKalb county, which contributed greatly to the improvement of the county, not only materially, but in the advance- ment of health conditions and the abolishment of malaria. Fraternally, Mr. Crooks is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being the only surviving charter member of the subor- dinate lodge of the latter order at Waterloo. He was also an active member of the Grange when it was in existence here. Mr. Crooks' high personal qualities have gained for him a wide acquaintance throughout the county, among which are many and loyal friends. Quiet and unassuming in his dis- position, he is at the same time genial and companionable and is a welcome member of any circle which he chooses to enter.
SOLOMON BARNEY.
One of the influential citizens of St. Joe, DeKalb county, Indiana, is the gentleman to whose career the attention of the reader is now directed, who is ranked with the city's leading merchants and citizens. A man of excellent endowments and upright character, he has been a valued factor in local affairs and has ever commanded unequivocal confidence and esteem, l'eing loyal to the upbuilding of his community and ever vigilant in his efforts to further the interests of his city along material, moral and civic lines.
Solomon Barney was born at Spencerville, Concord township, DeKalb county, Indiana, on September 22, 1844, and is the son of George W. and Jane ( Bratton) Barney, natives respectively of New York and Pennsylvania. George W. Barney was born October 13. 1815, at Wellsboro. Essex county, New York, and later accompanied his father on his removal to Ashtabula county, Ohio, where he built and operated an iron foundry. When George Barney was a lad of fifteen years his father died and he soon afterward went
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