USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Dekalb County, Indiana, with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families > Part 53
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to Canada, where he made his home with an older brother until 1838. In the latter year he came to DeKalb county and assisted in building the dam and mill at Orangeville. In 1840 he moved to Spencerville and entered the employ of R. J. Dawson as manager of the latter's mill, store and farm. In 1861 Mr. Barney was elected treasurer of DeKalb county, serving acceptably for four years, and then engaged in the mercantile business at Spencerville, where he remained until 1879, when he retired from active business life, his death occurring on August 6, 1897. He was a man of influence and prom- inence in his community and served as justice of the peace for twenty years, to the entire satisfaction of his fellow citizens. On May 28, 1840, he married Jane Bratton, and to them were born seven children, namely : Lucius, John, Solomon, Benjamin Franklin, Mary, Marquis and George, all deceased excepting the subject of this sketch and Benjamin Franklin.
The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools of his native township, completing his studies in the Auburn high school. and then took a course of training in the Eastman Business College at Pough- keepsie, New York. In 1866 he engaged in the mercantile business in Spencerville, where he remained until 1878, and in 1882 he located in St. Joe, where he has since engaged in the mercantile business, in which he has met with most pronounced success. He owns the property in which his store is located and also a very desirable residence property in St. Joe, and in everything with which he has been connected he has met with well deserved success. Beginning in a small way, his business gradually grew until today he is one of the most enterprising and prominent business men of his section of the county, his success being in a large part due to his close attention to busi- ness, his courteous treatment of his customers and his high personal character.
On March 13. 1870, Mr. Barney was united in marriage with Cordelia Gibford, whose death occurred on December 31, 190 !. To them were born two children : George M., born January 19, 1871, who was married on Octo- ber 11, 1897, to Dell Turrittin, and they have one child, Pauline; Violet M., born February 28, 1877, married a Mr. Johnson, of Tiffin, Ohio, and to them have been born three children : Josephine, Ethel Belle and Robert Y.
Politically, Mr. Barney has been a lifelong Democrat and has taken an active and intelligent part in political affairs especially pertaining to local elections. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist Protestant church, while fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In the last named order he has been especially prominent and for fifteen years has rendered efficient service as district deputy grand master. The subject's career has been an honorable one, his
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relations with his fellow men having ever been above reproach and his good name beyond criticism. As already indicated, he wears the proud American title of self-made man and, being in the most liberal sense of the term the architect of his own fortunes, he may well feel a sense of pride in his achieve- ments and the honorable position to which he has attained among the enter- prising and successful citizens of the county in which his entire life has been passed.
ROMAIN C. CAMPBELL.
The record of the subject of this sketch is that of a man who, by his own unaided efforts, has worked his way from a modest beginning to a position of influence and standing in his community. His life has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance, and the systematic and honorable methods he has followed have won him the unbounded confidence of his fellow citizens of DeKalb county, whose interests he has ever had at heart and which he has always labored to promote.
Romain C. Campbell was born in DeKalb county, Indiana, on October 12, 1872, and is a son of John A. and Adelaide ( Jadwin) Campbell, both of whom were natives of the state of Ohio. They were the parents of six chil- dren, namely : Irene M., Mervale F., Orla I., Romain C., Emlin V. and Charles W. After the death of the mother of these children the father mar- ried again, and by the second union there was one child born, Florence E. John A. Campbell was an insurance man during practically all of his active life and came to DeKalb county in 1840, settling first at Norristown, later called Jarvis and finally named Butler.
The subject of this sketch received his education in the public schools at Butler, after which he attended the Tri-State Normal School at Angola, Indiana. During the following ten or twelve years he was associated with his father in the insurance business, and after the latter's death he was for two years in this line of business on his own account. He then became assistant cashier of the First National Bank, where he remained for sixty days, after which for two and one-half years he was employed in a like capacity in Knisely Brothers & Company State Bank. He then resigned this position and took up the real estate and insurance business under the firm name of Campbell & Creager. This firm was very successful in the handling of real estate deals, being interested in farm lands and city property, and some of the largest transactions of the kind in this locality were handled
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through their agency. This firm is now dissolved and Mr. Campbell is handling real estate and insurance.
In 1898 Mr. Campbell married Mattie Hamilton, the daughter of Will- iam and Emma (Clark) Hamilton, and to this union was born one child, Vera G. In 1909 Mr. Campbell married Maude Craum, the daughter of James and Jane ( Casbeer ) Craum, and to this union was born a son, John A.
Politically Mr. Campbell was formerly a Republican, but is now aligned with the Progressive party. He served several years as city treasurer and also as city clerk, giving entire satisfaction in these positions and increasing his prestige among his fellow citizens. Fraternally he is a member and trus- tee of Lodge No. 158, Knights of Pythias, while religiously he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. A public-spirited citizen, his influence is always felt in local elections and he is looked upon as a man thoroughly in sympathy with any movement looking to the betterment or advancement in any way of his community, where he has always ben regarded as a man of sterling honesty and worth and worthy of the utmost confidence and respect. which his fellow citizens are free to accord, owing to his upright and indus- trious life.
JOHN HEBEL.
In the laborious struggle for an honorable competence and a solid career on the part of a business or professional man there is little to attract the casual reader in search of a sensational chapter: but to a mind thoroughly awake to the reality and meaning of human existence there are noble and imperishable lessons in the career of an individual who without other means than a clear head, strong arm and true heart, directed and controlled by cor- rect principles and unerring judgment, conquers adversity and finally wins, not only pecuniary independence, but, what is far greater and higher, the de- served respect and confidence of those with whom his active years have been spent.
John Hebel was born at Tarentum, Pennsylvania, on October 1, 1862, and is descended from rugged old German stock, his parents, John and Mary E. ( Meiser) Hebel, having been natives of Hessen-Cassel, Germany. The family came to Auburn, Indiana, in 1864, the father dying here a few years later. The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools and at the age of seventeen years he and his brother, Michael, engaged in business on a small scale, selling confectionery and cigars in a store room at
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the corner of Seventh and Main streets. Two years later they were enabled to erect a business block at the corner of Seventh and Main strets, part of which they rented and in the other part installed a stock of groceries. Through the exercise of business judgment and sound business principles and methods the business grew rapidly and the brothers enlarged their stock, adding other lines of merchandise, and three years later found it necessary to enlarge their store room. They have built up a large and remunerative trade throughout the surrounding country and their present store occupies a space of forty-four by sixty-six feet with basement under all, besides ware rooms on the second floor. They carry a full line of staple groceries, a good variety of queens- ware, and a completely stocked meat market, and the store is numbered among the leading concerns of the kind in Auburn.
John Hebel has for many years taken a prominent and active part in the public affairs of Auburn, having served as treasurer of the city during the later nineties, and also rendered efficient service for several terms as a mem- ber of the city school board. During the past dozen or more years, he has served as treasurer of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company. In the fall of 1912 Mr. Hebel was elected clerk of the circuit court, assuming the duties of this office on December first following, and his administration of the duties of this responsible position have been marked by promptness, efficiency and courtesy to all who have had dealings with the office.
Politically, Mr. Hebel is a Democrat, standing prominently in the coun- sels of his party, while his fraternal membership is with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in the local lodge of which he has passed the chairs.
In February, 1886, John Hebel was married to Winifrede O. Richmond, a native of Stafford township, this county, and the daughter of William and Maria D. (Allen) Richmond. Mr. Richmond was for many years prominent in the civil life of DeKalb county, and at one time served on the board of county commissioners. Through her mother Mrs. Hebel is descended from the Allen family, of which Ethan Allen was a noted member. To Mr. and Mrs. Hebel have been born two children, J. William, born in April, 1891, and Irene Elizabeth. J. William graduated from the State University at Bloom- ington, Indiana, in 1911, to which institution he later returned for post- graduate work, taking the Master's degree, majoring in English. He is now a student at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, and received the fellow- ship in 1913, a much coveted honor. He is pursuing the course with the ex- pectation of following the profession of teaching in college. In 1911 he went to Europe with Professor Fred Smith, of Bloomington, traveling extensively
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over Scotland, Germany, France and Italy, and attending college at Jena, in Germany. Irene Elizabeth is a student in the public schools at Auburn. Be- sides these children, Mr. and Mrs. Hebel have lost a little daughter, Hilda, who died of diphtheria, when two and one-half years old.
Mr. Hebel is regarded as a good business man and an excellent manager, possessing sound judgment, keen foresight and who believes in pressing for- ward, keeping the wheels of the car of civilization ever moving up the steeps. He enjoys the respect and esteem of those who know him for his friendly manner, business ability, his interest in public affairs and upright living, and is regarded by all as one of the substantial and worthy citizens of DeKalb county.
SHELDON CROOKS.
Among the citizens of Grant township, DeKalb county, Indiana, who have built up comfortable homes and surrounded themselves with a fair amount of landed and personal property, few have attained a higher degree of success than the subject of this review. With few opportunities except what his own efforts were capable of mastering and with some obstacles to overcome, he has made a success of life, and in his declining years has the gratification of knowing that the community in which he has resided has been benefited by his residence therein.
Sheldon Crooks, a highly esteemed citizen of Waterloo, Indiana, was born one and one-half miles southeast of Waterloo on June 7, 1848, and is a son of Matthew and Nancy ( Bryan) Crooks, the former of whom was born April 10, 1816, and died October 31, 1900, at the age of nearly eighty-five years, and the latter born in Fairfield county, Ohio. on April 3, 1821, and died April 20, 1884. Matthew Crooks, with a brother, came to DeKalb county in 1833 at the age of seventeen years and was here seized with ague so that he was compelled to return home for a period. In 1836 he again came here, this time being favored with good health and he grew to be a strong, hearty man. Their first work here was clearing the land of the dense timber which covered it, and at that time wolves and other wild animals as well as the no less savage wild men were numerous. For a part of the time dur- ing these first years Mr. Crooks was employed in railroad work. His mar- riage to Nancy Bryan occurred in 1844, she being a daughter of William Bryan and had come here with her parents, who located between the present towns of Waterloo and Butler on the Morningstar farm. Mr. Crooks farmed
SHELDON CROOKS
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for some time, being compelled to do without many of the present con- veniences, using ox teams and rude implements of early times, all of which entailed an immense amount of hard labor. In 1847 he bought eighty acres of land of Wesley Park, of Auburn, the farm being located a half mile west of the place where he was then working in what is now Grant township. There he built a cabin and a double log barn in the wilderness and persisted in his farming operations until at length success crowned his efforts. He became the father of twelve children, three of whom died in infancy: Lucinda died in 1865, aged nine years; Harriett died in 1871 at the age of eleven years; Mrs. Amanda Reed died October 19, 1893, being the widow of Stephen Reed, who died March 14, 1893, and she left a son, Carl Reed, then about three years old; Alice died in 1904, and was the wife of Thomas Cool, of South Bend; Marinda is the wife of Theodore McCush, of Litchfield, Nebraska; Sheldon, the subject of this sketch, is next in order of birth ; Rob- ert A. lives in Auburn and is a retired farmer; Barbara is the wife of John Hefty, who lives south of Butler in Wilmington township; George W. is an atttorney at Waterloo, this county.
Sheldon Crooks lived on his father's farm until he was about twenty- two years old and then worked a year for his uncle, Robert N. Crooks. In 1872 he obtained railroad employment, in which he was engaged for eight years. In 1877 he bought forty acres of land in section 14, Grant township, to which he gave his attention when, three years later, he quit railroad work. This land was only partly cleared, but was of good quality and he bought it for only twenty-five dollars per acre, making of it a fine farm on which he raised excellent crops. In November, 1904, he bought forty acres adjoining, also paying twenty-five dollars per acre for this, and he transformed an unsightly cranberry marsh into another fine tract of land. To the cultivation of this farm he devoted his attention with splendid success, so that in 1910 he was enabled to retire from active labor and now resides in a pleasant and attractive home at Waterloo.
In May, 1874, Mr. Crooks married Samantha Baughman, who was born in section 23, Union township, this county, the daughter of John and Nancy (Slentz) Baughman. These parents came from Pennsylvania in 1844 and located on the farm where Mrs. Crooks was born, and here reared the follow- ing children: Addison, of Auburn; Eliza, the wife of David Miser, is de- ceased; Nancy, who also is deceased, was the wife of Charles Oiler; Isaiah. deceased; Washington, deceased ; Samantha, the wife of Mr. Crooks; Ermina,
(35)
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deceased, who was the wife of Henry Smith; Matilda, the widow of James Sibert, now deceased, lives in Auburn. The mother of these children died while Mrs. Crooks was a little girl, and the father afterwards married Eliza- beth Weeks, by which union there were born four children, namely: John Franklin, of Auburn; Idola is the wife of John Fleming, who lives in the north part of Union township; Ida, the wife of Judson Miller, of Auburn, and Carrie, the wife of Delbert McBride, of Wilmington township, this county. The father of these children died on October 3, 1884. To Mr. and Mrs. Crooks were born six children, namely: Cora is the wife of John Oiler, of Wilmington township. They adopted Agatha Luce, the daughter of Mrs. Oiler's deceased sister, Mrs. Alta May (Crooks) Luce; Alta was the wife of Edward Luce, and her death occurred on February 10, 1912, leaving four children, Howard, Vida Allene, Agatha Lucile and Lester Sheldon : Howard lives with his father in Waterloo; Vida lives with the grandfather, Mr. Crooks; Agatha was adopted by Mrs. Cora Oiler and Sheldon was adop- ted by Charles Platter and wife, of Auburn : Minnie Crooks became the wife of Jay Raub, of Auburn ; Olive is the wife of Elmer Pontius, a railway mail clerk who lives in Waterloo, and they have two children, Mabel and Clayton; Ora A. lives on the father's farm in Grant township, and married Dora Leaky, by whom he has two children, Margaret and Patrick ; Vera Irene, who gradu- ated from the Waterloo high school in 1913, married J. Lautzenheiser, and lives in Union township.
Mr. Crooks is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has passed through all the chairs of the subordinate lodge, while in 1903 he was a member of the grand lodge of the state. He takes a deep interest in the workings of the order and is held in high esteem among his fellow mem- bers. He is a man of ability, sturdy integrity and usefulness and as a citizen representative of the utmost loyalty, he merits the respect of his fellow men and his life record is deserving of a place in this publication.
REUBEN LOCKWOOD.
Few men of DeKalb county were as widely and favorably known as the late Reuben Lockwood, of Auburn, Indiana. He was one of the strong and influential citizens whose lives have become an essential part of the his- tory of this section of the state, and for years his name was synonymous with all that constituted honorable and upright manhood. Tireless energy.
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keen perception and honesty of purpose. combined with everyday common sense, were among his chief characteristics and, while advancing individual success, he also largely promoted the moral and material welfare of his community.
Reuben Lockwood, who for many years was an honored resident of DeKalb county, was born in Jackson township, this county, on January 20, 1841, and died at his home at Auburn on March 30, 1912. He was a son of .Alonzo and Rosamond (Phelps) Lockwood, who were numbered among the sturdy pioneers of this section of the country. Alonzo Lockwood, who was -a pioneer in the southern part of DeKalb county, was born in 1814 in Ver- mont, the son of Levi Lockwood and wife. In young manhood he left his native state and located in Licking county, Ohio, where he married Rosa- inond Phelps, a native of Granville, that county. In 1834 he removed to Allen county, Indiana, and two years later came to DeKalb county, where .Mr. Lockwood entered one hundred and sixty acres of land four miles south- west of Auburn, and there established their permanent home. He was a poor man when he came to this county, the trip being made up the St. Joe river and Cedar creek in a canoe which bore all their worldly effects. How- ever, he was a hard worker, and was determined and ambitious to succeed in his new home. By dint of the most insistent labor and rigid economy, and by the exclusion of every expensive habit, he was enabled to buy out other settlers who were discouraged and desired to move elsewhere. In this way he was enabled to accumulate thirty-six hundred acres of land in different places, twelve hundred acres being in one tract adjoining his first farm. About twelve hundred acres were located near Paulding. Defiance county, Ohio, and some in Michigan, but the greater part of his holdings were in DeKalb county. He engaged very extensively in the buying and selling of live stock, much of which he also raised on his own farms, which he sold at considerable profit. most of his transactions being in horses and cattle. He was eminently successful in every transaction in which he engaged, his deals being characterized by shrewdness and sagacity of a high order, and in 1866 he was enabled to retire from business pursuits and removed to Auburn. where he spent the remainder of his days. His death occurred on July 4. 1886, at the age of seventy-two years, while in Defiance county, Ohio, his death being immediately due to a fall from a cart. He was survived a number of years by his widow, who died in Auburn in 1898. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Cyrus, who died in 1854. at the age of nineteen years; Reuben : Celia, who died about 1876, at New Elm, Min- nesota, was the wife of George Coleman: Irvin, who spent his entire life
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in Richland township, this county, died in 1891; Lyman was a farmer and resided at Auburn, this county; Philo J., now deceased, lived in Washing- ton, D. C. He was a noted pension attorney ; Eunice is the widow of Ben- jamin Zigler and lives in Auburn; Cornelia, the widow of Davis E. Caruth, also lives in Auburn.
Reuben Lockwood was reared on his father's farm, in the operation of which he took an active part, and in the meantime secured his education in the common schools of the neighborhood. On November 22, 1861, he- enlisted as a private in Company K, Forty-fourth Regiment. Indiana Volun- teer Infantry, with which he went to the front, but the ensuing winter was an unfortunate one for the entire command, as all but three or four of the regiment were either very ill or in poor health, especially at the time of the battle of Shiloh, but in which nearly all took an active part despite their poor condition. Mr. Lockwood's health became so precarious that he was mustered out soon afterwards because of physical disability. Upon his return to peaceable pursuits, Mr. Lockwood became a salesman, which vocation he followed in various lines for many years, traveling over a large portion of the country. In 1887 he helped to organize the Monitor Manufacturing Com- pany, of which he was chosen vice-president. They erected a factory north- east of Auburn Junction, this county, where they engaged extensively in the manufacture of wind mills, potato crates, Fargo harrows, and also ran a planing mill. The business was continued until 1897, when it was discon- tinted. Besides the business interests mentioned. Mr. Lockwood owned about six hundred acres of farm land, located in Ohio, Michigan and this county, to which he gave his attention and in the operation of which he was very successful. In the business affairs of the community he was a prominent figure and contributed much to the prosperity and upbuilding of the commun- ity in which he lived. He was a man of broad sympathies and good-hearted in his attitude toward others, being well liked personally by all who came in contact with him.
On December 22, 1892, Mr. Lockwood was married to Mrs. Sarah Clarke Carr, of Detroit, whom he met in that city while exhibiting the prod- ucts of his factory. Mrs. Carr was born four miles south of Dexter, in Washtenaw county, Michigan, and is a daughter of Dr. Henry and Mary ( Pritchard) Clarke, both of whom were natives of London, England. Dr. Henry Clarke was a man of splendid education, possessing several diplomas, and spoke fluently seven different languages. He and his wife were mar- ried in London, and they afterwards came to Washtenaw county, Michigan, where the Doctor was engaged in the practice of his profession until seventy-
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eight years old. He had very early in life taken an interest in the science of anatomy, having begun dissecting at the early age of fifteen years. He be- came a surgeon of note and had a large practice all over Washtenaw county, where he was commonly known as the "old English doctor." Aristocratic in his manner of life, he was nevertheless very kind to the poor and never charged for his medical services when the recipient was not able to pay. Their daughter, Sarah A., was married in 1878 to George Washington Carr, of Bellville, Wayne county, Michigan, and two or three years later they moved to Detroit, where Mr. Carr was employed as a railroad fireman. Mr. Carr, who was born February 18, 1853. at Pinckney, Michigan, was a son of Malcolm and Nancy ( Richmond) Carr, and his death occurred on March 17. 1888. To Mr. and Mrs. Carr were born two children : Lizzie G., who died in infancy, and George Freeman, who was born September 20, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood moved to Auburn in September, 1893, and Mr. Lockwood formally adopted his wife's son, George, who dropped his middle name of Freeman, being known now as George Carr Lockwood. On April 23, 1910, he married Hulda Gessner, of Monroe, Michigan, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Weisbeck) Gessner. To them was born a son, Reuben G., on January 21, 1911. George C. Lockwood is a tester at the Anburn automo- bile factory.
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