USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Dekalb County, Indiana, with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families > Part 63
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wife died on July 17, 1859. Mr. John Kimsey died on November 14, 1911, and was survived by his widow, who still lives at Toledo. To them were born six children, namely : Lola M., the wife of Dr. Broughton, of Waterloo; Jessie Almira, who died at the age of seventeen years: Birdie E., the wife of Ora O. Brown, of Toledo; Reuben Thomas, of Toledo; Rose Ellen, the wife of A. T. Bonneau, and John Forsythe, of Toledo.
GEORGE E. HARMES.
Among the substantial men whose labor and influence have given impetus to the general material improvement of DeKalb county in years gone by and who today occupies no insignificant place in the esteem of the community in which he resides is the worthy gentleman whose name forms the introduction of this sketch. He has been content to spend his life in his native locality, wisely deciding that this favored section of the great Hoosier state was as well if not better suited for the pursuit of agriculture than any other.
George E. Harmes was born in DeKalb county, Indiana, on April 25. 1866, the son of Henry and Maria ( Young) Harmes. Henry Harmes was born in Hanover, Germany, December 30, 1822, the son of Frederick and Mary Harmes, who emigrated to the United States in 1830. Henry Harmes was married on September 19, 1850, to Maria Young, who was born in Huron county, Ohio, and the same year they moved to DeKalb county. They became the parents of seven children, of whom only two are now living, Mrs. Clara J. Brumback and the subject of this sketch. The mother of these children died on December 12, 1868, and on January 13, 1870, Mr. Harmes married Mrs. Sarah Knapp, they removing to Noble county during the same year. Henry died on July 3, 1906.
George E. Harmes received his education in the common schools of Noble county, and on completing the public school course he attended a busi- ness college at Angola, Indiana, thus receiving a good practical education in both the literary and business branches.
Reared to the pursuit of farming, he has never seen cause to forsake this vocation, in which he has achieved a pronounced success, and is now the owner of a magnificent farm of three hundred and thirty-five acres in Fairfield township, to the cultivation and improvement of which he devoted his undivided time. He follows general farming, raising all the crops com-
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mon to this locality, and also gives some attention to feeding of cattle, in which he has been very successful. His farm is splendidly improved in every respect, the attractive and comfortable residence, commodious and well- arranged barns and other necessary out-buildings indicating him to be a man of excellent taste and sound judgment. . He gives his personal attention to every detail of his farm work, and by persistent industry and the exercise of good judgment he has attained to a high place among his fellow agri- culturists.
On October 10, 1893, George E. Harmes married Mary Bessie Stone- braker, a daughter of John M. and Harriet (Drowley ) Stonebraker, both of whom were early settlers of Fairfield township. Mr. Stonebraker was a vet- eran of the Civil war, having enlisted on August 27, 1861, in Company B, Twenty-ninth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served with valor and faithfulness until his honorable discharge on August 27, 1864. To Mr. and Mrs. Harmes have been born four children, Clifton E., Harriet H., Henry T. and Theodore K.
Politically, Mr. Harmes has been an ardent supporter of the Republican party, though he has been too busy a man to aspire to public office on his own account. Fraternally, he is a member of Corunna Lodge No. 248. Knights of Pythias, in the workings of which he takes an intelligent interest. By a life characterized by industry anl integrity Mr. Harmes maintains the confidence and good will of the people of his community, and among his neighbors and acquaintances his character and integrity have ever been above reproach.
FRANK BROUGHTON, M. D.
It is not always easy to discover and define the hidden forces that move a life of ceaseless activity and large professional success. Little more can be done than to note their manifestation in the career of the individual under consideration. In view of this fact the life of the distinguished physician and public-spirited man of affairs whose name appears above affords a striking example of well-defined purpose with the ability to make that pur- pose subserve not only his own ends but the good of his fellow men as well. He has long held distinctive prestige in a calling which requires for its basis sound mentality and intellectual discipline of a high order, supplemented by the rigid professional training and thorough mastery of technical knowledge with the skill to apply the same, without which one cannot hope to rise above
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mediocrity in ministering to human ills. In his chosen field of endeavor Doctor Broughton has achieved success such as few attain, and his present eminent standing among the leading medical men of DeKalb county is duly recognized and appreciated.
Frank Broughton, M. D., of Waterloo, DeKalb county, Indiana, was born in Noble county, this state, on July 30, 1860, and is the son of William and Rebecca (Casper) Broughton. William Broughton was a native of Ohio and came to this state in an early day, while his wife was a relative of the Caspers, so well known among the early pioneers of DeKalb county. Frank Broughton spent the first sixteen years of his life on the home farm in Noble county, receiving his education in the district schools of his home neigh- borhood. In 1879 and 1880 he was a student in the Methodist Episcopal College in Fort Wayne, and then, having determined to make the practice of medicine his life work, he matriculated in Rush Medical College, of Chicago, where he was graduated in 1884. During the following three years he was engaged in the practice of his profession at Avilla, Noble county, Indiana. at the end of that period coming to Waterloo, where he has been continuously engaged in the practice since. He is well qualified by nature and training for the calling which he follows, and his efforts have met with very gratify- ing success in this community. His office is well equipped with all modern apparatus for the successful handling of difficult cases, including an X-ray static machine and other medical fixtures, while he has a well selected profes- sional library which enables him to keep in touch with the most advanced thought relative to the healing art. Doctor Broughton has for several years been surgeon for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, and for nine years was local United States pension examiner. Aside from his pro- fession, he has taken a commendable interest in the affairs of the community and served as a member of the school board, being president of that lody a part of the time. He is also local examiner for abont ten life insurance companies. In addition to his creditable career in one of the most useful and exacting of professions, the Doctor has also proven an honorable men- ber of the body politic. rising in the confidence and esteem of the public. and in every relation of life he has never fallen below the dignity of true manhood nor in any way resorted to methods and wiles that invite criticism or censure. He is essentially a man among men, and as a citizen he easily ranks with the most influential of his community. His course has been above suspicion, and those favored with an intimate acquaintance with him are profuse in their praise of his manly virtues and upright character.
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Politically, Doctor Broughton is a Republican, in the success of which party he has been actively interested. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Knights of Pythias.
In 1884 Doctor Broughton married Lola M. Kimsey, a daughter of John M. and Harriett E. (Lent) Kimsey. . Harriett E. Lent was born at Ligonier, Indiana, and is a daughter of Reuben J. Lent, a pioneer of DeKalb county, and at one time one of its best known citizens. A biographical sketch of John M. Kimsey appears elsewhere in this work. Lola M. Kimsey was born at Angola, Indiana, and when but three years of age her family moved to Waterloo, where she was reared and lived until her marriage in 1884. She attended the public schools and was also a student in the Meth- odist College at Fort Wayne, where she formed the acquaintance of Dr. Broughton. After leaving the college she was employed in the Waterloo postoffice for about five years. She is a woman of marked intellectual attain- ments and excellent social qualities, but her interest is centered in her home, being thoroughly domestic in her tastes and desires. Doctor Broughton and wife have one son, Jay W., who first saw the light of day on March 15, 1885. He attended the public schools at Toledo, and is now connected with the dining car service of the Union Pacific Railway from Ogden, Utah. to Omaha, occasionally requiring him to go to the Pacific coast.
H. I. TESS.
The history of a state is but a record of the doings of its people, and the story of the plain common people who constitute the moral bone and sinew of the state should ever attract the attention and prove of interest to all true lovers of their kind. In the life story of the subject of this sketch there are no striking chapters of startling incidents, but it is merely the record of life true to its highest ideals and fraught with much that should stimulate the youth just starting in the world as an independent factor.
H. L. Tess is a native son of the county in which he now resides and was born on February 25, 1864. His parents were Louis and Harriett (Smith) Tess, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Pennsyl- vania. Louis Tess emigrated to this country from the Fatherland and settled in DeKalb county, where he followed day labor. Though not a man of great prominence in his community, he had the sincere regard of all who knew him because of his straightforward, honest and industrious life and was
H. L. TESS
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numbered among the substantial citizens of his community. To him and his wife were born seven children: Elizabeth, Eliza, H. L., two who died in infancy, Clara and Charles.
H. L. Tess secured his education in the common schools of DeKalb county, and upon attaining the proper age he learned the trade of a tele- grapher, which vocation he followed for ten years. He then engaged in the general mercantile business at Butler, which he followed with success, but eventually sold out and became a draughtsman for the Butler Windmill Company, with which concern he has continuously since been identified. He is one of the most valuable factors in the success of this enterprise and takes an intelligent interest in his work, which is of no secondary import- ance in the routine program of the company's plant.
In 1887 Mr. Tess was married to Dell Kniselv, the daughter of T. J. Knisely, and to them have been born two children, Harold K. and Ethel. Politically, Mr. Tess has given his support to the Republican party, while fraternally he is an appreciative member of the Knights of Pythias. The Methodist Episcopal church claims him among its members and he has long been a faithful attendant and a contributor to the support of that society Mr. Tess is known as a man of energy, determination and steady habits. In his private personal relations he is enjoyable, entertaining and at all times a well bred gentleman. There is no pretense or display about him, he caring little for the limelight, merely desiring to do his duty as he sees and under- stands it and to be of the greatest service to his community.
ARCHIE S. BOWMAN.
Dependent very largely upon his own resources from his early youth .. Archie S. Bowman, of Smithfield township, DeKalb county, Indiana, has attained no insignificant success, and though he may have, like most men of affairs, encountered obstacles and met with reverses, he has pressed steadily forward, ever willing to work for the end he has in view. His tenacity and fortitude are due, no doubt, in a large measure to the worthy traits inherited from his sterling ancestors, whose high ideals and correct principles he has. ever sought to perpetuate in all the relations of life.
Archie S. Bowman was born on July 1, 1859, in the southeastern part of Smithfield township, DeKalb county, Indiana, and is a son of Cyrus and'
(41)
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Sarah Ann (Smith) Bowman. Cyrus Bowman was a brother of James Bowman, whose record gives interesting details of the family ancestry. Cyrus Bowman was a son of John and Matilda Bowman, and was born in Van Buren, Onondaga county, New York, on November 9, 1818, and died at his home in West Waterloo, Indiana, on March 12, 1901, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. He came of good old Puritan stock, his father having been a native of New Jersey and his mother of Connecticut. Mr. Bowman remained with his parents in New York until he reached his majority, his youthful years being spent in working on the farm. His father had entered land in DeKalb county, Indiana, in 1838, and gave one hundred and sixty acres of this land to his son, who came here the following year, spending three years here unmarried, in which time he worked hard clearing the land, splitting rails, building fences and getting about twenty acres of his own land in condition for cultivation. In 1842 he returned to his native state and there, on June 15, 1843, he was united in marriage to Rachel Waterman, a native of Van Buren, New York. The same fall they came to the farm in DeKalb county, building a log cabin in the woods northeast of Waterloo, and there together they shared the joys, sorrows, hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. To their union were born two children, Harriett Matilda, who died on October 8, 1855, aged nearly eleven years, and Rosa G., who is now the wife of Phineas D. Childs, of Fairfield town- ship, this county. Mrs. Bowman died on October 17, 1855, and on Sep- tember 4, 1858, Mr. Bowman married Sarah Ann Smith, the daughter of Archibald and Mary ( Thompson) Smith. Her father, who was born in Scotland, was married in Liverpool to Mary Thompson, a native of England, and they sailed at once to America. They were storm-driven south of the equator and were three months on the journey across the ocean. They lived a short time in New York city and then came to Stark county, Ohio, and finally to DeKalb county, Indiana. To Mr. and Mrs. Bowman were born two children, Archie S., now of Smithfield township this county, and Fred C., of Waterloo. Late in life Mr. Bowman bought a nice home in Waterloo, where he spent his last years. 'In politics he was an ardent Republican, and in 1886 he was elected a member of the board of county commissioners at a time when the normal political majority was against his party, but, owing to his personal popularity and his ability, he reversed the majority to 'a plurality in his favor of two hundred and twenty-seven, the head of his ticket being defeated by two hundred and nineteen. His official career was marked by business ability of a high order and during his administration much was done in the way of public improvement and development of the county. As
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a pioneer citizen of the county and a progressive man in his views and attitude toward public affairs he was one of the most influential factors in advancing the public interests and in giving prominence to this section of the state.
Archie S. Bowman was reared on the home farm until he had attained his majority, his early years being spent in the arduous toil of clearing the land and putting it under cultivation. He distinctly remembers when the cleared land was as scarce as the timbered part is now. In the fall after he had attained his twenty-first year he was married to Alice Kelly, the daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. Freeman Kelly. Freeman Kelly, who is now deceased, was born in 1833 in Hancock county, Ohio, a son of Isaac and Rebecca (De- Weese ) Kelly. He was reared in his native state and at the age of eighteen years went to California, where he followed gold mining and other occupa- tions until 1857. He then located in the southeastern part of Smithfield township, DeKalb county, Indiana, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land. In August, 1857, he married Martha J. Marvin, a native of Hancock county, Ohio, and the daughter of William and Mabel ( Roberts) Marvin. Freeman Kelly was a successful farmer and a prominent citizen of his locality, having served two terms as justice of the peace, two terms as a member of the Legislature, and in other ways working for the benefit of his fellow men. Fraternally, he was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in religion was a member of the Universalist church. He was active in the support of the Democratic party, being an efficient and forceful campaign orator, and at- tained to a marked popularity throughout this section of the state. His widow survived him and now lives on the old farm in Smithfield township with her son-in-law. Archie Bowman.
Immediately after his marriage Archie Bowman moved to Cass county, Michigan, where he engaged in the timber business and farming. He bought ninety-thrce acres of land there, on which he made his permanent home until 1900, when he returned to DeKalb county, locating again on the farm where he was born and reared, living there a year. He then went to the Chapman farm, which he rented for three years, but finally bought the Freeman Kelly farm of one hundred and eighty-six acres, which was well improved and up-to-date in its appointments, and there he now resides. He is the father of seven children : Clarence A., Ray, Mildred, Delbert, Mary, Ruth and Russell. Clarence A. married Dora Lutz, daughter of Jacob Lutz, and they have a daughter, Thelma. He lives on the old Bowman homestead, where
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the subject of this sketch was born. Mildred is the wife of Arthur Grogg. and lives two miles west of Waterloo. Mary is the wife of Charles Bell, and lives in Barry county, Michigan, and has one daughter. Mr. Bowman is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Waterloo, which he joined while living in Michigan in 1882, and is an appreciative participant in its work. Socially, Mr. Bowman enjoys to a marked degree the confidence and regard of all who know him, for his life here has been controlled by proper motives and his actions have ever been such as to win the commenda- tion and approval of his fellow citizens.
JAMES ROBERT NISBET.
Although not an old man in years, the gentleman whose life record is herein outlined has stamped his individuality in no uncertain manner upon the localities where he has resided, being an excellent representative of that type of the much heralded American business man,-the type that does things, -Mr. Nisbet being a worthy descendant of a long line of honorable and in- fluential ancestors.
James Robert Nisbet, formerly a well known and honored resident of Waterloo, DeKalb county, Indiana, but now living in Chicago, Illinois, was. born in the latter city on August 2, 1876, and is a son of Richard and Josie (O'Mara) Nisbet. The father was a native of Thorn Hill, Ontario, Canada. while the mother was born on the Atlantic ocean while her parents were en route to this country from Ireland. The subject's father came to Chicago when but fourteen years old and there spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on June 16, 1890. His widow still resides in that city. Mrs. Josie Nisbet's parents located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, after their arrival in this country and there lived the remainder of their lives, Mrs. Nisbet living there until sixteen years of age, when she went to Chicago, and there met and married Richard Nisbet. Richard Nisbet was employed in a machine shop, and in early days was an expert molder. At the time of the Chicago fire in 1871 he lost practically all his possessions and was compelled to start life anew, in which he was fairly successful. He was not only industrious and energetic, hut, because of his upright life, he commanded the universal respect and esteem of all who knew him.
James Robert Nisbet was reared at Chicago and after receiving his edu- cation in the public schools he became a student at the University of Michi-
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gan, Ann Arbor, where he was graduated in 1896, with the degree of Phar- maceutical Chemist. Then, after receiving some practical experience in a drug store, he came to Waterloo and in the spring of 1897 he became a member of the firm of Cass & Nisbet, druggists, in which he was successfully engaged for about a year. He then returned to Chicago, but later went to New Mexico, where he was again engaged in the drug business. Three years later he removed to Hot Springs, Arkansas, and also spent a year in Detroit and a period at Port Huron, Michigan, and St. Louis, Missouri, after which he returned to Chicago, where he has since resided. His business pertains to surgical instruments and hospital and surgeon's supplies, with auxiliary lines. He understands every detail of the business, being considered an expert.
On June II, 1902, Mr. Nishet returned to DeKalb county and was mar- ried to Bessie Kelley, daughter of Alfred Kelley, he having met his future wife while engaged in business at Waterloo. To them have been born two children, Richard Kelley, born April 1, 1905, and Ada Blanche, horn May 7. 1907.
Fraternally, Mr. Nisbet is an appreciate member of the Free and Ac- cepted Masons. He is companionable and genial, though unostentatiously quiet in his demeanor, and has earned the high regard in which he is held by those who know him.
HARRY BROWN.
It is proper to judge of the success and status of a man's life by the esti- mation in which he is held by his fellow citizens. They see him at his work. in his family circle, in his church, at his devotions, hear his views on public questions, observe the outcome of his code of morals, witness how he con- ducts himself in all the relations of society and civilization and thus become campetent to judge of his merits and demerits. After a long course of years of such daily observation it would be out of the question for his neighbors not to know his worth, because, as has been said, "Actions speak louder than words." In this county there is nothing heard concerning the subject of this sketch but good words. He has passed so many years here that his worth is well known, but it will be of interest to run over the busy events of his life 11. se pages.
larry Brown was born at Hartsville, Bartholomew county. Indiana, on October 5, 1871, and is a son of William Marion Brown, Jr., and Clara
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: Womack ) Brown. William M. Brown, Jr., was born in Franklin county. Ohio, the son of William Marion Brown, Sr., and Sarah ( Wiley ) Brown. At the age of two. years he was brought by his parents to Hartsville, Indiana, where he spent the remainder of his life, being for a number of years the oldest inhabitant in point of years of residence in that town. His wife, whose maiden name was Clara Womack, was born along Flat Rock creek, Shelby county, Indiana. William M. Brown, Jr., was a blacksmith by voca- tion, following that pursuit for forty-five years on the same lot at Hartsville. He took a deep interest in local affairs and was on the school board for twenty-five years, being a member of that body at the time of his death. He was elected a justice of the peace, but refused to qualify. He was active in his support of the Republican party, and assisted materially in the election of others to public office, but was never himself an aspirant for any position at the hands of his fellow citizens. He died on December 20, 1912, two days before the sixty-eighth anniversary of his birth, and his widow still resides at Hartsville.
Harry Brown was reared at Hartsville, and after completing his studies in the common schools he attended the United Brethren College at Harts- ville five terms. After leaving that institution he went into the butchering business at Huntington, Indiana, and was successfully engaged in the retail trade there for eight years. At the end of that time he came to Auburn, and for five years was engaged in buying timber for the R. W. Vaughn Handle Company. However, prior to coming here he spent a year in the state of Washington with his family, their sojourn in that state being on account of Mr. Brown's health, which was impaired when he went there, but which was entirely restored on his return. After five years' residence at Auburn, Mr. Brown moved to Waterloo, where he has resided ever since and where he is now engaged in farming, his beautiful home being located at the south edge of the city. He is practical and up-to-date in his methods and has achieved a noteworthy success in this line.
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