USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Dekalb County, Indiana, with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families > Part 67
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Mr. Thomas was thrice married, first on October 14, 1858, to Elizabeth Rectenwalt, the daughter of Jacob and Anna (Koontz) Rectenwalt, both of whom were natives of Germany, but who on their emigration to America located first in Ohio, and later came to DeKalb county, of which they were early and prominent settlers. To this first union of the subject of this sketch were born two children: Almira, deceased, and Milo J., who is represented elsewhere in this work. Mr. Thomas' first wife died in 1901, at the age of sixty-two years, and in 1902 he married Emmeline King, the daughter of John and Katherine (Rebber) King. Her parents were natives of Mary- land, but became early settlers of DeKalb county, settling in Vernon town- ship. Mrs. Emmeline Thomas died in 1905, at the age of sixty-two years, and subsequently Mr. Thomas married Sarah Rodenbaugh, the daughter of Adam Rodenhaugh, who was a native of Pennsylvania, whence he moved to Stark county, Ohio, and then to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his daughter, Mrs. Thomas, was a successful nurse for eighteen years. Her death oc- curred on June 30, 1913, at the age of seventy years.
Politically, Daniel Thomas has been a life-long supporter of the Demo- cratic party, but has not been a seeker after public office, his only official service being as supervisor of his township, in which he rendered efficient service. Religiously, he is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, to the support of which he contributes liberally. During the long period of his residence in DeKalb county, Mr. Thomas has been an eye witness of and a participant in the wonderful development which has characterized this section of the state, and in everything affecting the general welfare of the people he
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has been deeply interested, giving his support to those movements which have promised to advance the interests of his fellow men educationally, morally, socially or materially. His life has ever been characterized by the strictest integrity of word and action and among those who have known him long and intimately he is held in the most affectionate regard, because of his high personal character and his genial qualities.
THOMAS C. STAFFORD.
Success is only achieved by the exercise of certain distinguishing qualities and it cannot be retained without effort. Those by whom great epoch changes have been made in the political and industrial world began early in life to pre- pare themselves for their peculiar duties and responsibilities and it was only by the most persevering and continuous endeavor that they succeeded in rising superior to the obstacles in their way and reaching the goal of their ambition. Such lives are an inspiration to others who are less courageous and more prone to give up the fight before their ideal is reached or definite success in any chosen field has been attained. In the life history of the honorable gen- tleman whose name forms the caption of this article we find evidence of a peculiar characteristic that always makes for achievement-persistency, coupled with fortitude and lofty traits, and as a result of such a life is one of the best known and most highly respected men.
The subject was born in DeKalb county on June 8, 1854, his parents being James and Anna ( McClure) Stafford, natives of Ashland county, Ohio, who came to DeKalb county ten years before the subject's birth, in 1844, and settled in Jackson township, entering land from the government. The sub- ject still has the original deed to this land, signed by President John Tyler. Nine children were born to James and Anna Stafford, as follows: Samuel, deceased ; John, deceased; J. K., Emanuel, Jane, Rebecca, Thomas C., Ella, deceased, and Melinda. Both parents have long since passed to their reward.
Thomas C. Stafford, after receiving a good common school education in the DeKalb county schools, took up the vocation of tilling the soil, which he has followed all his life. He now owns the old home farm of eighty acres. On June 15, 1872, he was united in marriage to Celia Miller. daughter of Thomas and Mary (McCrory) Miller. This marriage was blessed by no children and the wife died on June 15. 1874. Subsequently, on March 6, 1878, the subject was again married to Ida A. Moore, daughter of John P.
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and Rachel ( Likens) Moore, who were natives of the Buckeye state, he of Ashland county and she of Seneca county. They came with their parents to DeKalb county and settled in Jackson township in 1842. The subject's second wife was born on November 12, 1861, she being one of three children, the others being Sarah, who married Lucien Provines, and Ella J., who mar- ried Joseph E. Kester. Her parents are both deceased. To the subject and wife have been born three children: James E., deceased in infancy, and John L. and Nellie E., who are still under the parental roof tree, both edu- cated in home schools. Mr. Stafford has served very acceptably as a member of the advisory board four years and as supervisor of Jackson township for six years. Politically, he is allied with the Democratic party, and religiously. Mrs. Stafford is a member of the Methodist Protestant church. Mrs. Stafford taught school five years in Jackson township.
ISAAC MILLER JACKMAN.
A review of the life of the honored subject of this sketch must of neces- sity be brief and general in its character. To enter fully into the interesting details of his career touching the struggles of his early manhood and suc- cesses of later days would far transcend the limits of this article. He filled a large place in the ranks of the enterprising and public-spirited men of his day and generation and the memories which attach to his name and character form no inconsiderable chapter in the history of the community where he did his work and achieved his success. Sufficient is submitted, however, to prove him entitled to the honorable position he long occupied among the brave and energetic self-made men of Indiana, who by enterprise and unswerving in- tegrity forged to the front despite all obstacles and helped win for the grand old Hoosier commonwealth a place second to none other in the bright con- stellation of American states.
Isaac Miller Jackman was born in Carroll county, Ohio, on June 21, 1821, and was, a son of Adam and Mary ( Miller) Jackman. Adam Jackman was born in what is now West Virginia during the latter part of the eighteenth century, and when about fourteen years of age ran away from home, coming to Carroll county, Ohio, about the beginning of the nineteenth century. He lived about seven years with the Indians, hunting and trapping, and when he attained his majority he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in Car- roll county. When about twenty-two years old he returned to his boyhood
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home and there gave a good account of the new country in which he had set- tled. The result was that a number of his old neighbors moved to Carroll county, among whom was the Miller family, a member of which, Mary, aft- erwards became his wife. He was a typical frontiersman, more of a hunter and fisherman than farmer.
Isaac Miller Jackman was reared on the Carroll county homestead and secured his education in the district schools of that locality. In 1847 he walked all the way to DeKalh county, Indiana, and bought a tract of land in the northwest corner of Wilmington township. Later he returned to Ohio and married Jane Whitla, who also was a native of Carroll county, and they returned to DeKalb county, arriving at their new home on May 10, 1850. The trip was a long and tiresome one, there being practically no roads or bridges. . Mr .. Jackman had, during his former visits here, cleared a small portion of his land, but he later moved to what is now the eastern edge of Grant township, where he bought a good farm and there spent the remainder of his life, dying February 9, 1899.
Jane Whitla Jackman was born in Carroll county, Ohio, on February 23, 1830, the daughter of William and Margaret,( Steele ) Whitla, and her death occurred near Waterloo, Indiana, on July 24, 1903, at the age of sev- enty-three years. Her marriage to Mr. Jackman occurred on January 29. 1850. She possessed to a remarkable degree those qualities which character- ized the pioneers of this locality, and she was to her husband a helpmate in the truest sense of the word. Their early experiences here were fraught with many incidents which seem strangely primitive to the present generation. Their first cabin home had no floor and during the first summer Mrs. Jack- man cooked their meals over a stumpside fire. However, they enjoyed their life, being filled with energy, ambition and hope. She was a faithful wife, a devoted mother and a kind and generous neighbor, and her children scarcely remember a time when their home was not a refuge for some homeless one. She was always called on in sickness and death by her neighbors, sometimes walking a distance of five miles to perform her ministrations of love. In early life she joined the Presbyterian church and was ever afterwards a faithful and earnest member of that society.
William Whitla, Mrs. Jackman's father, was born in Ohio, but his father, William, was born near Belfast, Ireland. The family name was originally Whitelaw, later abbreviated to Whitla. The family was descended from a Scottish chief named William the White, who was very large and tall above all his fellows. His law was so just and equitable as to be called White law, from which term the family name was formed. The Whitlas went
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from Scotland to Ireland, and eventually to America. Margaret Steele also was a native of Ireland, and came to America with her parents and a number of other families, including those of Whitla and Snodgrass.
To Isaac M. and Jane Jackman were born the following children: Mrs. Mary Kiplinger, of Smithfield township, this county; J. W., of Grant town- ship; I. M., of Wilmington township; Amos, of Wilmington township, and John, of Grant township, all of whom have in their own lives perpetuated the sterling qualities which characterized their honored parents.
CLARENCE BLAINE HAMILTON.
There is no positive rule for achieving success, and yet in the life of the successful man there are always lessons which might well be followed. The man who gains prosperity is he who can see and utilize the opportunities that come in his path. The essential conditions of human life are ever the same, the surroundings of individuals differing but slightly, and when one man passes another on the highway of life to reach the goal of prosperity before others who perhaps started out before him, it is because he has the power to use advantages which probably encompass the whole human race. Today among the prominent citizens and successful business men of Garrett stands Clarence Blaine Hamilton. The qualities of keen discrimination, sound judgment and executive ability enter very largely into his make-up and have been contributing elements to the material success which has come to him.
Clarence Blaine Hamilton, publisher of the Garrett Weekly Clipper, and one of the most public-spirited citizens of this community, was born in Wood county, Ohio, on February 7. 1887, and is the son of S. E. Hamilton. He accompanied his parents on their removal to Fostoria, Ohio, in 1899. and there secured his education in the public schools. At the early age of sixteen years the subject, ambitious to make a start in life, became a reporter for the Fostoria Daily Times, in which he made good to such a degree that he was soon given the title of city editor and retained the position five years, or until December 16, 1907. He then came to Garrett and entered the employ of the late Tracy C. Little, publisher of the Garrett Clipper, and on June I, 1908, Mr. Hamilton became editor and manager of this paper, which he now publishes and which has now become, under his management and direction, one of the influential and prosperous newspapers of DeKalb county. Mr. Hamilton is a graceful and forceful writer, having the genuine
CLARENCE B. HAMILTON
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journalistic instinct for news, and he has made his paper indispensable in hundreds of homes in his locality. Through the columns of the Clipper earnest support is given to every worthy movement for the upbuilding of the best interests of the community, and Mr. Hamilton's personal influence is given to the highest standard of living, so that he has earned the respect and confidence of the people with whom he mingles. The Clipper office is well equipped, not only for successful newspaper printing, but also for com- mercial job printing, in which Mr. Hamilton has enjoyed a large and profit- able patronage.
On December 25, 1910, Mr. Hamilton was united in marriage to Mar- garet May Hatchet, of Fostoria, and to them have been born two daughters, Thais Hatchet and Gretchen.
Fraternally, Mr. Hamilton is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Tribe of Ben-Hur, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Greek-letter high school fraternity, Phi Delta Kappa. He enjoys a large acquaintance, among whom are many warm and loyal friends, and throughout the community with which he has identified himself he enjoys that standing which can be gained only by those who possess qualities and attributes of a high order.
JACOB N. OLINGER.
To write the personal record of men who raised themselves from hum- ble circumstances to a position of responsibility and trust in a community is no ordinary pleasure. Self-made men, men who have achieved success by reason of their personal qualities, and left the impress of their individuality upon the business and growth of their place of residence, and affect for good such institutions as are embraced in the sphere of their usefulness, unwittingly, perhaps, built monuments more enduring than marble obelisk or granite shaft. Of such we have the unquestionable right to say belonged the gentle- man whose name appears above.
Jacob N. Olinger, who during his lifetime was one of the respected and influential citizens of Keyser township, DeKalb county, Indiana, was born on November 18, 1839, in Stark county, Ohio, the son of John and Annie ( Nico- demus) Olinger, the father a native of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Jacob N. Olinger was reared in his Ohio home, securing his education in its public schools, and at about the time he attained his majority in 1861, he came to
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DeKalb county, Indiana, where he obtained employment at farm work. In 1863 he began farming operations for himself about a mile north of where the town of Garrett is now located, where he bought twenty acres, the ground on which Garrett now stands being then a dense woodland. When this now prosperous town was started Mr. Olinger had an old shanty of a house there, in which he kept boarders, caring for the workmen engaged in the building of the young town. By persistent and sturdy industry and rigid economy Mr. Olinger was enabled to get a start, and, though intent on the acquisition of material means on his own account, he was generous in his assistance to others equally limited in their resources. He first bought twenty acres of land on the south side of the road, thus making forty acres of good land, and eventually he bought forty acres more adjoining the former tract, thus mak- ing sixty acres at the cross roads where the Keyser centralized school is now located. Here he lived during the remainder of his life and by his intelli- gently directed efforts he was enabled to live comfortably during his latter years. He was a man of stanch integrity of character, whose actions were governed by right motives and among those who knew him best he was held in high regard because of his sterling qualities and his evident desire to live right among his fellow men.
In 1863 Jacob N. Olinger married Lovina Shull, and to them was born a daughter, Addie, who became the wife of Peter Kandle, and they now live three miles north of Butler. Mrs. Lovina Olinger died on December 7, 1884, and on August 31, 1886, Mr. Olinger married Sarah Deihl, who was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, and is a sister of John Deihl, who is repre- sented by a personal sketch elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Olinger was reared in Pennsylvania and came to Indiana on a visit to relatives, with whom she spent two years. She then returned to Pennsylvania, and was there mar- ried to Mr. Olinger. To them was born one son, Jay F., who first saw the light of day on January 22, 1889, and after attending the common schools, grad- uated from the Garrett high school in 1908, and subsequently attended the Tri-State Normal School at Angola. In the fall of 1909 Mr. Olinger began teaching, being engaged in that work one year at Dutchtown, and ever since has taught in the schools of Keyser township, being numbered among the suc- cessful educators of his county. He is still making his home with his mother, for whom he bears the closest affection and for whom he is caring with the utmost solicitude. Intelligent and well educated, Jay F. Olinger has an agreeable and companionable manner that wins for him friends, and through- out the community where he is known he is held in high regard.
Jacob N. Olinger died on May 21, 1910, in the seventy-first year of his
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age, and his death was sincerely mourned throughout the community, where his loss was deeply felt. He was a faithful and earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Garrett, to the support of which he contributed freely of his means. Mrs. Olinger and her son, Jay, are also members of the Methodist church. The family have for many years been numbered among the best citizens of the section of the county in which they live, and are highly esteemed because of their honorable, record and the active part they have taken in the advancement of the community along legitimate lines.
JASON B. CHILDS.
Through struggles to triumph seems to be the maxim which holds sway for the majority of our citizens, and though it is undeniably true that many a one falls exhausted in the conflict, a few, by their inherent force of charac- ter and strong mentality, rise above their environments until they reach the plane of prosperity. Such has been the record of the gentleman whose name appears as the caption of this sketch and who is today numbered among the representative citizens of Fairfield township, DeKalb county, Indiana.
Jason B. Childs was born on August 27, 1859, in Fairfield township, DeKalb county, Indiana, and is the son of Willard and Amanda ( Buchanan ) Childs. Willard Childs, who was born near Utica, New York, on February 15, 18II, was the son of Phineas and Theodosia ( Phillips) Childs, the for- mer a native of New Haven, Connecticut, and of English descent, and the lat- ter also a native of Connecticut, but of Welsh descent. In 1813 these parents moved to Jefferson county, New York, and in 1826 to Onondaga county. When he was fifteen years of age he began to work by the month for farm- ers. In 1837 he came to DeKalb county, Indiana, and bought one hundred and twenty acres of land, and after paying for it had but seventy-three cents left. He then went to Fort Wayne and there earned the money with which to return to New York. In 1846 he moved his family to DeKalh county, landing in Fairfield township on August 24th. He moved into a log cabin helonging to B. H. Chaffee, and a short time afterwards bought the land on which it stood. There were but fourteen families in this township when he settled there and the land was mostly heavily timbered. He added to his first purchase until he became the owner of two hundred and eighty-six acres of land comprising one of the best farms in the township. In his native state he married Cornelia Steves, by whom were born two children. Emma and
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Phineas G. His first wife died in 1856, just after he had completed the erec- tion of a new home, and he afterwards married Amanda Buchanan, who was born in Holmes county, Ohio, the daughter of Alexander Buchanan. She was reared in her native state and became a school teacher and, coming to DeKalb county, made her home with relatives and engaged in teaching school until she married. To this union were born two children, Jason B., the im- mediate subject of this sketch, and Mary E., the wife of Wilber Haller, of Kendallville, this state. Willard Childs died in 1890, at which time he was the owner of two hundred and sixty acres of land, and his wife passed away in 1892. They were both members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Jason B. Childs was reared on the home farm and after completing his common school studies attended the high school at Waterloo, and later the Methodist College at Fort Wayne, Indiana. He then resumed agricultural operations on the home farm, but after his marriage in 1880 he located on a tract of one hundred and twenty acres in section 27, Fairfield town- ship, where he has remained continuously since. By the most persistent en- ergy and wisely directed efforts he has attained an eminent success in this effort and is numbered among the successful farmers of that locality. In 1883 he built a nice residence, and a splendid barn in 1908, in connection with which is a good silo, and in other ways he has shown a disposition to keep up with the times in every department of his farm work. He raises all the crops common to this locality and also gives a proper share of his attention to the raising of live stock, in which line also he is successful. In December, 1880, Mr. Childs was married to Anna E. Haller, who was born in Noble county, Indiana, the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth ( Bolenbaugh) Haller. The latter, who was born in Seneca county, Ohio, was the daughter of John and Susan (Bixler) Bolenbaugh. Daniel Haller was a native of Germany, the son of Jacob and Catherine (Weller) Haller, and came to America when about three years old with his parents, who located first in Pennsylvania, subsequently moving to Ohio. He care to Noble county, Indiana, where he made his permanent home and here married Elizabeth Bolenbaugh. Jacob Haller was a soldier in the army of Napoleon Bonaparte for nine years, tak- ing part in the historic battles of Austerlitz and Waterloo. Elizabeth Bolen- baugh came to Noble county, Indiana, with her parents at the age of twelve years, at which time Kendallville was a hamlet of but two houses. Her par- ents lived in that locality six or seven years, and in that vicinity until ad- vanced age, when they moved to Wisconsin, where their deaths occurred. Elizabeth Bolenbaugh was reared and married in Noble county, and when her daughter, Anna, was three or four years old, the Haller family moved to
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Fairfield township on a farm of ninety-six acres, and lived there the rest of their lives, the father dying in 1891 and the mother on June 20, 1907. The father was a cooper by trade and by that means made money with which to buy his farın. The mother was first a Methodist in her religious views, but later joined the Evangelical church. To Mr. and Mrs. Childs have been born four children : Effie became the wife of W. W. Lower, who was killed in a railroad accident, leaving two children, Ethel and Elizabeth. After his death she became the wife of James Vogtman, of Hudson, and they have one child. Anna; Willard married Daisy Walker, the daughter of Eli Walker, and lives in Smithfield township, and they have one son, Ralph; Curtis L. is un- married and lives in Fort Wayne, and Herbert, who is twelve years of age. remains at home.
Fraternally, Jason B. Childs is a member of the Knights of Pythias, hav- ing been one of the charter members of the Corunna lodge, and he and his wife and children, Effie and Willard, are members of the Pythian Sisters. Mr: Childs is a man of public spirit and progressive ideas and is numbered among the strong and influential citizens of his community, and as such is eminently entitled to representation in a work of this character.
FRANK W. NIMMONS.
The record of the subject of this review is that of an enterprising gen- tleman who worthily upholds an honorable family name and whose life has been very intimately associated with the material prosperity and moral ad- vancement of Wilmington township, DeKalb county, Indiana, during the most progressive period of its history, and he has always been found on the right side of questions looking to the development of his community in any way, and while he has been prominent in the agricultural affairs of the county, he has at the same time won an enviable reputation for honesty and whole- some living.
Frank W. Nimmons, trustee of Wilmington township and a prominent and successful farmer, is a native of DeKalb county, Indiana, born on De- cember 17, 1863, and is a son of Philip and Mary S. (Westfall) Nimmons. The father was a native of Boone county, New York, and his mother of Rich- land county, Ohio. Philip Nimmons, who was a farmer during all his active life, left his native state and located in Ohio, where he was married and sub- sequently came to Indiana, locating in 1844 in Wilmington township, DeKalb
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