USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Dekalb County, Indiana, with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families > Part 70
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ried on special lines of business in such a manner as to gain a comfortable competence for himself, he has also belonged to that class of representative men of affairs who have promoted the public welfare while advancing indi- vidual success.
In 1889 Mr. Leas married Nellie Wickwire, who was reared at Angola, Indiana, the daughter of George and Rebecca (Hanna) Wickwire. George Wickwire was born in Seneca county, New York, and died at Angola, In- diana, on October 5, 1883, at the age of sixty-seven years. He was a son of Seba Wickwire, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. He came to Steuben county, Indiana, among the first pioneers, locating about four miles east of Angola, and there became the owner of a section of land which has been kept in the possession of his family ever since. Rebecca Hanna was born probably in Steuben county, this state, and was the daughter of William Hanna. George Wickwire became a banker at Angola, also owning flour mills at Nevada and saw mill and farming interests in other places. He was twice married, having three children by his first marriage and seven by his marriage with Rebecca Hanna, Mrs. Leas being one of the latter. The mother died in 1875. Mrs. Leas lived most of her younger life in Angola and completed her educational studies in the Tri-State Normal College at that place. To Mr. and Mrs. Leas has been born a daughter, Nellie Fern, who was born and reared in Waterloo, graduating from the high school in that city in 1908, and then becoming a student in Oxford Seminary at Ox- ford, Ohio, and also the European School of Music at Fort Wayne. She has also studied drawing and music at Ypsilanti, Michigan, and in the fall of 1913 took charge of music and drawing in the schools of Waterloo, and is an enthusiastic devotee of her work.
In local public affairs Mr. Leas has taken a commendable interest and has been a prominent factor in the advancement of the highest interests in this locality. He was a member of the Waterloo town board two years, and the Waterloo school board six years, his last term expiring in August, 1913. He was a charter member of Leonidas Lodge No. 205, Knights of Pythias, which was instituted in January, 1889, and has filled all the offices in this lodge and twice been its representative in the grand lodge of the state. He was made a member of the Free and Accepted Masons in 1893, and became a thirty-second-degree member of the Scottish Rite branch of that order at the time the Scottish Rite cathedral at Fort Wayne was dedicated, and also at that time he became a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Leas has been a man who has looked on the sunny side of life, ever hopeful that the good will rule
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instead of the bad, and as the result of such a fortunate disposition, he has made it pleasant for those with whom he comes in contact, either in a busi- ness or social way. Of kindly nature and sociable impulses, he is also a man of high moral character, and thus enjoys the confidence, good will and friend- ship of all who know him.
WALTER R. HOSE.
It is an agreeable task for the biographer to contemplate the life record of a person who is making a success of life and who has won the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens. Such is the record, briefly stated, of the well known agriculturist whose name appears above, than whom a more highly respected or popular man it would be difficult to find within the limits of the locality where he has his home and where he is held in the highest esteem by a large circle of friends and admirers.
Walter R. Hose was born in DeKalb county, Indiana, on September 3, 1891, and is the son of Solomon and Ida (Swartz) Hose. The father was a native of Summit county, Ohio, and his father, also named Solomon, was a native of Maryland. The subject's father followed farming all his life and came to DeKalb county in an early day, settling in Wilmington township, where the grandfather died a number of years ago. The subject's father, who died on May 30, 1908, gave practical evidence of his patriotism by en- listing during the war of the Rebellion in Company H, Eighty-eighth Regi- ment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served during most of that struggle, giving faithful and valiant service to his country. He was after- ward a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and in politics was a Re- publican. To him and his wife were born three children, George Ernest. Walter R. and Gladys Elizabeth. Walter R. Hose was reared under the par- ental roof and early gave his father assistance in the operation of the home farm. He received his education in the common schools of his locality and on attaining mature years applied himself to agricultural pursuits, in which he is still engaged. He now owns and operates the old home place, compris- ing eighty acres of land. practically all of which is cleared and under culti- vation, and he is giving due attention to the maintenance of the fertility of the soil, with the result that he is reaping abundant returns for his labor.
On December 28, 1912, Walter R. Hose was united in marriage with Alta Farner, the daughter of Jacob and Roena (Treman) Farner, he a na- tive of Wyandot county. Ohio, and she of DeKalb county, Indiana. Mr.
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Farner, upon leaving his native state, first went to California, where he was for a time engaged in the lumber business, but eventually he returned to De- Kalb county, Indiana, where he has since made his permanent home. Po- litically, the subject of this sketch gives his support to the Republican party, in the success of which he is deeply interested, but he has not aspired to pub- lic office of any nature. Though among the younger farmers of his com- munity, Mr. Hose has already earned the confidence and esteem of his fel- low agriculturists, for he has evinced those qualities which are bound to win success in any vocation. Personally, he is genial and unassuming, a splendid companion and good conversationalist, and in the social circles in which he and his wife move they enjoy a well deserved popularity.
SAMUEL WILLIAMS.
Specific mention is made within the pages of this book of many of the worthy citizens of DeKalb county, citizens who have figured in the growth and development of this favored locality and whose interests are identified with its every phase of progress, each contributing in his sphere of action to the well-being of the community in which he resides and to the advance- ment of its moral and legitimate growth. Among this number was Samuel Williams, whose record as a public-spirited citizen, successful farmer and capable official gave him a standing in the community excelled by none of his fellow .citizens.
Samuel Williams was born in Holmes county, Ohio, near Millersburg, on September 17, 1841, and died at his home two miles west of Auburn, Indiana, on June 30, 1912. He was the son of David and Mary (Lupold) Williams, who were natives of Pennsylvania, the mother having been born in Lancaster county. In 1861, he came to Indiana with his brother, Cyrus, who located near Corunna. He was engaged in farming with his brother when, at the age of twenty-one years, he enlisted for service in defense of his country, becoming, on November 26, 1862, a member of Company G, Thirtieth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to Johnson's division. He was promoted to first duty sergeant of the One Hundred Twenty-ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, and with this com- mand he underwent much severe and arduous service in defense of his country. For two months in 1863 he was confined to a hospital at Annap- olis, Maryland, and in 1864 he was furloughed for thirty days. He re-
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joined his regiment at Tullahoma, Tennessee, and at the battle of Stone River he was captured, being taken to Murfreesboro and sent to the notorious Libby prison, where he was detained until paroled, about six weeks later. He re- ceived an honorable discharge from his first enlistment in 1864, and then re- enlisted at Corunna in Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regi- ment, with which he completed his military service. He was in the hattles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Kingston and many other engagements, and in August, 1865, was honorably discharged from the service with a record of which he had just reason to be proud. His brother, Cyrus, was a member of Company G, Thirtieth Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, and was a prisoner in Libby prison for two months, being finally paroled and returned to his com- mand, with which he served until the expiration of his service. His death occurred at Auburn in 1880.
After the war Samuel Williams returned to DeKalb county and was employed as a farm hand by Mr. Brumback for a time. He then worked for George Rufner, of Smithfield township, south of Hudson, where Levi Kessler now lives. About 1878, when Mr. Rufner moved to Fairfield township, Mr. Williams accompanied him and made his home there for a time. In 1890 Mr. Williams was elected recorder of DeKalb county, holding the office from 1892 until 1896, and discharged his duties in a manner that earned the com- mendation of all who knew him. Upon entering his office as recorder, Mr. Williams moved to Auburn, but at the expiration of his office he spent three years more on the Rufner farm, Mrs. Williams' father living with them. Mr. Williams then bought a farm of one hundred acres in 1900, two miles west of Auburn, where he lived until his death, Mrs. Williams' father living with them and still making his home with his daughter.
On September 4, 1892, Samuel Williams was united in marriage to Mrs. Eliza A. (Rufner) Ernest, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, near Can- ton, the daughter of George and Nancy (Boyer) Rufner. George Rufner was born in Stark county, Ohio, February 5, 1830, a son of John and Rachel (Smith) Rufner, natives of Pennsylvania, the former of Berks county, of German descent, and the latter of Adams county, of German and Irish descent. He remained with his parents until the spring of 1853, when he moved to DeKalb county and settled in Richland township. Three years later he sold his farm and bought another tract of wild land in the same township. where he lived nine years, and in the meantime got his land cleared and under good cultivation. He then moved to Smithfield township, where he lived for thirteen years, and in April. 1878, he moved to Fairfield township and hought
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a farm of one hundred and thirty acres. He was married on November 27, 1851, to Nancy Boyer, the daughter of John and Mary ( Thomas) Boyer, natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. To them were born four children, Eliza Ann, Mary Ann, Josiah and Jeremiah. Mrs. Williams was but six months old when her parents brought her to DeKalb county and lived with them in their various locations until her marriage. Her mother died of par- alysis on October 31, 1885, and her father is still living with her. In 1871 she was married to Henry M. Ernest, to which union were born two chil- dren, Mrs. George Ralston, of Fort Wayne, and Marion Ernest Williams, who lives in West Auburn and farms his mother's farm. He married Mrs. Rosa Zimmerman Gushwa, the widow of Frank Gushwa, deceased. She is the mother of one son by her first marriage, Walter Gushwa. They also have a son, Harold C., eleven years old, and Kenneth, who was born May 10, 1913, and died September 9, 1913. Mrs. Ralston is the mother of two sons, Rodgers J., who is four years old, and Hubert, who was two years old on January 30, 1914. To Mr. and Mrs. Williams no children were born. Mr. Williams was an active member of the German Baptist church, to which Mrs .. Williams and her father also belong. Mr. Williams was, in every sense, a good citizen of his community and a credit to the county, his genial and companionable disposition giving him a good standing with all with whom he came in contact, while his career as a public official was honorable in every respect. Because of his earnest life, honorable record and splendid attain- ments, he is eminently entitled to perpetuation in the annals of his county and to be numbered among the representative men of the community which was so long honored by his citizenship.
JOHN JACKMAN.
Agriculture has been an honored vocation, from the earliest ages and as a usual thing men of honorable and humane impulses, as well as-those of energy and thrift, have been patrons of husbandry. The free, out-of-door life of the farm has a decided tendency to foster and develop that independ- ence of mind and self-reliance which characterizes true manhood and no truer blessing can befall a boy than to be reared in close touch with nature in the healthful, life-inspiring labor of the fields. It has always been the fruitful soil from which have sprung the moral bone and sinew of the coun- try, and the majority of our nation's great warriors, renowned statesmen
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and distinguished men of letters were born on the farm and were indebted largely to its 'early influence for the distinction which they have attained.
John Jackman, one of the best known farmers of Grant township, De- Kalb county, Indiana, who is successfully operating a splendid tract east of Waterloo, was born near that city on December 2, 1865, and is a son of Isaac M. and Jane (Whitla) Jackman, who are represented elsewhere in this work. John Jackman was reared on the home farmi, where he remained until his marriage in 1899, when he transferred the base of his operations to the farm owned by his father-in-law, Mr. Wolfe, to the operation of which he has since devoted himself to the present time. His place, which is one of the best farmed in the township, has been maintained at its former standard of fertility and improvement and because of his sturdy industry and up-to-date methods he has achieved a prominent success as a farmer, enjoying a well-de- served position among his fellow agriculturists.
On April 2, 1899, Mr. Jackman married Alice Wolfe, who was born on the farm on which she now lives, the daughter of George and Sarah ( Lutz) Wolfe. George Wolfe was born in Stark county, Ohio, on September 9, 1821, a son of John and Elizabeth (Zahner) Wolfe, the father a native of Maryland and the mother of Pennsylvania. They were among the first set- tlers of Columbiana county, Ohio, where they were married. They suhse- quently moved to Stark county, and there spent the remainder of their lives. Nine children were born to them, all of whom lived to maturity. George Wolfe was reared in his native county and was there married, on March 16, 1843, to Eliza Fisk, a native of New York. In 1847 they moved to DeKalb county, Indiana, where Mrs. Wolfe died in August, 1855. He was-again married on January 18, 1857, to Sarah Lutz, and his own death occurred on February 27, 1885, in his sixty-fourth year. He was a prosperous man in his business affairs, accumulating a fine farm and was prominent and influen- tial in the civic and public affairs of the township, having served as justice of the peace for twenty-nine consecutive years, besides holding other local of- fices of trust and responsibility., Sarah Lutz Wolfe was born on August II, 1828, in Stark county, Ohio, and is the daughter of Michael and Magdalena (Crawford) Lutz. She came here in May, 1848, with her parents, who located in the northern part of what is now Grant township, east of Water- loo. Her father, who died on September 8, 1849, left to his widow the task of clearing and cultivating the farm, which was accomplished by her with the assistance of her children. She was an energetic and ambitious woman and worked hard to make a home and rear her children, in which she was cmi-
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nently successful. She died in 1882, after a long life of usefulness. Her children were John, Sarah, Margaret, Mary, Samuel and Jacob. Of these the only survivors are Mrs. Sarah Wolfe and Mrs. Mary Sawvel, of Frank- lin township, this county. Mrs. Wolfe now lives on the old farm west of Waterloo, and with her is her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Jack- man. To George and Sarah Wolfe were born two children, Florence and Alice, the former of whom died at the age of three years.
Politically, Mr. Jackman is an earnest supporter of the Democratic party, though he has been too busy a man to give much attention to public affairs. He maintains an abiding interest in the welfare of the community, his support being given without reserve to all movements toward the public welfare. He has been a successful farmer, following progressive and up-to- date methods, and has achieved a success that entitles him to recognition among the leading agriculturists of his township. He and his wife are among the most influential and popular citizens in their community, having long ago established reputations for uprightness, kindness and hospitality, and they are highly respected by all who know them.
Y
WILLIS ARCHIBALD DANNELLS.
The gentleman to a brief review of whose life and characteristics the reader's attention is herewith directed is among the favorably known and representative citizens of Auburn, DeKalb county, Indiana. He has by his indomitable enterprise and progressive methods contributed in a material way to the advancement of his locality and during the course of an honorable career has been successful in his business enterprises, having been a man of energy, sound judgment and honesty of purpose, and is thus well deserving of mention in this volume.
Willis A. Dannells was born in Adams county, Indiana, on February 25, 1859, and is a. son of Archibald and Lucinda (Blunvelt) Dannells, the for- mer a native of the Hoosier state and the latter of Ohio. Willis A. Dannells came to this county in 1861 with his parents, who settled in section 7, Wil- mington township, where the father had bought a farm. The latter had been a soldier in the Civil war, serving practically throughout that conflict, and his death occurred on March 15, 1866. Subsequently his widow married Henry Funk and they remained on the home farm and in Butler, her death occurring on the old home place. She was born at Columbus, Ohio, on February II,
WILLIS A. DANNELLS
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1825, and was there reared to womanhood, being married in her eighteenth year to a Mr. Purdy. The latter died in 1846, leaving one son, Wilson Purdy. Eventually Mrs. Purdy became the wife of Archibald Dannells, whose death occurred in 1866, leaving to her care five sons and a daughter, of whom three sons and a daughter survive her. She removed to DeKalb county, Indiana, in 1861, settling on the farm where she died four miles west of Butler, in the seventy-seventh year of her age, her death occurring on Janu- ary 22, 1902.
Willis A. Dannells was reared on the Wilmington township farm and after his marriage, which occurred in 1882, he remained in the operation of the farm for twenty-six years. In 1908 he moved to Auburn and bought the splendid residence property on East Ninth street, where he now resides. He still owns a fine farm in Wilmington township. situated on the main road west from Butler, the place being characterized by a high type of improvement in every particular. embracing a good and attractive house, large and well ar- ranged barn, with large stock barns and other necessary outbuildings, all of which reflect credit on the owner and which have made the place one of the most valuable farms in this section of the county. Methodical and practical in all he does, Mr. Dannells during the years in which he gave personal at- tention to the operation of the farm, neglected no detail of its operation and achieved a splendid reputation among his fellow agriculturists as a progres- sive and enterprising farmer and business man.
On November 19, 1882, Mr. Dannells was married to Dora B. Collins, the daughter of George and Elizabeth (Crays) Collins. When Mrs. Dan- nells was not quite six years old her parents moved to Franklin township. DeKalb county, Indiana, where they bought a farm and there they lived until the last three years of the father's life. The latter was a lifelong far- mer and enjoyed the respect and esteem of all who knew him. His death occurred on April 10, 1906, at the age of seventy-eight years, his wife dying on November 19, 1904, at the age of seventy-two years. Both were mem- bers of the Evangelical church. Mr. and Mrs. Dannells have no children of their own, but out of the kindness of their hearts they adopted a girl. Alice Lantz by name, who was left an orphan at the age of six years, and was thirteen years of age when she entered their home. She is now the wife of Clyde J. Snyder and they live on the Dannells farm, to the operation of which they give their personal attention. Mrs. Snyder is the daughter of Arthur and Martha (Faust) Lantz. She is the mother of four children, Willis Arthur, Lawrence Amos, Vera Naomi and Glenn Elber.
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Politically, Willis Dannells is a stanch Democrat and has been active in the advancement of the party interests in his county, being a familiar figure in the party councils and influential in the organization. In the fall of 1908 Mr. Dannells was elected a member of the board of county commis- sioners, assuming the office on January 1, 1909, and so satisfactory was his administration that in 1910 he was again elected for a three-year term, his present term expiring on January 1, 1915. To Mr. Dannells is due the credit and responsibility for the new court house just completed at Auburn, for when, during his first term, the question of a new court house had been agitated, and it was known that there was some opposition to it on account of the additional taxes which it would entail, and when the question of de- ciding the matter came up to the board, a retiring member of the board who had no political position at stake stood for the improvement, the other mem- ber of the board refused to vote either way and it was left for Mr. Dannells to decide. He met the issue fairly and squarely, and, true to his honest con- victions in the matter, voted for the new building, regardless of whether the act would prove popular or not. The court house has been built and is uni- versally pronounced an unusually fine building, one of which the county should be justifiably proud, a special feature of this building being its natural lighting facilities, which are unusually excellent for so large a building. The decorations and interior finishings of the building are also in perfect harmony with the remainder of the structure, and the enterprise as a whole reflects great credit on the commissioners and particularly Mr. Dannells, who was closely in touch with the erection of the building throughout the work. He is a splendid example of the virile, progressive, self-made man who believes in doing well whatever is worth doing at all, a man of keen discernment and sound judgment, and therefore he enjoys the confidence and good will of the entire community in which he lives.
ELLSWORTH A. EAKRIGHT.
Though nature affords excellent opportunities for the carrying on of . certain lines of labor in every locality, there is yet demanded of any man great industry and diligence if he succeeds in business. Competition makes him put forth his best efforts and it requires great care to conduct any business enter- prise along profitable.lines. .. This is especially true in farming and from the time of earliest spring planting until the crops are harvested the farmer's life
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is a busy one. Even through the winter months he prepares for the labors. of the coming year and thus lays the foundation of his success. Ellsworth A. Eakright is one of the wide-awake and progressive agriculturists of DeKalb county, his home being in Wilmington township. He now owns the old Eak- right homestead, comprising one hundred and ten acres, and is numbered among the substantial, progressive and enterprising agriculturists of his com- munity. Mr. Eakright was born in Wilmington township, DeKalb county, Indiana, on September 20, 1870, and is the son of Abraham and Susanna (Miller) Eakright, the former a native of Stark county, Ohio, and the latter of Pennsylvania. They were the parents of five children, John J., Sarah A., Edward W., deceased. Mary E. and Ellsworth A. Both parents are now deceased. The subject's father came to Indiana from Ohio, settling in the woods in pioneer days when wild game was seen on every hand and when his playmates were the Indian boys, the red men not yet having left this sec- tion of the country. The subject's mother did not see a white woman's face for eighteen months after her arrival in this county.
The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools and was reared to the life of a farmer, to which pursuit he has given his at- tention during all of his active years with the exception of about twelve years when he spent his winters as a teacher. He was very successful in this vocation and his services were in great demand wherever a high standard of educational excellence was required. Mr. Fakright had attended the Tri- State Normal School at Angola, Indiana, a year and was thus well prepared for this work. He is a man of wide general information, being a close reader and a keen observer and is a most companionable and entertaining gentleman to converse with. He carries on general farming and in connection with the tilling of the soil he gives some attention to the breeding and raising of Duroc-Jersey hogs and has a number of fine dairy cows, the product of which he sells. In everything to which he turns his attention Mr. Eakright has met with well-deserved success and for a number of years has enjoyed a high reputation among his fellow agriculturists in this section of the county.
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