USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Dekalb County, Indiana, with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families > Part 78
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784
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
SAMUEL HARRISON DOWNEND.
Improvement and progress may well be said to form the keynote of the character of Samuel Harrison Downend, a well known and influential farmer and stock raiser of Keyser township, and he has not only been interested in the work of advancing his own individual affairs, but his influence is felt in the upbuilding of the community. He has been an industrious man all his life, striving to keep abreast of the times in every respect, and as a result every mile post of the years he has passed has found him further advanced. more prosperous, and with an increased number of friends.
Samuel Harrison Downend is a native son of the old Buckeye state, having been born on December 13, 1859, in Richland county, Ohio, and is the son of John and Sarah (Bechtel) Downend. John Downend, who also was born in Richland county, Ohio, on July 11, 1834, was the son of James and Eliza Downend, who were natives of Lincolnshire, England, from whence they came to America probably in May, 1834, locating in Richland county, Ohio, where they spent the remainder of their lives on a farm. There their son John grew to manhood, and on February 10, 1859, married Sarah A. Bechtel, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, on May 6, 1840, the daughter of David and Elizabeth ( Harmon) Bechtel. On March 20, 1861. John Dowend and his wife came to DeKalb county, Indiana, locating in Keyser township, where Mr. Downend had previously bought a tract of land in sections 7 and 8 in the southwestern part of that township, and here they lived until their deaths, acquiring a fine estate of one hundred and forty acres. They became the parents of four children, Samuel H .; Clara, deceased; Franklin, who died in infancy ; and Charles E., the latter now living in Fort Wayne, and is a traveling salesman. The father of these children died on October 11, 1895, and his wife on October 6, 1882.
The subject of this sketch was reared under the parental roof and as soon as old enough took a hand in the cultivation and improvement of the home farm. He received his educational training in the district schools of that neighborhood, and at the age of twenty-two years he went west, where the following two years were spent. At the death of his mother Mr. Downend returned home and remained with his father and sister, having operated the home farm continuously since.
On March II, 1885, Mr. Downend was married to Laura Houser, who was born in what was then the northern part of Butler township, now in Keyser township. Her death occurred on February 21, 1912, at the age of
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RESIDENCE OF SAMUEL H. DOWNEND
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DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
forty-eight years. She was the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Houser, and was born on May 30, 1865. She was a devoted wife, a loving mother, a good neighbor and highly esteemed by all who knew her. By her union with Mr. Downend she became the mother of four children : Harry E., born June 29, 1886, and who married Ella Clark, now lives in Garrett, and is the father of two children, Dorothy and Harriett; Walter E., born April 27, 1888, mar- ried Alta Lung, and has two daughters, Catherine and Laurine. He lives on the home farm with his father ; Bertha, born January 17, 1890, married Perry Gump, and they live on the latter's farm near Mr. Downend's place; William J., born May 19, 1896, lives in Garrett, where he is employed in the United States Express Company and also farming.
Mr. Downend is an active supporter of the Democratic party and in 1908 was elected trustee of Keyser township, holding the office for a six-year term and being its present incumbent. He exercises in his official position the same business methods and enterprising spirit which has characterized his own affairs, and is performing the duties of his office to the full satisfaction of all concerned. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He is a man of kindly impulses and genial nature and because of his excellent qualities of character and the splendid success which he has attained, he is deserving of the high regard in which he is universally held throughout his section of the county.
SIMON PETER KOSHT.
There is nowhere a more beautiful farming country than the fertile rolling prairies of Wilmington township in DeKalb county. In the growing seasons of the year they present a rare picture. cattle grazing in the verdant pastures, fields of corn and oats waving in the breezes. Not only do they gratify the eye, but they as well richly reward the men who possess them and are the owners of the luxurious crops which they produce. " And the farm of Mr. Kosht is unexcelled among the farms of Wilmington township.
Simon Peter Kosht is a native of the old Buckeye state, having been born in Ashland county, Ohio, on August 24. 1858, the son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Lash) Kosht. The father was a native of Pennsylvania and his wife was born in Ohio. He came to the latter state from Pennsylvania and there met and married his wife. Afterwards, in (866, they moved to DeKalb)
(50)
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DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
county, Indiana, settling in Union township, where he followed farming dur- ing the remainder of his life. Both he and his wife are now deceased. To them were born fifteen children, namely: Philip, Josiah and Harriett, who are deceased; George, Sarah, Eli, Simon P., Francis, David; Mary Ellen, deceased; Barbara Jane, deceased; William, Emma and Emmett, twins, and Cora.
The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools and has followed farming since his boyhood days, to which vocation he was reared. His fine farm in Wilmington township comprises seventy-four acres of good, tillable land, on which he carries on general farming, raising a general line of crops, and in connection therewith a portion of his time and attention has been given to the raising of live stock, which in these modern days of intelligent farming is one of the most valuable auxiliaries to a well conducted farm. Mr. Kosht is progressive in his ideas, hesitating not to adopt new methods and discard the old when the change is found to be advantag- eous. He keeps his fences and buildings in good repair and buys the very best machinery, and is industrious and energetic in his personal habits, so that he has been enabled to reap a large reward for his labors.
On May 4. 1884, Simon P. Kosht and Elizabeth Grabill were united in marriage, the fruit of their union being two children, David R., who married . Donna Engle, and Annie May, who became the wife of Don Hindeman, of Concord township, this county. Mrs. Kosht is the daughter of Abraham and Mary (Saylor) Grabill, the former a native of the German empire and the latter born in Pennsylvania. They became the parents of seven children. namely : David: Agnes, deceased; Katherine, Elizabeth, Jacob, Henry, and Anna, deceased. The parents of these children are also both deceased. They were residents of DeKalb county from 1863 up to the time of their death, and during this period they enjoyed the confidence and good will of all who knew them.
Mr. Kosht, in his political views, is in fair harmony with the platform and policies of the Democratic party, which he has supported ever since at- taining his majority and he takes an active interest in advancing the party in this locality. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and his religious affiliation is with the Christian chruch. He has been successful in his efforts, and is today. not only one of the leading farmers of the township in which he resides, but occupies a prominent place among the solid and substantial men of the community. His character is such as to win for him in a marked degree the esteem and friendship of those who know him and all who meet him are favorably impressed.
787
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
JOHN DEIHL.
Prominent in the affairs of DeKalb county and distinguished as a citi- zen whose influence is extended far beyond the limits of the community hon- ored by his residence, the name of John Deihl stands out a conspicuous figure among the successful farmers of the locality of which this volume treats. All of his undertakings have been actuated by noble motives and high resolves and characterized by breadth of wisdom and strong individuality, and his success and achievements but represent the result of fit utilization of innate talent in directing effort along those lines where mature judgment and rare discrim- ination lead the way.
John Deihl was born on May 8, 1865, in Indiana county, Pennsylvania. and is a son of George and Nancy (Oba) Deihl. George Deihl was a native of Germany and a son of John and Elizabeth Deihl, who, in 1830, brought their family to Bedford county, Pennsylvania, George Deihl being at that time about six years old. He had a brother of precocious intellect and attain- ment, who, at the early age of eight years, was clerk at a sale in Germany. He never left the fatherland and died there. George Deihl was reared in Pennsylvania and there married Nancy Oba, a native of Bedford county. that state, and the daughter of John and Nancy ( Bachtel) Oba. George Deihl died in Pennsylvania in November, 1880, and two years later his widow came to DeKalb county and made her home with her children until her death, which occurred on July 3, 1906.
John Deihl was reared to manhood in Pennsylvania, securing his edu- cation in the common schools of his home locality, and on September 9, 1879. he left home and came to DeKalb county, Indiana, where his father owned a farm in Richland township and there the subject has lived continuously since with the exception of about two years, which he spent back at his Pennsyl- vania home a short time after coming to this state. U'pon coming to Indiana the second time he made his home for a while with the Oba family and while there met his future wife. She later moved to Abilene, Kansas, and there he went and married her in 1891. She had received a splendid education and had engaged in teaching school near her present home three years before she went west. Her maiden name was Emma C. Davidson, a sister of Henry Davidson, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work, and in which will be found something of the family history. John Deihl, at the time of his mar- riage, owned a farm of forty acres in the northern part of Keyser township. near his present home, and on this place he lived until 1896, when he sold it
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DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
and moved to near Haynes Corners. In 1896 he built his present home on the old farm formerly owned by his father and moved there in 1897, and has lived there continuously since. He is now the owner of over two hundred acres of splendid land in his home farm in Richland township, and in the operation of this place he has met with a well merited success, for he has so conducted his operations as to insure a successful outcome. He has carried on a general line of farming and in connection with agriculture has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock, having raised and sold more sheep than any other man in DeKalb county. In this line alone he has earned a wide-spread reputation and has done much to advance the interests of sheep-raising in this section of the state. He has made many permanent and substantial improvements on the home farm, all of which bear evidence to his enterprise and progressive spirit, and in the public and civic life of the community he is equally enterprising, giving his support to everything which promises to be of material, social or educational benefit to the community.
To Mr. and Mrs. Deihl have been born four children. George. Roy, Vic- tor and Dorothy, all of whom are at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Deihl move in the best social circles of the community, where they have long been numbered among the best citizens, and wherever known they are held in high esteem, for they possess to a marked degree qualities which win and retain friendship.
DAVID MILKS.
The following is a brief sketch of the life of one who, by close attention to business, has achieved marked success in the world's affairs and risen to an honorable position among the enterprising men of the county with which his interests are identified. It is a plain record, rendered remarkable by no strange or mysterious adventure, no wonderful or lucky accident and no tragic situa- tion. Mr. Milks is one of those estimable characters whose integrity and strong personality must force them into an admirable notoriety, which their modesty never seeks, who command the respect of their contemporaries and their posterity and leave the impress of their individuality upon the age in which they live.
David Milks was born on April 3, 1861, in Green county, Wisconsin, a son of Ezra and Sarah ( Ronds) Milks. Ezra Milks, who was a native of New York state, went to Pennsylvania with his parents in young manhood and
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DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
soon afterwards migrated to Wisconsin, where he followed agricultural pur- suits during practically his entire life. He was born in 1820, and died at the Soldiers' Home in Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1907, having been a veteran of the Civil war. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Ronds, was born in Massachusetts in 1827 and died in Wisconsin on June 7, 1909. Mr. Milks was the father of seven children, of whom three, Amos, Thomas and Hattie, were born of his first union, and four, Frank, Ruth, David and Ella ( Mrs. Estes), to the second union. Mrs. Milks, the subject's mother, had a child, Martha, by a former marriage, she being now deceased.
David Milks was reared on the paternal homestead, receiving a common school education and following the vocation of farming during his early man- hood years. In the spring of 1887 he went to Kansas, where he remained until 1902, being engaged in farming operations, and then came to Smith- field township, DeKalb county, Indiana, and bought the Kimmel farm of one hundred and forty acres. In the fall of 1911 he bought a residence property in Ashley, this county, remodeling the same and moving into it in the spring of the following year, his son, Bert, taking charge of the farm. The latter place is one of the best farms in Smithfield township, being well drained and practically all under cultivation, very little timber being on the place. From the age of twelve years until he attained his majority Mr. Milks was reared by Arnold Bennett, who gave to him the same careful attention that he would have given to a son of his own blood. Mr. Milks has proven to be a man of broad, humanitarian impulses, and he has not only achieved a large success in his own personal affairs, but has also been successful as a citizen, giving the proper care and attention to those things which have for their object the advancement of the general welfare of the community.
On Christmas day, 1886, Mr. Milks was married to Maria, the daughter of Jacob and Angeline (Minert) Abley. Jacob Abley was a native of the little republic of Switzerland, where he remained until twenty-four years of age, when he emigrated to the United States and here followed the trade of a carpenter until his marriage, in September, 1859, to Angeline Minert. He was married in Wisconsin and there he settled on a farm. He followed agri- cultural pursuits there until his death, which occurred on April 18, 1897. By this union Mr. Abley became the father of six children. Mrs. Maria Milks, Cassie, Ida, Mrs. Lizzie Lewis, William and Mrs. Vera Marlcook. The mother of these children was a native of Indiana, born near Covington. Vermilion county, and died in Albany, Wisconsin, on July 28, 1906. To Mr. and Mrs.
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DEKALB COUNTY, INDIAN.1.
Milks were born two children, Bert and George. The former married Georgia Conrad and lives on his father's farm, which he operates.
Politically, David Milks. gives his earnest support to the Republican party, in the counsels of which he was a prominent figure for many years. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Ashley: Religiously, he has for a number of years been a member of the Christian church, of which he has served as treasurer and is now one of its deacons. A man of kindly and charitable impulses, he breathes a spirit of optimism wherever he goes, and those who know him best hold him in the highest regard. A man of clean character, a good business manager and keenly alive to the highest and best interests of his community, he is entitled to that measure of confidence and regard in which he is held by his fellow citizens.
NOAH A. LUNG.
The biographies of the representative men of a county bring to light many hidden treasures of mind, character and courage, well calculated to arouse the pride of their family and of the community. and it is a source of regret that the people are not more familiar with the personal history of such men in the ranks of whom may be found tillers of soil, mechanics, teachers, as well as lawyers, physicians, bankers and members of other vocations and professions. The subject of this sketch is distinctively one of the leading citizens of the township in which he lives, and as such has made his influence felt among his fellow men and earned a name for enterprise, integrity and honor that entitles him to worthy notice in a work of the nature of this volume.
Noah A. Lung was born in Butler township, Dekalb county, December 23, 1862, the son of Samuel and Sarah Jane (Showers) Lung, the father a native of Ohio, born July 25, 1835, and died October 12, 1900, the mother born November 29, 1844, and died March 3, 1888. To them were born ten children: Charity, Noah A., Daniel, Perry. deceased : Thomas, William, Alice, deceased : Jeremiah, Paul, deceased, and Samuel, deceased. The sub- ject of this sketch was given a good common school education, after which he went to Valparaiso, Indiana, and engaged in teaching for three years. Subsequently he took up the pursuit of agriculture and followed the same in Butler township until 1904, when he moved to Union township, where he
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DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
farmed for five years, from there removing to Fairfield township, where he now resides. His landed possessions amount to one hundred and sixty acres. Noah Lung was married on July 28, 1886, to Sarah Hawk, daughter of Adam and Nancy (Johnson) Hawk. Adam Hawk was born in Champaign county, Ohio, in 1826, and died in 1878. He was a farmer all his life in Adams county, Indiana. His wife was born in Harrison county, Ohio, June 10, 1833, and she passed away February 3, 1904. The Johnson family were among the first settlers in Harrison county, Indiana. To Adam and Nancy Hawk were born seven children: Lemuel, deceased; John, deceased: A. J .; Rebecca, deceased : Mary, deceased : Sarah I. and Valentine. To the subject and wife have been born six children: Mabel married Henry Emme, of Union township; Jennie married Max Lower, of Toledo; Arthur is at home; Lulu married Herman Martz; Blanche married Paul Smith, of Sturgis, Michi- gan ; Edna is at home.
Fraternally. Mr. Lung is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Auburn, having gone through the chairs of said lodge. He was elected and served as trustee of Butler township from November 10, 1900, to January I, 1905. He was a member of the state militia for three years and performed service in the Pullman strike of 1893, for which he received a bronze medal for meritorious service.
CHARLES LEHMBACK.
The virile and wholesome blood of the fatherland, which has steadily flowed in all its enriching and purifying power into the arteries of every industry and occupation of this land, has probably been more marked in the development and uplift of agriculture than in any other vocation. With wholesome minds and sturdy bodies these welcome emigrants from the Kaiser's domain have formed a part of the vanguard of almost every band of pioneers fighting their way through forests dense, braving untold dangers and suffering severe privations that they might do their full share in making their adopted land the glorious nation it is today. No more worthy son of the Teutonic race could find a place in the pages of this work than he who forms the caption of this brief sketch. The phrase "a self-made man" has been so frequently abused and so carelessly applied that its full import is often lost, but the friends and acquaintances of the subject will readily grant, and insist, that, in all its broadest meaning, it but justly and truthfully de- scribes the one whose life inspires this article.
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DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
Charles Lehamback was born August 25. 1841, in Germany, the son of Christian and Hanna (Geist ) Lehmback. The father, Christian Lehmiback, spent his entire life in Germany, where he died in 1841. He was a farmer all his life and was noted for being thrifty and progressive in his methods. The mother, also a native of Germany, emigrated to the United States when the subject was about twenty-six years of age. his two brothers also coming. They came to Auburn, which at that time was sparsely settled. The mother lived in Auburn with her son John until her death. To the subject's parents were born six children : Sophia, deceased: John, who lives in Auburn; Min- nie ; Reggie, or Regina, deceased; Mary, deceased. and Charles. The mother was married a second time. to Carl Kruse, whose decease occurred previous to her death. To this union was born one child, William, who lives in Auburn.
In December. 1868. Charles Lehmback was united in holy wedlock with Fredrekia, daughter of John Strube and Fredreka (Shultz) Strube. both natives of the fatherland, who came to America and located in Chicago, where they spent the balance of their days, John Strube passing away in 1902. his wife having preceded him across the dark river one year. To them were born six children : Fredrickia, Charles, Fred. John. Minnie and I.ena ( Mrs. Brochar ).
To Mr. and Mrs. Lehmback have been born six children: Minnie ; Frank, who lives in Garrett and is employed by the Baltimore & Ohio Rail- road Company, is married and has three children: John, a carpenter, who is married and has four children, living also in Garrett: Lizzie is married to a Mr. Schulthess, retired, of Garrett, and they have had five children, two of whom are deceased : Liddie, who also lives in Garrett. married a Mr. Martz. who is employed by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, and they have one child ; Tillie is married to W. M. Miller, also a retired resident of Garrett.
Charles Lehmback worked in Auburn for nine years and lived for one year on a farm betwen Waterloo and Auburn. After leaving Auburn he came to Keyser township, and rented a farm of one hundred and ten acres. about one-half of which was in timber. He cleared a good portion of this timbered land and after renting the farm for twenty-two years he purchased the tract and is still engaged in active farming. He has built a comfortable residence on the place and the substantial outbuildings are also evidences of his thrift and energy. He has remodeled the barn and fenced and drained the land until it today stands as one of the best agricultural plants in the town- ship and is an inspiring illustration of the old axiom. "where there's a will there's a way." In the development of this wild tract of timbered land into
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the model farm it is today, and in the struggles, hardships and trials incident thereto, he has been loyally assisted by his devoted helpmate, who with her honored spouse has the satisfaction of duty well done. They came to the farm with empty hands, but by keeping "everlastingly at it" they have pros- pered and have been rewarded with a goodly share of this world's goods.
Politically, Mr. Lehmback takes an active interest in the affairs of the Republican party, while his religious affiliations are with the German Metho- dist church, of which he is a trustee.
WILLIAM GOODWIN.
In the history of DeKalb county, as applying to the agricultural inter- ests, the name of William Goodwin occupies a conspicuous place, for through a number of years he has been one of the representative farmers of Smithfield township, progressive, enterprising and persevering. Such qualities win suc- cess, sooner or later, and to Mr. Goodwin they have brought a satisfactory reward for his well-directed efforts, and while he has benefited himself in a material way, he has also been an influential factor in the educational, political and moral uplift of the community favored with his citizenship.
William Goodwin was born on August 24, 1856, on the old Goodwin homestead in section 33. Smithfield township, DeKalb county, Indiana, and is the son of Daniel and Susannah ( Kiefer) Goodwin. Daniel Goodwin, who was a native of Ashland county, Ohio, emigrated to DeKalb county, Indiana, when about thirty years of age, coming with his wife and son in 1854. He bought two hundred and eight acres of land in the fall of the previous year, going then back to Ohio and bringing his family in May of the following year. With the exception of five years, when he lived in Waterloo, Mr. Goodwin gave his undivided attention to the operation of this land, having a renter on the place during his absence. After spending five years in Water- loo, Mr. Goodwin moved back to the farm, where his death occurred on July 2, 1903. He was twice married. After the death of his first wife, in the fall of 1854. he was married, on April 26, 1855, to Susannah Kiefer. By his first union were born two children, Phileman, deceased, and Henry A. Henry, who has never married, now lives with his stepmother on the home place, she being now about eighty-five years of age. By his second marriage Mr. Goodwin became the father of five children: William, the immediate subject
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