USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Dekalb County, Indiana, with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families > Part 89
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While the family was residing at Massillon, Ohio, in 1851, the subject's father went to California in order to endeavor to improve his financial situa- tion among the gold mines. He made the arduous trip by way of the isthmus of Panama, reaching the gold fields on the Uba and Feather rivers, where he spent three and a half years, working a part of the time near Portland, Oregon .. He helped to make the first brick used in that city. He was success- ful on this trip, and with the money thus earned came back to DeKalb county in 1854 and purchased a farm. On May 15, 1856, he married Elizabeth, the daughter of William Middleton, one of the pioneer residents of Waterloo, who served in the Civil war as a member of Company K, Forty-fourth Regi- ment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. There were born three children: Will- iam Henry, who lives in Los Angeles, California; Franklin Lewis, who married Martha Frager on March 8, 1882, and died on December $6, 1899,- leaving one child, Ruth. His wife died on October 7. 1883. The daughter, Ruth, eventually married Charles Haines, a farmer in Grant township, this county, having two children, Edward and Carl; Theodore A., was the third child born to these parents. In 1856 Charles Rempis became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, but in 1860 transferred his membership to the United Brethren, to which faith he remained a faithful adherent during the rest of his life. He helped to prepare the timbers and build the church of the United Brethren, the first house erected for public worship in Waterloo and which for a number of years was the only building for that special pur- pose in that town. He retired from active farm work in 1895 and thereafter made his home with his son, the subject of this sketch, who now lives on the farm developed by his father. Later Charles Rempis took up his residence in Waterloo, and in 1907 went to live with his granddaughter, Mrs. Ruth Haines, in Grant township, where his death occurred on November 9, 1910. His brother, Henry Rempis, born October 11, 1838, lived at Massillon, Ohio; but in 1853 his family moved from that city to the old farm in Smithfield town- ship, DeKalb county, coming by way of the Ohio canal to Cleveland, across the lake to Toledo, and by the Wabash canal to Fort Wayne, thence overland to DeKalb county. Here his father bought one hundred and twenty acres,
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only forty of which was cleared. At that time Henry Rempis was only fifteen years of age, and he took his part in the arduous labor connected with the clearing and improvement of this land, and because of the death of his father and his older brother, William, and the marriage of his brother, Charles, it became necessary for him to practically shoulder the duties of maintaining the family home. This prevented his enlistment in the Union cause in the Civil war, as he earnestly wished to do. Being compelled to remain at home. he bought the interest of the heirs, took up the real work of the farm, and, being of a mechanical turn of mind, 'he was enabled to make many permanent and substantial improvements on the place, and by honest labor and strenuous efforts he achieved a splendid success as an agriculturist. In the face of severe reverses by fire and other losses, he accomplished many valuable improvements by careful management and honest methods on ine farin, including building a commodious farmhouse into which the family moved in 1875, later erecting a large bank barn in the place of the one destroyed by fire. In this new home the mother died in 1877. In 1888 the subject's foster son, Charles Olcott, was drowned, and on August 12, 1898, his daughter, Lena Amelia, met a like fate. In March, 1906, Mr. Rempis resigned the active work of the farm and moved to Waterloo, where he re- sided until his death, which occurred on January 11, 1908. He never identi- fied himself with any church, but was a faithful attendant and supporter of the United Brethren church, to which the other members of the family belonged. He also attended the Christian church at Cedar Lake, Smithfield township. On November 5, 1871, he married Mrs. Sophia French Olcott, and to them were born three children, Laura Luella, Lena Amelia and Mrs. Olive Matilda Willis.
The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools in Smithfield township, and worked on the home farm as soon as old enough. After his marriage, in 1887, he came to the home farm and lived there about one and a half years and then moved to the J. E. Thomson farm, the girlhood home of his wife, where he lived for six years. On account of his father's illness he then moved back to the home farm which he rented, and in the year 1907 bought the farm from his father, the place comprising one hundred and sixty acres. This farm he improved in many respects, building a num- ber of substantial buildings, cleared up a good portion of the farm, drained it, and otherwise putting it in excellent condition for successful agriculture, so that it is now one of the leading and most productive of the township. He
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has been very progressive in his farming methods, using up-to-date ideas and slighting no opportunity to advance the condition of the place.
On October 19, 1887, Mr. Rempis married Elva Lillie Thomson, the daughter of Joel E. and Maria Jane ( McBride) Thomson, and to them there were born two children, Clarence V. and Lester L. They also, on July 25. 1901, adopted a girl, Thelma Mays, from the Indianapolis Orphan Asylum. The eldest child, Clarence, married Ruby Parnell and now lives on the home place, following the pursuit of agriculture.
Joel E. Thomson was born at Shalersville, Portage county, Ohio, on November 30, 1824, spending his early days in that place. He came to De- Kalb county in the early days, settling on the well-known Thomson farm, Smithfield township, which, by hard work on the part of both himself and his wife, was developed into one of the best farms of the county, it being characterized by modern improvements in every respect. On November 30, 1845. he married Maria J. McBride, the daughter of Richard and Samanthe. ( Smith) McBride. On December 25, 1899, he fell and broke his leg, from which accident he was crippled for the remainder of his life; but he bore his affliction with patience and without complaint. His crippled condition, to- gether with poor health and declining years, forced him to break up their home life and in 1902 he went to live with his daughter, Elva Lillie, with whom he afterward resided. He became a member of the Church of Christ at Shalersville, Ohio, when nineteen years of age, and through his efforts the Church of Christ at Cedar Lake, Smithfield township, was organized, he and his wife being charter members. Of this society he served efficiently as elder until his death, which occurred near Waterloo, June 12, 1903. Politic- ally, he was a staunch Republican, taking a deep interest in local public affairs. He was the father of seven children, one of whom died in infancy, the others being : Cilicia A., deceased; Almira A., deceased : Francis Edwin : Ida Alice : Charles Sterling and Elva Lillie. Of these, Ida became the wife of Ameron P. Benjamin, a farmer, now deceased, and she lives near Cedar Lake, Smith- field township. She became the mother of nine children, one of whom died in infancy, and the others being Orlie, Clayton, Marion, Jennie, Irma, Russell, Mary and Austin. Francis Edwin, who is a farmer in Smithfield township, married Laura A. Farrington, and they had six children, Carleton, Guy. Frank, Jay, Anna and Benjamin. Charles, who lives at Ashley, Indiana, married Elizabeth Parnell. Mrs. Rempis' mother, Maria Jane Thomson, was born at Revenna, Portage county, Ohio, July 26. 1824, and in company with her husband made the long and tiresome journey to DeKalb county in
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1847, the trip being made by team to Cleveland, thence by boat to Toledo, canal boat to Fort Wayne, and team to DeKalb county. Her father was a member of the Christian church, was trustee of his township one term, and also justice of the peace and road supervisor. He was a farmer, but also had learned the trades of butcher, carpenter, cabinetmaker, undertaker and shoemaker, following these several trades at times together with his vocation of farming. He assisted in building all of the early school houses, barns and bridges, and had exceptional talents in mechanical lines. He also made cheese for the market for fifteen years, having thirty to forty cows on the farm for this purpose. Fraternally, in early years he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was a staunch member of the Christian church and performed a great deal of charitable work which never reached public at- tention, giving generously, also, to all worthy church and public enterprises. Because of his upright life, generous disposition and genial nature he was be- loved by the entire community and enjoyed universal esteem. Mrs. Rempis maternal grandfather, Richard McBride, was born December 25, 1792, at Carlisle, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and came to DeKalb county with his wife, Samanthe ( Smith) McBride, whom he married on May 15, 1823, the location in this county being in 1850. Here they bought a farm of forty- eight acres, of which he cleared about forty acres and put the same in good condition. In the war of 1812 he was a member of the Home Guards, and by the laws of the state became a voter at the age of twenty years for this service. In 1821 he moved to Revenna, Ohio, and to Indiana in 1849. He was an active member of the Democratic party until 1863, when the Demo- cratic Legislature refused to vote appropriations to feed and clothe the Indi- ana Union soldiers, and thereafter he allied himself with the Republican party. During the year 1863 he went to live with his daughter, Maria J. Thomson, because of physical disability, and remained in her home until his death which occurred on January 3. 1879. His wife had died in December, 1876, and they are both buried at Cedar Lake, Smithfield township. They were the parents of six children : Maria J., John. David, Lucy, Mary Emma and Sterling, of which number Maria J. is the only survivor. Mrs. McBride was a faithful and earnest member of the Christian church, and performed much effectual work for that organization in early days in this locality. David McBride, son of Richard McBride, was a member of Company I, Fifty-fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He died in the service and was buried at Mound City. His brother-in-law went to Mound City, had the grave opened and brought him back and buried him at Cedar Lake, Indiana.
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OLIVER E. SHAFFER.
The gentleman whose name initiates this sketch is numbered among the successful and representative agriculturists of DeKalb county, his farm prop- erty being located in Smithfield township. In all the relations of life he has ever been found faithful and true, performing his duty at all times unflinch- ingly, and, while advancing his own interests, he has also had the good of the entire community at heart.
Oliver E. Shaffer was born on May 7, 1857, at Bethany, Harrison county, Missouri, and is the son of William and Rebecca ( Francis) Shaffer. William Shaffer was born on July 25, 1827, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Simon and Margaret ( Kinnard ) Shaffer, the father being of good old Pennsylvania Dutch stock and a wagon-maker by trade. His son, William, also learned that trade, and in young manhood accompanied his parents on their removal to Ohio. On August 15. 1850, William Shaffer married Rebecca A. Francis, who was born on December 27, 1833, in Madison county, Ohio, and in 1853 the young couple moved to Harrison county, Mis- souri. There they lived until 1860, when they moved to Centerville, Marion county, Iowa, where Mr. Shaffer continued at his trade as a wagon-maker. On January 27. 1864, he suffered the loss of his wife by death, leaving him with five small children to care for. In March. 1864, he brought his little family to DeKalb county, where his parents were then residing about a half mile south of Sedan, and here he engaged in the operation of eighty acres of land belonging to his mother in Richland township, in connection with which he also operated a threshing outfit. For about two years prior to his death he was employed in a carriage factory at Auburn, spending his last days with his son, Oliver, the subject of this sketch, in whose home his death occurred on February 3. 1890. On February 26, 1874, he had married Mary Ann Rohm, to which union were born two children, namely : Nettie and John, both of whom are deceased, their mother dying on August 20, 1876. By his first marriage he was the father of five children: Isaac N., deceased ; Oliver E., the subject of this sketch ; Emma R., Mrs. Clara I. Delgard and Mrs. Ida Lehmbeck.
The subject of this sketch was about three years old when his father moved to Iowa, and was about five or six years old when his mother died. In the March before he had attained his seventh birthday his father brought the family to DeKalb county, locating four miles west of Waterloo, and there the subject of this sketch grew to manhood, receiving his education in the
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public schools. After attaining his majority he spent about two years in farm work between Auburn and Waterloo, and after his marriage, in 1883, he farmed two years on the Husselman place. He then bought the land where he now lives comprising eighty acres in section 36, Smithfield town- ship, on which he has made many permanent and substantial improvements. including a comfortable and attractive residence, a large, commodious and well arranged barn and other conveniences characteristic of a modern and up-to-date farm. He has devoted most of his attention to his farm, but he has also during the past eight years given some attention to threshing and previous to his marriage had been employed some at carpenter work. In every effort to which he has applied himself he has exhibited good judgment and discriminating sagacity, so that he has been enabled to attain a definite success all along the line.
On October 2, 1883, Mr. Shaffer married Vesta Husselman, the daughter of George and Frances ( Bachtel ) Husselman, the father a native of Ohio and the mother born in Stark county, that state, and a sister of Henry Bachtel. whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. George Husselman was a brother of Henry Husselman and Samuel Husselman, who also are repre- sented in this work. George Husselman came to DeKalb county with his parents, with whom he lived until his marriage to Frances Bachtel, after which he made his home one and one-half miles south of Waterloo, having bought land there from the government in an early day. the same being in the same condition it was when left by the Indians. The local conveniences were more conspicuous by their absence than otherwise, it being necessary to receive mail from Fort Wayne, and other accommodations were propor- tionately lacking. Mr. Husselman entered one hundred and sixty acres of land, the most of which he cleared. He and his wife were faithful members of the Evangelical church, and were respected citizens of their community. Mrs. Shaffer is one of six children born to their parents, of whom three died in infancy, the others being Mrs. Shaffer, Cornelius, who lives on the old Husselman farm in Grant township, and Laura, the wife of Fred Kruger, of Auburn. Mrs. Shaffer's father died in the fall of 1873, and his widow after- ward became the wife of Levi Stoner and lived on the home farm until her death in the fall of 1909. Mr. Stoner died in 1910. Mrs. Shaffer was born and reared on the paternal homestead, two and one-half miles south of Water- loo, where she lived until her marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer was born a son, Arthur, who died on August 21, 1887, at the age of two years and ten months.
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Mr. Shaffer is progressive and enterprising in his farming methods, rais- ing all the crops common to this section of the country, and also giving some attention to the raising of live stock. Practical and progressive in his methods and energetic and industrious in his habits, he has allowed nothing to swerve him from his chosen work and his labors have been rewarded with a due meed of success. Personally, he is a man of splendid qualities of char- acter and has earned the warm regard of all who know him and is deservedly popular among his acquaintances.
MILTON C. JONES.
In examining the life records of self made men, it will invariably be found that indefatigable industry has constituted the basis of their success. True there are other elements which enter in and conserve the advancement of personal interests -- perseverance, discrimination and mastering of expedients -but the foundation of all achievement is earnest, persistent labor. At the outset of his career Mr. Jones recognized this fact, and he did not seek any royal road to the goal of prosperity and independence, but began to work earnestly and diligently in order to advance himself, and the result is that he is now numbered among the progressive, successful and influential farmers of Franklin township. DeKalb county, Indiana, where he has a well improved landed estate.
Milton C. Jones, one of the successful and enterprising farmers of Frank- lin township, DeKalb county, Indiana, is descended from sterling old New England Yankee ancestry, his parents, Samuel and Jerusha H. (Chamberlain) Jones, both being natives of Monkton, Addison county, Vermont, where the former was born in 1806 and the latter in 1812. Some time after their mar- riage they moved to Seneca county, Ohio, but about a year later came to La Porte county, Indiana, where they lived for nearly five years. They then took up land in DeKalb county, Indiana, where they intended to build and make their future home. This land, which is now owned by the subject of this sketch, was then worth only about one- dollar and a quarter an acre and Mr. Jones obtained eighty acres of land for a team and eighty dollars in money. He cleared nearly two hundred acres of this land and made of it an excellent farm." When he first came to this locality the land was so densely covered with timber and undergrowth that at night time the settlers were
MRS. AGNES C. JONES.
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MILTON C. JONES
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compelled to carry torches in order to make any headway through the woods. Their trading was done at Fort Wayne, Coldwater, and Defiance, Ohio, the nearest of which was at least fifty miles from the settlement. The household conveniences were chiefly noted for their absence, cooking being done in an old-fashioned fireplace, baking being performed by putting the bread under an iron kettle and then keeping live coals over the kettle. Nails were practically unknown here, boards being held together by wooden pins and other methods were equally primitive. Soon after the great gold rush to California in 1849 Samuel Jones went to that locality as much on account of his health as in search of gold and remained there several years. The subject's mother died in 1884 and his father in 1889, at which time the latter was the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of splendid land, most of which the subject of this sketch had bought and now owns.
To Samuel and Jernsha Jones were born the following children: Sarah A., Jane and Hiram were born in Vermont, the two last named being now deceased ; Julia, born in Ohio; Julius, born in LaPorte, Indiana, was a soldier in the Civil war and is now deceased; Milton C., the subject of this review ; Sidney P., Henry, Harriett, and William, deceased, the two last named being twins. The five younger children were born on the Franklin township home- stead in this county. Sidney P. Jones was a soldier in the Civil war.
Milton C. Jones was born on December 26, 1842, in the old log house occupied by his parents in Franklin township and was reared to the life of a farmer, a vocation which he has always followed and in which he has met with eminent success. He attended school in Hamilton, Steuben county, Indi- ana, but on the outbreak of the Civil war his patriotism was aroused and in the fall of 1863 he gave practical evidence of his loyalty by enlisting as a private in Company B, Twelfth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Cavalry, in which he served two years and two days, acting as sergeant until the end of the war. He saw some most arduous service and endured all the hardships and privations incident to the campaigns in which he took part and was in the battles of Nash- ville. Mobile, Murfreesboro and other of the more hotly contested engage- ments of that great struggle. In one battle he was severely wounded, being struck by a sabre and, falling from his horse, broke his arm and dislocated his shoulder. Because of his faithful and courageous service on the field of battle he was commissioned to the rank of second lieutenant on being mustered out. After receiving an honorable discharge from the service, he returned to the home farm and lived here continuously since. He has made many sub- (57)
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stantial and permanent improvements on the place and the splendid residence, large and commodious barn, well kept fences and other important features of an up-to-date farm indicate him to be a man of good judgment, sound dis- crimination and common sense in the conduct of his farm.
On July 4, 1892, Mr. Jones was married at Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Agnes Cecilia Baxter, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, on July 11. 1843. the daughter of Moses Baxter and the sister of John Baxter, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Jones, was one of the most successful and best known teachers of DeKalb county, having taught probably from twenty-five to thirty years in DeKalb and Steuben counties. She had studied elocution in Indianapolis and has taught that science. No children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jones.
Politically, Mr. Jones has been a life-long supporter of the Republican party, in the success of which he has been interested and to which he has con- tributed his quota. Fraternally, he was for many years a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic at Hamilton. He served as assessor of Franklin township for twenty-two years and was also county recorder for four years, in both positions giving eminently satisfactory administrations and winning the commendation of his fellow citizens. On his home farm Mr. Jones has carried on his operations in a man- ner that has insured him financial success. In addition to the raising of ordi- nary crops he has given some attention to threshing and to live-stock raising. in which he has been very successful. Mr. Jones is a wide-awake, enterprising man of the times, fully alive to the dignities and responsibilities of citizenship and, to the extent of his ability, contributes to the material prosperity of the community and to the social, intellectual and moral advancement of his fellow citizens. Courteous, affable and easily approached, he commands the respect of all with whom he comes in contact and his friends are in number as his acquaintances.
WASHINGTON BETZ.
In writing the history of this county and taking note of the many men who have been prominent in its public affairs or in its business interests it is necessary that we mention Washington Betz, who died May 30, 1913, for he was long identified with agricultural pursuits and moreover was a man of such sterling worth that he aided in promoting the prosperity of the county.
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He was born on May 23, 1847, in Columbiana county, Ohio, and is a son of Henry and Catherine (Stull) Betz. The father, who was born in Bedford, . Pennsylvania, was a farmer by vocation, coming to Ohio in 1812. He located in Columbiana county, where he followed farming pursuits, remaining there until his death, which occurred on October 2, 1887. In young manhood he gave some attention to pedagogical work and was a successful school teacher. A Democrat in his political faith and a Lutheran in his religious belief, he was a man of honest convictions and in the community where he lived was held in the highest and best regard hecause of his upright life and useful in- finence. To him and his wife were born eleven children, as follows: Levi, deceased; Maria, who is now eighty-two years of age, is still living in Ohio; William, who is a retired farmer, lives at East Rochester, Ohio; John is de- ceased ; George died in 1902; Margaret, who lives at Mapleton, Ohio. at an advanced age, is a widow ; Henry died in 1906: Jefferson, who lives on a farm with his children at Hamilton, Indiana, is a widower, his wife having died in 1910, after which he sold his property; Elizabeth died in 1909; Alvin, who, though sixty-nine years of age, is still actively engaged in farming, lives near East Rochester, Ohio; the subject of this sketch was the youngest of these children.
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