USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Dekalb County, Indiana, with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of old families > Part 96
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100
George W. Trostle, one of the successful farmers and substantial citizens of Concord township, this county, was born on August 12, 1843, in Stark county, Ohio, and is the son of . William and Elizabeth (Swiggart) Trostle, both of whom are natives of Pennsylvania. They were the parents of four children, namely: George W .; Eliza Solsbury, deceased; Thomas B., de- ceased, and Lucinda, also deceased.
The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools of his native state and about forty years ago came to Indiana and was here married to Sarah Sewell, the daughter of Joseph and America Sewell, natives of Ohio. To this union were born the following children: Abner W., of Garrett, this county; Mary A., who lives with her parents at home, and Mrs. America A. Tustisan, who lives on a farm in Concord township, this .county. About thirty years ago George W. Trostle came to DeKalb county and about twenty-three years ago located on his fine farm of forty acres in Concord township, to the cultivation and improvement of which he has since devoted his attention. His place is well improved in every respect and indicates the owner to be a man of discrimination and excellent taste.
On February 15, 1862, George W. Trostle gave evidence of his patriotic spirit by enlisting for service in Company F. Forty-eighth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in defense of his country, and for four years he proved a valiant and courageous soldier, being honorably discharged from the service on May 9, 1866. He is a member of the John C. Kerns Post No. 144, Grand
960
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
Army of the Republic, at St. Joe. He has taken an active part in public af- fairs in his community, having served as a member of the school board for several years and also has served as township trustee and supervisor of roads for several years. Politically, he is a supporter of the Republican party and, religiously, he is affiliated with the Christian church, in the prosperity of which he is deeply interested and to which he contributes liberally of his means. Mr. Trostle has eight grandchildren, of which he is very proud, namely : Wayne and Dale Trostle, and George W., Paul, Harold, Alice M., Carl and Russell Tustisan. He is a man of many praiseworthy traits of character, being scrupulously honest in all his dealings with the business world, generous and pleasant, possessing rare fortitude and good judgment, advocating clean politics, wholesome living and honesty in business. Needless to add that such a man has hosts of friends and stands high in the estimation of all who know him.
THE NEW GARRETT CITY HALL.
This beautiful structure was started in year 1913 and completed in 1914. The cost was thirty-five thousand dollars and the people of the city are justly proud of it. The building is located at Randolph and Keyser streets. The architects were Ellwood & Ellwood of Elkhart, Indiana, and the contractor was Nelson R. Allman, of Garrett, Indiana.
Brick is used in the construction, with cut stone trimmings consisting of Indiana fine grain of blue Bedford stone. The building is fifty feet wide and one hundred twenty-five feet long, two stories high, with basement under entire building.
The first floor contains the offices of the mayor, city clerk, treasurer, superintendent of water and light department, and general waiting room, and two public comfort stations, also public telephone booth, city fire de- partment, city jail and police officers in the rear of building.
The second floor contains the offices of the city civil engineer, city attorney, secretary of the city board of health, public school board, township trustee and large council chamber, as well as a dormitory for members of the fire department. The building is heated with waste steam from the city water and light plant; the steam pipe is seventeen hundred feet long, the first system of its kind ever installed in DeKalb county.
The equipment throughout the building is modern, also including an automatic private telephone system connecting all city offices in the building.
NEW CITY HALL, GARRETT
961
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIAN.A.
WILLIAM J. NODINE.
It is the progressive, wide-awake .man of affairs that makes the real history of a community and his influence as a potential factor of the body politic is difficult to estimate. The examples such men furnish of patient purpose and steadfast integrity strongly illustrate what is in the power of each to accomplish, and there is always a full measure of satisfaction in adverting even in a casual way to their achievements in advancing the inter- ests of their fellow men and in giving strength and solidity to the institu- tions which make so much for the prosperity of a community. Such a man is the worthy subject of this sketch, and as such it is proper that a review of his career be accorded a place among the representative citizens of the city and county in which he resides.
William J. Nodine, one of the prosperous merchants and public-spirited citizen- of Waterloo, is a native of DeKalb county, having been born in Grant township, this county, on April 10, 1860, and is the son of Hiram and Mary (Nodine) Nodine. The Nodine family history is an old one, being traced back through England to France. Hiram was born near Sharon, Litchfield county, Connecticut, on April 7, 1827, and was the son of John and Laura (Bierce) Nodine, John Nodine being the son of Elias, who mar- ried a lady of title. John Nodine, who married Laura Bierce on October 23. 1825, came from Sharon, Litchfield county, Connecticut, in 1846, and located in Union (now Grant) township, this county, on section 12, having entered land from the government. This land he cleared and on it built a home. in which he lived during the remainder of his life, giving his time and atten- tion to farming and surveying. While engaged in the latter occupation with his brother, Joseph, he took a severe cold, from the effects of which he died. Joseph Nodine was county surveyor during the fifties and was considered a very competent man in his line. Hiram Nodine, son of John and Laura Nodine, was reared in Connecticut, and on January 31, 1848, married Rebecca Miller, who was born in Connecticut on August 20, 1826. To them came four children : Silas, born November 19, 1848; Laura, born May 26. 1850; Benjamin and John, twins, born December 2, 1851. the mother giving up her life at the birth of the twins. Hiram Nodine became a blaster in the iron mines near his home, in which employment he was engaged until 1848. when he and his family came to DeKalb county. Indiana, locating on the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 12, Grant township,
(61)
962
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
near his father. The long journey from Connecticut was made by canal and lake to Fort Wayne, thence by stage to Waterloo. Here Hiram engaged in farming, in which he prospered and eventually he bought more land until he owned two hundred acres. He was a man of good education and during the early days here he engaged in teaching school during two winters. Some time after the death of his first wife Hiram Nodine returned to Con- necticut, where for one summer he was again employed in the mines. Even- tually he returned to Waterloo, and on November 25, 1853, he married Mary Nodine, the daughter of Benjamin and Julana Nodine. She was born in New York and came to this state with her parents in 1844, locating in the southwest quarter of section 12. Later her parents sold their farm there and moved to Branch county, Michigan, where they lived a number of years, but later they bought a farm east of Fremont, in the southwest corner of Clear Lake township, Steuben county, Indiana, where they spent the re- mainder of their lives. To Hiram and Mary Nodine the following children were born: Albert, born October 5, 1854, died at the Soldiers' Home at Marion, Indiana, on January 15, 1906; Ann Melissa, born September 27, 1856, died July 29, 1869; Emeline, born June 30, 1858, became the wife of Edward Thompson, now deceased, and she later married A. C. Jackson, and they live in Michigan; William Jefferson is the immediate subject of this sketch; Mary Marilla, born December 12, 1861, died on October 31, 1868, from the effects of a fall from a tree-top: Ophelia, born August 21, 1863, died September 12, 1873; George, born April 25, 1865, is a manufacturer of cement blocks and tile at Waterloo; Charles, born June 13, 1867, lives on a farm near Waterloo, in Smithfield township; Orsmus, born January 24, 1869, lives near Los Angeles, California ; Dora, born January 19, 1870, is the wife of John Shaw, and they live in Oklahoma; Amos, born January 2, 1873, lives in Waterloo; Richard, born August 31, 1874, died January 31, 1875; Henry, born November 30, 1875, is a fireman at the W. J. Nodine mills at Waterloo; Chloe, born June 8, 1877, died May 2, 1892. The father of these children died on October 11. 1902, while his wife died on January 30, 1885.
William J. Nodine was reared on the home farm and secured his educa- tion in the district schools of that neighborhood. When he reached the age of twenty-one years he engaged in farm labor, in which he was employed two years, and then rented a farm in section 11, Grant township, for five years, the place comprising about eighty acres of land. He lived at home while operating this farm, he and his brother exchanging work and thus
963
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
mutually advancing their interests. He farmed with his brother, Silas, until 1896, from which year until 1903 he remained on the home farm and rented land and farmed for himself. In 1903 he bought the half interest of James Barr in the flouring mills at Waterloo, the other half interest being owned by his brother, George. After one and a half years the subject rented his brother's half interest in the mill and in 1907 bought the interest, being now the sole owner of this enterprise. About 1907 Mr. Nodine added the coal business to his milling interests and does a large business in that line. His mill has a daily capacity of sixty harrels and is well equipped for the produc- tion of high grade flour and allied products. In 1909 Mr. Nodine bought a mill at Jamestown in the northern part of Steuben county, a sixty-barrel mill that was operated by water power at the outlet of Lake George. He has been successful in everything he has undertaken and because of his persistent effort, sound judgment and wise discrimination in his business affairs, he has well merited the prosperity which he now enjoys.
In 1896 William J. Nodine was united in marriage with Addie .1. Blauser, who was born in Lafayette township, Allen county, Indiana, the daughter of Noah and Eliza ( Seaman) Blauser, the father a native of Fair- field county, Ohio, and the mother of Stark county, that state. Eliza Sea- man's parents came from Pennsylvania to Stark county, Ohio, and were married. In an early day Noah Blauser came to Allen county, Indiana, and the Seaman family at that time lived in Wells county, this state, and where Eliza and Noah were married on August 25, 1860. Both are still living in Lafayette township, Allen county, Noah Blauser being eighty-seven years of age and highly esteemed in his community. To Noah and Eliza Blauser were born nine children, of whom Mrs. Nodine was the fourth in order of birth. Eliza Seaman is the daughter of Joseph and Maria ( Bailey ) Seaman, her father being a son of John Seaman and Elizabeth (Loeb) Seaman. John Seaman was a son of Eberhart Seaman, who was a son of John Ludwig Seaman. The Seaman family is believed to have originated in the cantons of Aaran, Berne and Uri in Switzerland, the name "Seeman" having been known in Berne as early as 1304. John Ludwig Seaman was of German blood, born about 1722, and came to, Philadelphia from the fatherland, hav- ing sailed from Rotterdam on October 25, 1874, at the age of twenty-six years. He settled in Berks county, Pennsylvania, where he was prospered in his material affairs, leaving at his death an estate valued at about twenty-five thousand dollars. He and his son, Eberhart, were elders in the Lutheran church.
964
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
To Mr. and Mrs. Nodine have been born two children, Mary E., born December 18, 1897, and Vera A., born March 20, 1899. William J. Nodine
has been a member of the Knights of the Maccabees since 1888, having joined the order soon after its establishment at Waterloo. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, joining about 1898, and about 1908 he joined the Knights of Pythias, and about 1910 he became a Master Mason.
L. C. HARDING.
For a number of years the subject of this review has been one of the leading business men of Butler, DeKalb county, Indiana. He ranks among the representative citizens of his community and occupies a conspicuous place in the commercial world. His connection with various lines of activity, involving important financial and industrial enterprises, has made him widely and favorably known, and since engaging in his present business his name has become intimately associated with commercial transactions which have brought him to the favorite notice of the public, not only of his immediate community, but, in ever widening circles, to the uttermost parts of the country.
L. C. Harding was born in Steuben county, Indiana, in 1873, the son of William and Mary (Andrews) Harding, he a native of Steuben county, Indiana, and she of St. Joseph county, Michigan. William and Mary Harding were among the, early settlers in Steuben county. The father was engaged in the mercantile business at Fremont, that county. To them were born two children, Louella and the subject of this review.
The subject received a good common school education, which was supplemented by a course in a business college, where he gained a special training for the lines of activity which he followed in later life. Coming to Butler, DeKalb county, shortly afterward, he accepted a position in the T. J. Knisely Bank, which occupied his time for the next seven years, at the end of which time he became secretary and treasurer of the Butler Company. afterward becoming president of this concern.
The Butler Company, one of the leading institutions of its kind in the state, was organized in 1894, with a capital stock of forty thousand dol- lars, and the following officers: President, Roscoe Beams: secretary, T. C. Munger ; treasurer, A. G. Jones, the other member of the firm being T. J.
965
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
Knisely. The factory at first engaged in the manufacture of bicycles and windmills, but in 1900 the bicycle department was discontinued and the manufacture of buggies taken up. The business has had a steady and healthy growth until at the present time the output of buggies amounts to over twenty-five hundred a year, while the number of windmills annually marketed reaches about the same figure. Besides these two leading lines, tanks and tank heaters are also manufactured. The present officers of the company are : President. L. C. Harding ; vice-president. D. C. Henry, of Auburn, New York: secretary, George .\. Powers; treasurer, J. C. Baker. The board of directors consists of the officers named and Samuel G. Stone and T. J. Knisely.
L. C. Harding was married in 1898 to Dessie Knisely, daughter of T. J. Knisely, and to this union has been born one child, Helen B.
Fraternally, the subject of this review is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, in which he has passed the chairs and been honored with election as a delegate to the grand lodge, and he also belongs to the Masonic fraternity. in which he is a member of the chapter and the commandery.
JACK M. BEAMS.
Among the earnest men whose enterprise and depth of character have gained for them a prominent place in the community and the respect and confidence of their fellow citizens is the honored subject of this sketch. A leading business man of the town in which he resides and a man of decided views and laudable ambitions, his influence has ever been made for the advancement of his kind and in the vocation to which his energies are devoted he ranks among the representative citizens of the county ..
Jack M. Beams was born on February 10, 1869, and is the son of John W. and Alice ( Rhodes ) Beams. Jolin W. Beams was born on April 21, 1843, in Adams county, Pennsylvania, being the son of John and Barbara D. (Bishop) Beams, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Pennsylvania. John W. Beams received his education in the common schools of Allen county, Indiana, to which locality the family had moved in an early day, and was reared to the life of a farmer, giving his assistance to his father until eighteen years of age when, in 1862, he gave evidence of his patriotic loyalty by enlisting in Company E. Fifty-fifth Regiment Indiana
966
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
Volunteer Infantry, with which command he participated in many. of the most hotly contested battles of that great struggle, and at the close of his military service he received an honorable discharge. He married Alice Rhodes in 1867, she being the daughter of Daniel and Mary Rhodes, both of whom were natives of Ohio. To this union were born the following children : Edward, who is engaged in the general mercantile business and undertaking at Spencerville, this county; Jack M., the immediate subject of this sketch ; Nettie, deceased. On October 4, 1883, Mr. Beams married Fannie Miller, the daughter of Abraham S. and Jane (Chamberlain) Miller, the former a native of New York and the latter of Pennsylvania, and to this union were born the following children : Walter, deceased ; Robert, who lives with his parents, is a graduate of Butler College of the class of 1910, after which he went to Valparaiso, Indiana, and is now a teacher in the high school at Spencerville. John W. Beams is the owner of thirty-three acres of land in Spencer town- ship, to which he has given his attention with gratifying success. He is a notary public, having held this office for the last twelve years. He is an old settler of DeKalb county and well remembers when where now stands the thriving town of Spencerville was nothing but a wilderness. About thirty- three years ago he engaged in the dry goods, hardware and undertaking business, and carried them on successfully until 1900 when he turned the busi- ness over to his sons, who are still actively engaged in these lines. Politically, he is a Republican, while, religiously, he is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church. Fraternally, lie is a member of Lodge No. 556, Free and Accepted Masons ; Lodge No. 320, Knights of Pythias, and John C. Kern Post No. 330, Grand Army of the Republic. He owns a beautiful home in Spencer- ville, where he is now living in quiet enjoyment of that rest to which his active years so richly entitle him and he enjoys to a marked degree the warni regard of his fellows.
Jack M. Beams received his education in the common schools of De- Kalb county and in the Normal University at Valparaiso, this state. He then returned to Spencerville and became connected with the mercantile busi- ness which had been established here many years before by his father, and he is still actively connected with that enterprise which has been prospered by his steady efforts and striet integrity in business affairs. In 1897 Mr. Beams was appointed postmaster of Spencerville by President Mckinley and has held the office continuously since that time, a period of sixteen years. the discharge of his official duties being entirely satisfactory to the depart- ment and to the patrons of the office. Aside from his official position, Mr.
967
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
Beams has never held public office, but he has consistently given his support to every enterprise looking to the advancement and welfare of the com- munity in which he resides. Politically, he is an earnest Republican. Fra- ternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Free and Accepted Masons, in the latter order having attained to the degrees of the Scottish Rite and holding membership in the consistory at Fort Wayne. He is also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star ..
On February 14, 1889, Mr. Beams married Hattie Shutt, daughter of George and Mary (Houck) Shutt, the former a well known farmer in this county. He and his wife came from Stark county, Ohio, and were among the early settlers of DeKalb county, where they have continuously since maintained their residence. To Mr. and Mrs. Beams have been born two children, Agnes, deceased, and Argyle, who at present is preparing himself for the practice of medicine. Mr. Beams is a man of commendable enter- prise who takes pride in his business affairs and in the faithful and honest discharge of his official duties. Personally, he enjoys a high degree of popularity in the community, possessing as he does the qualities of mind and heart that retain warm friendship.
CHRISTIAN C. BUSS.
Specific mention is made of many of the worthy citizens of DeKalb county within the pages of this work, citizens who have figured in the growth and development of this favored locality and whose interests have been identi- fied with its every phase of progress, each contributing in its sphere of action to the well-being of the community in which he resides and to the advance- ment of its normal and legitimate growth. Among this number is he whose name appears above, peculiar interest attaching to his career from the fact that. his entire life has been spent within the borders of this county.
Christian C. Buss was born in DeKalb county, Indiana. June 2, 1844. the son of Christian and Margaret (Staley) Buss, natives of Switzerland, who were married after coming to Ohio. In 1843 they came to DeKalb county, and settled in Richland township, entering government land. The deed for this entry was signed by President Polk. Here they spent their lives, endur- ing all the hardships of pioneer life, and both died on the home farm. To them were born twelve children: Sophia, Christian C., Samuel, Margaret.
968
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
deceased, Henry, deceased, Mary, Clara, Ida, deceased, and four who died in infancy.
The subject was educated in the common schools of DeKalb county, and after completing the course he engaged in the saw-mill business, first for four years at Auburn and then for some time in the northern part of DeKalb county. Subsequently he took up farming, in which vocation he has achieved marked success, now owning one hundred and twenty acres of splendid land in Rich- land township.
In 1866 Christian Buss was imited in the holy bonds of wedlock with Elizabeth Park, daughter of William and Barbara (Warner) Park, who came from Maryland to Ohio, and then to Allen county, Indiana, after which they moved to DeKalb county and located in Richland township, being among the early settlers in that county, where they spent the remainder of their days.
To the subject and wife have been born nine children : Eda (deceased ). William, John, Belle. Isaac. George ( deceased), Charles, Almetta and Jeffer- son. Early in the history of the county the subject rendered splendid service to his fellow citizens as a member of the town board. He is a member of the United Brethren church, and politically gives his preference to the party of Thomas Jefferson.
FRANKLIN MONROE TEETERS.
The history of a county or state, as well as that of a nation, is chiefly a chronicle of the lives and deeds of those who have conferred honor and dignity upon society. The world judges the character of a community by those of its representative citizens and yields its tributes of admiration and respect to those whose works and actions constitute the record of a state's prosperity and pride. Among the prominent citizens of DeKalb county, Indiana, who are well known because of their successful lives and the up- right character they have borne, is the gentleman whose name appears above.
Franklin Monroe Teeters was born January 12, 1859, on section 35. Keyser township, two and one-fourth miles west of Auburn, DeKalb county, Indiana, on the old Washington Teeters place, the son of Washington and Ethalinda E. (Cupp) Teeters. The father and mother were born in Stark county, Ohio, the father coming to Auburn April 1, 1850, and working at his trade of carpenter and joiner for a time, then purchasing one hundred and twenty acres of land, but one acre of which was cleared. After acquir- ing his farm, the subject's father was married and here he and his wife
969
DEKALB COUNTY, INDIANA.
lived until his death on September 1, 1885; his widow still lives at Auburn. now in her seventy-sixth year. Washington Teeters was a Democrat and he and his wife belonged to the Presbyterian church. To them were born seven children, namely : Franklin, Samuel S., Josiah C., Anna E., Isaac S .. Lydia B. and Mary S.
Franklin Monroe Teeters acquired such early education as was afforded by the district schools of his community, the family taking a great interest in educational matters and five members becoming teachers, Samuel, Josiah, Lydia, Anna and Mary. Samuel, after teaching two years was taken into the J. L. Davis' Banking Company for a few years. He then took up the hard- ware business and for seventeen years followed that calling. He then bought a farm of three hundred sixty-eight acres in Calhoun county, Michigan, and. with his family, removed to that place. Lydia is now teaching in Auburn : Josiah was professor of mathematics at Berea, Kentucky, and at Auburn. but now has retired from pedagogical pursuits and is a ranchman at Weiser, Idaho. All but three years of Mr. Teeters' life has been spent on the old home farm, that short period covering his connection with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company as a bridge and elevator constructor.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.