USA > Indiana > Howard County > History of Howard County, Indiana, Vol II > Part 29
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
The genealogy of the Tress family follows: Gottleib Tress was born in Gross Aspach, Oberant Bamang. Kingdom of Wurtenberg. He was married in Pittsburg to Christina Wicklen, who was from Oberwersich, the Kingdom of Wurtenberg. Oberant Bamang. . 1 daughter was born at Wheeling, West Virginia, July 2, 1833. named Caroline Tress, who was baptized July 25th of that year by Reverend Schwartz, the parents themselves acting as godfather and godmother. At Pittsburg. Pennsylvania, February 19. 1835. was born a daughter, who was baptized as Louisa, June 21st on the same year by Pastor Dambereck in Allegheny. Angelinal Suthern. The pastor acted as godfather and godmother. At Pittsburg, on May 6. 1837, a daughter was born and baptized September 24. 1837. by Pastor Heier, the daughter's name being Rosina, the pastor acting as godfather and godmother. AAngelinal Suthern. At lower St. Clair township, Coal Hill, next to Pittsburg, in 1839, was born a (laughter on December 17th, who was baptized by Pastor Schmidt. April 19. 1840, named Johanna Fredericka. Angeheal Suthern. Godfather Frederick Wolf and godmothers, Mrs. Wolf and Fredericka Bateraffen. Eva Christina Tress died in 1842. at the age of thirteen months. Godfather Adam Scherp and godmother Mrs. Adam Scherp. Gottleib Tress died at the age of ten months and a few days. He was born July 4, 1843. Godparents, father and mother. John Daniel Tress was born in lower St. Clair town- ship. January 15, 1843. and was baptized on the 28th of January. 1844. by the Rev. Finsee. Angelical Suthern. Godfather Adam Dierwaldt. Godmother Mrs. Adam Dierwaldt. In lower St. Clair township Adam Tress was born September 10. 1845. and baptized on October 6th of the same year by Rey Finsee, of Pitts- burg, the godparents being Adam Drenold and wife. At Birming- ham. February 8. 1850, was born a son. Jacob Tress, who was bap-
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tized August 23. 1850. On August 23, 1854, was born a daughter and baptized three days later as Cecelia Tress.
The above chronicle is of the German side of the subject of our review, who had but few opportunities to attend school in his boyhood, but later he has educated himself in a practical way by coming in contact with the world and by home reading, so that he has become a very able business man and talks entertainingly and intelligently on any current topic.
Mr. Jenkins began working at the glass business at the age of nine years and by economy and hard work he has been able to lay by enough until he is today in easy circumstances financially, having long ago developed into a good business man.
The subject was happily married in 1884 to Margaret Eliza- beth Anthony, a native of Pittsburg, a woman of Welsh parentage and possessing many admirable traits. Her father was a native of Wales. The names of her parents were Edward and Mary ( Evans) Anthony.
To the subject and wife have been born the following children : Ethel May, born in 1888: Rosanna, born in 1889; Lewis E., born in 1892: Margareta, born in 1895, and Edward A., born in 1906. Ethel May and Rosanna are graduates of the Greentown high school They are bright and interesting children. They and their mother are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Jenkins has provided his family with a modern, splendid and well furnished home on East Main street, where they have re- sided for some time.
The subject now devotes all his time looking after his farms, which are well kept and under a high state of cultivation, owing to his skillful management and careful attention. In politics, our sub- ject is a stanch Republican, but he does not take an active part in political matters. Fraternally he is a Mason, a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Eagles.
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins are pleasant people and have hosts of friends as a result of the kindness, uprightness and loyalty to the state and nation, being held in high esteem by all who know them.
BENJAMIN LLOYD MUGG.
Although no section of the Hoosier state is richer in oppor- tunities or offers greater advantages to its citizens than does Blow- ard county, success is not here to be obtained through desire alone. but is to be persistently worked for. The subject of this review may be reckoned among the sterling pioneers of this county, having lived here his entire life, nearly three score years to the time of this writing ( 1908), having preferred to remain on his native hills and he has here worked his way to success and prosperity, while he has so ordered his course in all the relations of life as to command the confidence and esteem of his fellow men.
Benjamin Llody Mugg was born in Howard county February 4. 1850, the son of William and Jemima E. ( Cummings ) Mugg. Grandfather Mugg was born in Kentucky, while grandfather Cum- mings hailed from Massachusetts. The former came to Owen county, Indiana. in an early day, owning a farm there where he made his home and reared his children, about eight in number. He is supposed to have been a soldier in the War of 1812. He reached a good old age. Grandfather Cummings also came to Owen county in an early day, farmed there and raised a large family, dying at an advanced age. He was recognized by everyone who knew him as being a high grade farmer even for that early time. The subject's grandparents were devout church people.
The father of the subject received his early education in Owen
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county, where he afterward taught school for a time. He remained with his father on the farm until he married, when he came to How- ard county as one of its pioneers of about 1845. entered land and built a log cabin, later going back to Owen county. He and his family cleared most of the one hundred and sixty acres before his death, also draining the land and in many ways improving it until it was a first class farm in every respect. This family consisted of four children, three of whom grew to maturity. The subject's parents were strict Baptists and the father was a Democrat before the war and afterward a Republican. He died at the age of seventy- three. The age reached by the subject's mother was seventy-five years, who survived her husband a few years.
Benjamin Lloyd Mugg attended the district schools in How- ard county and worked on the old home farm where he was raised and has lived there ever since. a part of which he inherited and the balance of his present farm he has since purchased. the place now consisting of one hundred and ten acres. He and his wife formerly owned an adjoining farm on which they built a beautiful frame house which is now owned by his son-in-law.
The subject's farm is well fenced with wood and wire and the soil is in a high state of productiveness, having always been well cultivated. Clover is at present largely raised. He has never raised either timothy or oats, believing that both are detrimental to the soil. and he claims that clover hay is both superior for both horses and cattle.
No better buildings are to be seen on any farm than on that of our subject, all of which he erected himself, in fact, the stranger will see by a most cursory glance at Mr. Mugg's place that a man of thrift, energy and sound judgment manages it, for no more up-to- date farm is to be found in Howard county.
Mr. Mugg was united in marriage September 3. 1871, to
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
Sophia Ware, daughter of Jesse and Phoebe ( Moore) Ware. She is a native of Howard county, this family having consisted of three girls. Her father recently passed away at an advanced age having been known as a high class farmer and an upright gentleman.
Five children have been born to the subject and wife, three of whom died in infancy. lona is the widow of B. G. Armstrong and the mother of two sons, all of whom make their home with Mr. and Mrs. Mugg: Iza is the wife of William L. Wilcox, who lives on the farm formerly owned by our subject and wife. They have three children.
The year our subject was eighteen his father allowed him to plow ten acres of land and raise his first crop of corn which meas- ured one hundred twenty-three and one-half bushels to the acre and received the first premium at the Howard county fair for corn raised by a boy, receiving twenty dollars cash as a premium. He has been raising Poland China hogs for thirty-eight years. He al- ways attended the local fairs, exhibiting his hogs, until after the Chicago World's Fair. He received fourteen premiums at the World's Fair and won two grand champion premiums on that breed of hogs. He still keeps his registered hogs, which are as fine as can be found anywhere. He has not been exhibiting at fairs for several years but he is always a judge of hogs at fairs. He does not feed hogs, but raises and sells them for breeders.
Our subject likes to tell of the early days of his parents, which were spent without any of the conveniences of the present time. They neither had cook stove nor utensils and their beds were straw, spread on poles, one end of which was driven into an augur hole in the logs of the house and the other end fastened to an up- right pole. The furnishings were of the most primitive sort and the days when they were raising their family were spent in what we of today would call poverty, being without conveniences and many
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of the real necessities of life. But here the subject received valu- able lessons of fortitude and courageous persistence that have enabled him to surmount all obstacles in his later life, having worked his way up to a position of prominence in his community and com- parative affluence. having ever maintained a high order of living and dealt fairly and honestly with his fellow men until no man in Howard county today stands higher in general public esteem. While he has never sought public office he has always been a loyal Republican and ever assisted in furthering the interests of his com- mimity whether in a political, moral or social way, and no more praise-worthy citizen is to be found in Howard county.
JACKSON MORROW.
The subject of this sketch is one of those strong, self-reliant and determined characters who are occasionally met with and who are of such a distinct type as to seem to be born leaders of their fel- low men. Not that Mr. Morrow courts that distinction, for he is entirely unassuming, but his great force of character and his zeal and energy in whatever he undertakes naturally places him at the head of the crowd and he has been a potent factor in the develop- ment of Howard county, where he has long maintained his home and where he is well known to all classes for his honorable and in- dustrious life, in both private and public.
Jackson Morrow was born March 3. 1849, just south of the village. now the city of Kokomo, the son of Charles and Sarah ( Lame ) Morrow, pioneers of this section, and people of many ster- ling qualities and honorable standing in the community, having moved to Howard county in 1845. They were hard workers and
-
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
took the obstacles of the new country as a matter of course and soon overcame many of them, establishing a comfortable home in the wilderness.
The boyhood of our subject differed in no material respect from that of other boys in the country, especially those who were contemporaneous with him in the new territory. He assisted his father in clearing and draining the farm and in the rude and old- style methods of farming in those pioneer days. When he was eight years of age he attended a two months' term of winter school in a log cabin, with rude benches for seats, puncheon floors and other similar furnishings. A. L. Sharp, now a resident of Kokomo, was his teacher. His only text-book was the well known "Elementary Spelling Book." The school year in the country at that time and for some years afterward was three months. The boys were neces- sarily detained at home to assist with the farm work until wintry weather stopped them from working out doors, and thus very few farmers' boys had the advantage of even three months school at- tendance in a year. When fifteen years of age Mr. Morrow at- tended a fall term of school at the Kokomo Normal, of which Professor Fay was principal. Our subject walked to and from school, it being three miles distant to his country home, making the trip morning and evening. When sixteen years old he was granted a two years' license to teach, and his first experience was teaching a country school near Alto. The two following autumns he at- tended the "Old Normal" at Kokomo and taught winter terms of school, working on his father's farm during the spring and summer months, meanwhile closely applying himself in his preparation for college. When nineteen years old he was admitted to the literary department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, from which he was graduated four years later with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, having made a brilliant record for scholarship. Thus we
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are not surprised that the subsequent life of such a man of fortitude and determination as was necessary to be exercised by Mr. Morrow in gaining an education, should admirably succeed.
Mr. Morrow's domestic life dates from 1873, when he was happily married to Mary E. Henderson and purchased a farm in eastern Harrison township, to which he devoted his time alternating with teaching, making a success of each.
It was not long until Mr. Morrow was slated for political offices by his fellow citizens, who had been quick to detect merit of an extraordinary nature, and he was elected trustee of Harrison township in 1880, winning as a Democrat where the Republican vote was two to one Democratic ballot, thus showing his popu- larity in this vicinity. In 1886 Mr. Morrow was elected county surveyor and again re-elected in 1890, each time overcoming an adverse majority of more than one thousand votes. In 1898 he was chosen city civil engineer of Kokomo for the term of four years. In 1906 he was appointed police commissioner by the governor. In all these offices he exercised rare soundness of judgment and handled the business entrusted to him in a manner that was entirely satisfactory to all concerned.
Our subject moved from his farm to a nice home in Kokomo in 1808, where he has since resided. In 1891 his first wife, who had proved a most faithful and worthy companion, was called to her reward, leaving the subject and three children, Albert. Fred and George, all bright and interesting boys. In 1905 Mr. Morrow was married to Mrs. Myra Bird, a woman of many praiseworthy traits.
For many years Mr. Morrow has been an active member of the First Baptist church of Kokomo, and his life has always been led along high planes, consequently he is admired by a large circle of friends for his honorable career, his integrity, honesty and genuine worth, for in all his public career not a shadow of wrong or sus-
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
picion of evil was ever intimated against him even by his most pro- nounced opponents, and members of both parties were always glad to do him honor. He is a public-spirited man, always performing faithfully and well what tasks are assigned him, and the future to such a man cannot but be successful and filled with honor.
JOHN E. DUNCAN.
The gentleman to a brief review of whose life and character- istics the reader's attention is herewith directed is among the far- orably known and representative citizens of Taylor township. How- ard county. 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 fairly 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.
John Eberly Duncan was born in Rush county, Indiana, Octo- ber 10. 1842, the son of John and Nancy ( Sergent ) Duncan. Grand- father Duncan was born in South Carolina, but moved to Indiana, settling in Rush county about 1820, entering between three and four hundred acres, transforming the wild soil into a splendid farm on which he lived until 1858, when he moved to Hancock county, buying a farm here of one hundred and sixty acres, partly improved. By dint of hard labor he finished the improvements, erecting a substantial house and barn, and died here in about four years after he took possession of the place. at the age of about eighty-four, his faithful life companion having preceded him to the "narrow house" from Rush county at the age of eighty years. In
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religious matters they were Missionary Baptists. They were the parents of eight or ten children, the father of the subject being the second in order of birth. The supposition is that their ancestors were from Scotland.
The father of the subject was born in Rush county, this state, in1 1822, and was reared there, having been educated for the minis- try in the Baptist church and he followed preaching all his life, be- coming well known as a man of superior ability in the pulpit of those days and winning scores of souls to the Christian faith. However, his career, which was one of unusual brilliancy and promise, was cut short by the hand of death, having been gathered to his fathers when only twenty-two years old. He was the oldest of two sons, the other being named Washington, also now deceased. The mother of the subject reached the advanced age of eighty-four. She was twice married and had eight children by her second marriage She remained a faithful Baptist all her life.
The early schooling of our subject was gained in Rush county. where he attended the district schools only two months out of each year for about seven years. After he was twenty years old he at- tended common school for two terms. He worked on the farm in his boyhood days and left his parental roof-tree when twenty-one years okl, and hired out by the month for three years as a farm hand, at the end of which time he purchased a threshing machine which he operated successfully for two years at the end of which he sold it for one thousand dollars, having paid only nine hundred dollars for it. Then he and his brother bought a farm in partner- ship, consisting of one hundred and fifty acres, at forty dollars per acre, having paid two thousand dollars down and at the end of two years sold the farm. Mr. Duncan moved to Howard county in 1865 and bought fifty acres at fifty dollars per acre, on which he lived for five years when he sold the place for sixty dollars per acre. He then
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
bought eighty acres which he sold five years later and then bought two hundred acres in Taylor township adjoining his former place at fifty dollars per acre, on which farm he has since resided having been very successful here in his agricultural pursuits. He had at one time another good farm of eighty acres adjoining this, but which was later sold.
Besides being a successful farmer. Mr. Duncan has been a con- tractor and builder, not only of houses and various kinds of build- ings, but also of gravel roads, for the past twenty-five years, dating from 1908. In addition to this home place the subject's wife owns one hundred and sixty acres, the old home farm, which has been successfully managed by the Duncans for many years. This farm is well supplied with ample barns and other first-class buildings, also a modern and very convenient residence. These farms are well drained, mostly with tile. There are about seventy-five acres of woods pasture in blue grass. The soil is still very productive, the crops of wheat and oats being especially large. Mr. Duncan under- stands well the rotation of his crops with clover and other modern methods of keeping his soil in first-class productive condition. He feeds all the corn the place produces to cattle and hogs, formerly buying much additional corn. He is widely known as a breeder of fine Poland-China hogs and Aberdeen Angus ( hornless ) cattle. The entire farm is managed by Mr. Duncan in general farming and. according to his neighbors, no better farmer is to be found within the limits of Howard county.
Our subject was united in marriage in 1866 to Elizabeth North. daughter of James E. and Mary ( Mock ) North. Four children have been born to this union as follows: Omer C., born in 1867, lives in Howard county on a farm, is married and has two children : Charles, born in 1873, is connected with the postoffice at Kokomo, although he was formerly a merchant and he is the father of one
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child, living : J. Pearl, born in 1878, is now on his mother's farm. having become the father of three children; R. K., born in 1883. is married and still a member of the family circle.
Fraternally the subject is a Mason, having filled all the chairs in the local lodge. He is a Missionary Baptist in his religious be- liefs, having been an active member of this church for twenty years, or since 1888, and he is now deacon in the same. Mrs. Duncan is also a member of this church, having long been an active worker in the congregation. Mr. Duncan is a Democrat and he served very faithfully and acceptably as trustee for two terms. He is regarded by all as being one of the foremost citizens of Howard county, har- ing established a firm reputation for honesty of purpose in all his dealings with his fellow men and by being the advocate of clean and wholesome principles in the home, society and politics.
GEORGE STAHL.
It is with no small degree of satisfaction that the biographer now essays to set before the reader the salient facts in the life his- tory of the estimable gentleman now deceased whose name initiates this paragraph, for his life was one singularly full of good deeds and of the most pronounced success, and his influence was ever wholesome and ameliorating, so that today he is remembered as a man who was held in the highest respect and admiration of his many friends and acquaintances,
George Stahl was born in Lamburgh, Bavaria, Germany. Feb- ruary 3. 1839. the son of Jacob and Katherine ( Griner ) Stahl. Jacob Stahl was formerly a stonemason, but after coming to this country followed farming, having bought a farm near Napoleon, Ripley
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
county, Indiana, on which he lived until his death at the age of sixty-seven years. He and his wife were parents of thirteen chil- dren, seven of whom grew to maturity, George Stahl being the fourth in order of birth. His mother lived to be eighty years old. George Stahl had a good German education and worked for his father on the farm until he was twenty-one years old, then worked out at whatever he could find to do.
The father bought eighty acres of land and he and his sons worked hard and soon paid for it. The father sold this land to George and Henry. This land was at once divided, each taking forty acres. George Stahl owned his forty acres for seven years, when he sold it and did various kinds of work for several years. In Octo- ber. 1872, accompanied by his young wife and three small children he came to Howard county and joined his brother Adam, who had preceded him about three years.
George and Adam Stahl bought thirty acres on which they built a tile factory in 1875, later ten acres more were added. The tile factory was successfully operated by the Stahls for fourteen years, at the end of which time they dissolved partnership, and the land was equally divided, twenty acres falling to George Stahl, who had previously bought forty acres in 1881. In about 1887 he bought another eighty acres of improved land in Taylor township, which is a part of the present homestead, in addition to the sixty acres which he originally owned. Another eighty-acre tract was purchased in 1901. making him two hundred and twenty acres in all. In 1870 he purchased two hundred and fifty acres of timber land in Lawrence county. Tennessee. This was soll about 1802.
He was a hard-working man and soon improved the place and brought it to a high state of productiveness. All of the one hun- dred and sixty acres now comprising this excellent farm are well drained and all under the plow but twenty acres which is in blue
26
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MORROW'S HISTORY
grass pasture, all under a fine system of wire fencing. Mr. Stahl underwent all the usual hardships incident to a life in an unim- proved country, having like the early pioneers cleared the heavy timber and developed a farm. He had a number of substantial and convenient buildings erected and had amassed a comfortable com- petency for his family when he was called from his earthly labors by the "grim reaper," March 8. 1904. at the age of sixty-five years, after having spent his entire life in the Roman Catholic church, and having gained a reputation among his fellow men as a staunch citi- zen of exemplary character and liberal to all who needed help. being strictly upright in all his dealings with his fellow men and was ad- mired and much respected by all who knew him.
Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stahl as follows: John, born in 1867, at Millhousen. this state, is living on the old sixty-acre place, married and has four children : Catherine was born January 18, 1869, at Napoleon, Indiana, and died November 20. 1872: Anna Mary was born at Napoleon. December 4, 1870, and died September 21. 1871; Anna Catherine, born August 9, 1872. is the wife of James Kirby, and the mother of four children ; Adam John. born June 25. 1875. died March 17. 1879; Margaret Rosa, born November 8, 1877, is the wife of J. A. Coyle, and the mother of four children; Henry Thomas was born December 21. 1879, is single and living at home: Mary Theresa, born March 25. 1882, is at home with her mother: Joseph Anthony, born August 8, 1884. is living at home: Leo Francis, born July 6, 1887, is in the Rose Polytechnic Institute at Terre Haute. 1908.
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