USA > Indiana > Huntington County > History of Huntington County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume II > Part 18
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Mr. Hahn has labored faithfully and industriously and his present handsome property has been gained through the medium of his earnest endeavors, ably seconded by those of his wife. Elmwood Stock Farm is a well-cultivated and valuable tract of ninety acres, located three miles south and one mile east of Andrews, and five miles south and two miles west of Huntington. It has been equipped with modern build- ings, improvements and appliances, is fertile and productive, and ad- mirably suited to the raising of livestock. Mr. Hahn has ever been regarded as one of his township's useful and public-spirited men, and as a business man whose record for strict integrity remains unbleni- ished. Hc belongs to the German Evangelical church of Dallas town- ship, while his wife and son George W. belong to the Christian church at Andrews. Fraternally, Mr. Hahn is a member of Golden Rule Lodge No. 308, Knights of Pythias, belongs to the Grand Lodge, and also holds membership in the Uniform Rank No. 16, at Huntington. Mrs. Hahn is also favorably known in fraternal circles, being a member of Olive Branch Temple, Pythian Sisters, at Andrews, of which she is past chief, and of the Grand Lodge. In politics a democrat, Mr. Hahn has served as a delegate to various conventions of his party and on several occasions has been a member of the election board. He is wide-awake and progressive, and he and his family have a wide circle of friends to whom the hospitality of their own pleasant home is freely and graciously accorded.
WILLIAM O. ZINTSMASTER. It would be difficult to find a better ; illustration of self-made success than that exemplificd in the carcer of William O. Zintsmaster, of Polk township. Dependent upon his own resources since the age of fourteen years, he has worked his way upward by indomitable courage and unfailing perseverance to a position among the substantial farmers of his community, and for this reason is emi- nently entitled to mention in a history of the representative men of Huntington county. Mr. Zintsmaster was born in Stark county, Ohio,
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November 13, 1858, and is a son of John Zintsmaster, who enlisted during the Civil war in the Seventy-fifth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until his death. He had formerly pur- chased a farm in Polk township, from Doctor Depew, and this has continued to remain in the Zintsmaster name to the present time, now being the home of our subject. It contains sixty acres.
The only survivor of his parents' six children, William O. Zints- master has spent his entire career in Polk township. He was but a lad when his father died, and his early education was neglected, as his mother married again, and the lad was left to shift for himself. When he was fourteen years of age he took up the burden of self support, bravely accepting whatever honorable employment presented itself, but his wages were meagre and he was able to save almost nothing. Ac- cordingly, he arrived at man's estate without capital save his willing hands and a stout heart. Through hard and persistent labor, he finally managed to accumulate enough money to invest in thirty acres of land, · a part of the property formerly owned by his father, and when this had been put under a good state of cultivation, he added thirty acres more to it, this having since been developed into a valuable farm. Pleasant Home Farm, as it is known, is located in section 3, Polk town- ship, three miles south and three-quarters of a mile west of Andrews. It is rich, fertile soil, and under Mr. Zintsmaster's capable management and intelligent treatment yields large crops annually. He favors modern methods and keeps fully abreast of the developments constantly being made in agricultural work, and has the reputation of being a practical and progressive farmer. Those who have had dealings with him account him a man of integrity and business honor, and as a loyal friend he is popular with a wide circle of Polk township's best people.
Mr. Zintsmaster was married in 1879 to Miss Louanna Benson, who was born in Kansas, daughter of Benjamin and Margaret (Russon) Benson. When she was fourteen years of age she was brought to Polk township, and here her education was completed in the public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Zintsmaster have had three children, namely: Roy, who is single and is engaged in assisting his father in the cultivation of the home farm; Iva, who is the wife of Russell Collins, a farmer of Lagro township, Wabash county; and Alonzo, single, who lives in Wabash county. Mr. and Mrs. Zintsmaster are consistent members of the Christian church at Andrews, in which he has served for several years as a deacon. For a long period he was a supporter of the principles of the Republican party, but in 1912 his own spirit of progress led him to cast his ballot with the new progressive party. His life has been characterized by a strict adherence to duty and his standing in his community is accordingly high.
JACOB D. HAHN. Jacob D. Hahn is connected with the develop- ment of the resources that nature has provided in this section of the state, being well known as a representative of the agricultural interests of Huntington county. A native son of this county, he has spent his
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entire career within its borders, and from modest beginnings has worked his way to a position of independence and affluence, being the owner of 140 acres of fine land, located three miles south and one mile east of Andrews, in Polk township. Mr. Hahn was born on a farm in Dallas township, Huntington county, Indiana, November 24, 1866, and is a son of Christian and Sarah (Christman) Hahn.
Christian Hahn was born in Germany, but was brought to the United States as a lad of five years, the family settling in Lucas county, Ohio, where Mr. Hahn met and married Sarah Christman, who had been born in that county. In 1865, Mr. and Mrs. Hahn came to Indiana and located in Dallas township, Huntington county, where Mr. Hahn engaged in agricultural pursuits, in which he still successfully con- tinues. His first wife died in this township, having been the mother of five children, and Mr. Hahn was again married, there being four chil- dren by the second union. Four of the five children of Christian and Sarah Hahn still survive, namely: Kephas, who is a resident of Mich- igan ; Sarah A., living at Fort Wayne, Indiana, the widow of John Case; · Jacob D., and Albert C., who reside in Polk township.
Jacob D. Hahn was brought up a farmer's boy on the homestead place in Dallas township, and after attending the district school for some time became a student in the German school, where he continued his studies until his confirmation. He remained under the parental roof until reaching the age of twenty years, at which time he faced the world on his own account, and for one and one-half years worked as a farm hand by the month. On March 24, 1889, Mr. Hahn was united in marriage with Miss Barbara A. Lahr, of Union township, daughter of Peter Lahr, and after their marriage they began housekeeping on a tract of rented land. Mr. Hahn was industrious and energetic, carefully saved his earnings, with the assistance of his faithful wife, and soon found himself in possession of means enough to secure forty acres of land. This formed the nucleus for his present magnificent property, for four years later he doubled his holdings by a purchase of forty acres additional, later added another forty, and in 1908 secured his final twenty acres from the Clingle farm. He now has 140 acres of as fine land as may be found in Huntington county, and it has all been acquired through his own efforts. He has engaged extensively in gen- eral farming, his land being admirably adapted to clover and corn, and also raises large numbers of hogs annually, which find a ready market and top-notch prices in the large cities. He has worked in a practical way, being a man of action rather than theory, but has ever been ready to give a trial to new and progressive methods and to adopt them if results were satisfactory. In the county of his birth, where his entire life has been passed, the circle of his friends is almost co-extensive with the circle of his acquaintance, a fact indicative of a well spent and honorable life.
Mr. Hahn is a democrat in his political views, but has found no time for public matters. He is a trustec of Pilcher Chapel of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which both he and his wife are members. They
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have been the parents of three children: Sarah V., a graduate of the common schools, and now the wife of Herman Schengle; Ervin E., a graduate of the common schools and now assisting his father in the work of the homestead placc; and Celia A., who is thirteen years of age and still attending the Polk township schools.
JOHN O. REDDING. In writing of the prominent and prosperous farming men of Rock Creek township it would be highly inconsistent to omit some mention of John O. Redding, one of the leading citizens of the township, and a man who has accomplished a generous measure of agricultural success in the community, as well as establishing himself firmly among his fellows as a result of his substantial and altogether worthy character. As proprietor and owner of the Old Redding Farm, as it is widely known, he has ably carried on the activities begun by his father a good many years ago in the township, and he has added some. thing to the place since he came into ownership, as a result of his indus- try and good management.
Born in Wells county, Indiana, on August 3, 1866, John Oliver Red- ding is the son of T. W. and Clara (Walker) Redding, both of them natives of North Carolina, there reared and educated. After their mar- riage they settled in Rock Creek township, this county, and here spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom seven are now living. James Redding is a resident of Tennes- see. Jane is the wife of Lewis Seigman of this township. R. W. Red- ding is also a resident in Rock Creek township. Wesley A. is likewise resident here. Mary is the wife of R. E. Johnson, of Jennings county, Indiana. Alice is the wife of Wade Hampton, of Duncan, Oklahoma. John O. is the seventh living child of the family.
John O. Redding was reared on the home farm in this township, the same place being now his home and his property. Such education as he had was gained in the district schools and was secured during the winter months of his boyhood up to the age of nineteen years. He stayed at home as his father's assistant and helper on the farm until he was twenty-five, and at that age all that he owned in the world was a horse and buggy, for his labor had been given at the home place and his board and keep was all he derived from his industry, barring the acquisition of the horse and buggy mentioned. This, however, he regarded as no hardship, but rather as a debt he owed his parents, and when he married at the age of twenty-five he started life without any possessions, one might say. He chose for his wife the daughter of William and Melissa J. (Thompson) Sheets, prosperous farming people of the community, and Mary A. Sheets proved herself a helpmate of the highest type. They were married March 11, 1892, and soon after he rented a forty-acre place, which he operated for some time and then moved to the old John Redding farm in Huntington county. The Old Redding Farm is a place of eighty acres, ten miles west of Bluffton, and five miles south of Markle. It has long been known for one of the fer- tile and highly productive spots of the county, and when John Redding
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came into its possession he was well acquainted by previous contact with its needs and its possibilities, so that he has lost nothing in time and money in experimenting with it. Other lands have come into Mr. Red- ding's possession as a result of his energy and industry, and he is today among the well-to-do men of the community, owning 100 acres. High grade stock has always been a hobby with the proprietor of this place, and the standard he has maintained in that branch of his activities is kept up to the top-notch in all his farming activities.
To Mr. and Mrs. Redding three children have been born. Josie, the eldest, is a graduate of the Rock Creek Centre high school; Edna is now a student in the same school, and Eldon, born in 1902, attends the com- mon schools of the community.
The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Rock- ford, and Mr. Redding is a trustee of the church, and with his wife has a reasonable share in the activities of the various departments of the organization. Mr. Redding is a member of Markle Lodge, No. 23, Knights of Pythias, and of the Red Men, Lodge No. 226. In the latter order he has been through all chairs. He is a Republican in his polit- ical activities, and is a man who has lived well up to the highest standards of citizenship recognized within the borders of the county. With him Progress has long been a watchword, and his opinion is held invaluable by his agricultural associates.
DANIEL MILLER. The well kept and productive farm of Daniel Miller lies in a fertile tract of Rock township, five miles distant from Markle, ten miles from Bluffton and eight miles from Warren, so that his place is especially advantageously located, and affords many oppor- tunities to him and his family that many other farming people are of necessity denied. Mr. Miller has been a resident of Huntington county since 1883, when he came here from his native state, Pennsylvania, and he has arisen from the position of a farm hand to an employer of similar help, as the owner of a place of his own in the community where he had his substantial start in life.
Mr. Miller is a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, born there on October 3, 1861, and he is a son of Jonathan and Mary (Kessler) Miller, both born in the same county and state, and there they passed their lives. Both are now deceased. They were the parents of eight children, Daniel Miller of this review being the fifth born in the family. He was reared on the Berk county farm of his parents, there attending the dis- trict schools and spending his summers in hard work on the home place. He continued at home until he reached the age of twenty-two, when he began to work for others, and soon after he came to Indiana, locating almost immediately in Rock Creek, Huntington county, where he entered the service of John Dill, a prosperous farmer of the community in that day. Four years the young man spent as the assistant of Mr. Dill, and in 1886 he married the daughter of his employer. She was Mary C. Dill, born and reared in this vicinity, and she died in 1907.
After his marriage, Mr. Miller purchased his present farm, and here
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has since lived in prosperous content, busy with his farming and other interests, and taking his place among the representative mnen of the community.
Mr. Miller is a member of the Emanuel Reformed church in Wells county, Indiana, having been affiliated with that denominatioon as an active member since he was a lad of fourteen years. He is a member of the Red Men at Rockford, Indiana, and of the order of Moose. Polit- ically he is a Republican, and he has been an active factor in local politics for a good many years.
In 1910 Mr. Miller married Verna Allen, of Markle, Indiana, a daughter of Levi Allen, an old time resident of that community. Mrs. Miller is a member of the Christian church, and a woman of many vir- tues, highly esteemed in her community and possessing a wide circle of friends throughout the town and county.
MARTIN E. LEAVELL. The eighty acre farm of Martin E. Leavell in section 23 of Rock Creek township lies three and a half miles south- west of Markle, Indiana, and being thus advantageously situated affords to him and his family many facilities that residence on a more remotely located farm must of necessity deny to them. The Leavells are among the prosperous and highly regarded people of their community, and they added in gencrous mcasure to the general high standing of the township where they have had a continued residence of thirty-three years.
Martin Elmer Leavell was born in Delaware county, Indiana, on September 5, 1872, and he is a son of James and Laura (Worley) Leavell. The mother died when their son was a small boy and the father died in Delaware county in about 1897. He was a native son of Randolph county, Indiana, and the mother was likewise of Indiana birth. Young Leavell came as a boy of eight years, after the death of his parents, to Huntington county, and was reared on the farm of his uncle, F. M. Leavell. He attended the district schools of Rock Creek township, with one term at Danville, Indiana, and when he was eighteen he began farming in association with his uncle. He remained on the Leavell farm until he married, December 24, 1898. He owned the same section where he now lives. General farming occupies his attention with some stock raising as a side line, and he is generally regarded as a prosperous and successful farmer, as he indeed is.
Mr. Leavell married Julia Sheets, the daughter of Frederick and Maria (Shively) Sheets of Huntington county, where she was born and reared. To them have been born three children. Two are living at this writing-Frederick J., born August 29, 1902, and Ruth I., born April 17, 1997.
Mr. and Mrs. Leavell arc members of the Christian church at Buck- eye, Indiana, and are active in the various departments of that church body. Mr. Leavell has served as an elder in the church, and his wife has likewise identified herself with numerous worthy activities in con- nection with her membership. Mr. Leavell was formerly a Republican, but on the organization of the progressive party he joined their ranks.
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Though never a politician he is a man of ideas and gives a reasonable attention to matters of that nature. In his citizenship he has always set a good example to his fellow citizens and takes his place among the reliable, progressive and thinking men of his community. A quict man, he yet wields a worthy influence wherever he is found, and he is known among the honorable and upright men of the town and county, wherein he has been known favorably from early boyhood to the present time.
NELSON SHARP. Among those people who have undeniably aided in forming the social atmosphere of Rock Creek township and who have added their full quota to the general well being of the community may very properly be mentinoned Nelson Sharp and his wife. They have long held leading places in the esteem of the fellow citizens, and it is fitting and proper that mention be made of them in a work of the nature of this publication.
Nelson Sharp was born in Peru, Indiana, on September 9, 1857, and is a son of Henry and Sarah (Kinsey) Sharp. The father came from Pennsylvania and the mother from Ohio, and they settled in Miami county in their young married life. Of the seven children born to them four are yet living. They are Joel of Peru, Indiana; Mayme, the wife of David Mann, of Peru; Ben, a resident of Lancaster township; and Nelson Sharp, of this review.
Nelson Sharp was fifteen years old when he came to Huntington county and settled in Rock Creek township with his mother. He had but little education, for he was early compelled to help with the support of the family. as his father lost his life as a soldier in the Civil war.
In the fall of 1879 Nelson Sharp married Eliza McClurg, a sister of J. W. McClurg. She was born in Rock Creek township on March 11, 1849, and is a daughter of John and Nellie (Randol) McClurg. The father was a Pennsylvanian by birth, who came to Ohio and there mar- ried his wife, coming to Rock Creek township in 1848, where they spent the rest of their lives. Mrs. Sharp had her education in the township schools, the best the community afforded in her day. Three children were born to them, but none are living now.
Mrs. Sharp is a faithful member of the Christian church of Plum Tree, and she is fraternally associated with the Star of Hope Lodge No. 464, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of Toledo Encampment, No. 239. He is Past Chief Patriarch of the order, and a member of the grand lodge. Mrs. Sharp is a member of Browns Corners Lodge, No. 348 of the Rebekahs, and is a Past Grand in the order.
Mr. Sharp has been a Republican in his political faith, but in the campaign of 1912 has cast his vote with the newly organized progressive party. He takes a lively interest in the political activities of the com- munity, though he has never been a seeker after office at any time. He is well content to devote himself to the tilling of his sixty acre farm, and finds ample employment in the task.
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Wetrust Me din.
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GEORGE H. McLIN, M. D. A graduate in medicine forty-five years ago. Dr. McLin has been in continuous practice in Huntington since 1880. Well known to the medical profession, a man of unusual experi- ence, world traveled, he has also been successful in business affairs, and is one of the prominent men of Huntington county.
George H. McLin was born in the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan, June 4, 1843, the oldest son of Jacob and Adelia (Gage) McLin. His father was one of the pioneer settlers in Kalamazoo, locating there in 1829, when there was no city and when the development of Kalamazoo county had barely begun. He was one of the early farmers, and was identified with the promotion of several local industries which contributed to the founding and development of Kalamazoo as a business center. Dr. McLin's grandfather was Thomas McLin, who was born in the city of Nashville, Tennessee, and from there moved to Michigan. His father, John McLin, during early life was a sea captain, and was a friend of Andrew Jackson and other noted Tennesseeans. Grandfather Thomas McLin married Hannah Jackson, a niece of Andrew Jackson, and her father was a Quaker preacher. Jacob McLin, who had long been promi- nent at Kalamazoo and was several times honored with official positions, died in Huntington January 14, 1909, and his wife passed away eleven days later.
Dr. George H. McLin grew up in Kalamazoo, attended the local schools, and later began the reading of medicine with Dr. Lyon, now deceased, subsequently with Dr. Longbottom of Kalamazoo, and then with Dr. Weyburn of Kalamazoo. In order to complete his medical studies he entered the Cleveland Medical College, where he was gradu- ated M. D. in 1867. Few members of the profession have spent so much time in the great centers of medical learning. Dr. McLin was for three years a student in Europe, principally at Edinburgh, London and Paris. He is a graduate of four American colleges, having degrees from the Occi- dental College in Cleveland; the Hahnemann College of Philadelphia, also under the auspices of the University of Pennsylvania; the Jefferson College of Philadelphia, with experience at Blockley Hospital of that city ; and also the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Philadelphia.
His practice as a physician began at Buchanan, Michigan, and he left that community in 1878, practicing in Detroit for a short time. Owing to ill health he was retired from his profession about two years, and in 1880 located at Huntington, Indiana. Dr. MeLin has enjoyed a large general practice, but has not depended entirely upon his practice for his material success. He possesses an inventive mind, has done much experi- mental work in his laboratory, and has compounded medicines which are practical and valuable contributions to the pharmacopœia. A few years ago he originated a popular drink called Kolatona, and this has a large sale. He also prepares an antiseptic, known as McLin's New Antiseptic, and formerly called the Oil Radium, a preparation which is very gener- ally used by both the profession and the laity. Among other interests Dr. McLin is the owner of some seven hundred acres of land in Benzie county of northern Michigan. He has spent a good deal of time in devel- Yol. II-10
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oping and cultivation of this place, where he makes a specialty in the raising of potatoes, beans and fruit, and has a splendid new orchard started. Dr. McLin is also the originator of the pepsin oatmeal, an especially palatable breakfast food, the first on the market.
Dr. McLin has traveled extensively, and while in Edinburgh, Scot- land, took his degrees as a Mason in Kilwinning Lodge No. 2 of St. Johns. He is also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks. He has been married three times. His two living children are Evangeline, wife of William Christman, of Wabash, Indiana ; and DeForest, a student at Winona Academy. Hc also has a granddaughter, Mrs. Bessie Williams, of New Richmond, Wis., and a grandson, Glenn Bourdon, of Des Moines, Iowa. The present Mrs. McLin before her marriage was Miss Hadassah A. Simons. Dr. McLin is widely known, being a man of unusual social qualities, and with his business interests in different states has a wide acquaintance as well as much prominence in his home locality.
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