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 21
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Tully Anson was born in Union township, September 9, 1868, a son of John J. and Susan (Elkins) Anson. Both the father and grand- father, Samuel Anson, were natives of Clinton county, Ohio, where John J. was born, February 9, 1825, and probably of English descent. Susan Elkins was a native of Virginia. John Anson was married in Ohio, and in 1844 came into Huntington county as one of the early set- tlers, locating in Union township. Twelve years were spent by him in Huntington City, but with that exception he lived in Union township, with his wife, until their long and industrious years came to a close. Their journey from Clinton county, Ohio, was made in a wagon, and not for some years were any railroads built in this section of the state, and the Ansons are among the people who had their full share in clear- . ing away the forests and establishing homes in the wilderness. John J. Anson was a hunter and fisherman, possessed a very rugged physique, and was of active, vigorous temperament, and was known in the com- munity as a man who never failed in any undertaking. He cleared up a large amount of land, was noted as a rail splitter in the early days, and for a number of years was associated with the late John Roche. John Anson at one time kept the only store at Union Station, in his town- ship. His acreage as a farmer usually ran about two hundred, and his possessions and activities made him one of the prominent men in Union township. Besides being a first-class business man, and successful from a material point of view, he was active in religion and a liberal contribu- tor to the Union church. A Jackson Democrat in politics, he served in the office of justice of the peace during his residence in the city of Huntington. There were seven children, and four are still living: Sam- uel, a retired farmer at Warsaw, Indiana; Tennie, wife of I. E. Ward, of Union township; and Addie, wife of James Carl, of Columbus, In- diana. Tully Anson was reared on the home farm and at the proper
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age entered the Huntington public schools. After graduating from the high school in 1885, he was first employed as agent, and storekeeper at Mardenis, and from that gradually got into farming as a permanent vocation. Mr. Anson married Miss Nettie Hoster, a daughter of John and Mary (Harter) Hoster. Mrs. Anson was educated in the district schools. Their four living children are: Charles E., who graduated from the Union township high school, studied in Angola Tri-State Col- lege, and now has charge of the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades in the Union township schools; Clara, a graduate of the high school, and the wife of Ernest Beaver; Mary and Allen, both at home. Mrs. Anson is a member of the Mount Zion United Brethren church, and the family attend Zion church. Mr. Anson has long taken an active part in democratic politics, and also in public affairs, from the standpoint of good government, and from 1904 to 1908 served as trustee of Union township.
HENRY G. MILLER. Representing that stanch German-American stock which has done so much in the material development of the middle west, Henry G. Miller has lived for thirty-five years in Huntington county, has prospered in his vocation as a farmer, has a fine farm estate in Union township of 160 acres, and is regarded as one of the substantial men both in general prosperity and in his influence as a citizen and kindly neighbor.
Henry G. Miller was born in Hocking county, Ohio, November 2, 1860, a son of John P. and Christina (Finkie) Miller. His father, who was a native of Germany, came when eight years of age with his parents to the United States, first locating in Virginia, and later in Ohio. About 1877, he moved from Ohio, and found a permanent home in Union town- ship of Huntington county, where he spent the remaining days of his life. There were six children in the family, as follows: Henry G .; Mary, wife of Cephus Hahn, of Michigan; William, of Union township; Lizzie, wife of David Chenoweth of Jackson township; John P. of Dallas town- ship; and George E. of Polk township.
Henry G. Miller was about eighteen years old when he came to Hunt- ington county, had received a substantial education in the schools of Ohio, and became an active and valuable assistant of his father in clear- ing up the land and improving a farm in Huntington county. He lived at home until he was twenty-four years of age. On the 21st of October, 1893, he married Miss Mary Elizabeth Lahr, daughter of Jacon Lahr. Mrs. Miller was born in Polk township, Huntington county, October 2, 1866, and grew up and received her education in this vicinity. They have one child, Arta June, born June 1, 1903. Mr. Miller in early life learned the stone mason's trade, and for some years was a contractor in Hunt- ington, getting a good start in that business. He owned ninety-seven acres of the old homestead in Ohio, and after selling that bought his present farm in January, 1899, and has since owned and occupied that present estate in Union township. His farm comprises one hundred and sixty acres, all the land is well improved and cultivated, and his neigh-
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bors regard him as the ablest cultivator of the soil and one of the most successful men in his community. In politics Mr. Miller is a democrat.
SIMEON SLATER. For half a century Simeon Slater has been a sub- stantial farmer and respected citizen of Huntington county. In Union township his estate is readily identified as the Flat Creek Farm, a coun- try place of forty-three acres, with unusual attractions in both surround- ings and equipment for business. Mr. Slater has made a success in life, stands high in the esteem of his neighbors, and is a man who has always depended upon industry and good judgment and fair dealing for his ad- vancement.
Simeon Slater was born in Warren county, Ohio, May 23, 1845, a son of Joseph and Mary A. (Thompson) Slater. Grandfather William Slater was a native of England and came to the United States many years ago. Joseph Slater was married in Warren county, Ohio, and in 1853 brought his family to Huntington county, locating in Union township, but later lived on a farm in Huntington township. Both par- ents died in the city of Huntington. There were twelve children, eight of whom are yet living, as follows: Mary, wife of Jacob Moore of Spring- field, Ohio; Milton, a barber in Detroit, Michigan; Oscar, of Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin; Margaret, wife of John Langle; Elizabeth, wife of Alf Wilkerson, of Huntington ; and Cal, a barber in Warren, Indiana.
Simeon Slater was reared on a farm in Ohio, attended the district schools, was about eighteen years old when he came with the family to Huntington county. On January 14, 1869, occurred the marriage of Simeon Slater and Miss Anna Hill, who was born in Warren county, Ohio, May 29, 1848, and when a child was brought to Huntington county. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Slater located in Union township, and there have acquired a substantial home, have reared their children and given them the best of advantages, and are now enjoying the fruits of a well spent life of industry and thrifty management. Their six children are mentioned as follows: Leota, wife of George Chaney ; Elmer, who married Mary Chaney; James A., who married Maude Ward; Edward, whose wife was Lettie Mitchell; Ora, who married Helen Weaver; and Merl, wife of William Slagel. Mr. Slater is affiliated with Roanoke Lodge No. 19, A. F. & A. M., of which he is a past master. In politics he is a democrat.
LINZY ROBERTS. For thirty-five years the name of Linzy Roberts in Jefferson township has been synonymous with high class agricultural work and for the faithful performance of every duty that devolves upon him in this connection. A native son of Huntington township, he has grown up with the section, has interestedly watched its development into one of the richest agricultural localities of the state, has contributed materially to its advancement through his activities, and with its pros- perity has himself prospered. Mr. Roberts was born on a farm in section 23, Jefferson township, Huntington county, Indiana, June 27, 1857, and is a son of Samuel and Sofia (Wiley) Roberts.
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The parents of Mr. Roberts were born in Ohio, and there reared, educated and married. Shortly after their union they decided to settle in Huntington county, and accordingly made their way here in a wagon, the father entering eighty acres of land, the west one-half of the south- east one-quarter of section 23, in Jefferson township. This property was located in the heavy timber, and the father erected a small log cabin in a clearing and started to prepare his fields for cultivation. A strong man physically, he labored energetically and untiringly, and was able to make much progress in his work. Later he purchased an additional eighty acres across the road, and there continued to reside during the remainder of his life. In the summer of 1884 the log cabin was re- placed by a brick house, the brick for which was made by Linzy Roberts and his brother-in-law. Samuel Roberts was a man of intelligence and public-spirit, and in his death, which occurred in May, 1897, his com- munity lost a citizen who had done much to advance its interests. The mother survived until January, 1900. Mr. Roberts was a democrat in his political views, but was a quiet and unassuming man, and did not court public favors. He and his wife were the parents of seven chil- dren, as follows: Sarah L., who is the wife of George S. Morris; Nancy, who passed away when unmarried in young womanhood; Verilla, who is the wife of John A. Andrews; William W., a resident of Salamonie township; George I., who lives in Jefferson township; Linzy, of this review ; and Jasper C.
The education of Linzy Roberts was secured in the district schools of Jefferson township, although his attendance was usually limited to the times when there were no tasks to be performed upon the home farm. He was industrious and ambitious, made the most of his oppor- tunities, learned thoroughly the business of farming, and continued under the family roof until reaching the age of twenty-seven years. He was married to Atlanta Denton, December 17, 1884, she having been born in Jefferson township, January 16, 1866, and following their union they settled on a tract of sixty acres of land located near Mr. Roberts' present farm. While there he also engaged in operating a sawmill, and subse- quently invested his earnings in forty acres of land. Still later he bought his present property, a tract of eighty acres, being the east one- half of the southeast one-quarter, section 34, three miles west and two miles south of Warren. This land is cleared and ditched, equipped with modern improvements, and has an excellent set of substantial buildings. As a farmer and stock, raiser Mr. Roberts exercises sterling ability in the management of his affairs and has thereby acquired a competence that enables him to provide a good living for himself and family. He is known to be reliable in all trade transactions so that he has won the confidence and good will of his fellow men, while his acquaintance is extensive and his friends numerous.
Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have been the parents of ten children, of whom six are living at this time: Zeffa, who is the wife of Elmer Spauld- ing and lives in Grant county, Indiana; Sarah, who is the wife of Delmon Lozier; Celia, who is the wife of Howard Brown and lives in
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Jefferson township; James, a graduate of the county schools and now a student in Van Buren High school; Ruth, a graduate of the common schools ; and Master Carl, the baby, eight years of age and a bright pupil of the local district school. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts and their children are consistent members of the United Brethren church. He has always been a strong adherent of the cause of temperance, is a prohibitionist in political matters, and at the present time is serving efficiently in the capacity of supervisor for the south one-half of Jefferson township.
JOHN W. MINTON. The relationship of John W. Minton to Hunt- ington county has been of a broad and varied and uniformly successful character. Mr. Minton for many years was a man who had pleasant associations with the people of Lancaster township and built up a reputa- tion which still follows him for thorough integrity, fair and square deal- ing, and a judgment which led him to continued advancement in pros- perity. Mr. Minton is now best known as a farmer and stock raiser in Jefferson township. He has demonstrated a peculiar fitness for farm- ing and stock enterprise, and it was his dealings as a poultry merchant in earlier years which proved the principal source of his present capital and successful reputation in business affairs.
John W. Minton is a native of Lancaster township, Huntington county, where he was born on October 14, 1868, a son of Henry S. and Mary C. (Winebrenner) Minton. His father after a long and worthy career as an agriculturist and good citizen passed away in 1911, and the mother is still living. They were the parents of six children, of whom John W. is first to be mentioned, and the others are as follows: Frank, of Huntington; Elmer, of Lancaster township; Nathan, of Lancaster township; Lizzie, wife of Charles Buzzard; and Tillie, wife of Wilber McCrum.
It was on a farm in Lancaster township that John W. Minton had his first associations with the world, and grew up with other boys in that locality during the seventies and early eighties. A district school supplied him with the fundamentals of book knowledge, and when he left school at the age of eighteen he was fairly well equipped for suc- cessful performance on his own account. By close attention to business and guided always by principles of honesty, he has gone from one success to another and there are few people in that part of Huntington county who do not recognize his name as one associated with thorough ability and well-won prosperity.
Mr. Minton married Stella Zell of Lancaster township. To their union was born one son, Morris, on March 10, 1905. Mrs. Minton passed away on May 17, 1912. On June 14, 1914, he married Gertrude (Canady) Slagel. She was born in Lancaster township.
It was in 1893 that Mr. Minton first engaged in a mercantile business at Lancaster and was actively identified with merchandise in that vicin- ity for twenty years, until 1913, when he sold out to excellent advantage and has since devoted all his time to stock raising and farming. A young man of twenty-five, he began business as a merchant with very
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little actual capital, but with the confidence of his creditors, and not only met his bills promptly as they came due, but was continually in- creasing the scope of his enterprise, so that when he sold out his stock invoiced at six thousand dollars. In 1911 Mr. Minton had bought the old Wire farm in Jefferson township. That homestead comprises 102.32 acres, and its improvements represent some of the highest class in that part of Huntington county. It is as a breeder and raiser of high grade hogs that Mr. Minton is making his chief success, and he sends them to the market every year by the carload. Among other interests which identify him prominently with the community he is a stockholder in the Huntington Trust Company. As already stated, it was in the hand- ling of poultry along with his other business that he made most of his capital while a merchant, and his profits in that connection are in- vested in his farm and other holdings. His political affiliation has always been with the republican party, but in the campaign of 1912 he supported the new progressive party.
WILLIAM H. COOK. A fine representative, not only of the prosper- ous and progressive agriculturists of Jefferson township, Huntington county, but of the native born citizens of that place, William H. Cook is eminently worthy of honorable mention in a work of this character. A son of Nathan Cook, he was born, October 31, 1863, on a farm lying in section nine, Jefferson township, his birthplace being situated five miles west, and two miles north, of Warren.
Nathan Cook was born in Wayne county, Indiana, and there grew to manhood. In 1849 he came to Huntington county, and having purchased land in Jefferson township there carried on farming until his death. He married, in Ohio, Martha Mills, who was born in Hamilton county, In- diana, and died on the home farm, in Huntington county, Indiana. They reared two children, as follows: William H., the special subject of this sketch ; and Anna, wife of Oliver P. Miles.
A life-long resident of Jefferson township, William H. Cook, obtained his education in the district schools, attending regularly all of the terms until attaining his majority. Choosing for his life work the free and independent occupation of a farmer, he first rented land, and after his marriage settled on the Cook homestead, where he has since resided. Mr. Cook has a good farm of seventy-one acres, and in its management is in every respect up-to-date, using the most modern machinery and appli- ances in his work. He is a natural mechanic, handy with tools of all description, and in addition to owning and operating two sawmills has three threshing outfits, and an automobile, it being a five-passenger Maxwell. Mr. Cook also has an Emerson engine gang plow, the first one introduced into the township. It has four 16-inch bottoms, capable of plowing ten acres in ten hours, and he is going to put on two more bottoms, which will enable him to plow from ten to fifteen acres per day.
Mr. Cook married, February 27, 1890, Ella Miles, who was born, February 8, 1869, in Polk township, Huntington county, a daughter of
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Thomas and Anna (Keener) Miles. Seven children have blessed their union, namely : Everett, Ernest, Iva, Glenn, May, Ralph, and Goldie. In politics Mr. Cook is a sound republican, and in addition to having served five years as supervisor has been an important factor in the movement to facilitate the making of good roads throughout this sec- tion of the state.
IRA B. POTTS. To the earnest and helpful activities of such men as Ira B. Potts, Huntington county owes its present flourishing condition, its agricultural supremacy and its prosperity in trade and commercial circles. Those whose only business lies in looking after personal gains do little or nothing to advance their communities; the men who have the welfare of their section at heart so conduct their operations as to build up and develop the resources of the country, thus opening up a wider field for the prosecution of industries and undertakings which will bring out and further the best interests of the localities in which their labors are centered. Mr. Potts is a man of versatile talents, as evi- denced by the fact that after he had gained honors and position. in pro- fessional circles, as an educator, he entered the real estate and insurance field, and today is equally well known in this line, being secretary of the prominent firm of Allen-Potts Realty Company, of Huntington.
Mr. Potts is a native son of Huntington county, Indiana, having been born on his father's farm in Lancaster township, June 16, 1883, a son of Anderson and Charlotte (Fisher) Potts. The family is an old and honored one of this county, having been founded here by Jacob Potts, a pioneer, who was for many years engaged in agricultural pursuits, and who served as a Union soldier in the Civil war, participating in several notable battles. Anderson Potts was born in Huntington county, received an ordinary education in the public schools, and early adopted the calling of farmer, which he has followed throughout his life in Lancaster town- ship. As a result of an industrious and well-spent life, he is now num- bered among the prosperous farmers and stock raisers of his community, owning an excellent property and carrying on extensive operations. Mrs. Potts, who also survives, was born in Huntington county, daughter of Harvey Fisher, a pioneer of Scotch-Irish descent.
Ira B. Potts acquired his education at the high school at Majenica, from which he was graduated. For two years he taught in the country schools in Lancaster township, but, realizing the need for further train- ing, entered Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana, from which he was graduated in 1904, and meanwhile had spent a year in Indiana Uni- versity. In that year he was called to the principalship of the Majenica high school, a capacity in which he served through the greater part of 1905, and then became principal of the Clear Creek high school. He was serving as such in 1906 when he was elected county superintendent of the Huntington county schools to fill out the unexpired term of H. D. Shideler, who died while in office. At the expiration of that term he was elected superintendent, in 1907, and held that office for a term of four years. In 1911, retiring from the profession of teaching, he formed
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a partnership with E. E. Allen and D. A. Purviance in the real estate and insurance business, the firm being incorporated in March of that year as Allen-Potts Realty Company, with a capital stock of ten thousand dollars, and the following officers: E. E. Allen, president; I. B. Potts, secretary ; and D. A. Purviance, vice president. An excellent and far- reaching business has been developed, this being devoted to the handling of city and farm property all over Huntington county, and the selling of insurance of all kinds. Although practically a newcomer in his present line of endeavor, Mr. Potts has become recognized as a stable figure in Huntington's business world. He maintains an unassailable reputation in realty circles and his energy and enterprise constitute the salient features of the success which has come to him. He was one of the prin- cipal organizers of the Commercial Club of Huntington, is in thorough sympathy with its purposes and is now serving as a member of its board of directors. In politics he is a Republican, but his principal activities in public affairs are confined to supporting his friends. He is a member of the official board of the Central Christian church, and is especially inter- ested in Sunday School affairs, being superintendent of the teachers' training work in the county. He is president of the Northern Indiana Association of Northwestern Insurance Agents.
In 1907 Mr. Potts was united in marriage with Miss Dessie Sloan, daughter of C. O. and Julia (McClurg) Sloan, and to this union there have been born two children, namely : Wilma J. and Max S.
CLYDE THOMPSON. A young man of much promise, talented and cultured, Clyde Thompson, of Jefferson township, has gained an excel- lent reputation not only as a successful farmer, but for his efficient work as a teacher in the public schools of Huntington county. He was born, March 22, 1889, in Van Buren township, Grant county, Indiana, being the oldest of the family of three children belonging to J. A. and Jeannette (Banter) Thompson, now residents of Jefferson township.
Being taken by his parents to Jackson township, Wells county, In- diana, when two years old, Clyde Thompson lived there until ten years of age, when the family removed to Jefferson township, Huntington county, where he continued his studies in the common schools. Subse- quently entering the Lancaster township high school, Mr. Thompson was there graduated with the class of 1908. Ambitious to further ad- vance his education he attended the Marion Normal College two terms, and Perdue University at Lafayette, Indiana, one term. In 1908 Mr. Thompson began his professional career as a teacher, and has since taught in districts number 1, 2 and 5, and has met with eminent suc- cess as an educator, winning the respect and regard of his pupils, and the good will of the parents. He is well educated, and holds a two- year certificate, or county license good for that length of time.
Mr. Thompson married, August 15, 1911, Ethyl E. Reemer, who was born and educated in Huntington county, Indiana. They have one child, Leslie Neil Thompson, born on the 13th of July, 1914. Politically Mr. Thompson is identified with the republican party.
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JACOB L. NEFF. There are many ways in which Jacob L. Neff stands closely related with the life and activities of Huntington county. Since 1908 he has been known as trustee of Jefferson township, and is probably known by name at least to every person in that civic com- munity. Mr. Neff is a man who has been successful in his private affairs, has performed with honesty and competence every public trust given him, and is a citizen whose usefulness to the community increases every year. He long since won prosperity as a farmer, and is the owner of a nice homestead of ninety-seven acres in Section 13 of Jefferson town- ship.
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