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 22
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Jacob L. Neff was born in Salamonie township of Huntington county June 24, 1856, a son of John and Martha (McFarren) Neff. His father was from Virginia and his mother from Pennsylvania, and each went with their respective families into Ohio, where they met and married, and from there moved to Wells county, Indiana, establishing a home in Jackson township, and subsequently settling in Salamonie township of Huntington county. The father finally returned to Jackson township in Wells county, and spent the rest of his life there. The mother is still living, and has spent several years in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Emanuel Hart. Of the twelve children seven are living in 1914: Sarah, the wife of A. J. Foust; Martha, widow of Samuel Jackson of Warren; Rachel, wife of Daniel Carpenter of Jackson township in Wells county ; Anna, wife of A. J. Stephens of Jackson township in Wells county ; Adam, who is deceased; Wilson, of Illinois; John, of Warren; Hannah, wife of E. M. Hart of Salamonic township; Jacob L .; and Jonathan, who married Mary Unrue of Jackson township.
While Jacob L. Neff was born in Salamonie township of Hunting- ton county, he spent most of his early youth in Wells county, and at- tended the schools of both counties. His early training acquired through the district schools, and his experiences were only slightly different front those of other boys in his day and generation. When the duties of home were not too insistent, he attended school, but his education came as much from practical doing as from text books. In that way he passed the alternate summers and winters of his life until ready to take up the battle of existence for himself, and then continued as a farmer, a voca- tion which has afforded the basis of a comfortable prosperity.
On November 9, 1884, Mr. Neff married Bertie Freck, who represents one of the oldest and most prominent families of Huntington county. Her father, John Freck, was born in Ohio and married Anna M. Goss. From Ohio he became one of the pioneers of Huntington county, settling here in 1840, long before the wilderness had been subdued and when primitive conditions were to be seen in every township. John Freck became a prominent man in the early days of Huntington county, and was elected and served three years as county commissioner. Mrs. Neff grew up in this county, and acquired her education in the same way as her husband, by attending the district schools. To their marriage have been born nine children, mentioned briefly as follows: Nellie M., who is the wife of Roy D. Shideler ; Russell C., who is a graduate of the common
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schools and was also a student in high school, and is unmarried; Schuy- ler R., who finished the course in common school and the Warren high school; Silas L., who took his diploma in the grade schools and is now a student in the Warren high school; three children who died in infancy ; John H., still attending the common schools, and Pauline M., who is the youngest of the family. The family worship in the Christian church at Belleville, and Mr. Neff has long taken an active part in the affairs of that church and is serving as a trustee. Fraternally he is also active, and believes in the beneficence of fraternal organization, and is a mnem- ber of Salamonie Lodge, No. 392, I. O. O. F., ând of the Encampment, No. 410, being past grand and a member of the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows. It was his record in business and as a citizen that gave him the preference among the local democrats for the office of trustee in the fall of 1908, and his service since then has been exceptionally fortunate for the public schools of Jefferson township. Mr. Neff believes in pro- gressive methods in school affairs and in the administration of all the duties which come under his administration, and his record has been such that his successor, when a successor is chosen, will find it extremely difficult to improve upon the standards set by Mr. Neff.
JOSEPH P. HUBER. Agricultural conditions in Huntington county have changed to such an extent during the past several decades that the enterprising farmer, to keep abreast of the trend of the times, has been compelled to change to a large degree his methods of treating and culti- vating the soil. New discoveries have been made, powerful machinery has been invented, and new innovations introduced, and he who would reap the most beneficial results from his toil must keep himself thor- oughly conversant with the rapid changes of the day. Prominent among the farmers of Huntington county who has succeeded in his ventures because of his progressive spirit and modern business methods is Joseph P. Huber, of Jefferson township. Mr. Huber is a self-made man, for he started upon his business career at the age of thirteen years, without capital or influential friends, and has worked his way steadily to the forefront, now being the owner of a handsome property one mile west of Warren. He was born at Owensburg, Indiana, May 6, 1873, and is a son of John and Mary (Grim) Huber.
John Huber was born in Franklin county, Indiana, the son of Ger- man parents who emigrated to this country at an early day. He early adopted the vocation of farming, and in 1874 came to Huntington county and located on a farm on section 14, Jefferson township, but a short time later moved to Salamonie township, where he died in 1882. Mrs. Huber, who was also born in Franklin county of German parentage, subsc- quently remarried a man named Bayless, and they made their home on a farm in Jefferson township. John and Mary Huber were the parents of eight children, of whom five are living in 1914, namely: Minnie, who is the wife of John Spitzer, of Celina, Mercer county, Ohio; John, who is married and lives at Marion, Indiana; George, who is married and lives in Jennings county, Indiana ; Joseph P., of this review ; and Henry
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C., who is married and is now serving in the capacity of deputy auditor of Huntington county.
Joseph P. Huber was reared in the rural communities of Hunting- ton, Wills and Grant counties, Indiana, where his father and stepfather owned properties. His education was secured in the district schools of these several communities, but his boyhood was largely filled with hard work, for his parents were in modest circumstances and he was supposed to do his part in the support of the family. He was only thirteen years of age when he laid aside his books to face the world as a worker, and being industrious, hard-working and energetic found no trouble in securing and retaining employment among the farmers of his locality. At all times he carefully saved his wages, a part of which were contrib- uted to his mother, and he was twenty-four years of age when he finally considered himself "even with the world," and ready to embark on a carcer of his own. He finally secured enough capital to invest in a small property, and from that time to the present his career has been a suc- cessful one. He now owns and operates a tract of forty acres in Jeffer- son township, one mile west of Warren, where he is conducting general farming and stock raising ventures. He has shown his ability as an agri- culturist, and his management has been such that his property is con- sidered one of the most desirable of its size in this section. He has good buildings, substantial and well equipped, his stock is of a fine quality, fat and contented, and his machinery is of the latest manu- facturc. Altogether, the property gives evidence of the presence of excellent management.
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Mr. Huber was married May 23, 1900, to Miss Viola Trout, who was born in Jefferson township, Huntington county, Indiana, February 11, 1878, daughter of James A. and Sarah M. (Taylor) Trout. Mrs. Huber was reared on a farm in Jefferson township, received a public school education, and has been a great help to her husband, being thoroughly familiar with the work of the farm. They have one son, a bright, manly youth, Guy B., who was born June 3, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Huber are consistent members of the Christian church, which they attend at War- ren. They have numerous friends, and are numbered among the solid, reliable people of the community. In political matters Mr. Huber sup- ports the principles of the democratic party, but has never aspired to public office.
JONATHAN L. TAYLOR. The manufacturing, financial and profes- sional activities and achievements of any community are a source of great pride to its citizens and are important factors in its prosperity, but it is to the farms that the country must look for its support, and in the hands of the agriculturists lies the possibility of a locality's pros- perity or depression. The section that may boast of a rich agricultural community, with intelligent, progressive and industrious men to till the soil is indeed fortunate, and it is for this reason that Huntington stands pre-eminent among her sister counties, for here are found agriculturists whose achievements can be excelled by those of no other in the state.
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Among the men of the county who are maintaining agricultural suprem- acy here is found Jonathan L. Taylor, the owner of a valuable farm in Jefferson township. Mr. Taylor has had an active and useful career, and his rise to success through individual effort entitles him to be named as one of his township's self-made men.
Jonathan L. Taylor has been a lifelong resident of the township in which he now resides, having been born on a farm in section 25, Feb- ruary 27, 1858, a son of Samuel and Lucinda (Watters) Taylor. His parents came from Fayette county, Indiana, to Huntington county in 1846, and settled on a farm in Jefferson township, where they continued to spend the remainder of their lives. They were honorable people, of true worth, and although modest and unassuming, led useful careers and had the respect and esteem of all who knew them. They were the parents of ten children, of whom seven are living in 1914, as follows: James P., who is a resident of Jonesboro, Grant county ; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Lawson A. Adams, of Fayette county, Indiana; Sarah, who is the wife of James A. Trout, of Jefferson township; William, whose home is at Gas City, Grant county ; John P., living at Hamilton, Ohio; Jonathan L., of this review; and Alonzo, who makes his home at Newcastle, Henry county, Indiana.
The boyhood and youth of Jonathan L. Taylor were passed in the rural community of Jefferson township, and the district schools of his native locality furnished him with his educational training. His oppor- tunities in this direction were limited, however, as he was called upon to assist his father in the labors of the home farm, and he was little more than a lad when his parents died and he was thrown upon his own resources. He early learned to be self-reliant, applied himself assidu- ously to whatever task was at hand, and earned the reputation of being a hard and persistent worker, so that he commanded good wages. Ili 1885 Mr. Taylor established a home of his own when he was united in marriage with Miss Josephine Wilker, who was born in Henry county, Indiana, a daughter of agricultural people who brought her to Hunting ton county when she was three years old. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have had three children : Orville, a prosperous young farmer of Jefferson township, who married Effa Miller; Lulu, who is the wife of Orvie Wildermuth, who is engaged in farming in Wayne township, Hunting- ton county ; and Clyde, who married Myrtle Good, and is following farm- ing and stockraising in Jefferson township.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Taylor settled on a farm one and one-quarter miles west of Warren, Indiana, on section 25, Jefferson township, and from time to time Mr. Taylor has added to his original purchase until he is now the owner of 106.15 acres. This he has put under a fine state of cultivation, his modern methods and persistent industry having made him one of his community's substantial men. He owes his success to no fortunate circumstance, but to the fact that he has grasped opportunities and made the most of them, that he has allowed no obstacle to retard him in his forward march, and that at all times and under all conditions he has shown himself upright and hon-
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orable in his dealings with his fellow men. He is a demoerat in polities, and for two years served as a member of the Huntington eounty eom- mittee. As a eitizen he has shown himself willing to assist in movements for the public welfare, in which his judgment is always respected by his eo-workers. His fraternal activities are limited to membership in the Improved Order of Red Men, his lodge being located at Warren. His general popularity is evideneed by his wide circle of appreciative friends.
ADOLPHUS TAYLOR. The pioneers of Huntington county have done their work, and the result of their courageous and self-sacrificing efforts is shown today in the magnificently developed farms, the flourishing towns and eities, the splendidly kept roads and the perfectly equipped schools. But while great eredit is due to these sturdy early settlers, it has been left to those who have followed them to perfect their work in its entirety, to put the finishing touches on the labors started by them. Like Rome, Huntington eounty was not built in a day, but its completion is the result of years of uneeasing endeavor, coupled with constant faith in the locality and appreciation of its possibilities. One of the repre- sentative farmers of this loeality, who belongs to one of the pioneer families, and himself has contributed materially to the county 's develop. ment, is Adolphus Taylor, of Jefferson township, who owns and operates a farm of 120 acres, lying two miles west of Warren.
Mr. Taylor was born in Jefferson township, August 30, 1860, and is a son of Samuel M. and Mary (Irvin) Taylor. The Taylor family was founded in this township as early as 1836, when William L. Taylor, the grandfather of Adolphus Taylor, entered land from the Government and settled down to make a home for his children in the midst of the wilder- ness. He spent the remainder of his life here, an earnest, hardworking man, who won the respeet of his neighbors because of his integrity and clean living. Samuel M. Taylor was born in Virginia and was a lad when he accompanied his parents to the new country of Indiana. He was brought up a farmer, and at the time of his father's death succeeded him in the ownership of the homestead, on which he continued to earry on operations throughout the remainder of his aetive career. Like his father, he was a steady-going farmer, a good eitizen and a man respected for his sterling traits of character, and had numerous friends throughout the community. He married Miss Mary Irvin, who had come to Hunt- ington eounty from North Carolina in girlhood, and they became the parents of five ehildren, namely : Elizabeth A., who is the wife of George W. Roberts, of Allen county, Indiana; Lydia, who is the widow of Joseph Werley, of Warren; Adolphus, of this review; Samira M., who is the wife of William H. Roberts, a resident of Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Osear, who is deceased.
Brought up to agricultural pursuits, Adolphus Taylor divided his boyhood and youth between attendanee at the distriet sehools of Jeffer- son township and working on the homestead farm, where he was thor- oughly trained in agricultural methods. He was sixteen years of age
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when he laid aside his school books to concentrate his energies upon the tilling of the soil, but since that time has done much reading, and this, coupled with keen observation, has given him a wide and comprehensive knowledge of important matters. He was married October 20, 1894, to Miss Carrie Whitehurst, who was born in Rock Creek township, Hunting- ton county, October 16, 1869. She was educated in the district schools of her native township, and, being the daughter of agricultural people, knew much of farm life and was able to render her husband great assist- ance in his labors. The young couple settled down to housekeeping on their present farm, and as the years have passed have added to their acreage and made this one of the valuable and well-improved properties of the township. Mr. Taylor is in thorough sympathy with modern methods, and is always ready to give a trial to innovations which his judgment tells him are practicable. General farming has received the greater part of his attention, but he has also met with success in stock- raising ventures, and his business ability enables him to secure top-notch prices for his product in the markets. In politics a democrat, he has taken some interest in matters as they have affected his locality, but has left the struggles of the political arena to others, himself preferring to devote his energies to the cultivation of his broad and productive acres. He has won his fellow-townsmen's esteem and confidence by his honorable business methods, and his loyalty and fidelity have gained him many friends.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, of whom five are now living; Paul, a graduate of Warren High school; Vora A., who graduated from the graded schools at the age of thirteen and subsequently spent one year in Warren High school; Gladys, who is eleven years of age; Garnett, aged eight years; and Celia, the baby, who is four years old. Mr. Taylor is a friend of education, and his children are being fitted to take their proper stations in the world. Inheriting their parents' sterling qualities, they will, no doubt, prove credits to their community and their bringing up.
JOHN M. STANLEY. In a survey of the rural homes of Jefferson township which represent the better progress and attainments of that community the estate of John M. Stanley, known as the Woodland Home Farm, must be given a high rank. It is not one of the largest farms in Huntington county, but makes up in its improvements and attractive- ness what it lacks in acreage. Its seventy-seven acres are situated a mile north and two miles west of Warren in Section 24. Its proprietor has spent practically all his life in Huntington county, belongs to good old pioneer stock, and has long been one of his township's leading citizens.
John M. Stanley was born on a portion of the farm which he still owns, on August 29, 1855, a son of John and Mary (Watters) Stanley. His mother was born in the Pendleton district of South Carolina March 13, 1820, accompanied her parents to Franklin county, Indiana, where in 1847 she was united in marriage with John Stanley. Her death occurred March 22, 1894. John Stanley died about 1865, and was the
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father of eight children, four of whom are still living, as follows: W. S. Stanley, of Lancaster township ; Mary F., unmarried; Nancy E., the wife of Emanuel Brineman, of Marion; and John M. The deceased children were named Jennie, Lucinda, George and Morton G.
John M. Stanley grew up on the farm whose land has been cultivated by his labors since boyhood, and he has made his prosperity straight and clean, and has always been able to pull more than his own weight in the world, and while looking after his own interests has not neglected those of family and friends about him. Due to the fact that when he was ten years of age his father died, and that his help was required at home, he had only a meagre schooling and such as was supplied by the district schools of half a century ago. His mother needed his assistance on the farm, and she lived with him and depended upon his helpfulness and good management all her later years.
On April 24, 1895, Mr. Stanley married Ella J. Schull. She is a daughter of Daniel P. and Margaret A. (Hinkle) Schull. Her father was born in Jefferson township of Huntington county, and thus represents one of the old families of this section. Both her parents are still living in this county. Mr. Schull and wife became the parents of six children, five of whom are yet living, as follows: Ella J., Charles A., of Michigan ; Lillie J., who is the wife of Columbus Wooster of Van Buren, Indiana ; Otis E., who finished the course in the common schools, and the Warren high school, took a business course in Fort Wayne, and is now a rising young business man in that city; George S., who lives in Marion. The daughter, Ella J., received her education in the common schools, and Mr. Schull and wife took special pains to afford all their children the best possible advantages while they were growing up. Mr. and Mrs. Stanley have taken a little girl into their home, Erma B. Allison, who was born in August, 1903, and are giving her the advantages and the affection the same as if she were their own child. Mr. Stanley and wife are members of the First Christian church in Warren. In politics he has been one of the local leaders of the Republican party for a number of years, has attended many conventions, has worked for the welfare of the party and for good government wherever possible, but his convictions led him during the campaign of 1912 into the ranks of the Progressives, and he supported the candidate of that party in that year.
DAVID L. SHULL. Good judgment, perseverance, industry and intelli- gence combine to form the price of success in agricultural work in these modern days of farming, when the difficult and often unremunerative toil of former years has been replaced by the scientific use of modern machinery and a knowledge of the proper treatment of the soil. Among the agriculturists of Huntington county there are found many who have watched the advance and development of their vocation from the days of primitive implements, and through the passing years have kept them- selves abreast of the changes, combining their practical experience with the inventions and discoveries that have been made, and in this way attaining a full measure of success from their labors. Numbered among
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these men is found David L. Shull, of Jefferson township, who has been a lifelong resident of this locality and is now one of the substantial and highly esteemed citizens of the vicinity of Warren. Mr. Shull was born on a farm in section 14, Jefferson township, December 7, 1846, and is a son of George and Nancy (Detamore) Shull.
George Shull was born in Virginia, and there educated and reared to manhood. After his marriage to Nancy Detamore he made removal to what is now West Virginia, went then to Ohio, and in 1840 established the family in Huntington county, Indiana, when he located on a farm in section 14, Jefferson township. Settling among the pioneers, in the timber country, he cleared a tract of land and engaged in farming, but later disposed of his interests there, and after an experience of short dura- tion on another farm in the same section removed to Salamonie township, where he engaged in active farming operations, but subsequently returned to Jefferson township, where he remained until the time of his death. He was an industrious and enterprising farmer and a sterling citizen, foremost in supporting movements for the benefit of his community. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, of whom five survive at this time, namely : Jacob, who is a resident of Warren; Lydia, the wife of Charles A. Andrews, of Salamonie township; David L., of this review; Daniel P., a resident of Jefferson township; and Ves, living at Warren.
David L. Shull has passed practically his entire life within the limits of Jefferson township, and is thoroughly conversant with its soil and climatic conditions. He was an industrious and enterprising lad, and found his boyhood and youth filled to the utmost with the duties of the homestead farm and the task of securing an education in the township schools, and when he attained his majority he entered energetically upon a career of his own in his chosen field of agriculture. He founded a home of his own in October, 1868, when he was married to Miss Serepha Woods, an estimable young lady of Salamonie township, where she had been born. 'In 1869 Mr. Shull located on the farm which he now occupies, and as he was possessed of little capital was forced to go into debt to the extent of $400. Locating in the woods three miles southwest of Warren, he was confronted by the usual difficulties which were to be encountered by the young farmers of that day, but his energetic spirit, his indifference to obstacles and his restless ambition soon gave him a start, and he was not only able to pay off his indebtedness, but found himself upon the high road to success. As the years passed he cleared and improved more and more of his land, and at this time he is possessed of one of the best eighty-acre farms to be found in Jefferson township. General farming has received the greater part of his attention, but he has also met with signal success in the breeding of high grade stock, making a specialty of Shropshire sheep and Poland-China hogs.
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