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 33
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The first twenty-one years of the life of William H. Helms were passed in Randolph county, where he grew up on a farm, attended coun- try school a few months each winter, and developed his physique by vigorous application to the plowing, planting, harvesting and other phases of the farm. The date of his removal to Huntington county was 1872, and for a year or so he was employed at wages by the day or by the month by various farmers in Salamonie township.
The real beginning of his prosperity dates from his marriage on March 11, 1876, to Eunice A. Irwin. She was born in Salamonie town- ship June 5, 1849, a daughter of Newton and Elizabeth (Swaim) Irwin. Both the Irwin and Swaim families are among the oldest in Huntington county, having located here as early as 1836. Newton Irwin walked all the way from his native state of North Carolina to Indiana, and became one of the men who pushed back the forces of the wilderness and made way for civilization and all the improvements which followed the early conquest of the country by the pioneers. Mrs. Helms received her edu- cation in the common schools of Salamonie township, and during nearly forty years of married life has proved herself a valuable assistant and adviser to her husband and at the same time as mother and housekeeper has ordered the affairs of her home in such a way as to win the respect of neighbors and the lasting love of her children. After their marriage Mr. Helms and wife were renters for about four years, and he then bought forty acres of land. As his prosperity increased, he bought eighty acres comprising the west half of the North East quarter of Sec- tion 26, and that is his present home. The land when he first took it was only partially improved, and he has ditched the lowlands, and has introduced improvements of every kind, keeping it up to the modern standards of agriculture in Huntington county, and has also increased his acreage until his farm now comprises 112.66 acres.
Mr. and Mrs. Helms are the parents of two children, George F. Helms, who is a graduate of the common schools, and is married, lives at Bluffton, Indiana ; Ernest R., who finished the course in the common schools and Vol. II-17
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the Warren high school, is married and lives on his father's farm. Mrs. Helms is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Salem. In politics Mr. Helms has for years supported the republican party, and has served as a member of the township advisory board. Always pro- gressive and in favor of public improvements he was one of the peti- tioners for the Buckeye gravel road.
S. S. FOUST. The village of Buckeye owes its prosperity as a center of trade and community life largely to the enterprise of Mr. Foust, whose varied activities have brought about not only his assured success, but have furnished a constantly growing service to the many people who find at Buckeye a convenient place to trade and to avail themselves of the various other conveniences of civilized life. Mr. Foust is a farmer, a merchant, postmaster, and his home has been at Buckeye thirty-four years, a period which practically covers the entire history of that village.
His birth occurred one and a half miles south of Buckeye on Decem- ber 7, 1858. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Colbert) Foust. There were nine children in the family, four of whom are yet living: Senna, wife of Jacob Irick of Marion, Indiana; B. F. Foust, of Manton, Michigan ; S. S. Foust ; and E. A., wife of R. L. Irwin.
S. S. Foust was reared on a farm, attended the district schools, and at the age of twenty-one, being possessed of a small capital of one hundred dollars, had the courage to establish a home of his own, and with his young wife faced the world together and their co-operation has been one steady progress to success.
Mr. Foust was married in October, 1880, to Miss Amanda W. Allen, of Salamonie township, but who was born in Virginia, and came with her parents to Huntington county as a girl. Of the children born to this marriage four are still living: Jesse E., who graduated in the scientific course of the Valparaiso University and took up a career as a teacher, married Olive Redding; Ora S., who graduated from the Valparaiso Uni- versity, is a stock buyer and shipper at Buckeye, and married Ada Caston of Ossiam, Indiana; Grace, who finished the course in the Warren high school, studied music at Valparaiso, Indiana, and in Evanston, Illinois ; Esther, who also finished the course in the Warren high school, is a student of music at Evanston.
The family attend religious worship at the Methodist Episcopal church at Salem, and Mr. Foust has long been identified with that organi- zation and is one of its trustees. Among his varied interests at Buckeye and vicinity he is owner of eighty acres of land, which he cultivates through tenant labor. When he moved to Buckeye in 1879 and began business, it was with a very modest stock of goods and with a very slender credit. He tried to give such service to the community that the people would prefer trading at his store rather than going to a greater distance for their wares, and as he furnished reliable goods, always discounted his bills promptly, and kept increasing his stock, it was only a few years before he was in possession of a paying business, and his general store is one of the best country emporiums to be found anywhere in Huntington
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county. Besides his stock of general merchandise, Mr. Foust buys and sells grain, hay, and coal. He has been postmaster ever since an office was opened at Buckeye, and is also station agent for the Clover Leaf Rail- road.
THOMAS W. BURTON. A son of the South, where he spent the early years of his life, Thomas W. Burton has been a resident of Huntington county since 1905, and through industry and energetic effort has become one of the substantial citizens of Salamonie township. His activities have been devoted to agricultural pursuits, and his success has been self- gained, for he embarked upon his career with only determination and ambition as his capital. Mr. Burton was born in Yancey county, North ยท Carolina, March 22, 1867, and is a son of John W. and Sophronia (Bal- lew) Burton, both now deceased. The parents of Mr. Burton had a family of nine children, of whom seven survive, and all now reside in the South with the exception of Thomas W.
Thomas W. Burton was reared on his father's plantation in his native county, and received a good common school education. He was brought up an agriculturist and when he was ready to embark upon a career and establish a home of his own he adopted the tilling of the soil as his life work. He secured a piece of property in his native county, and there continued to carry on operations until 1905, in which he left the Old North state to come to Indiana. For one year Mr. Burton rented land while he sought a suitable location, and then purchased a sixty-acre tract one-half mile east and two miles north of Warren, which is now his home. He carries on general farming, and has made a decided success of his ventures, his standing among the farmers of his locality being high. Although he is practical and methodical in his work, he is a firm believer in the use of modern methods and machinery, and his equipment is the best to be secured. Each year finds him making new improve- ments on his land and his buildings, and he is constantly adding to his stock and his implements. In view of the difference in climatic and soil conditions, Mr. Burton's achievements have been most commendable, and it is doubtful if many men could have scored a success in a new com- munity in such a short period of time. He is a man of wide informa- tion, both in his chosen calling and on other subjects, and is a close student of subjects of public importance. Formerly a republican, while still a resident of his native state he served for some time as postmaster at Ball Creek, but in the fall of 1912 he decided to cast his' support with the new progressive party, which he has continued to vote. He has shown himself willing to co-operate with others in his adopted community in forwarding beneficial measures. Mr. Burton is interested in Masonry, and has numerous friends among his fellow members in King Lodge No. 246, F. & A. M., and Bluffton Chapter No. 95, R. A. M. With his family, he is connected with the Methodist Episcopal church at Warren.
On September 22, 1897, Mr. Burton was united in marriage with Miss Josephine Welborn, daughter of the Rev. J. M. Welborn, a minister of the Methodist church. She was born and reared in the same part of
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North Carolina as was her husband, and, like him, received a good com- mon school education. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Burton, namely : John Earl, a graduate of the common schools and now attending Warren High school; Gladys O., who also attends the high school; Ted, who is a graded school student, and Claud N., the baby, six years old.
WILLIAM D. IRICK. Huntington county is fortunate in the possession of such a family of splendid citizens and business men as that of Irick, represented by William D. Irick, one of the most progressive agricultur- ists of Salamonie township. The Iricks originated in Germany, rep- resent the finer qualities of German citizenship, were transplanted and settled in America during the colonial days, and from Virginia became pioneers of Ohio, and from that state and from Preble county, the father of William D. Irick located in Huntington county more than half a century ago. The members of the family have been noted for their thrift, their ability to make a portion of the world the better for their having lived in it, their excellent neighborly qualities, and a high average of personal worth and moral character.
The late Joseph Irick, father of William D. Irick, and founder of the family in Huntington county, was born in Monroe township of Preble county, Ohio, January 17, 1829. He was a son of Andrew and Susanna (Null) Irick, and a grandson of Andrew Irick, who came to the United States from Germany, and was the first of the family to settle in this country. Grandfather Andrew died before the birth of Joseph Irick. Andrew Irick, the father, was born in Virginia, May 16, 1787, and from that old state moved northwest and became a pioneer in Preble county, Ohio. In that county he married in 1813 Susanna Null, and henceforth prospered steadily as one of the leading families of Preble county. Susanna Null was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, January 1, 1796, and when eight years of age accompanied her parents to Ohio. Andrew Irick and wife were originally members of the Meth- odist church, but subsequently became affiliated with the Church of the Brethren and were devout and active in church affairs. Andrew Irick died in 1860 and his wife in 1879. Their children were: Sarah, born in 1815 and died in 1900, was the wife of Adam Surface; John, born in 1816, married Delilah Doorman; Andrew, born in 1817, and died in 1846, married Catherine Miltonborger; Abraham, who was born in April, 1819, and died in 1891, lived for many years until his death near Huntington; Isaac, who was born in 1821 and died in 1888, married Deborah Cowgel; Jacob, born in 1824 and died in 1898, married Eliza- beth Shearer; David, who was born in 1826 and died in 1889, married Susan Gephart; Joseph, the youngest.
Owing to the time in which he was reared and also to the fact that he was the youngest of a large family, Joseph Irick had only a very limited schooling and lived at home until he was twenty-one years of age. He became a successful farmer in Preble county, Ohio, and lived there for ten years after his marriage. Then he and his wife and children
WILLIAM D. IRICK AND WIFE, DAUGHTER FERN E. AND SONS RAY E. AND WARD E. IRICK
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moved out to Huntington county, arriving on October 30, 1859. They brought with them a eouple of horses, a wagon, some sheep, some cows, and located on the farm where their son, William D. Iriek, now lives. It consisted of one hundred and sixty aeres, and its situation was the North West quarter of Section 24 in Salamonie township. A heavy frontier task confronted Joseph Iriek and family sinee his land was nearly altogether covered with timber, and only a small plaee was cleared about the rough log house which afforded them their first shelter. The felling of trees, the uprooting of stumps, the draining of the soil, the breaking of the heavy land that had never known a plow, together with the privations and inconveniences of life in a new country, were some of the things the Iricks endured during their early years of resi- denee in Huntington county. Joseph Iriek subsequently bought one hundred and twenty acres more land in Salamonie township, and his prosperity and influenee made him one of the leading citizens.
On November 29, 1849, Joseph Iriek married Catherine Gephart. She was born in Preble eounty, Ohio, a daughter of George and Christina (Hoobler) Gephart, and a granddaughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Gep- hart, all natives of Pennsylvania. George Gephart, her father, was born in January, 1797, in 1805 aeeompanied his parents to Montgomery county, Ohio, and in 1818 married Christina Hoobler, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1794. After their marriage they lived quietly as substantial farming people in Preble county, Ohio, where he died in 1886 and she in 1850. There were ten children in the Gep- hart family, mentioned briefly as follows: George, who was born in 1819 and married Elizabeth Pence, moved with his wife to Huntington county, Indiana, where she died in 1881 and he subsequently married Mrs. Anna Stevens; Margaret, born in 1831, became the wife of John Medart; Elizabeth, born in 1823, married Eli Gephart; Sarah, born in 1824, married Henry Gephart; Michael, born in 1825, died at the age of twenty years; Rosanna, born in 1827, married Jacob Shearer; Cath- erine, born in 1829, beeame the wife of Joseph Iriek as already stated; Susan, born in 1831, married David Iriek; Mary, born in 1839, married William Brady. The children of the marriage of Joseph Irick and wife are as follows: Harvey M., born December 2, 1850, married Almeda Pol- ing in 1876; Amanda J., born October 22, 1852, is the wife of John Shafer of Bluffton, Indiana ; Celestia, born July 29, 1854, married Daniel Huffman; George H., born Deeember 21, 1856, was married in 1882 to Phoebe C. Huffman; William D., born September 30, 1861, was married October 13, 1894, to Sarah M. Shumaker; Cora Aliee was married in 1888 to Jerome' Minniear.
William D. Iriek, whose place in the family of Joseph Iriek and whose date of birth is given above, first saw the light of day on the farm where he now lives, and his splendid plaee is known all over Salamonie township as the Midway Farm. It comprises one hundred and fifty- two aeres located between the Clover Leaf railroad and the Marion, Bluffton & Eastern Traetion Company, four miles northeast of Warren. Mr. Iriek's father is now deceased, but his mother is still living, at
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the advanced age of eighty-four. His home farm was the environment in which his early youth and boyhood were spent, and while he belonged to a family in fairly comfortable circumstances and was reared in a com- munity which stood for the better things in education and citizenship, Mr. Irick has always been a vigorous independent worker, has won his own prosperity, and in that way has contributed substantial benefit to the community in which practically all his life has been spent.
On October 13, 1894, he married Sarah M. Shumaker, a daughter of Emanuel and Miriam D. (Joe) Shumaker, farming people of Preble county, Ohio. The father was born in Maryland and the mother in Preble county, Ohio. They moved from Ohio to Indiana in 1871. The father died in 1878 in Arkansas and the mother died in 1888, in Missouri. Of their four children, three daughters are living: Sarah M., Anna McClure of Chicago and Esta Hockett of Marion, Indiana. Mrs. Irick was born in Preble county, Ohio, in 1866, and came to Indiana and was reared in the family of Willis Hudson in Wells county. Mr. Irick and wife have three children as follows: Fern E., born July 7, 1900, who has finished the course of the common schools in Salamonie township; Ray E., born December 9, 1902, and Ward E., born May 15, 1907. The family are regular church goers and worship in the Methodist Protestant church at Boehmer in Wells county. Though a Democrat in politics, Mr. Irick has manifested little aspiration for political honor, and has been content to do his work as a citizen quietly and individually. As a progressive farmer .of Salamonie township, he has always stood for everything that would advance and better conditions in his community. Especially has he worked for and advocated good roads, and when a survey is taken of the local highways and credit for their condition is properly apportioned Mr. Irick must come in for a good share of what has been accomplished. He has also kept his mind broadened and alert to influences and suggestions from the outside, and is interested in the work of the Farmers' Institute and other organizations that mean the improvement of country life in general and of his own community in particular.
SILVANUS E. STULTS. The substantial and representative agricul- turist and honored citizen whose name initiates this paragraph is the owner of a fine landed estate of seventy-eight acres, in Clear Creek town- ship, and is one of the prominent and influential citizens of his native county, where he is well upholding the high prestige of the family name, which has been most closely and worthily identified with the development and progress of this favored section of the state. He is a scion of the third generation of the Stults family in Huntington county, and here his pater- nal grandfather established a home in the early pioneer days, when the county was little more than a wilderness. Loyal and progressive spirit has characterized the family in the different generations, and civic and industrial development and advancement in Huntington county have been signally fostered by its representatives.
In the old family homestead, situated near the present school house
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of district No. 4, Clear Creek township, Silvanus E. Stults was born on the 23d of November, 1862, and he is a son of Herman W. and Lucinda (Kitt) Stults, the former of whom passed the closing years of his life in the city of Huntington, judicial center of the county, where his death occurred on the 10th of November, 1911, and where his widow still maintains her home. Herman W. Stults was born in Stark county, Ohio, in 1836, and was a son of John and Mary (Beecher) Stults, both of whom were born and reared in Pennsylvania, where their marriage was solemnized, both having been representatives of sterling pioneer families of the Old Keystone state, where John H. Stults, great-great-grandfather of the subject of this review settled in an early day, upon his immigration from Germany. Within a short time after their marriage John and Mary (Beecher) Stults removed from Pennsyl- vania to Stark county, Ohio, where they continued to reside until about the year 1849, when they came to Indiana and numbered themselves among the pioneer settlers of Huntington county. The journey to the new home was made with team and wagon and Grandfather Stults became one of the first settlers of Warren township, his old homestead farm hav- ing been situated in Section 1 and having largely been reclaimed to cultivation through his herculean efforts. He was a man of strong char- acter and wielded no little influence in the pioneer community, both he and his wife having continued to reside on their original homestead until the close of their long and useful lives.
Herman W. Stults was a boy of thirteen years at the time of the family removal from Ohio to Indiana, and he was reared to maturity under the influences and discipline of the pioneer farm, in the meanwhile having attended the common schools when opportunity afforded. As a young man he wedded Miss Lucinda Kitt, who was born in Clear Creek township, this county, where her parents established their home in the pioneer days. A long and happy wedded life was that of Herman W. and Lucinda Stults, and their loving companionship was sundered only when the devoted husband and father was summoned to eternal rest, his widow still maintaining her home at Huntington, as has been previously noted. Concerning the eight children the following brief record is avail- able : Mary C. is the wife of L. D. Miser of Los Angeles, California ; Almira J. is the wife of Lincoln Rodkey, of Buffalo, Oklahoma; Miss Ida M. remains with her widowed mother, to whom she accords the deepest filial care and solicitude; Landa H. is a properous farmer near Carter, Montana; Della K. likewise remains with her mother, in most tender companionship ; Blanche V. is the wife of Professor John H. Shock, of La Fayette, Indiana; Morton is a resident of Decatur, this state; and Silvanus E., this review, was the third in order of birth. Herman W. Stults was one of the prominent and substantial farmers of Clear Creek township for many years, and was a citizen of distinctive influ- ence in local affairs of a public order, with inviolable place in the con- fidence and high esteem of all who knew him. He was active in politi- cal affairs of a local order and served many years as justice of the peace of Clear Creek township. He made this office justify its name and his ad-
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vice and counsel were sought and followed by many who thus manifested their confidence in his fairness and mature judgment. He served as administrator of many estates in the county and his word was looked upon as being as good as any bond, so that his name is held in lasting honor in the county that represented his home during virtually his entire life.
Silvanus E. Stults, whose name introduces this review, was reared to manhood on the homestead farm of his father, in Clear Creek town- ship, and in the meanwhile he made good use of the advantages afforded nim in the local schools, as shown by the fact that he was granted three certificates as a teacher, one covering a period of three years. He con- tinued to be associated in the work and management of the home farm until he had attained to the age of twenty-eight years. He has been the owner of his present well improved and valuable farm since 1813, and holds distinctive prestige as one of the enterprising and representa- tive agriculturists and stock-growers of his native county. He is a lover of good horses and has raised on his farm many fine animals in this line, his live stock of all kinds being of the best grade. Broad- minded and progressive as a citizen, he gives his support to measures projected for the general good of the community, and his political alle- giance is given to the republican party. He is liberal in his contribu- tions to religious and charitable activities, and his wife is a zealous mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church at Clear Creek.
Mr. Stults is one of the popular and valued members of West Point Lodge, No. 688, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has been specially active in its affairs. He is past noble grand of the lodge, is at the present time serving as its financial secretary, and he has repre- sented the organization in the grand lodge of the state. He is vice president of the Bippus State Bank and is one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens of his native county.
In the year 1890 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Stults to Miss Ida M. Bonebrake, who was rcared and educated in Clear Creek town- ship and who is a daughter of Simon S. and Elizabeth (Culp) Bone- brake, sterling citizens of Huntington county, where her father was a prosperous farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Stults have two sons, Ray E. and Clark B., both of whom remain at the parental home and the former of whom is a graduate of the Clear Creek high school, the younger son having completed the curriculum of the regular grades of the public schools, in which he was graduated. Both of the sons are associated with their father in the management of the fine home farm and they are popular young men in the county where they represent the fourth generation of the Stults family.
CHARLES KELLER. Among the progressive and enterprising mer- chants of Huntington county, Indiana, one who has won success through his own energetic and well directed efforts is Charles Keller, the pro- prietor of a flourishing business at Warren. Left fatherless at the age of eight years, he has steadfastly fought his own way over obstacles and discouragements, and today is eminently entitled to recognition as
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one of his community's most substantial citizens. Mr. Keller is a native son of Huntington county, Indiana. having been born on a farm near Belleville, in Jefferson township, September 25, 1876, and is a son of Daniel and Laura (Archre) Keller.
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