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 41
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Albert M. DeHaven was born in Rock Creek township, December 12, 1869, a son of Joseph and Hannah (Ewart) DeHaven. His father, Joseph DeHaven, was a son of Samuel DeHaven, who came from his native state of Ohio to Huntington county in 1850 being one of the com- paratively carly settlers in Rock Creek township, where he lived until his death. Joseph DeHaven is still living, a prosperous and well known resi- dent of Rock Creek township. There were three children in the family
J & Troute Sarah Me Trante
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of the parents: Samuel M., of Rock Creek township; Caroline E., wife of Clarkson M. Lantis of Wells county, and Albert M.
The last named was reared on a farm, educated in the district schools, and all his early experience and training directed him to a career of use- fulness in his present vocation.
Mr. DeHaven was married October 12, 1893, to Miss Emma L. Hoover, who was born in Rock Creek township, September 13, 1874, a daughter of Abram Hoover of Markle. Mr. DeHaven has no children. He and his wife worship in the Methodist Episcopal church at Barnes Chapel, known as the "White Church." He is one of the stewards in the church, treas- urer of the Sunday school, and very active in the support and general activity of his denomination. In politics he is a Democrat, though he has never shown any particular desire or willingness to enter politics more than to vote. Mr. and Mrs. DeHaven are quiet and honorable people, and are highly esteemed in their neighborhood.
JAMES A. TROUTE. The visitor to Huntington county, viewing for the first time its fertile fields, highly cultivated and well regulated farms, waving fields of grain, broad stretches of excellent pasture land and general air of prosperity, finds it difficult to believe that but comparatively a few years ago this section of the great state of Indiana was a wild and unproductive waste, largely covered with timber. Yet such is the case, and the present excellent condition of the country has only been developed by the persistent labors and untiring efforts of men of superior energy and perseverance, whose lives have been spent in forwarding the progress of this section. Among the farmers of Huntington county who have been eye-witnesses to and participants in the wonderful development which has transformed the county from a wilderness to one of the garden spots of the state, James A. Troute, of Jefferson township, is entitled to extended mention. Axe in hand, as a youth he hewed down the monarchs of the forest; as the country grew and developed, so he grew and developed into manhood, and with its prosperity he prospered. His life has been a full and active one, and his history is contemporary with the history of the section in which he has lived so long.
Mr. Troute is a native of Highland county, Ohio, and was born June 22, 1836, his parents being Robert and Nancy ( Allison) Troute. Both were natives of Highland county, where they were reared, edu- cated and married, and in 1849 made their way overland in a wagon to the wilderness of Huntington county. The father selected a tract of 160 acres of land in section 35, Jefferson township, deep in the heavy timber, where he located his pioneer home and started to clear his land. He was an industrious and hard-working man, but did not live long enough to see his labors bear full fruit, as his death oc- curred about 1854 or 1855. His widow was left with the still unde- veloped farm, but had the assistance of six sturdy sons, who were amply capable of carrying on the work left to them. Of the ten chil- dren in the family, all grew to maturity, and seven are still living Vol. II-21
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at this time: Martha, who is the widow of John T. Morris, of Warren, Indiana; Sarah, who is the widow of George L. Myers, of Warren; Lockeyann, who is the wife of Jacob Laymon, of Warren; Mary E., who is the widow of John Wall of Warren; Henry; Cyrus, a resident of Van Buren township, Grant county ; and James A.
The early education of James A. Troute was secured in the schools of Highland county, Ohio, and he was thirteen years of age when he made the long trip overland to Indiana. Here he attended the primi- tive schools of his day, but the terms were short, the studies few and conditions unfavorable, so that he did not receive the advantages granted to the youths of modern times. However, he was ambitious and had a retentive mind, and today he is a man of education with a knowledge of a wide range of subjects. As a youth Mr. Troute was known as a handy lad with the axe, and frequently added to his earnings by contracting to clear land. After his father's death he re- mained on the home farm, working with his brothers in the develop- ment of the property, but in August, 1861, decided to found a home of his own, and at that time was married to Miss Sarah M. Taylor, daugh- ter of Samuel and Lucinda (Watters) Taylor. To this union there were born eight children, of whom six survive: John H., who is a prosperous agriculturist of Jefferson township; Monroe, who carries on operations on a farm in Salamonie township; Seymour, whose home- stead is located in Jefferson township; Leroy, in Rock Creek township; Viola V., wife of Joseph P. Huber; Arthur of Salamonie township. The two deceased children are Mary Rosetta, who married James Mc- Kinney of Warren and she died in 1887; Myrtel Lavina, who died when but two weeks old.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Troute settled down to farming in Jefferson township, and this locality has since been their home. They experienced the hardships incidental to the development of a new home, but their persistent and courageous efforts eventually resulted in the acquirement of a good property, and in their declining years they are enjoying the well-won fruits of their early years of toil. They have a comfortable home on their eighty-acre tract, which is located two miles west of Warren, and here they are surrounded by a wide circle of friends. Mr. Troute has been a lifelong democrat, having cast his first presidential vote for James Buchanan, and has supported every candidate of his party to the present time. Although he is not a poli- tician in the generally accepted meaning of the word, he has wide influence in his community, where his neighbors know him as a man of judgment and integrity. That he is not indifferent to the responsi- bilities of citizenship is evidenced by the fact that he in past years served as supervisor of the south part of Jefferson township, an office in which he conscientiously endeavored to further the welfare of the community in which he has lived so long and in which he is held in such high esteem.
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WILLIAM D. CLINE. While his chief business activity has been that of farming, Mr. Cline is also well known as a citizen, having served as trustee of Rock Creek township, where he lives, and has one of the best homes in his part of the country.
William D. Cline, whose home has been in Huntington county for more than fifty years, was born in Fayette county, Indiana, June 30, 1855. His parents were Henry and Sarah A. (Messersmith) Cline. His father was born in Pennsylvania, and his mother in Fayette county, In- diana, she being of Scotch-Irish descent, while her husband was a Penn. sylvania Dutchman. He came to Fayette county when a young man, was married there, and a few years after their marriage, in 1862, moved to Huntington county. They located in Rock Creek township on a tract of land that is now owned by Omer Summers. There the father spent the rest of his life. He was a blacksmith by trade, but spent many years as a farmer and was particularly successful in the raising of hogs. The older residents also remember him for his proficiency and skill as a hunter and fisherman. There were seven children in the family, and three sons and one daughter are still living. A brief record of six of the children is as follows: John Hugh Cline, an attorney of Hunting- ton ; Mary O., now deceased; William D .; Thomas, a resident of Chicago; Amanda, wife of Charles McPeak of Markle, Indiana; and Frank, de- ceased.
William D. Cline was seven years old when the family came to Rock Creek township, grew up in this vicinity and was educated in the local schools, and continued on the home farm until he was thirty years of age. On June 13, 1885, he married Miranda J. Roberts, daughter of. Richard Roberts. Mrs. Cline was born in Rock Creek township on April 28, 1862, and received her early advantages in the same neighborhood. To their marriage have been born six children, as follows: Charles H., a graduate of the common school, is now in Egypt; Thurman R., is a graduate of the common schools, of the township high school, and spent some time as a teacher in Andrews; Nettie is the wife of Levi Ulrich of Kelso, Indiana; Winnie is a graduate of the common school, and was a student for two years in the high school, and is now the wife of Everett Zook of Lancaster township; Frank graduated from the common schools, and took two years in the high school; Anna is still a student in the grade schools.
Mr. Cline affiliates with Star of Hope Lodge No. 464, I. O. O. F., is a past noble grand, and a member of the Encampment, and is now senior warden. His politics are Democratic, and on that ticket he was elected and served four years as trustec of Rock Creek township. It was during his administration that the present high school was erected in the town- ship, and the people take great pride in that institution and thereby recognize the efficient public service of Mr. Cline as trustee. His home farm comprises seventy-one acres, eight miles southeast of Huntington, and he has been very successful in the combination of general grain rais- ing and stock feeding. It is in hogs that he has made most of his money, and his experience qualifies him as one of the best posted men in this industry in the county.
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JAMES W. MCCLURG. A citizen 'of Rock Creek township who has lived in that vicinity for more than sixty years and has always borne a name and reputation for upright conduct and substantial prosperity is James W. McClurg, whose home is a well improved farm estate of one hundred and seven acres. Mr. McClurg represents one of the early families which were established in Huntington county soon after the era of pioneer settlement.
He was born in Rock Creek, July 18, 1851, a son of John and Nellie (Randall) McClurg. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and Grandfather McClurg came from Ireland. Nellie Randall was born in Ohio. The family located in Rock Creek township when the country was still new, and the parents lived there all the rest of their lives as farm- ers. There were five children, four of whom are still living: Eliza, wife of Nelson Sharp; James W .; Mary A., wife of Isaac Duncan ; and George W. McClurg, of Salamonie township.
James W. McClurg was reared on a farm, educated in the district schools, and after advantages which were very modest in the way of school- ing, he started out to earn his own way and make a home and prosperity by the vocation of farming. Mr. McClurg married Lizzie Sharp, who died September 14, 1881, leaving one child. This child is Dorsey McClurg, who married Ethel Jarvin, daughter of Emmet and Alice Jarvin. Dorsey McClurg and wife had four children, Gerald, Helen, Emmett, and Howard. The family worship with the Church of the Brethren at Loon Creek. In politics Mr. McClurg is a Prohibitionist, and is a citizen who supports and can be depended upon to further the moral and intellectual welfare of his community. As a farmer he has gained considerable reputation and success by breeding Jersey cattle, and also shorthorns and Duroc hogs.
WILLIAM P. BENDER. A resident of Markle for thirty-five years, Mr. Bender has long been prominently identified with the mercantile activities of that little Huntington county city, and while busy with his private interests and in building up his individual prosperity has never neglected his share of duties toward the community.
Mr. Bender comes from that old and substantial community known as Berks county, Pennsylvania, where he was born December 12, 1847. His parents were John and Barbara (Mast) Bender. Both parents were likewise natives of Berks county, and represented good old stock in both lines. The parents some years after their marriage came west and located in Wells county, Indiana, and in 1850 settled on a farm in Rock Creek township, in that county, where they lived for many years. Their declining days were spent in the city of Bluffton, where both died. The father was a hard worker, and managed to accumulate a compe- tency during his life in Wells county. He came there with very little means and his first purchase was forty acres in the midst of the woods. After clearing that and getting a little surplus, he bought more land, until he finally owned one hundred and twenty acres. All of this was cleared and improved under his own supervision, or by his own
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labors. In the Bender household were ten children, two of whom died in infancy, and the six living at the present time are: John H., who resides in Rock Creek township of Wells county; Susan, the widow of William Miller ; William P .; Samuel, a merchant in Bluffton; and Jonathan, of Wells county.
William P. Bender was three years old when the family located on a farm in Wells county, was reared in the country, had a common school- ing, and was trained for life by hard work on the farm. His ambition carly went beyond the horizon of country life, and his first goal was for educational work. He was a student at Bluffton, and in that way equipped himself to teach, and after getting a license was master of a school in Rock Creek township of Wells county for thrce winters. In the meantime he had continued to work on the farm, and gradually laid his plans for a commercial career.
In 1872 Mr. Bender married Miss Emma S. Edris. She is likewise a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, and her family moved to Wells county, Indiana, in 1861. Mrs. Bender, who has a common school educa- tion, is the only one now living out of six children. In 1878 Mr. Bender started in business at Markle, at first in partnership with J. M. Brown. Twenty years later, in 1898, he bought the interest of Mr. Brown, and his since continued alone, and lias built up a mercantile concern which for its long standing and reliable dealings is a very profitable establish- ment. Besides the buildings in which his business is conducted, Mr. Bender owns a new brick structure just across the strect, and has one of the most attractive residences in Markle. He is also owner of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Wells county. Mrs. Bender is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Markle, and he is affiliated with Markle Lodge, No. 423, of the Knights of Pythias, and in politics is a republican.
LEWIS E. SUMMERS. One of the influential and trusted business men of Huntington county, with a fine and well kept farmstead in Rock Creek township, and vice president of the Farmers Trust Company of Hunting- ton, Lewis E. Summers has lived in this county for more than forty-five years, was one of the carly teachers before the public school system became well established with anything like its modern facilities, and in every capacity through which he has served himself and his community has earned the respect and estecm of his fellowmen.
Lewis E. Summers was born in Fayette county, Indiana, October 12, 1851. He is the oldest of a family of nine children, all of whom are living at this time, as well as the father, Golvin Summers. On Decem- ber 1, 1864, the parents, Golvin and Sarah J. Summers, with six children, set out from Fayette county to their new home in Union township, Hunt- ington county. They did not arrive at their destination until Decem- ber 6. It was a caravan quite typical and a common feature to be seen on the highways of Indiana and other states of the middle west at that time. A wagon loaded with household goods was first in the procession, and after it followed all the live stock, horses and colts, cows and sheep.
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The diversity of the collection, together with the condition of the roads, which were of the variety called corduroy, made travel very slow, and twenty miles was as much as could be covered in one day.
After the family came to Huntington county, Lewis E. Summers, who was then about thirteen years of age, attended the district school about three months each winter. The school which he attended was taught in a log school house. In the fall of 1868 he attended the Normal school in Markle under the management of David Chambers and taught by Simeon Lee of Wells county. The following winter Mr. Summers taught what was called the Folk school in Union township of Wells county. After which he taught three consecutive terms in Lancaster township, five in Rock Creek township, one in Union township, thrce in Huntington town- ship, and one in what is now William street school, in the city of Hunting- ton. The last was at that time called the Drovertown school, and it furnished educational facilities for all that part of Huntington south of the river. The old rock house was the only public school building north of the river at that time. That describes quite accurately the condition of schools in Huntington in the year 1872. The legislature passed an act by which Huntington and Drovertown became the city of Huntington, and thus the schools were consolidated.
Mr. John Kenower founded what was called the Rural Home Institute on State street in Huntington about the year 1870. For that time it was a splendid school and continued its good work for several years. Many from the country attended this institution of learning, and among them was Mr. Summers, who took advantage of his spare time between terms of teaching in order to better qualify himself for his own work in the schoolroom. In 1874 he attended the National Normal College at Lebanon, Ohio. This was a training school for teachers, and was then as now liberally patronized by nearly all the state.
On October 14, 1875, Mr. Summers and Miss Charity Hoover were united in marriage. In March, 1876, they moved to a farm in Rock Creek township. Four children were born to their marriage, two sons and two daughters. Mr. Summers continued teaching for several years after his marriage, but in 1882 abandoned that vocation in order to devote his entire time to agriculture. In 1890 came his first election to a promi- nent public position, when he was chosen county commissioner for the middle district of Huntington county and was re-elected in 1892.
Mrs. Summers after a few days' illness died August 10, 1902, sur- vived by her husband and three children. The oldest child had preceded her in death. On May 14, 1904, Mr. Summers and Mrs. Mary E. Bechtol were united in marriage and they now live on one of the best farms in Rock Creek county, equipped with all the modern improvements found on an up-to-date farm. Both are stockholders in the Farmers Trust Company Bank of Huntington. The Farmers Trust Company opened its doors for business July 22, 1911. The founding of the bank was chiefly due to the enterprise of Mr. A. C. Fast, who is now president. Mr. Sum- mers took an active part in promoting this new enterprise and worked tirelessly until all the stock was placed and everything arranged for
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starting the business successfully. The stockholders, who are among the representative citizens of Huntington county, chose him vice president and a member of the Board of Directors, and also a member of the finance committee, and he has been closely identified with the company from the beginning.
BENJAMIN F. LYONS. In Rock Creek township is located Spring Branch Stock Farm, one of the best situated and most valuable country estates of Huntington county. Its proprietor is Benjamin F. Lyons, who has been identified with agricultural efforts in that vicinity since reaching manhood. His farm comprises one hundred and eighty acres, located in sections 14 and 15, three miles southwest of Markle and ten miles south- east of Huntington. Mr. Lyons carries on general farming operations, but makes a specialty of the breeding and raising of Aberdeen Angus cattle.
Benjamin F. Lyons was born in Fayette county, Indiana, October 14, 1857, a son of James W. and Sarah (Munger) Lyons. The parents were likewise natives of Fayette county, and the father was born there in 1836, grew up and married, and in 1865 settled in Huntington county, in Rock Creek township. He first located half a mile east of Browns Cor- ners, where he owned eighty acres of land. Selling that, he bought forty acres southeast of Browns Corners, and in turn sold that place and bought the one hundred and eighty acres in sections 14 and 15, com- prising the homestead now operated by his son Benjamin. There the father lived until his death in October, 1912. He was a veteran of the Civil war. The mother passed away in 1904. They had only two chil- dren, and the daughter was Mary, who died in March, 1912, the wife of James Fison.
Benjamin F. Lyons was eight years old when the family came to Rock Creek township, was a student in the district schools, and the home farm gave him all the work that he could attend to, and gradually its chief responsibilities devolved upon his shoulders, and he is now the owner of the old homestead.
In September, 1881, Mr. Lyons married Miss Sarah E. Crevison, a daughter of Joseph J. Crevison. She was born and reared in Rock Creek township, this county. Their one son is Ora A. Lyons, born September 4, 1883, a graduate of the district schools, and now associated with his father in the management of the Spring Branch Stock Farm. The son married Clara Van Meter of Rock Creek township, and their two children are Earl, aged three, and Eldon, aged one year. The father and son are active members of the Star of Hope Lodge, No. 464, I. O. O. F., and both are past noble grand and members of the Grand Lodge. Their wives are members of Rebekah Lodge and have passed all the chairs in the Rebekahs. Mrs. B. F. Lyons is a member of the Grand Lodge. Mr. Lyons is a member of the Encampment and is a past chief patriarch. In politics he is a Democrat. Outside of these activities he aspires to no public prominence or notoriety and his suc- cess has consisted in the fact that he has applied himself quietly and
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industriously to his work, and has been content to do those duties which lay nearest to him and evade none of the important responsibilities of citizenship or of family life.
WILLIAM B. CUSTANCE. One of the best known citizens of Rock Creek township is William B. Custance, a prominent farmer in that vicinity and who for several years was superintendent of the county infirmary. Mr. Custance represents one of the old families of Hunt- ington county, has spent practically all his life here, and by a quiet citizenship and a thorough honor in all his business relations has gained a high position in his community.
William B. Custance was born in Rock Creek township, February 27, 1855, a son of James B. and Huldah A. (Barnes) Custance. His father was a native of England, at the age of eighteen came to the United States, locating in the state of New York, and afterwards moved to Huntington county, Indiana. In this county he married Huldah A. Barnes, whose parents were among the very early settlers in this part of the state. They became the parents of three children, and William B. is now the only one living.
His youth was spent on a farm in Rock Creek, two miles north of where he now lives; his early environment was similar to that which surrounded most boys in this part of Indiana. He early learned by practical experience the duties on a farm, and went to school each winter, until he had completed the limited curriculum of a country school. Later he was a student in the Roanoke Classical Seminary. The death of a sister terminated his school career and since then he has applied himself industriously to his chosen vocation as a farmer.
On July 16, 1874, Mr. Custance married Clara A. Davis, who was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, and came to Huntington county when a girl, receiving her education in the common schools. Mr. and Mrs. Custance have two children : Dessie I., a graduate of the common schools and the wife of C. P. Baker of Rock Creek township, and Orla B., a graduate of the common schools and the Huntington Business University, and now an insurance agent at Warren, Indiana, who married Lena Schultz. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Custance affiliates with Star of Hope Lodge, No. 464, I. O. O. F., being a past noble grand and member of the Grand Lodge. In politics he is an active Republican and has been one of the local leaders of his party in this part of Huntington county. In 1898 he was appointed superintendent of the Huntington county infirmary, and during the three and a half years he held that office he distinguished himself by an exceedingly capable administration of the institution.
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