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 45
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Mr. Chamness made the occupation to which he was reared his life work, and through his diligence, energy and perseverance gradually worked his way upward to prosperity. At this time he is living some- what retired from active life, although he still owns a small farm sonth of Andrews. He has ever been known as a man of the utmost integrity and probity, and is held in high esteem by those who have come in con- tact with him. In political matters he is a republican, but he has not been an office seeker, preferring the peaceful occupation of the agrient- turist to the hazardous activities of public life. He still enjoys meeting
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his old comrades of the army and is a valued member of Andrews Post, No. 116, Grand Army of the Republic. With his wife and children he is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
SIMON SUMMERS. Just as there are specialists in medicine, in the law, and in business and industry, so likewise does farming lend itself to specialization and many of the most successful men have devoted themselves to some one particular branch of their vocation. It is as a specialist in the raising of fine hogs that Simon Smnmers is deserving of special space in a history of Huntington county. Mr. Summers has done alnost equally as well as a sheep breeder and in the way of general farming has a standing among his neighbors that the Pleasant Valley Stock Farm, in Rock Creek township, is especially well known for its Poland-China hogs. Pleasant Valley farm comprises one hundred aeres of land, is located in section 3 of Rock Creek township, two and a half miles west of Markle, and on the rural free delivery route No. 4 ont of Huntington. It was in the summer of 1879 that Mr. Summers bought, his first brood sow. From a small beginning and as a man at that time in somewhat narrow circumstances, Mr. Summers has grad- ually widened his scope of operations and prospered, always keeping the finest of stock and of registered pedigree. At the present time he is one of the oldest breeders of hogs in the state and has bred and sold more hogs of his own than any other Indiana citizen. Many years ago he bought a small nucleus of four pigs, and except for the necessary intro- duction of new blood he has raised practically all his own stock and on his own farm. Mr. Summers has held twenty-six public sales at his farm, and at this writing is preparing for the twenty-seventh annual sale. In 1908 he extended his operations by bringing in a flock of pure- blooded Shropshire sheep, having several imported ewes and two fine Shropshire rams, all bred in England. It should also be mentioned that Mr. Summers takes much interest in chicken raising and has some fancy fowl on his farm. Many of his animals have been exhibited at fairs and other stock shows, and from 1879 down to the present time he has usually been an exhibitor.
Simon Summers was born in Fayette county, Indiana, August 31, 1853, a son of Golvin and Sarah J. (Trusler) Summers. His mother is now deccased and his father, who is living in Rock Creek township, has had a long and prosperous career as a farmer in Huntington county. He and his wife started ont in very modest cirenmstances, and eventually came to be numbered among the largest owners of land in the county. There were nine children and further details concerning this well known family will be found in the sketch of James Summers elsewhere in this work.
Simon Summers was twelve years old when the family located on a farm in Union township of Huntington county, and he was reared there and in Rock Creek township, receiving his education in the distriet school. He continued at home and worked for his father until he was twenty-three years of age. On December 26, 1878, occurred his marriage Vol. II-23
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with Cora B. Lawrence. When they started out they had a very small capital and went in debt for the first forty acres which they purchased in Rock Creek township. Their united enterprise soon enabled them to pay off all their obligations and afterwards they added sixty acres more and as the years have gone by no family in Rock Creek township has enjoyed more of the comforts of life and the rewards of business efforts than that of Simon Summers. Mr. and Mrs. Summers are the parents of two daughters: Leona, who was educated in the common schools and is the wife of David R. Gizer, of Wells county, and they have four children. Ethel K. is the wife of William Zimmerlee, who lives on the farm with Mr. Summers, and they are the parents of two children.
Mr. Summers has membership by virtue of his extensive operations as a stockman, in the American Shropshire Association, which has a total membership in this country of about six thousand sheep raisers. He is also a member of the Sheep Breeders and Wool Growers Associa- tion of Indiana. Mr. Summers is thoroughly posted as a raiser and breeder of hogs and sheep, and has acted in the capacity of judge of various affairs. Politically he is a democrat, but outside of his farming interests and his ready support of all movements for the welfare of his home locality he is not afflicted with any aspirations for public position.
GEORGE I. ROBERTS. Lying in the midst of the great oil fields of Indiana, in sections 33 and 34, Jefferson township, one mile south and five miles west of Warren, Huntington county, and two and one-half miles south of Van Buren, Grant county, is found the finely cultivated farming property belonging to George I. Roberts, a substantial citizen. Mr. Roberts belongs to a family which has resided in Huntington county since 1849, and has himself been a resident here for sixty years, having been an eye-witness to and a participant in the wonderful changes which have made this one of the most prosperous sections of the state. He has devoted his life to tilling the soil and through conscientious and well-applied effort has become one of the representative farmers of the county.
Mr. Roberts was born February 24, 1854, in Jefferson township, Huntington county, and is a son of Samuel and Mariah (Wiley) Roberts, who came to this county from Darke county, Ohio, about 1849, and located in section 23, Jefferson township, there settling in the midst of the timber. The original family home was a primitive log cabin, but this was later replaced by a brick residence, which is still standing on the old homestead. Samuel Roberts was a plain, unassuming man, an industrious worker who elected to concentrate his energies upon the tilling of his land and the making of a home, caring little for the struggles of the political arena or the activities of public life, save as they affected his immediate community. He led a peaceful, useful and uneventful life, but won and retained the confidence of his community through his industry, integrity and loyalty to friendships. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, as follows: William W., Sarah L., Nancy, George I., Linzy, Aurilla and Jasper, of whom Nancy is now deceased.
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The boyhood days of George I. Roberts were passed on the homestead place, where he was trained to agricultural pursuits and his education in the meantime was secured in the district school of his community. He assisted his father to clear, ditch and improve the farm, and his services were needed so constantly that often his education was neglected, but he was a bright and ambitious lad, with a retentive mind, made the most of his opportunities, and gained a liberal share of knowledge. This has since been supplemented by reading and observation. Mr. Roberts was twenty-one years of age when he began to rent the homestead farm, and continued to remain under the parental roof until he was twenty-six. At that time he was married to Miss Mary Margaret Fraizer, a daughter of Elisha and Mary A. (Kirkpatrick) Fraizer, and the great-grandfather of Ezekiel Fraizer, who was a native of Scotland and emigrated to the United States, settling in Pennsylvania, and the history of this family may be traced back nearly to the time of the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers in 1620. The family located in various parts of North Carolina and Ohio, and the grandmother, Mary (Johnson) Fraizer, finally made her home in Huntington county, Indiana. Elisha Fraizer came to Hunt- ington county in 1841, and located on sections 33 and 34, Jefferson town- ship, and here continued to live until his death, being one of the sub- stantial men of his community. In 1855 he was married to Mary A. Kirkpatrick, and they became the parents of three children: Mary Mar- garet, who was born January 27, 1857, and is now Mrs. Roberts; William K. and George W. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have had two children: Pearl A., who is the wife of Otto Detamore, a farmer of Jefferson township; and Charles E., who married Blanche Custard. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have three grandchildren. They are consistent members of the Wesleyan Methodist church, of which Mr. Roberts is a trustee. He has steadfastly supported prohibition interests in political matters, and has ever been recognized as a useful and estimable citizen. Jefferson township has been his home for sixty years and he has witnessed its growth from its primitive state to a community of agricultural wealth and importance. His cooperation has ever been attainable in measures for the support of the public welfare.
HARVEY W. ELSER. As a contractor and builder, probably no Hunt- ington business inan has fulfilled a more important and valuable con- tract than Harvey W. Elser. Mr. Elser is still young in years, but has had a broad experience in business and in life generally, and is one of the leading men of his home city of Huntington. He represents an old Huntington county family.
Born in Clear Creek township of Huntington county, September 26, 1871, Harvey W. Elser is the third son of Eli and Charlotte (Emley) Elser. His father, who was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, in April, 1837, was reared on a farm, and some time after reaching manliood went out as a soldier of the Civil war with the Forty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and gave three years of faithful service, during which time he fought in a number of battles with the Southern army.
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In one he was taken prisoner, and spent some time in the notorious prison of Andersonville, which at that time was commanded by the tyrannous and much hated Captain Worze. The mother, Charlotte Emley, was a daughter of Samuel Emley, of the pioneer family of that name in Clear Creek township. She was born in Clear Creek township, in April, 1847, and she and her husband are still living, enjoying fair health. Their children are: Clem V .; George E .; Harvey W .; Anna M., wife of Edward Snyder; and Jessie, unmarried.
Harvey W. Elser spent his youth on the home farm, and his educa- tion was acquired largely by attending the district schools, during the winter months, while in the summer and spring and early fall he per- formed the various tasks allotted to farmer boys. This was his mode of life until about eighteen years old, when he started out to see the world for himself, visiting different states and localities, and earning his living as he went. He took up the trade of carpenter, and his work as a jour- neyinan gradually gave him a larger outlook in business affairs. At the beginning of the Spanish-American war, he enlisted in Company K of the One Hundred and Sixtieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Col. George W. Gunder. With his comrades he spent some time in ren- dezvous, was then sent to Chattanooga, Tennessee, in June, 1898, was moved to Newport News, Virginia, thence to Lexington, Kentucky ; on November 6, the regiment was ordered to Columbus, Georgia. On Janu- ary 12, the command was sent to Matanzas, Cuba, and after some service on the Island returned to Savannah, Georgia. Mr. Elser was in the army one year and one month and gave a faithful account of himself as a volunteer. After getting lis honorable discharge he returned home, and took up work again as a carpenter. He was employed for a time by J. M. Wood, of Goshen, Indiana. Gradually he began taking contracts on his own account, and his success in this line soon led him into a large and important field of operations, in the construction of dwelling houses, churches, and other structures. For several years Mr. Elser did more business in the construction of theatres than in any other line. He has to his credit the construction of the Lyric at Cincinnati, one of the finest and most attractive show houses in the United States, and which cost two hundred and sixty thousand dollars. He also built the Star Theatre at Toronto, Canada, which is one of the most costly theatres in the Dominion of Canada. After the completion of that contract he returned to Huntington, and has since done a large local business as a carpenter and contractor. During 1913 Mr. Elser was engaged in making im- provements on the First National Bank Building of Huntington, and on the Huntington County Bank, contracts which amounted to many thou- sand dollars.
In 1900 Mr. Elser married Miss Clara E. Mosslander, a daughter of George and Hettie (Stewart) Mosslander. They are the parents of four children : D. Young, Wilbur W., Chester A. and Elser. Mr. Elser affiliates with the Knights of Pythias, the Improved Order of Red Men, the Modern Woodmen of America, and with the United Veterans of the Spanish-American war. His home in Huntington is at 1902 North Guil- ford street.
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EDWIN E. WOOLERY. The chief despatcher of the Erie Railroad Com- pany at Huntington has had a notable career as a railroad man, has been in the service of the Erie Company for twenty-five years, during his residence at Huntington has identified himself closely with the social and civic activities of the city.
Born in Kosciusko county, Indiana, April 24, 1870, he is a son of J. H. and Matilda (Rummel) Woolery, who were born and reared in Trumbull county, Ohio. Their parents came from Pennsylvania, and were among the early settlers of Ohio. J. H. and Matilda Woolery were married in Trumbull county, and in 1865 came to Kosciusko county, Indiana, where they have since been residents. The father mnade an honorable record as a soldier of the Civil war going out in 1861 when Lincoln issued his first call for seventy-five thousand troops. After the termination of his three year's enlistment, he went ont again and con- tinued as a soldier of the Union until his honorable discharge in June, 1865.
Edwin E. Woolery acquired his early education at Spencerville, Ohio, in the grammar and high schools. When he left school in 1888 it was to find employment as a telegraph operator at Spencerville, Ohio. The road was at that time known as the Chicago & Atlantic Railway, which has since become a division of the Erie road. By close attention to his duties, and by a faithfulness of performance that has been con- stantly recognized and commended by his superiors, Mr. Woolery had promotions which finally brought him to his present responsible office. In 1893 he was made assistant despatcher, and on leaving Spencerville was transferred to Lima, Ohio, and from there to Huntington, Indiana. Mr. Woolery as chief despatcher has charge of the division between Hammond and Marion, a distance of two hundred and fifty iniles. A number of operators are under his direction, and he has made a splendid record with practically no marks of dereliction or neglect against him.
In June, 1903, Mr. Woolery married Miss Minerva Kennedy, a native of Pennsylvania, born in the city of Harrisburg, where she was educated and remained until her marriage. There are no children. Mr. Woolery is serving his second term as a member of the Board of Directors of the Huntington City Library, in which organization he is greatly inter- ested. He affiliates with the Masonic Fraternity, the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and he and his wife are members of the First Presbyterian church. Mrs. Woolery is a mem- ber of several social organizations in Huntington, and takes much in- terest in their work. They have a beautiful home on Byron street, situated on an elevation which commands a good view of the surround- ing neighborhood.
CHARLES J. STOUDER, a worthy representative of a sterling family, is one of the highly respected farmers and citizens of Dallas township, where he is the owner of 120 acres of land. He has always devoted him- self to agriculture and has met with a gratifying degree of success in his chosen field of endeavor, and in addition to his private interests has
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found time to assist materially in promoting the welfare of his com- inunity. Mr. Stouder is a native of Huntington county, having been born on a farm in Polk township, March 28, 1869, and is a son of John and Mary (Lahr) Stouder. His father, who was born in the Buckeye state, came to Indiana in young manhood and first settled in Clear Creek township, where he was married. Subsequently he moved to Polk town- ship, and there continued to carry on farming until November, 1890, when he moved to a farmi in Dallas township and lived there until his death, in November, 1913. When he embarked upon his career Mr. Stouder was in very modest circumstances, but through energy, perse- verance and intelligent effort he was able to accumulate a competency, make a comfortable home for himself and family, and rear his children in a manner fitting them for honorable positions in life. He was widely and favorably known as a Mason in good standing, and was prominent also in political circles, serving as a member of the county council of Huntington county from the time the law went into effect until his death. Mr. Stouder was the father of nine children, of whom seven survive: Ida, who is the wife of Laban Allred, proprietor of the Homestead Stock Farm of Lancaster township; John A., who has a farm in Polk town- ship; Charles J., of this review ; E. C., of Polk township; Nora, who is the widow of Howard Sharp; Sadie, the wife of J. E. First; and Chester R., of Dallas township.
Charles J. Stouder was reared on the home farm in Polk township on which he had been born, and on which he helped his father while attending the district schools. Later he was a student in the normal school at Andrews, Indiana, and after one term therein passed the teacher's examination and received a license to teach. However, he has never taken advantage of this privilege. On his return to his home, he resumed farming, and continued to live on the old place in Polk town. ship until two years after his marriage, when he purchased forty acres of land in Dallas township. This formed the nucleus for his present handsome property of 120 acres, which he has developed into one of the most valuable farms in this part of the county. He has erected good buildings and installed modern machinery and appliances, and gives the greater part of his time and attention to general farming and stockrais- ing, although he has made wise investments in other enterprises and at this time is a director in the Farmers Trust Company of Huntington and a stockholder in the Lagro-Andrews Telephone Company. In poli- tics he is a republican, and he is known as one of the influential men of his party in Dallas township. With his family he attends the Methodist Episcopal church, and at this time is a member of the board of trustees of Pilcher Chapel.
Mr. Stouder was married on October 2, 1892, to Miss Jennie A. Miller, who was born in Polk township, daughter of Frank Miller, an early settler of that locality.
RICHARD W. REDDING. One of the most useful and influential citizens of Huntington county is Richard W. Redding, well known as a farmer
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in Rock Creek township, a former county commissioner, and in many ways identified with the business and civic affairs of his locality.
Representing the substantial old North Carolina stock which has been prominent in this section of Indiana from the period of early set- tlement, Richard W. Redding was born in that state in June, 1856, a son of Thurston W. and Clarissa (Walker) Redding. The parents were natives of North Carolina, and after their marriage moved to Indiana in the fall of 1856, locating in Rock Creek township of Wells county, Indiana. The father settled there in time to get eighty-seven acres of land direct from the government, and continued to make his home in that vicinity until his death on May 30, 1898. His wife died in 1899. They were both devout Methodists, and he was a Charter Member of the Barber Mills church. The parents had a family of thirteen children, six of whom are still living. James M. is a resident of Carthage, Ten- nessee ; Jane is the wife of Lewis Sigmond of Rock Creek township, Hunt- ington county ; Richard W. is a farmer in Huntington county ; Wesley A. is a farmer in Wells county; John O. is a farmer in Rock Creek township, Huntington county; Mary is the wife of Rol Johnson, of Jennings, Indiana; Alice is the wife of Wade Hampton of Duncan, Oklahoma ; Sina, now deceased, was the wife of Emanuel Boyer; Thomas died when forty-six years old; and the other four children died in early life.
Richard W. Redding was three months old when the family moved to Wells county, Indiana. His youth and boyhood were spent on a farm, and the rudiments of a common school education were supplied him from the district school. He lived at home until he was twenty-one years of age, and then started out on his own account as a renter. He did well and saved some money, and after his marriage engaged in the sawmill business at Uniondale, owning a third interest in the plant. After selling out he spent one summer in farming his father's place, and then bought a general store at Rock Creek center, Huntington county, remaining as proprietor of that establishment for nineteen years con- ducting a growing trade with the surrounding community and thus lay- ing the basis of his substantial prosperity. In 1901 Mr. Redding sold out his mercantile business. Adjoining the village of Rock Creek Center, he owns two hundred and five acres in section 22, and has a finely im- proved country estate, with all the facilities for comfortable living, and makes his farming pay in good profits every year. Mr. Redding is also owner of one hundred and twenty acres of land in Parmer county, Texas. He is one of the stockholders in the Farmers & Traders Bank at Markle, and for two years served as vice president. The present officers of that bank are: J. W. Sale, president; R. C. McDuffy, vice president ; E. B. Garber, cashier; and other directors are C. E. Boyd, R. H. Fishbaugh, and Chester West.
On July 3, 1880, Mr. Redding married Mary A. Black, who was born in Union township of Wells county in 1859, a daughter of Demos Black. Both her father and mother were natives of Ohio. She received her education in the public schools of Wells county. Two children have
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been born to Mr. and Mrs. Redding: Laura M., now the wife of Orin Eversole, and living on her father's farm, is the mother of one child, William K. Eversole, ten years of age; Chester F. Redding is a graduate of the common schools and the Rock Creek high school, and is now in his second year as a student in the State University. He has taught school, and is a young man of much ability and great promise.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Redding are members of the Barber Mills Meth- odist Episcopal church, and he is affiliated with Markle Lodge No. 382, I. O. O. F., and Mrs. Redding is a past grand of Browns Corners Rebekah Lodge, and a member of the Grand Lodge of the State of Indiana. In politics he is a republican, has been active in the work of his party in Huntington county, served two years as a member of the township advisory board, and was commissioner of the county from 1905 to 1911. He was the only member of the board of commissioners, who served throughout the period of construction of the new and present court- house of Huntington county.
HON. SAMUEL E. COOK, Judge of the Huntington Circuit Court of Huntington, Indiana, was born in Clear Creek township, Huntington county, on the 30th day of September, 1860. His parents were George and Elizabeth (Beerbower) Cook, both natives of Ohio, and the father still lives. Their home for many years has been Whitley county, Indiana, near the boundary line between that and Huntington county. The father became a resident of the latter named county when a young man, and has always followed agricultural activities. The children born to him and his wife are here named as follows: Samuel E., of this review; John A., deceased; Sarah R., also deceased; she was the wife of M. J. Gerard, of South Whitley; Clement V., on the home farm ; Emma, who died when quite young; and Electa J., the wife of Grant Frazee, of Muncie, Indiana.
Samuel E. Cook enjoyed the good fortune of growing to young man- hood amid the bracing air and vigorous exercises incident to farm life, and being blessed with a good parentage, he early laid the foundations for a strong and vigorous character. During the winter months he attended the common schools and when about fourteen years of age began earning money for himself as a farm hand. While still in his teens he became fireman at a sawmill in the neighborhood. He early manifested a decided skill as a worker with tools, and he turned that ability to excellent account at the carpenter's trade, in which he acquired proficiency. Soon after his twenty-first year he erected several houses and barns in the neighborhood, and began taking contracts, which soon brought him to the favorable notice of the community as a mechanic of no mean skill. Meantime, he continued his studies, receiving valuable assistance, therein from his mother, who had formerly been a successful teacher in this county, so that at the age of twenty-one he found himself with a license to teach in the common schools of Whitley county, where he taught for five years. He became a student in the Normal school at Ada, Ohio, where, for a limited period, he pursued the higher branches
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