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 49
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John Wallace Caswell was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, October 6, 1870, and had a high school education in that city. His first work was for the Bass Foundry & Machine Company, and later he moved to North Manchester and was member of a novelty company engaged in making wood novelties. From there in May, 1907, Mr. Caswell came to Hunt- ington and organized the present firm of Caswell-Runyan Company. He is also president of the Huntington Auto Transit Company, of the Hunt- ington Specialty Company, the Fire Tuff Manufacturing Company, is secretary of the D. M. Sears Company of Fort Wayne, and also has im- portant relations with public and social affairs. He is president of the Huntington Commercial Club and is vice president of the Michigan and Erie Barge Canal Association, an organization designed to promote the building of a canal from Toledo to Chicago. A Scottish Rite Mason, he is affiliated with the Knights Templar Commandery at Columbia
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City. His chief efforts outside of his private business are concentrated in the pushing of local enterprises for the benefit and upbuilding of Huntington as a commercial city. Mr. Caswell was married March 13, 1894, to Miss Ruth Hemmick of Columbia City.
SAMUEL C. SCOTT. In the farming district of Rock Creek are many prosperous and progressive men who believe that the happiest life, as well as the most independent one, is to be lived on the farm. Prominent among these men is Samuel C. Scott. For a number of years he has lived in this community and is known as an excellent farmer, and a man who can be depended upon in all matters of local concern. Mr. Scott is proprietor of what is known as the Old Scott Farm, comprising three hundred and twenty-three acres in section eighteen, seven miles southeast of Huntington.
Though his home has been in Huntington county, since he was three years of age, Samuel C. Scott was born in Grand River township of Osage county, Missouri, April 11, 1858, a son of Samuel W. and Catherine (Pilgrim) Scott. The mother was born in Brown county, Indiana, and the father was a native of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. In 1848 the father went west to the goldfields of California, where he spent two years and was more fortunate than the majority of those who sought wealth on the coast during those years. He finally settled in the central Mississippi Valley, first in Iowa, where he was married, they then moved to Kansas, finally to Missouri, and in 1861 located in Indiana on a farm in Huntington county where his son now lives. The father was a sub- stantial and well to do citizen, a democrat in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian church. He was the father of ten children, six of whom are still living. . Samuel C. Scott was three years old when the family came to Rock Creek township, was reared in this locality, attended the common schools, and after some early experiences on his own account established a home of his own by his marriage to Mary Gesaman, a daughter of John Gesaman. Of their six children four are still living: John W., and William C., who are unmarried and live on the farm with their father; Sarah, wife of Ervin Grossman; and Frank, who married Elsie Sparks; Charles W. and Nina P. are deceased.
When Samuel C. Scott was a boy, he traded for a calf, raised that animal, and with the proceeds bought two or three calves. That was the beginning of an endless chain of accomplishment. Fortunately few links were broken, and he gradually progressed to what should be considered a very happy fortune for a young man. Thus when he was ready to get married he had seven hundred dollars in cash, and all of it could be traced back to his first venture with the single calf. Since becoming the pro- prietor of his present estate he has prospered as a general farmer and stock raiser, and is regarded as one of the most successful in his line in Huntington county. He and his family are members of the Christian church at Majenica, and he is affiliated with the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, and the Loyal Order of Moose, being a trustee in the latter. He is a stockholder in the Huntington Trust Company Bank. Vol. II-25
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For one who started in life with practically no capital, Mr. Scott represents a high degree of successful accomplishment. He has made sufficient for all his needs, and at the same time has been generous in his contributions to philanthrophy and church, and has given each of his children a start in life. As a farmer he takes pride in his industry, keeps his improvements up to the very latest point of efficiency, and has been very successful in the raising of high class stock. He is especially proud of his thoroughbred cattle and hogs. Mr. Scott knows how to enjoy his prosperity, having frequently traveled in various parts of the United States and he shows kindly interest in every public enterprise. Mrs. Scott has proved a loyal and capable helper to him in all his career, and besides her part in the home and as a mother, she has been a factor in the society of her township.
THOMAS H. POWELL has a foremost place among the leading men of Warren township, where he has been engaged for years in a successful farming enterprise. In the years of his residence here he has carried his full share of the burden of civic responsibility and has held office on numerous occasions. His latest incumbency along those lines is his election to the office of county commissioner of the North district of Hunt- ington county, to which he was elected in 1912, and began his services in January, 1913.
Mr. Powell was born in Carroll county, Maryland, on May 29, 1862, a son of Jacob H. and Catherine (Mirley) Powell, both of whom were born in Maryland and there spent all of their lives up to the years 1868, when they migrated to Miami county, Indiana. There they continued as residents until death, the father dying in 1905 and the mother in 1913. They were the parents of five children, all of whom are living at this writing: Charles D. is a farmer in Miami county ; Thomas H., the second born, is the subject of this review; Jennie I. is the wife of J. L. Kern, of Polk township, Huntington county; Mary C. is the wife of Jacob J. Gearhart, of Miami county ; and Saville E. is unmarried and lives in Peru.
Thomas H. Powell was but six years old when the family came to Indiana from Maryland. He spent his youth at home on the farm, at- tending the district schools in season and otherwise deporting himself in the manner of the farmer youth of his day. He worked at home for his father until 1888, being then twenty-five years old.
At that age Mr. Powell married, Miss Geneva Glassborn, of Miami county, becoming his wife. After his marriage Mr. Powell and his bride lived on a rented farm until 1904, in which year he purchased one hun- dred acres of land on section 35, Warren township, and in 1905 he took up his residence there with his family. He has prospered in his farming activities, and has one of the productive and presentable places of the township.
To Mr. and Mrs. Powell four children have been born. George, the eldest, is a graduate of the common schools. He married Delilah Harter, and they live on the Harter farm. Bennie is now attending school, as is
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also John. The eldest child was a daughter, Nora E., who was married in 1908 to Sterling Dubbs, and to that union one child was born. In 1911, on October 18th, she and her husband and child were killed in an automobile by a train on the Wabash Railroad west of Huntington. The automobile was driven by George Bectold, but he was not killed.
Mr. Powell is a member of Antioch Lodge, No. 410, A. F. & A. M., and of Westpoint Lodge, No. 688, I. O. O. F. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren church, and are sincere and well meaning church people, of many excellent traits. Mr. Powell's political and civic ac- tivities have already been touched upon, so that further mention of that phase of his career is scarcely necessary at this point, and it will suffice to say that he is a man who has the best interests of his township and county at heart, and that his citizenship is of the type that bespeaks progress and civic well being for the community in which its possessor may reside.
WILLIAM H. BITZER. One of the prosperous German farming men of Dallas township and one of the best citizens of the community is Wil- liam H. Bitzer, who is a native son of Wabash county, born in Lagro township on March 4, 1859. Much of his life was passed in that county, and he had his early education there. He is a son of John and Christian (Young) Bitzer, both natives of Germany, who came to the United States with their parents as young people. They met in Wabash county, In- diana, and there were married. The father acquired a farm through the exercise of his inherent qualities of thrift and energy, after spending some time in the construction work on the Wabash & Erie Canal, and he prospered in his farming activities, spending his later years in practical retirement. Of the nine children born to them, five are living at this time, Mary, Josephine, Sarah, Louise and William H., of this review.
William H. Bitzer was reared on the home farm, and had his educa- tion in the district schools. He came to Huntington county, settling in Dallas township in 1892, and here he has come to be the owner of a comfortable and productive farm, that, in response to his care, yields him a nice income. Of his lands, which comprise two hundred acres, about ninety-four acres lie in his Dallas township farm, while the re- mainder are in Wabash county, Lagro township. He has farmed credit- ably as did his father, and he is situated most comfortably as a result of his industry.
Mr. Bitzer is a member of the Evangelical church, and is a class leader in that body. He is also a trustee, and is superintendent of the Sunday school, a post he has held for some years. Politically he has long been a republican, but in the campaign of 1912 he cast his vote with the progressive side. He is a member of the township advisory board and has been for some time. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Trust Company at Huntington and in the Farmers' National Life Insurance Company of East Chicago.
In 1883 Mr. Bitzer married Hannah Wiedenhoft, who was born in Ohio, and three children were born to them. Iona, the wife of Clarence
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Baker; Ralph, a resident of Coleman, Michigan; and Clarence, who was graduated from the Andrews high school before he was sixteen years of age, and is now a student at the North Manchester College.
In the autumn of 1898 the wife and mother died, and in 1903 Mr. Bitzer married Cora Duffy. Four children have blessed this second mar- riage, Nondas, Chester, Homer and Lawrence. The family are prominent in the community, where Mr. Bitzer is recognized among the most upright and progressive men of Dallas township.
SAMUEL H. PALMER was born on the farm which he now owns and occupies, and his entire life thus far has been spent in associa- tion with his present surroundings. He reached manhood with a goodly training in agriculture, which he has since put to excellent use as the owner and proprietor of the old home place, and he is today re- garded among the men of the community as one of the most success- ful and prosperous farmers hereabout. Mr. Palmer was born on May 22, 1874, and he is a son of Jacob and Eliza (Bumbaugh) Palmer, the father being now deceased, though the mother yet survives. They were the parents of ten children, eight of whom are now living, and those who survive are here briefly mentioned as follows: Henry L., of Huntington county ; Sarah E., the wife of G. W. Paul; Rebecca, wife of Levi Hend- ricks; Catherine E., who married Frank Emery; Samuel H., of this re- view; Ella, the wife of Aaron Shideler of Lancaster township; W. D. Palmer of Huntington, Indiana; and Naomi, the wife of Otto Fulton of Lancaster township.
Samuel H. Palmer was reared on the home farm and had his educa- tion, somewhat limited in its nature, in the township schools which he attended in the winter seasons, as was the prevailing custom of the locality with the farming people. When he married in 1900, he was twenty-six years of age, and he brought his young wife to the old home of which he had assumed the management and of which he later came into the ownership. Effie Freel was the young lady of his choice, and they were married on March 3, 1900. She was born in Rock Creek township in November, 1879, and is a daughter of David R. Freel. She had her education in the schools of Huntington township, where she was for the most part reared, and she has borne her husband six children. Carl R., the eldest, is twelve years old; May I. is eleven; Howard W. is now eight years of age; Elizabeth A. is four; Edith M. is two years old and the baby, Ruth F., is three months old at this writing.
Mr. Palmer has prospered in his independent farming and takes a leading place among the farming men of the town. He is popular in social and other circles of the community, and is a member of Star of Hope Lodge No. 464, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a mem- ber of the Grand Lodge. He is also Past Chief Patriarch and a mem- ber of the Encampment, No. 232. He is a member of Browns Corners Lodge of Rebekahs, No. 348, and a member of the Knights of the Macca- bees at Huntington, Indiana.
Mr. Palmer is a democrat, but has never been an office seeker, prac-
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tically his only office being the one he holds at present of Superintendent of the Kelso Gravel Road, and he has done excellent work in that capac- ity. He is also a road contractor and is at the present time building five miles of road in Rock Creek township, known as the George Paul road and the Henderson road.
LEVI M. CONNELL. On section 18 of Clear Creek township, resides one of the progressive and highly esteemed farmer citizens of Hunt- ington county. Mr. Connell has spent most of his life in Indiana and for many years has been identified with the agricultural industry of Huntington county. His estate comprises seventy-two acres of land, all of it well improved and farmed according to the best standards of crop raising in this section of the state. His long-continued industry has given him the reward of a substantial place in the community, and sufficient prosperity for the wants of himself and family.
Levi M. Connell was born in Stark county, Ohio, March 29, 1859, a son of Joseph and Charity (Bowman) Connell. Both parents were natives of Ohio, where they were married and then located in Stark county. In 1865 the family moved from Ohio to Kosciusko county, In- diana, and about 1876 the father established his home in Whitley county, which was his home until his death. Of the eight children six are still living, those besides Levi M. being as follows: Leander W., of Columbia City, Indiana; Henrietta, wife of David Workman of Columbia City; Rachael, wife of M. L. Butterbaugh of Monroe county, Indiana; Mrs. Hattie Moore; May, wife of Ollis Carter of Whitley county.
Levi M. Connell was six years old when the family came to Indiana, and his education was acquired in the public schools of his native state. He grew up on a farm, and when the time arrived for him to make a choice of vocations his selection was the business to which he had been trained from boyhood. On August 28, 1884, Mr. Connell married Martha E. Royer of Wabash county. She was born in that county in 1864. To their marriage have been born two children, the only now liv- ing being Edith M., who was born August 17, 1885, graduated from the Clear Creek high school, the State Normal school, and the Terre Haute State Normal, and is now one of the successful teachers in Clear Creek township. Mrs. Connell is a member of the Dunkard church. The pol- itics of Mr. Connell is republican, and he has manifested much interest in local affairs, and has always been ready to take his part in any move- ment for the advancement of the community welfare.
SAMUEL M. DEHAVEN. No better illustration of Huntington county agriculture in its most progressive and prosperous phase could be found than on the stock farm of Samuel M. DeHaven in Rock Creek township. Mr. DeHaven is known as the owner and proprietor of Pleasant Hill Stock Farm, located on section 10 of the township, three and a half miles southwest of Markle. Mr. DeHaven has prospered as a business man, has established a good home, and has a pleasant family about him and stands high in the esteem of his fellow citizens. Twenty or twenty-
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five years ago, it is instructive to note, he was employed as a common laborer in a brick yard, and it was as a result of careful economy and per- sistent application year in and year out that he won his substantial position.
Samuel M. DeHaven was born on a farm in Rock Creek township, September 22, 1865. He was one of the three children of Joseph and Hannah (Ewart) DeHaven. His father is still living and a resident of Rock Creek township. The other two children were: Caroline E., wife of C. M. Lantis of Wells county, Indiana; and Albert M., who married Emma Hoover, and is a farmer in Rock Creek township.
The early years of Samuel M. DeHaven were spent on the old home farm in Huntington county. During the winter months he attended with more or less regularity the district schools, and learned the practical lessons of farming at home during the summer months. That was his manner of life until he was twenty-one years old, and his father then gave him a horse and buggy and permission to start life on his own ac- count. For eighteen months he was employed by W. H. Heindel in the latter's brick yard. His wages during this time were eighteen dol- lars a month, and by strict savings he had some capital to broaden his operation on an independent basis. After that he rented a farm from Mr. Heindel and cropped it for two years. On March 28, 1891, Mr. De- Haven took his next important step in life when he married Matilda E. Heindel, a daughter of his former employer, W. H. Heindel. Mrs. De- Haven was born April 9, 1870. She received her education in the dis- trict schools of Rock Creek township, and has proved herself a capable assistant to her husband and an excellent home maker. There are three children : Orla V., who graduated from the Rock Creek township high school, is a farmer in that township, and married Mae Brown; Hazel, a graduate of the high school is now teaching in her home township; Ilene is a student in the Rock Creek high school. Mr. DeHaven affiliates with Markle Lodge No. 423 of the Knights of Pythias, and in politics is a democrat. At his home place, Pleasant Hill Stock Farm he has one hundred and eighty-three acres of land, and owns eighty-two and a quarter acres situated elsewhere in the same township. His business is that of general farming and stock raising, and his success in that line is hardly second to that of any other Rock Creek township citizen. He is also one of the stock holders in the Farmers' Trust Company at Hunt- ington.
HENRY I. KRESS. The sterling citizenship of Huntington county is well represented by Henry I. Kress, a prosperous farmer of Jackson town- ship, whose services have frequently been required by his community and by the county at large. His home place of eighty acres in Jack- son township is a farm that might well be envied by his neighbors, and in farming, as in every one of his activities and undertakings, Mr. Kress displays the quiet efficiency which wins success against all odds.
Henry I. Kress was born in Lafayette township of Allen county, In- diana, March 27, 1854. He is one of a large family of fourteen chil-
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dren, seven of whom are still living born to Walter and Eliza (Pollock) Kress. His father came from Pennsylvania, and his mother from Mary- land, and are both now deceased, having passed away in Allen county, where they were substantial farming people for many years.
Henry I. Kress grew up on a farm, attended the district school, and lived at home and made himself useful to his family, and at the same time acquired some degree of prosperity for himself until he was twenty- five years of age. He was then married to Miss Sarah E. Brandstater, of Allen county, where she was reared and educated. In 1894 Mr. and Mrs. Kress moved to Huntington county, locating on their present farm in Jackson township. To their marriage were born four children, and three arc still living: Lida, is the wife of Henry DcArmett and is a graduate of the Roanoke high school; Nellie is a graduate of the Roanoke high school and wife of Frank Kress, their home being in California ; Henry Kress, Jr., after graduating from the Roanoke high school, and taking a course in Valparaiso University is now connected with a bond- ing company in Chicago. The family are active workers and members in the Methodist Episcopal church at Roanoke, and Mr. Kress is one of the trustees of the society. He takes much interest in fraternal mat- ters, being affiliated with Roanoke lodge of the Masonic Order, and is a past noble grand of Little River Lodge No. 275, I. O. O. F. As a re- publican his political influence has been of value to his party, and as a good citizen he never neglects an opportunity to advance the prosperity and welfare of his community. He is the present jury commissioner of this county.
LEON L. WISNER. A native son of Huntington county, who has spent his entire career within its borders, Leon L. Wisner is now one of the substantial agriculturists of Dallas township, where he is the owner of a fine farm of eighty acres, known as the George W. Cheesbro farm, and located two miles north and one-half mile east of Andrews. His life has been characterized by industry, perseverance and carnest effort, and such prosperity as has come to him is but a fitting reward for his labors, for when he entered upon his career he had little capital save his own de- termination and ambition. Mr. Wisner was born at Mount Etna, Hunt- ington county, Indiana, September 12, 1868, and is a son of Calvin R. and Adeline (Jones) Wisner.
The Wisner family originated in Norway, from whence two brothers came to the United States, and all of the name in this country are re- lated in some way to these progenitors. Calvin R. Wisner was born in Allegheny county, New York, a son of Ananias and Annis Wisner, and was reared and educated in his native state there learning the trade of harnessmaker. On coming to Indiana he located at Mount Etna, where he became the proprietor of a harnessmaking establishment, and for twenty years was a justice of the peace, being favorably known alike in the business field and as a public official. Subsequently, he came to An- drews, where he conducted a shop for five years and then purchased the old Thomas Moore farm, in Dallas township, upon which he made his home and continued to carry on operations until the time of his death in
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1882. He was the father of seven children, of whom six are living at this time : Cora, the wife of Albert Chubb; Blanche, who is the wife of Albert Leedy, of Texas; Elfie, the wife of Oliver Leedy, of Battle Creek, Mich- igan ; Laura, who is the wife of Charles Keefer, of Dallas township ; Roy, of Howard, Kansas; and Leon L.
Leon L. Wisner received his early education in the district schools in the vicinity of his father's farm in Dallas township, following which he spent two terms in the Valparaiso schools. At that time he secured his certificate and entered upon educational work, for two years being a popular teacher in the public schools of his section, although during the summer months he devoted a great deal of attention to farming. Mr. Wisner was married to Miss Estella Comstock, who was born at Martins- ville, Illinois, and a graduate of the high school of Andrews, Indiana, daughter of Prof. J. C. Comstock. Five of their six children are still living : Ruth, a graduate of the Andrews High school; Leila and Thelma B., graduates of the graded schools; and Clarence R. and Howard L., who are students. The members of the family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church at Andrews. Mr. Wisner was a republican in his po- litical affiliation until the campaign of 1912, at which time he trans- ferred his allegiance to the new progressive party.
After his marriage Mr. Wisner was employed for four years as fire- man on the Wabash Railroad, but resigned his position to engage in agricultural pursuits, in which he has since been engaged. His farm of eighty acres is under a high state of cultivation, and gives evidence of his skill and good management as a farmer and breeder of good livestock. He uses modern methods and machinery in his work, and is able to make his land pay him well for the labor he expends upon it. He is thor- oughly reliable in his business transactions, and has made his name an honored one on commercial paper. Mr. Wisner has the welfare of his community at heart, and his unselfish support of all movements making for the betterment of Huntington county stamp him as belonging to the substantial class of citizens to whom the section is indebted for its progress and advancement.
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