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 7
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On April 7, 1887, was recorded the marriage of Mr. Gesaman to Miss Mary C. Lawrie, who was born March 28, 1863, in Huntington town- ship, and whose parents, George and Margaret (Lillie) Lawrie, hon- ored citizens of this county, met a tragic death, both having been killed by a mad and infuriated bull; the animal attacked them on their home farm and Mrs. Lawrie having met death when she went to the assistance of her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Gesaman have two daugh- ters: Jennie H., wife of Prof. Merrill Schell, who is superintend- ent of the public schools of the village of Roanoke, this county ; and Edith L., who was graduated in the Huntington high school in the class of 1913, and who is now a successful and popular teacher in the schools of her home county. Both daughters have also received musical instruction. The pretty homestead of Mr. and Mrs. Gesaman is known as "Green Lawn Grange."
JOHN W. GESAMAN. No class of citizens is more worthy of specific consideration in this historical publication than the sterling men who stand forth as able and worthy representatives of the great basic indus- tries of agriculture and stock-growing as applied to Huntington county, and particularly deserving of such recognition is the prosperous and enterprising farmer and highly esteemed citizen whose name initiates this paragraph and whose finely improved landed estate is situated in Hunt- ington township. He is the more entitled to such representation by reason of the fact that he is a native son of the county and a member of an old and honored family whose name has been worthily linked with the industrial and social development and upbuilding of this favored sec- tion of the state. In Huntington township, this county, John W. Gesa- man was born on the 2d of July, 1865, and he is a son of John H. and Saralı C. (Lonas) Gesaman, who were early settlers of Huntington
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county and who continued to reside on their old homestead farm, in Huntington township, until their death, both having commanded the inviolable confidence and respect of all who knew them. John H. Gesa- man was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, on the 4th of May, 1836, and in the same county was born his father, Samuel Gesaman, who was a representative of one of the staunch German families that settled in the old Keystone state in the pioneer days. John H. Gesaman was reared to maturity in Pennsylvania and as a young man he removed thence to Ohio, from which latter state he came to Indiana and estab- lished his home in Huntington county, where he became the owner of a good farm, much of the land having been reclaimed and developed by him, and he remained on this old homestead, in Huntington township, aged seventy-eight years. His cherished and devoted wife died, aged forty-nine years, on November 19, 1884, both having been consistent mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. They became the parents of six children, concerning whom the following brief record is given: Mary is the wife of Samuel Scott and they maintain their home in Huntington county ; Frank E. is a prosperous farmer in the state of Montana; Samuel M. is numbered among the substantial agriculturists of Hunting- ton township, as is also John W., of this review, who was the next in order of birth ; Jennie is the wife of Frank Minton, a farmer in the same township; and Charles W., likewise is a representative of the agricultural industry in Chautauqua county, New York.
John W. Gesaman profited much through the sturdy discipline of the home farm in the days of his youth, as did he also by that afforded in the district schools, which he attended principally during the winter months, when his assistance was not demanded in the work of the farm. He remained at the parental home until he had attained to his legal majority, and this event was soon afterward marked by his assumption of connubial responsibilities, as his marriage to Miss Laura A. Zintsmaster was solem- nized on the 10th of March, 1887. Mrs. Gesaman having been born and reared in Polk township, this county. After his marriage Mr. Gesaman rented the home farm, his mother having passed to the life eternal in the preceding year, and he thus continued his operations for a period of three years. He then purchased land of his own, in his native township, and here he now has a productive and well improved farm of one hundred and thirty-one acres, devoted to diversified agriculture and to the raising of high-grade live stock. Perseverance, industry and good management have enabled Mr. Gesaman to win success worthy of the name, and he is one of the prosperous farmers and representative citizens of the township which has ever been his home, the while his attitude is that of a loyal and public-spirited citizen, the family having a circle of friends that is lim- ited only by that of specific acquaintanceship.
In politics Mr. Gesaman has been found aligned with the Republican party, but in the national election of 1912 he gave his support to the Pro- gressive party, under the leadership of Col. Theodore Roosevelt. He is not formally identified with any religious organization, but accords a lib- eral support to the Methodist Episcopal church at Greenwood, of which
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his wife and three of their children are members. Mr. and Mrs. Gesaman have four children: Edward E., who wedded Miss Eva Shearer, and they have two daughters, Ruth and Esther; Daniel H., the maiden name of whose wife was Elsie Funderburgh; Sarah E., who is the wife of Charles Campbell; and Mary E., who remains at the parental home, hav- ing finished the eighth grade. The pretty home of Mr. and Mrs. Gesaman is called the "Elm Lawn Farm."
SAMUEL F. GEESMAN. In the farming district of Huntington town- ship 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 F. Geesman. For a number of years he has lived in this community, is known as an excellent farmer, and a man who can be depended upon in matters of local con- cern, and while managing a large farm he has taken much inter- est in local public affairs, and has been one of the leaders in the good road movement in this section of Indiana. His homestead is well known under the title "The Oak Grove Stock Farm."
Samuel F. Geesman was born in Stark county, Ohio, April 16, 1853, a son of Samuel and Mary (Hargelrode) Geesman. The parents were both natives of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, where they were reared and educated, and were married. From there they moved to Starke county, Ohio, and in the spring of 1881 located in Huntington county. Here the father passed away on July 28, 1886, and the mother in August, 1896. Six of their nine children are still living mentioned as follows: John Geesman; Mary, wife of John Hensel, of Starke County, Ohio; Sarah, wife of Henry Lonas, of Starke County; Jacob W. Geesman of Huntington township; Margaret, wife of Nicholas Zeigler of Huntington township.
A farm in Stark county, Ohio, was the scene of Mr. Geesman's early association, and during his boyhood his education was acquired by attendance at the local public schools. Arriving at his majority, his first independent venture in life was to rent the old homestead and conduct it under his own management. On October 7, 1877, Mr. Geesman mar- ried Miss Olive M. Marks, who was born and reared in Ohio. Her father was a native of Ohio, and her mother of Pennsylvania, having been brought to Ohio by her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Geesman started out with little capital, and about thirty years ago came to Huntington county, where they bought one hundred and sixty acres of land. At the present time, his farm three and a half miles southwest of Huntington on the Geesman road, comprises one hundred and seventy-five acres. Its culti- vation has been conducted on business principles, and the fertility of the soil is today greater than it was when he first took possession, a fact which in itself indicates his progressive management. Among other improvements, Mr. Geesman has ditched all the lowland, and now owns what is considered one of the model farms in his township.
To himself and wife were born two sons: Wilbur H., born October 22, 1879, is a graduate of the Huntington Business University, and is
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now superintendent of the blast plant in the Gary Steel plant at Gary, Indiana. He married Miss Charlotte Duke and has his home in the great manufacturing center on the Lake Shore. Leroy O., born June 11, 1884, is a graduate of the Huntington township high school at the age of seventeen, and is a farmer. He married Prudence Fulton, a daugh- ter of Francis Fulton. The family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church at Greenwood, in which Mrs. Geesman takes an active part. Mr. Geesman has been for a number of years one of the leading republicans in Huntington township, and has been a delegate to county and state conventions, but in the campaign of 1912 he voted the progressive party ticket. His chief work in behalf of the community welfare has been done in connection with the public roads, and he has served as superintendent of several gravel roads in this county.
Mr. and Mrs. Geesman are citizens who have taken the good of their money in travel, and seeing the country. They have a five passenger Buick car, in which they take much pleasure. The name Geesman was originally spelled "Gessaman."
JAMES E. MEYER. A school of non-medical theraphy known as chiro- practic, has one of its ablest representatives in James E. Meyer, who is a vigorous chiropractor, and since locating in Huntington has overcome a great deal of prejudice and has surrounded himself with a large and profitable practice which now absorbs all his time and energy.
James E. Meyer is a native of Wabash county, Indiana, where he was born June 29, 1884, the fourth son of Amos W. and Henrietta (Geiger) Meyer. The father was born in Pennsylvania, was an early settler in Ohio, was a farmer by occupation, and from Ohio came to Lagro, Wabash county, where he bought a farm and spent there the rest of his active career. Late in life he moved to Texas, where he now lives retired.
James E. Meyer grew up in the vicinity of Lagro, was a farmer boy, but early saw larger things in store for him than the quiet vocation of agriculture. He received education by attendance at the district schools, and later at the city schools, and began his studies in the Palmer School of Chiropractic. Later he returned to the farm, and finally came to Huntington and began the practice of his profession. He had a strong opposition to overcome, but by diligence and close application has won a reputation and success in his chosen calling. His office is one of the best equipped in the county, having all the necessary appliances for the conduct of his large and growing business. He has treated success- fully many difficult cases, and these have contributed to his reputation among the people of his county. The office is located in the Clayton Block in the central part of the business district.
Dr. Meyer married Miss Florence Speicher of Wabash, a daughter of Samuel C. and Samantha (Bohnstead) Speicher. They are the parents of three children: Hulda, Bertha and Eva Lois. The doctor and family reside at 717 South Jefferson Street, one of the best resident streets on the south side, and their home is a substantial and modern
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dwelling in all its appointments. Dr. Meyer is a man of fine physique and of pleasing manner and has a large career of usefulness before him.
OTTO U. KING, D. D. S. One of the best known dental practitioners in the Middle West, Dr. Otto U. King, of Huntington, has probably done more to contribute to the advancement and progress of his profession in Indiana than any other man. In his capacity as secretary of the Indiana State Dental Association during the past six years he has almost quad- rupled this society's membership, and his influence, always for good, is felt in every phase of the calling's activity. Doctor King has risen steadily from the ranks, gaining promotion through merit and achieve- ment, and a resume of the salient points of his career should prove interesting not alone to those of the profession, but to all who admire self-made manhood. Like many of our most successful men, Doctor King is a product of the farm, having been born on his father's homestead in Rock Creek township, Huntington county, Indiana, March 18, 1873. His father, Francis M. King, was a son of Samuel King, the latter a native of Montgomery county, Ohio, born in 1827. The grandfather marricd Sarah A. Cussic and in 1865 removed to Huntington county, Indiana, where he purchased a farm of 247 acres, a property which is now considered the finest in the county. Here he continued to reside during the remainder of his life, achieving success through industry, thrift and well-applied effort. In politics he early allied himself with the whig party, but at the formation of the republican party joined that organiza- tion and continued one of its enthusiastic supporters. He was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and for many years served as an official and as a member of the board of trustees. His father, John King, was a native of Pennsylvania, from which state he removed to Ohio when the latter was still in its infancy.
Francis M. King was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, August 1, 1850, and was about fifteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to Huntington county. As was usual with farmers' youths of his day, he worked in the summer months and went to school in the winters, and thus arrived at his majority, when, with money he had saved from his earnings, he purchased a small farm in Rock Creek township, and gradually added thereto until today he owns a large and well-improved property. He dwelt upon this land until the year 1890, at which time he came to Huntington, and here conducted a meat market for ten years. He then rented both his market and his farm, and from that time to the present has concentrated his energies upon looking after his extensive property interests.
Like his father, Mr. King has always been a republican. Although active in party councils, he has always been too busy to seek office, although he has the public welfare at heart. He has taken as prominent part in fraternal life as he has in business, being a leading Odd Fellow of his part of the state, and in nearly all of its branches has filled numcr- ous positions of trust and responsibility. He and his entire family are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has
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served faithfully as a member of the board of trustees for many years, as well as being superintendent of the Sunday school while a resident of Rock Creek township.
On November 15, 1870, Francis M. King was united in marriage with Miss Xantha N. Souers, daughter of Jacob F. and Ruth (Merriam) Souers, she being a native of Huntington county and born October 9, 1852. To this union there were born two sons: Otto U., of this re- view, and Emmett O., a graduate of the Huntington High school, the State University at Bloomington, Indiana, later principal of the Warren High school, and in 1901 a graduate of Harvard Law school, and since that time a well-known practicing attorney of Huntington.
The boyhood days of Dr. Otto U. King were passed on the home farm during the summer months, while the short winter terms were devoted to attendance in the district schools. He thus continued until his six- teenth year, at which time he moved with his parents to Huntington, and there he furthered his education in the Huntington High school, where he gave promise of future ability by winning while in his junior year the S. M. Sailer gold medal for being the best orator in his class. After his graduation from high school, in 1893, he spent one year in the University of Indiana at Bloomington, and following this entered upon his professional studies as a student in the Chicago Dental College, a course of one year at that institution being followed by a course of two years at Northwestern University, where he was graduated with the class of 1897, receiving the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. He was at all times a popular student in college, and served as vice president of his class in the Chicago Dental College, and as president of the senior class in the Northwestern University Dental School.
Doctor King chose Huntington as his field of practice, and here he has continued to the present time, his professional business now being a large and representative one. He has always kept green the memories and associations of college days, and thoroughly interests himself in the social as well as the business relations of his calling. He is a member of the Beta Thi Pi fraternity of the University of Indiana, at Blooming- ton, and of the Delta Sigma Delta fraternity. Nor has he ever ceased being a student, for his researches and investigations have been contim- ous, he has kept himself fully abreast of the various advancements in his vocation, and in June, 1913, took a post-graduate course at North- western University, Chicago, and was president of the post-graduate class.
Probably no man in the state is better known in dental societies than is Doctor King. A member of the Odontographic Society of Chicago, and of various other smaller associations, he has been honored by election to offices of the utmost responsibility in the larger organiza- tions, and in every case has ably and faithfully discharged the duties devolving upon him. In 1907 he was elected secretary of the Indiana State Dental Association, an office which he has held continuously to the present time, with the result that the membership of this society has increased from 275 to more than 1,000 members. This association is one of the best organized and best directed societies in the West, and
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as an example of the high esteem in which Doctor King's services are held by his fellow members, we are allowed to quote from the presenta- tion speech of Dr. R. R. Gillis, of Hammond, Indiana, at the meeting of the society, held at Indianapolis, May 22, 1913. Doctor Gillis said in part as follows :
"We have in our Society a man who has ever been alert to the welfare of this organization; a man who has spent many long hours in study of ways and means for furthering the interests of the Indiana State Dental Society; a man whose efforts have placed our Society at the top when compared with the other state societies of the United States. This man is Dr. Otto U. King, our esteemed secretary. One line from him, that was embodied in a letter received by all of us recently, has been indelibly impressed upon my mind-'What kind of a society would we have if all the members were like you?' This question is asked each of us to ask ourselves. How many did? And what were the replies ? 'What kind of a society would we have in Indiana, if all of us were like our Doctor King?' I would like to ask. I dare say without fear of dispute that, were we all like our most efficient secretary, we would have reached the ideal dental society.
"Doctor King's labors for our cause have been most unselfish; his reward has been insignificant and entirely incommensurate to the time and energy spent; mere money could not buy the service he has so freely given. So, with the idea of showing that this organization is not blind to the debt of gratitude we owe, we have secured a little token which it is now my proud pleasure to bestow upon our brother- man. Doctor King, it is indeed a happy time when we are able to express thanks and appreciation to you for all that you have done for us in the past years. This comes as a surprise to you, and since it is a surprise it really is the more sincere. Take this ring from us and wear it always, knowing that forever we are your loving friends and, as you look upon it from time to time, know that every scintillation from this true stone is a wish from a true friend for your future happiness, health and prosperity. And, Doctor King, you alone are not the only one who has made a sacrifice that our Society might prosper. The members of your family have often been deprived of the father's com- pany when he worked late; often have they suffered unintentional slights when you were so busy for us; many times perhaps have they received a short reply when your mind was proccupied with our affairs. We are not unmindful of those for whose happiness you are primarily always laboring. This token of our esteem is for the home-folks; take it to them with our best wishes and kindest regards."
The magnificent diamond ring will always remain one of Doctor King's most valued possessions; the token for the "home-folks" was a beautiful cut glass vase. Doctor King is also editor of the Official Bulletin, published in Indiana, which was established in 1913 at the meeting of the National Dental Association, which assembled at Kansas City, Missouri, at which time the Doctor was elected national secretary. The present membership of the National Dental Association numbers
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24,000, the largest dental organization in the world. The Doctor is also the editor of the Official Bulletin of the National Dental Association.
While the Doctor's practice and official duties demand a great deal of his time, he has still found opportunity to identify himself promi- nently with religious work. In connection with the First Methodist Episcopal church in Huntington, he served as superintendent of the Sunday school for thirteen years, during which time the membership increased from 375 to over 2,000 pupils, making it probably the largest Sunday school of the denomination in the state at that time. Subse- quently he helped to organize two other Sunday schools, one in 1911 and one in 1913, one being the St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal of Huntington, the Doctor being one of the four trustees of that church, as well as a member of the board of trustees of the First Methodist Episcopal church. At present he is active, using his influence and means in the building of a new Methodist Episcopal church, not to cost less than $60,000, and of this lie is a member of the building committee. Mrs. King is also a devoted member of the church, and has been active in its movements and its manifold charities. Doctor King is a member of the Commercial Club. His political belief makes him a republican, but politics have played only a small part in his life. He was appointed by President Woodrow Wilson as a delegate to the Sixth International Dental Congress to be convened in London, Eng- land, in 1914.
On December 23, 1898, Doctor King was married to Miss Mayme Beaver, daughter of Daniel G. and Miranda (Hawley) Beaver. She was born March 16, 1876, in Huntington county, Indiana, and lias been the mother of two children, Helen Alberta, who was born February 12, 1900, and Walter W., born May 31, 1902.
FRANCIS IRVING STULTS. The technical education of the practitioner of law avails him but little unless he had laid a foundation for it of broad general knowledge and made a careful study of human nature. When he took up the practice of law Francis Irving Stults, of Hunting- ton, brought to the profession a mental equipment such as few men acquire save after a lifetime of study. For several years he had been an educator, teaching the common branches in the public schools and later specializing in college. Having as a student earned the degrees of Bachelor of Philosophy and Bachelor of Laws, he found opportunity to perfect his knowledge of law, and with this thorough preparation was able to almost immediately make a place for himself among the successful men of his profession. He has also been a decided factor in political affairs in his county, and at the present time is serving effi- ciently in the capacity of postmaster of Huntington.
Mr. Stults is a native of the county in which he now resides, having been born in Clear Creek township, of German and Scotch descent. His father, William Stults, came from Stark county, Ohio, in 1848, and after a trip overland settled in Huntington county, clearing a farm in Clear Creek township, where the son was born. When still
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a child, Francis I. Stults moved with his parents to a farm just north of the town of Huntington, on the Stults road, where he was reared, and from which place he attended the districts schools of the locality. This training was supplemented by attendance at the Huntington High school, where he was graduated in June, 1893, and in the following year he completed the course of the Huntington Business University. He became, in 1895, a student of DePauw University, at Greencastle, Indiana, from which institution he was graduated in 1898, with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. While in that college he made an enviable record along various lines. He was a member of the Phi Delta Theta, Theta Nu Epsilon and Kappa Phi Omricon, Kappa class fraternities, and in his junior and senior years, in addition to carrying his regular courses, participated actively in college politics, having been elected business manager of the college annual and twice elected manager of the College Glee and Mandolin Clubs, which he conducted on tours through the states of Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Kentucky. From 1898 to 1900 Mr. Stults served as principal of high schools, first at Monument City, Indiana, and later in Huntington township, and when he gave up educational work temporarily entered the Harvard University Law School, at Cambridge, Massachusetts. This, together with work done at the Universities of New York and Columbia, completed his law course in 1904. In that year he accepted the professorships of English Oratory and Commercial Law, at Peekskill Military Academy, Peekskill, New York, but after two years returned to Huntington, where he has since been engaged in the successful practice of his profession. He early entered politics, and after serving as precinct committeeman and vice-chairman and chairman of the county republican committee, was in 1907 made a member of the republican state committee from the Eleventh Indiana Congressional District, a capacity in which he acted until 1911. In March, 1910, Mr. Stults was appointed by President Taft to the office of postmaster at Huntington, upon the recommendation of Sen. Albert J. Beveridge, and this position he has continued to capably fill to the present time. An alert, progressive citizen, well posted upon matters of importance of the day, he is doing all in his power to advance the best interests of his city, and both as lawyer and public official stands high in the confidence of the people of Huntington. Mr. Stults is unmarried.
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