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 8
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SAMUEL V. HITE, who has attained distinction by a successful busi- ness career and has been accorded public honors in recognition of his helpful and public-spirited citizenship, has been a resident of Hunt- ington county for comparatively but a few years, but during this time has demonstrated his ability in several lines of endeavor. In the office of county surveyor of Huntington county, he is continuing to render capable service to his adopted community and has made friends among the men of all political parties.
Mr. Hite is a native of Ohio, having been born near the town of Pleasantville, Fairfield county, August 16, 1866, the eldest son of John
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A. and Charity (Geiger) Hite. His grandfather, Samuel Hite, was born in Virginia, but in young manhood moved to Fairfield county, Ohio, and in 1804 settled on a farm in Walnut township, on which he carried on operations during the remainder of his life. There both hc and his wife Catherine passed away. Mr. Hite was a soldier in the American service during the War of 1812. John A. Hite was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, May 17, 1838, was educated in the public schools, and early adopted the calling of an agriculturist, to which he devoted the active years of his life and passed away on his farm. He achieved a satisfactory measure of success and was a man who gained the respect and esteem of those with whom he came into contact. Mr. Hite mar- ried Charity Geiger, who was born at Pleasantville, Ohio, and she still survives and makes her home in the city of Akron. To them there were born eight children, of whom seven are still living, four in Ohio and three in Huntington county, Indiana.
The early education of Samuel V. Hite was secured in the common schools of Fairfield county, which he attended during the winter months, giving the remainder of the year to assisting his father in the work of the homestead place. This primary training was supplemented by attendance at the Union Academy, and following this he went to Lebanon, Ohio, where he entered the National Normal University, and continued his studies for some time. In 1889 Mr. Hite came to Indiana, first locating near Markle, Huntington county, where he followed farm- ing and stock-raising until 1896. His next location was Wells county, Indiana, where he was identified with the oil business, his operations in this line later taking him to Grant county. After dealing in oil there for several years he came to Huntington county, and, locating in Rock Creek township, purchased forty-eight acres of land. For some years Mr. Hite has been actively interested in democratic politics. In 1912 he became his party's candidate for the office of county surveyor, was clected at the polls, and took office in May, 1913, for the term of two years. His administration of affairs has been eminently successful and satisfactory and has placed him in a very favorable light before the public. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and his genial and pleasing personality has made him popular with his fellow-members in the local lodge.
In 1890 Mr. Hite was married to Miss Ella Broyles, of Huntington county, daughter of John M. Broyles, formerly of Fairfield county, Ohio, and to this union there have been born five children : Hazel D., Harry B., who is a deputy in his father's office, John L., Augusta and Margaret.
JOHN GLASS KITCH. Huntington county has been the home of Mr. Kitch for sixty years, since his infancy. Many of the older residents recall him as a teacher in the district schools, and for nearly thirty years he has been identified with mercantile enterprise in the city of Huntington. Substantial prosperity has rewarded the efforts of Mr. Kitch during his career, and he is one of the men of high standing and integrity in his community.
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John Glass Kitch was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, April 16, 1852, and has lived in Huntington county since 1853. Daniel and Nancy (Glass) Kitch, to whom he was the oldest child born, were both natives of Columbiana county, Ohio, where they were reared, educated and married. Daniel Kitch, who was a farmer and carpenter, in 1853, came to Huntington county, locating on a farm in Clear Creek township. His first purchase of land amounted to eighty acres, and his thrift and industry added to that until he owned two hundred and forty acres, all of which he improved with fences, clearings, excellent buildings and for years he was one of the most prosperous farmers in the township. He was honored with the office of justice of the peace, and was noted for his many manly qualities and sterling integrity. His death occurred January 12, 1913. The mother of J. G. Kitch is still living.
On the home farm in Clear Creek township, John G. Kitch grew to manhood. His attendance at school was chiefly limited to the winter seasons, and later he attended the normal school in Huntington. His home was on the farm until 1885. In the meantime he had taken up the profession of teaching in the country, beginning with his nineteenth year, and altogether his career as an educator continued through eleven years. As a farmer he bought a portion of a farm adjoining the old homestead in Clear Creek township, comprising eighty acres, and was a successful farmer and stock raiser until 1885. In that year he moved to Huntington, and established a stock of groceries. His business as a grocer was conducted for fifteen years, and in 1900 he disposed of his goods and became associated as an employe with Marion B. Stults, and has given much efficient service to that well known Huntington merchant for the past fourteen years.
In 1878 Mr. Kitch married Miss Maggie E. Stults, a half-sister of Marion B. Stults. Her father was Jacob Stults, and her mother's maiden name was Kennedy. Mr. Kitch has two children: Dessie B., the wife of Dr. Wallace S. Grayston, a prominent physician and surgeon in Huntington, and Chester S. Kitch, who is in the real estate business at Fort Wayne. Mr. Kitch and wife have membership in the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Huntington, which he has served as treasurer for several years. His fraternal relations are with the -Im- proved Order of Red Men. Mr. Kitch owns valuable city property, which gives him an income, and a substantial residence on the corner of Byron and Washington Streets.
WILLIAM F. SMITH, M. D. Both professional success and influential activity as a citizen have marked the career of Dr. Smith in Huntington county, where he has been in active practice about thirteen years. Few physicians have accomplished or gained higher recognition in the profes- sion than Dr. Smith. An eclectic in practice, and a man of broad and liberal views, Dr. Smith in 1912 was elected president of the Indiana State Eclectic Medical Association. Until his removal to Huntington a few years ago, Dr. Smith was long engaged in practice at Bippus, and had one of the largest country practices enjoyed by any physician
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in this section of the state. In fact, the calls upon his service demanded so much time and energy that he was finally forced to abandon what was otherwise a most congenial location and relationship, and has since practiced in the cities of Marion and Huntington.
William Fulton Smith was born in Grant county, Indiana, November 30, 1864. His father, Francis Smith, was of an old American family, and several of his ancestors served on the American side in the war of the Revolution. His mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Ken- nedy, was born in Delaware county, Indiana, and of Scotch-Irish stock. The father and mother were married in Delaware county, and rearcd a family of twelve children, of whom brief mention is made of the fol- lowing: Jennie, wife of Elkanah Edwards, of Converse, Indiana ; Andrew J., deceased, who was a business man at Swayzee, in Grant county, first married Lydia Hayden, and later a Mrs. Gillian; Mary L., is the wife of John T. Rich, living in Liberty township, Grant county ; James W., who died in Missouri, married a Miss Elliott, a sister to the late Judge Elliott, and later married Mary A. Carmichael; John R., whose home is in Grant county, married Mattie Saylors; Rebecca became the wife of James Galbraith, a hardware merchant at Van Buren; Emma is the wife of James Ward, of Blackford county.
Dr. Smith was reared on his father's farm in Grant county. Up to his seventeenth year he attended the country school. In the meantime his ambition had been definitely directed toward the profession of medi- cine. As a means to that end he entered the drug store, learned practical pharmacy, and from his savings finally entered the Eclectic Medical College of Indianapolis, where he was graduated. Dr. Smith is a man of progressive temperament and ideals, and has never stopped learning. In 1895 he graduated from the Physio-Medical College of Indianapolis, and subsequently received a diploma from the Chicago Post Graduate School. In the meantime he had taken up practice and spent a short while at Marion and also for a while was at Indianapolis.
In 1897 Dr. Smith located at Bippus in Huntington county. His thorough equipment, his ready success, and his personal characteristics soon brought him a large patronage, and in a few years the calls upon his service were such that he might have been in active duty every hour out of the twenty-four. Night and day he was on the road, attending his patients over a broad territory extending about Bippus for many miles, and it was this incessant devotion to duty in handling one of the largest country practices in that part of the state that finally made it imperative that he transfer his office and practice to the city. He found it contrary to his desires to give up part of his practice while retaining the rest, and in order to solve the difficulty finally left Bippus altogether, in December, 1905. Moving to Marion, and locating in the Glass Block, he soon built up a good office business, but was not satisfied with his environment in Marion, and returned to Huntington county and opened his office in the city of Huntington, on January 1, 1908.
During his residence at Bippus, Dr. Smith served about two years
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as United States Pension Examiner, until he resigned in 1905, and moved to Marion. Also while at Bippus he was appointed a member of the board of health of the state. In 1912 he was honored with election as president of the Indiana State Eclectic Medical Association. He is examiner for a number of Life Insurance Companies, and chief medical examiner in this section of Indiana for the Farmers National Life Insurance Company, a new and growing corporation, whose busi- ness is done chiefly in the agricultural community.
Dr. Smith has taken two systems of medicine, and while an eclectic, he has no quarrel with other schools, and is a member of the Huntington County Medical Society of the regular school of medicine. Dr. Smith has qualified himself for his life work by his own untiring energy, and in addition, possesses a strong and sympathetic nature, well calculated to give him the confidence of his patients. As a typical family physi- cian, uniting both the characteristics of the old-time country doctor and the modern physician, he is regarded as one of the best in Hunt- ington county. He maintains a fine office, equipped with all modern appliances, has a good library, and keeps himself thoroughly informed on all the current thought and progress of his profession. He has contributed a number of articles to different periodicals, and his name is best known outside the immediate limits of his profession.
Fraternally he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has passed all the chairs in his lodge and represented the local order in the grand lodge of the state. He is also a member of the Woodmen of the World. In politics he was a Democrat up to 1898, and has since voted in the Republican interests. He is the president of the city board of health.
Dr. Smith first married Miss Ida M. Zirkle, a daughter of William and Amanda Zirkle, a family of German descent. Mrs. Smith died in Decem- ber, 1900, the mother of two children. The older of these, India Hazel, graduated from the common schools at the age of twelve, with the highest general average in the county, and has since finished the high school course and graduated from the Marion Normal College. The son, Ivan E., is now a graduate dentist from the Northwestern University of Chicago, has passed the State Board Examinations and is located at Mishawaka, Indiana. In January, 1902, Dr. Smith married Miss Fairy M. Howenstine. One son has been born to this union, Harold G. Smith, now about seven years of age.
DONALD A. PURVIANCE. One of Huntington's progressive and popu- lar citizens, who, by his own unaided efforts and individual worth, has gone forward step by step until he is now at the head of one of the city's most prominent industries, is Donald A. Purviance, president and treasurer of the firm of Weber & Purviance, extensive dealers in grain, hay, flour, feed, wire fence, livestock and wool. Although still a young man, Mr. Purviance's connection with large enterprises has given him a substantial standing among the men who are making Huntington a center of business activity, and his management of large affairs has been
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such as to gain the unqualified confidence of his associates in his ability.
Mr. Purviance has spent his entire life in Huntington, having been born in this city March 21, 1888, the only son of David A. and Elizabeth (McCaughey) Purviance. His father, who is identified with various interests industrial and financial here, is known as a capitalist, and his helpful activities have done and are doing much to promote and build up the city. The early education of Donald A. Purviance was acquired in the public and high schools of his native city, and after his gradua- tion from the latter he went to Worcester, Massachusetts, where he continued to pursue his studies for some time. Returning home, he soon entered the Indiana University, at Bloomington, where he took a two years' course, and then entered the University of Pennsylvania, in which institution of learning he spent one year. His advent in the world of business occurred in 1903, when he became a member of the firm of Weber & Purviance, which was incorporated during that same year with a capital stock of $50,000, Mr. Purviance being elected presi- dent and treasurer, offices which he has continued to ably fill to the present time. The building in Huntington in which the business is carried on is a capacious one, being 44x132 feet, is well stocked with a complete line of the company's products, and is well equipped with modern appliances and appurtenances for the successful transaction of business. Three elevators are maintained, one each at Huntington, Mardenis and Simpson, the last-named being managed by Charles Bluff- ton, although all are under the management of Weber & Purviance. These elevators are admirably and conveniently situated, being located on the lines of the Wabash, Erie and Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroads.
Mr. Purviance is unmarried. His political support has been given to the republican party, but his great business interests have pre- cluded any idea of his entering actively the field of politics. Beneficial movements in his community always have his hearty support and co- operation, however, for the welfare of his city has ever been near his heart. He has been prominent in fraternal circles, and at this time holds membership in Amity Blue Lodge No. 483, A. F. & A. M., and Huntington Chapter No. 27, R. A. M. He is a general favorite in social circles of the city and the number of his friendships is only limited by the size of his acquaintance.
LEWIS C. STRODEL. As a meat market supplying all the wants of a large trade and with all the best facilities of the business, the shop of Lewis C. Strodel at 620 N. Jefferson Street in Huntington leaves nothing to be desired, from any point of view from which it may be judged. Mr. Strodel was brought up in the meat business, which has put him in successful position in competition with the other business men of his community.
Born in the city of Huntington, September 11, 1858, he is the second son living of John G. Strodel. The father was born in Germany in September, 1802, emigrated to America in 1854, and after a brief period
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of entertainment at Castle Garden came to Huntington, where the father set up a small shop for the manufacture of sausage, which he later expanded to a general meat market. That was his business until his death, on May 16, 1876. His wife, who died in 1904, was Miss Anna B. Schalk, also a native of Germany.
Lewis C. Strodel was educated in the German Lutheran school, and had the privileges of school attendance up to his fourteenth year. After that he was in the public schools for a time. After his school days were finished he began learning the butchering trade with Nicholas Bayruther, and under the supervision of that skillful worker completed his practical knowledge of the trade. In 1882 Mr. Strodel started in business on his own account, and is now one of the oldest established men in his line in the city of Huntington. He has a large trade, and it has been his constant study and desire to furnish reliable service in every department of his business.
In 1883 Mr. Strodel married Miss Millie Bullerman. They are the parents of three children: Edward J., Meala and Paula. The family home is at 703 Oak Street. A democrat in politics, Mr. Strodel has never held office, although he has done a good deal in behalf of his friends in politics. He is an intelligent man, a lover of books and of good read- ing, and has a wide knowledge of politics and current affairs.
THE SAYLER FAMILY in Huntington county has borne an important part in the legal profession and in public affairs for more than half a century, and the following interesting sketch prepared by a mem- ber of the family is a very appropriate chapter in the biographical annals of the county.
The earliest known ancestor of the Sayler family was Burckhardt Sailer, a wealthy citizen of Nuremberg, Bavaria, who died in 1390 and lies buried in St. Siebald's Church behind the choir. The coat of arms of the Sayler (Sailer) family has on the helm (top) a black eagle, bear- ing on each of the wings and on the breast a lamp, the whole arranged in the form of a shield. There are still in Switzerland, living in the city of Berne and in official life, descendants of Burckhardt Sailer. The earliest progenitors in this country were Daniel and Jacob Sayler. They came to America in 1730 and first settled in Pennsylvania, but the family afterwards moved to Maryland. Daniel Sayler, the direct progenitor of the branch of the Sayler family who live in Huntington county, was born in 1708 in Switzerland. He became a man of wealth and influence, and died in Frederick county, Maryland, in 1778. Ten children were born to Daniel Sayler and his wife, Anna.
Their fourth child, Christian Sayler, was born March 8, 1742, and removed with his father to Frederick county, Maryland. He erected for himself a stone house and a stone mill and followed his trade, that of a miller. The stone house and the mill arc still standing, the mill still grinding wheat and corn for the country round about, telling its story of usefulness and reviving the memories of the days that are gone in the whirr of the millstone and in the rush of the water to its fore-bay. There
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were born to Christian and his wife ten children, the fourth of whom was Daniel, who was born on the eleventh day of March, 1770, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and who moved to Maryland with his father when he was quite young.
About the year 1800, after the death of his father, he moved with his mother to Franklin county, Virginia, and in 1807 moved to Preble county, Ohio, where he followed his trade as a miller and a millwright. He was prominent in the early politics of Ohio, being a member of the early legislatures of the state. He was a man of genial disposition and kindly character and was universally beloved. At his death on March 15, 1857, he was more than eighty-seven years of age. The writer of this sketch was present at his funeral-a babe less than a year old, thus making at this time the span of the two lives more than one hundred and forty-four years.
The seventh child of Hon. Daniel Sayler was Dr. Martin Z. Sayler, the father of Judge Henry B. Sayler. He was born on the thirtieth day of November, 1808, in Preble county, Ohio. On the seventeenth of June, 1835, he was married to Barbara Hipple, a daughter of Judge Henry Hipple. In 1836 he moved to Clinton county, Indiana, and there prac- ticed his profession, that of a physician and surgeon. He was renowned for his learning and skill in his profession, and practiced it for more than thirty years. Always greatly interested in public affairs, he was a mem- ber of the House of Representatives of the Indiana General Assembly during the years 1840 and 1841. He was a democrat until the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion, when he became a republican, and remained in that political faith until his death. In 1865, after retiring from the practice of medicine, he moved to Andrews, in Huntington county, and became engaged in farming. He died on the seventh day of March, 1884.
Judge Henry B. Sayler was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, on the 31st day of March, 1836, and died at Huntington, Indiana, on the 18th day of June, 1900. In 1836 when an infant he was taken with his parents to Clinton county, Indiana, where he spent his early boyhood. Judge Sayler's education was almost entirely that of the common schools. He attended Illinois Wesleyan University at Bloomington, part of one year, 1852-53, but was obliged to suspend his studies on account of diseased eyes. Not long afterward he began teaching school in Fulton county, Illinois, and studying law. In 1855 he went to Preble county, Ohio, where he taught school and studied law, and on the 24th day of February, 1859, was admitted to the bar of Ohio by the Supreme Court of that State. Afterward he was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the State of Indiana. On the 31st day of March, 1874, on his thirty- eighth birthday, he was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States on motion of the Hon. Luke P. Poland of Vermont. He was a member of the American Bar Association from 1889 until his death and had served on one of its most important committees.
On the 17th day of January, 1856, he was married to Isabella Hart, a daughter of Samuel Hart, late of Proble county, Ohio. In March, Vol. II-5
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1859, Judge Sayler with his family, moved to Indiana, first to Delphi, remaining there only a few weeks, and then coming to Huntington on the 12th day of May, where he continued to live until his death, with the exception of one year spent at Indianapolis and at Connersville. In 1872 he was elected to the House of Representatives in Congress from the tenth congressional district of Indiana as a Republican. He became distinguished in Congress in connection with the subject of patents, and was largely instrumental in relieving the country from the onerous exactions of the sewing machine combination, which was a powerful trust for those days.
On the fifteenth day of July, 1863, Judge Sayler joined the Union army, being mustered into the service as a first lieutenant. He was pro- moted through the several grades to that of major of the One Hundred and Eighteenth Regiment, Indiana Volunteers. With his regiment he was mustered out on the third day of March, 1864, having served his country in a campaign of severity and hardships not second to that of Valley Forge. This was the East Tennessee Campaign, around Knox- ville. He was in the battles of Tazewell, Blue Springs, Walker's Ford, and was in a number of skirmishes. He was slightly wounded at the battle of Walker's Ford. Later he was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was also a companion of the Indiana Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion.
On the fifteenth day of August, 1881, Governor Albert G. Porter appointed him judge of the twenty-eighth judicial circuit, composed of Huntington, Grant and Blackford counties. In 1882 he was elected his own successor for a term of six years, running ahead of his ticket. On the expiration of his term of office he declined renomination, and returned to the active practice of the law, forming a partnership with his sons, Samuel M. Sayler and John M. Sayler.
He was a member of the Presbyterian church of the city of Hunting- ton, and from 1868 until his death was an active ruling elder of the church. In 1890 Fort Wayne Presbytery sent him as its lay commis- sion to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., which met at Saratoga Springs, New York. At that meeting of the Assembly he was placed on the judicial committee, and on other special committees. He was selected by the General Assembly as one of the General Assem- bly's committee on the revision of the Confession of Faith, which was composed of fifteen ministers and ten elders, and he served on this com- mittee for two years until its discharge. Again in 1892 he was sent to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., which met at Portland, Oregon, and was an active member of that body. Wabash College in 1890 conferred on Judge Sayler the honorary degree of LL. D. In 1892, for reasons conclusive to him, he changed his party affiliations and became a prohibitionist, deeming the prohibition of the sale of intox- icating liquors by law to be the greatest question in politics. He con- tinued to act with that party until his death.
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