USA > Indiana > Huntington County > History of Huntington County, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc., together with a short history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the State of Indiana > Part 43
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GABRIEL ELLIS, hardware dealer, of Huntington, was born in Mason County, Ky., November 13, 1825. He is the second son in a family of seven children born to Thornton and Mercy (Chinnith) Ellis, the former a native of Virginia and the latter a native of Ohio, of English and Scotch-Irish descent, respectively. Our subject grew up to manhood in his native county, working upon his father's farm. At the age of twenty-three he left home and for two years thereafter he made his home with a brother- in-law in Bracken County, Ky. He then came to Huntington County and located in Clear Creek Township. There he was en- gaged in agricultural pursuits until 1878, at which time he came to the City of Huntington and engaged in the hardware business in partnership with Elias Hewitt. They have a large and com- modious room, well-stocked, and are doing a good business. October 15, 1850, he was married to Susan H. Fee, a native of Bracken County, Ky. She was the daughter of James and Susan H. (Harmom) Fee, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter a native of Bracken County, Ky. Mr. Ellis is the father of two children, Fannie F. and James R. The latter died in the twenty-third year of his age. He is a member of the Presby- terian Church.
WILL R. EMERY was born two miles east of Huntington, February 18, 1859. He served nearly four years as city editor of the Herald, under DeLong & Filson, and one year in the same capacity on the Democrat, leaving this to accept the position of managing editor of the Fort Wayne Sentinel. January 1, 1885, he purchased a half interest in the Democrat, and does the city and editorial work of the paper.
SEXTON EMLEY, a prominent farmer of Huntington Town- ship, and one among the pioneers of the county, was born in Salem County, N. J., July 30, 1825. He was the tenth in a family of fourteen children - seven sons and seven daughters - born to John R. and Mary (Cook) Emley, the former of whom was born in Monmouth County, N. J., April 6, 1787, and the latter was born
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in Burlington County, N. J., November 6, 1790. On the 1st day of October, 1834, when Sexton was but nine years old, his parents set out with two wagons to emigrate to the far West. On reach- ing Warren County, Ohio, the family stopped with relations one month for recreation. They then resumed their journey, and on the 6th day of January, 1835, they reached Huntington which was then a village of perhaps a dozen houses. The father John R. Emley, had entered a tract of 240 acres of wood-land in Sec- tion 29, Clear Creek Township, and upon this, a log cabin was erected, into which the family moved on the 22d day of February of 1835. There our subject spent his youth and early manhood assisting to clear and cultivate his father's farm. Being the youngest son, he remained with his father and mother until he reached the age of twenty-nine. He was married April 30, 1854, to Lydia Margaret Crager. a native of Whitley County, this State, born November 11, 1839, and daughter of Samuel and Mary (Lessley) Crager, both natives of Montgomery County, Ohio. They were married in their native county, and in 1837 they came to this State and settled in the woods of Whitley County, where they resided when their daughter Lydia Margaret, was born. For two years after his marriage Mr. Emley continued to farm the old home place in Clear Creek Township In 1857 he settled upon a farm of his own that he had purchased in Section 28. of the Clear Creek Township, where he resided until the fall of 1869, when he removed to his present home in Tract 13, Huntington Township. His life occupation has been that of a farmer and stock-raiser in which he has been very successful. On the 13th day of January, 1873, Mr. Emley was bereaved of his beloved wife, and on the 9th day of June, 1875, his marriage to Julia A. Campbell occurred. She was born in Huntington, this county, May 12, 1849, being the daughter of Joseph Campbell who came to this county in about 1848. Mr. Emley is the father of nine children as follows: Delano A. V., Henry L., Emma C., Olive A., Mary L., Tilman H., John R., Roscoe, and Rudy L., all of whom are living. The last named is the son of his present wife. Mr. Emley is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and his wife is a member of the United Brethren Church. Politically our subject formerly affiliated with the Democrats, but since 1856 he has ardently supported the principles of the Republican party. In the spring of 1847, when he was but twenty-one years of age he was elected Clerk of Clear Creek Township, and was re-elected to that position, five times serving, in all, nearly five years, when he resigned to accept the Democratic nomination for County Commissioner, to which office he was elected in the fall of 1852. In the fall of 1855 he was re-elected to that office as an independent candidate, receiving the support of the Whigs. In the fall of 1858, he was nominated by the Republicans for re-elec- tion, but was defeated by his brother and Democratic opponent, Samuel Emley. He was elected Trustee of Clear Creek Town- ship in the spring of 1860, and was re-elected to the office for ten
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successive terms with increased majorities each term. He resigned the office in September, 1869, having concluded to remove to Huntington Township. In June, 1872, he received the Republican nomination for the office of County Treasurer. He was elected in the following October, and re-elected in October, 1874, receiving the last time a majority of 1,130, the largest majority ever awarded in the county. He carried every town- ship but one, in the county and that he lost by but one vote. In his old home township- Clear Creek - he lost but forty-one votes. He was the candidate of his party in 1878, for State Repre- sentative, but was defeated by his Democratic opponent. In all of his official capacities he discharged his duties with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He owns a hand- some farm of 526 acres, about two-thirds of which is in cultivation. He is an honest, upright industrious man and deservedly enjoys the full confidence and esteem of all. He is a member of the F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F. Lodges, and as such, stands very high among his fraternal friends. He never had the advantages of an education, and what he knows he has learned from observa- tion and private study. The Huntington Democrat says of this the family of remarkable longevity: The Emley family of this county are remarkable for their long lives. There were fourteen children born to the parents, but of this number there are now nine living. All of these except Samuel were born in New Jersey, he having been born in New York State. The summary of the ages of these nine children is as follows: Joel C., age seventy- eight years; Samuel, age seventy-six years; Meribah, age sev- enty-three years; Martha, age seventy years; Anthony, age sixty-eight years; Sexton, age sixty-one years; Leah A., age sixty years; Amanda, age fifty-eight years, and Chaltha, age fifty-four years.
MALCOLM P. EMLEY, proprietor of the Mammoth Boot and Shoe Store, and one of the promising young business men of Huntington, was born in Clear Creek Township, this county, August 3, 1855. He was the youngest of three children born to Anthony and Eveline E. (Hurdon) Emley, who have resided in Clear Creek Township over fifty years. Our subject spent his boyhood and youth working upon his father's farm, in his native township. He attended the district school in winter, in which he received a good common school education. At the age of twenty-one, or October 31, 1876, he was married to Martha Rhoads, daughter of Joseph and Mary Rhoads, both natives of Pennsylvania, and now residents of Clear Creek Town- ship. Mrs. Emley was born in Allen County, this State, May 5, 1855. During the three years following their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Emley resided upon the farm owned by the father of the former. In December, 1879, they moved to Huntington, Mr. Emley having been elected manager of the large general store owned by the Huntington County Co-operative Association. This position he
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retained until in August, 1886, at which time he resigned to accept a position as traveling salesman for Butterworth & Co., wholesale boot and shoe dealers, of Cincinnati. In less than a month later the Mammoth Boot and Shoe Store was opened by that firm in this city, and Mr. Emley was selected for its man- agement. He at once assumed the duties of that position, and thus continued until February 1, 1887, when he purchased the stock and thus became sole proprietor of one of the finest boot and shoe stores in Northern Indiana. Our subject and his wife are the parents of one child, Herbert B., born Septeinber 14, 1878. Mr. Emley is a member of the K. of P. Lodge, and is a Democrat in politics.
CHRISTIAN ENGELMANN, one of the industrious farmers of Huntington Township, is a native of Germany, born January 14, 1834, being the fourth in a family of eight children - four sons and four daughters-born to Valentine and Elizabeth (Clemens) Engelmann. At six years of age he entered school and continued to attend until he reached his fourteenth year. In 1850 his mother, with five children, including himself, came to America, whither the father had come in 1848. The latter had made his way to Huntington, and here, on the 24th day of August, 1850, he had the pleasure of welcoming his wife and children from their home across the sea. Our subject first found employ- ment as a day laborer, and later he worked at the cabinet trade. He was married May 26, 1862, to Archangel La Fontaine, the youngest child of the chief, Francis La Fontaine, formerly of this county. She was born in the same house in which she now resides, September 9, 1844. He and Mrs. Engelmann are the pa- rents of eleven children: George, Joseph P., Esther E., Christian, Catharine, Elizabeth J., George, Rosann, Cecelia A., John B. and a son that died in infancy, unnamed. Of those named, the oldest, George, and Catharine, Elizabeth and Rosann are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Engelmann are members of the Catholic Church. In politics the former is a staunch Democrat. In March, 1863, our subject settled where he now resides where he pursued the vo- cation of a farmer, until 1872, when he again became a resident of Huntington. There for a number of years he was engaged in the retail liquor business, and prior to that he conducted a grocery and provision store two years. But in 1882 he returned to the farm where he has since continued to reside. While a resident of Huntington, he was honored with the office of Councilman two terms. He is an industrious and successful farmer, and he and wife are worthy and esteemed citizens.
MARTIN ERTLE, a prominent farmer of Huntington Town- ship, is a native of Bavaria, Germany, born June 17, 1823. He was the second of eleven children - four sons and seven daughters- born to Frederick and Regina (Shunding) Ertle, with whom he came to America when he was nine years of age.
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The family first settled in Massillon, Stark County, Ohio, where our subject spent his youth, assisting his father, who was a stone- mason by trade. At the age of twenty one he began to learn the trade of a blacksmith. This was finished in due time and furnished his chief occupation for a number of years. He was married October 8, 1848, to Elizabeth Koegler, who, also, was born in Bavaria, Germany, May 23, 1822, being the seventh of nine children - four sons and five daughters - born to Michael and Margaret (Reyland) Koegler. Her paternal grandparents were George M. and Rosina Koegler and her maternal grand- father was Ludivicus Reyland. Mrs. Ertle spent her early life in her native country. When she was eighteen years of age she started to America with her parents, but her father died during the voyage across the ocean. The mother with her children made her way westward, and in August, 1840, they reached Mas- sillon, Ohio, where she located, and where Elizabeth resided at the time of her marriage. In April, 1851, Mr. and Mrs. Ertle moved from Massillon to Huntington, in which they resided about fourteen years, the former working at his trade. In Octo- ber, 1864, he removed to a farm in Section 2, Huntington Town- ship, where he has since given his attention to agricultural pur- suits. Mr. and Mrs. Ertle have had born to them twelve children as follows: George M., Mary A., Catharine, Martin M., Andrew, Elizabeth C., Jacob and Andrew (twins), Caroline C., Conrad, John H., and a son that died in infancy, unnamed. The fifth child Andrew, also died in infancy. Our subject and his wife are members of the Catholic Church. In politics the former is a Democrat. He is the owner of eighty acres of land, most of which is in cultivation. He has erected upon his farm a hand- some brick residence, which, together with other improvements, makes a very desirable home. He is an honest, upright man, and he and wife are among our worthy and honored citizens.
NICHOLAS FISCHER, boot and shoe dealer of Huntington, is a native of Prussia, Germany, where he was born December 24, 1832. He was the son of Jacob and Mary (Baker) Fischer, both natives of Prussia, also. Nicholas came to America in 1853, and in June of that year he reached Huntington, where he has ever since resided. He was a shoe maker by trade, but when he first came here he found nothing in that line to do. During the first year he worked at various kinds of employment. In 1854 he found employment at his trade, and for ten years thereafter he worked as a journeyman upon the bench. In 1864 he en- gaged in the boot and shoe business for himself, and since 1866 he has occupied his present place of business. He was married October 22, 1858 to Elizabeth Johnson, by whom he has seven children. They are Elizabeth, Jacob, Lena, Catharine, Esther, Mary and Anna. Jacob, Esther and Anna are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Fischer are members of the Catholic Church. Po- litically, the former is a Democrat.
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CHARLES FOSTER, a prominent contractor of Huntington, is a native of Germany. He was born June 14, 1830, being the youngest of nine children born to Jacob and Catharine (Baker) Foster, both natives of Germany. Charles spent his boyhood and youth in his native country. He attended school up to the age of fourteen, and at sixteen he began to learn the trade of a stone- mason. This occupied his attention until he reached the age of twenty-one, when, in the spring of 1852 he emigrated to America. He was employed for a short time in the coal mines of Pennsylvania, but in the fall of 1852 he came to Huntington -- then but a small village. For some three or four years thereafter he was variously employed. In 1856 he took up the business of a contractor, and to this his attention has been directed ever since. Since 1867, however, in connection with this, he has con- ducted a brick-yard. He was married April 15, 1857, to Margaret Knapp, also a native of Germany. She was born August 29, 1839. Their marriage has resulted in the birth of nine children: Mary A., Louisa M., Catharine J., Charles J., Edward S , Clara H., George F., Edith E. and John A. F. Catharine J., Edward S. and Edith E. are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Foster are members of the Catholic Church. In politics, the former is a Democrat. He has held the position of councilman a number of years. He is an honest, industrious man and reliable contractor.
OBADIAH R. FRANCE is a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, born September 13, 1841, being the youngest of seven chil- dren, four of whom were sons, born to Samuel and Sarah (Arnett) France, both of whom were natives of Germany. His early life was spent in his native county, during which time he was chiefly employed upon a farm. In September, 1861, he entered Company F, Forty-Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served two years and nine months. Upon receiving an honorable dis- charge he returned to Montgomery County, Ohio, and spent one summer upon a farm. He came to Huntington County in the fall of 1864, and, a few months later, engaged in saw milling in Jackson Township. For a period of nearly two decades there- after his attention was divided between that pursuit and rail- roading. From 1881 to 1883 he was proprietor of a restaurant in Columbia City, this State. He disposed of that property in the spring of the latter year, and on the 20th day of December fol- lowing, he opened the Star Restaurant and Bakery in this city, which he has admirably conducted ever since. He was married to Mirandia J. Ellis, October 14, 1876. She was the daughter of John W. and Eleanor (Wall) Ellis, the former a native of Mary- land of Scotch descent, and the latter a native of Ohio of English descent. She was born in this county, January 6, 1849. Mr. France is a member of the F. & A. M. Lodge, and in politics is a Democrat. The reputation of the Star Restaurant extends even beyond the limits of Huntington County, and it is deservedly ad-
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mitted to be one of the best managed and most desirable places of its kind in Northern Indiana.
OLIVER FULLER, one of the reliable and influential farmers of Huntington Township, was born in Henry County, Ky., April 15, 1826. He was the sixth in a family of fourteen children born to William S. and Jemima ( Castleman ) Fuller, the former a native of Rhode Island, and the latter a native of Kentucky, both of English descent. His paternal grandparents were Gilbert and Lovee ( Butler ) Fuller. His maternal. grand- parents were Lewis and Jemima ( Gatewood ) Castleman. Mr. Fuller grew up to manhood in his native county where at ten years of age he found employment in a factory for the manufac- ture of rope and bagging, the property of his father. He thus continued until he became of age. In 1849, he went to Clermont County, Ohio, whither his parents had gone in the fall of 1847. There his attention was given to farming and to merchandising, in which latter pursuit he was engaged about eleven months. In October, 1851, he came to this county and located upon a 120 acre tract of land, which had been given him by his father, in Salamonie township. After spending one year clearing a portion of his land he sold his tract and purchased another farm in the same Township. He pursued the avocation of a farmer in Salamonie Township, until 1875. In that year, in order to im- prove the educational facilities of his children, he moved to Huntington. In November, 1883, he located where he now resides in Section 24, Huntington Township. While a resident of Huntington, his attention was chiefly given to gardening. He was married March 24, 1853, to Sarah E. Dillon, who was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, October 31, 1831, being the daughter of John and Sarah Dillon, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively. She died May 11, 1860, and on the 18th day of April, 1861, he was married to Mary Black, a native of Hamilton County, Ohio, born October 17, 1836, and daughter of Morris W. and Elizabeth ( Martin ) Black, both natives of Hamilton County, Ohio, the former of Scotch and the latter of English descent. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Fuller were Peter and Jemima ( Ward ) Black, natives of Ohio and New Jersey, respectively. Her maternal grandparents were Joseph and Rebecca (Gerard ) Martin, the former of whom was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Mr. and Mrs. Fuller are the parents of six children, all of whom are living. They are Ida L., William S., Morris B., George H., Jemima E. and Clara B. Mr. and Mrs. Fuller are members of the Christian and Baptist Churches, respectively. Politically the former is a Democrat. He held the office of Assessor, in Salamonie Township five years and as such discharged his duties in a creditable manner. In 1860, he was the candidate of his party for the office of County Treasurer, but failed to overcome an opposing majority. He is
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an industrious and successful farmer, and he and wife are worthy and honored citizens.
LEWIS GARRETSON is a native of Tippecanoe County, this State, and was born November 11, 1830. He was the young- est of three sons, born to William and Mary (Fair) Garretson, the former a native of Virginia, of Irish and Dutch descent, and the latter a native of Maryland, of Pennsylvania Dutch descent. The boyhood of our subject was spent in his native county work- ing upon his father's farm. When he was fourteen, his mother and step-father removed to DeKalb County, this State. There Lewis remained working upon a farm until he reached the age of twenty-two. At this age he became the driver of a stage team between Ft. Wayne and Sturgis, Mich., and was thus em- ployed for two years and a half. He then went to LaFayette, and for one year he was employed as a bus-driver for a hotel. He was married there June 8, 1857, to Mary Nagle, a native of Ireland, and daughter of Francis and Nancy (Misscelle) Nagle. She came to America in 1852. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Garretson returned to DeKalb County, where he pursued the vocation of a farmer six years. In January, 1863, he came to this county, a resident of which he has been ever since. He lo- cated in Huntington Township and is now one of her most suc- cessful farmers. In 1876, the Commissioners of the County appointed him Manager of the County Infirmary in which capacity he served one year. He was re-appointed in December, 1885, and again resumed the position in March, 1886. He is a first-class farmer, and discharges the duties of his responsible position in a creditable manner. He was again re-appointed in December, 1886, which is evidence of his satisfactory manage- ment of the institution. Mr. and Mrs. Garretson have had seven children as follows: Minnie, William F., James W., David E., Ida E., Anna and Lewis J. Of these James W. and Anna died in infancy. Mr. Garretson is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. His wife, by virtue of her birth, is a member of the Catholic Church. Politically, our subject is an ardent Re- publican.
FREDERICK S. C. GRAYSTON, A. M., M. D., an able and scholarly physician of this city, is a native of England. He was born April 6, 1823, being the third son of Bartholomew and Lucy (Trott) Grayston, both of whom were also. natives of England. His early life was spent at home with his parents, and after com- pleting his academic studies, he became the assistant to his father, who by profession was an attorney. This mode of life not being congenial to his tastes he was apprenticed to a phar- maceutist of the London Pharmaceutical Society, where he studied pharmacy and practical chemistry. Subsequently he became the assistant to a practicing physician. Here his natural tastes and inclinations were encouraged, and he successfully pursued the
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various branches of medicine. In 1850 he emigrated to America. On reaching this country he contined westward, and on the 12th day of October found himself with his family in the village of Huntington. For the purpose of prosecuting his medical studies, early in the following spring he moved to Cincinnati and became the pupil of Prof. Lawson, of that city, attending private classes in the hospitals. In October of that year he matriculated in the Medical College of Ohio, attending a full course of lectures in that institution. He then returned to Huntington and entered upon his professional career in which he has been eminently suc- cessful. In 1860 he entered the Chicago Medical College, from which he graduated with prize honors, in March, 1861. In 1863 he entered Rush Medical College. of Chicago, and received from that institution the Ad Eundem Degree in the spring of 1864. In 1880 he attended the graduates' course in the Chicago Medical College. There he made the study of female diseases a specialty, and to these his attention has been more particularly directed ever since. In 1882 he took a course in the polyclinic department of the Bellevue Medical College, New York City. Upon the in- auguration of the Ft. Wayne Medical College, in 1876, he was elected Professor of the Diseases of Children. Subsequently he occupied the Chair of Pathology, four terms, and, later on, was elected to the Chair of Theory and Practice of Medicine, which position he still retains. In 1864 he was appointed, by Pres. Lin- coln, Examining Surgeon for Invalid Pensioners, retaining the position twenty years. In 1880 the degree of A. M. was conferred on him by Butler University, of Irvington, this State. He, at present, has a membership with the National Medical Associa- tion, the Indiana State Medical Society, the Huntington County Medical Society and he holds an honorary membership with the Grant County Medical Society. He was President of the District Medical Society during 1882 and 1883. He is an active, persistent and progressive worker and in all of his professional labors he has borne an influential and enviable part. He has contributed a number of valuable productions to different medical societies and his prize essay upon the subject of diphtheria has been ex- tensively published. His marriage to Isabella Custance occurred in his native country May 1, 1849. Five children have been born to them as follows: Boston H. B., Sarah I., Charles E., Anna L. and Frederick W. The two daughters are deceased. The two eldest sons - sketches of whom appear below - are graduates of medical colleges and both are, at present, associated with their father in the practice of medicine. The youngest son, Frederick W., is a student in the High School of this city. Dr. Grayston is a Royal Arch Mason, and in politics is a Republican.
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