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 47
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emigrated to America at the age of nineteen. c: settled in Pennsylvania. The mother emigrated with her parents and settled with them in Oby
America
was ver a young child his parents removed to Cramio
Ohio, and when he was eight years old they came
and settled in Allen County. Five years later this county and located at Roanoke. His father was
Cam: :
by trade, and in this Jobn found emt spending the winters amending scho
the family
removed to Polk Township. the father
mill property near Mi. Emna. From th
John entered Company I One Hundred and 7 Indiana Regiment, and entered the Omne Hundred He received an bomgrable discharge in
He then returned to the home of his father
amended school
and until the fall of 186; be in his father's mill During the winter he taught school In June. 1868. be family back to Roanoke.
came
ion and took employment the mill of which
the proprietors. It was then owned by Uria
D
recied ever since. January 1: s married Elizabeth
Ain, a native of this county, born December 15.
the daughter of Isaac and Catharine (chasser
this county. Mr. and Mrs. Minnich are membe rs of the Metho-
mained in his emplor about eight ears Minnich, in connection with Ad property, and to this the ament
of Mr. Minnich
516
HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
dist Episcopal Church. The former is a member of the G. A. R., and in politics is a Democrat. He has held the office of trustee in Huntington Township one term.
ABRAHAM MISHLER, one of Huntington County's pioneers and one of her most highly respected citizens, was born in Stark County, Ohio, October 20, 1824. He was the second in a family of six children - three sons and three daughters, born to John and Elizabeth (Bosler) Mishler, both natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. When Abraham was but six years of age his parents removed to Montgomery County, Ohio, where his boy- hood and youth were spent working upon his father's farm. At the age of twenty-one -or January 6, 1846- he was united in marriage to Rebecca Smith, a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, born April 9, 1823. She was the ninth in a family of twelve children, four sons and eight daughters, born to Jacob and Cath- arine (Stover) Smith, both natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. Immediately after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Mishler came to Huntington County and settled in the woods of Clear Creek Township. The former at once set about clearing his land, and to do this occasioned for him a great deal of hard work. He chopped, grubbed, burned brush, rolled logs, plowed, and in fact, everything that the development of a new country necessitates. The course of improvement went on, and in a few years the forest was converted into a good farm. He and his wife contin- ued upon the farm until May the 20th, 1880, when they removed to a comfortable home on the Mishler Pike, just northeast of Hunt- ington. They have had born to them five children: Mary Jane, John H., and three others that died in infancy, unnamed. Mr. and Mrs. Mishler are members of the German Baptist Church.
JOHN H. MISHLER, of Huntington, was born in Clear Creek Township, this county, March 28, 1849. He was the sec- ond in a family of five children born to Abraham and Anna Rebecca (Smith) Mishler, who emigrated from Ohio to this county in the fall of 1846. John spent his early life working upon his father's farm. At the age of twenty-two - or March 9, 18:1, he was married to Anna R. Henderson, a native of Wayne Co., Ohio, born March 23, 1853. She was the daughter of James and Sarah (Stecher) Henderson, formerly of Clear Creek Township. This union resulted in the birth of four children: Hattie B. James L., Mirtie May and Sadie E., all of whom are living, ex- cept Sadie, who died in infancy. On the 21st day of January, 1886, Mr. Mishler suffered the bereavement of losing his beloved wife. Immediately after his marriage, Mr. Mishler began farm- ing for himself at which vocation he continued until the spring of 1881, since which time he has been a resident of Huntington. While a resident of this place his attention has been devoted chiefly to the grocery business.
a. D., Mohler, a. M.
519
HUNTINGTON - CITY AND TOWNSHIP.
EDWARD MIZE, an old citizen of Huntington Township, was born near Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, February 18, 1815. He was the son of Joseph and Catharine (Walker) Mize, the former of whom was born in Virginia, of German descent. When he was six years of age his parents removed to Wilkes County; N. C., where he grew up to manhood working upon a farm. His father died there, and about 1832, he and his mother came to this State, and located in Wayne County. In 1843, they came to this county and settled in Section 28, Huntington Town- ship. Mr. Mize has there pursued the vocation of a farmer ever since. Politically he supports the principles of the Repub- lican party. He is a hard working man, and an honored citizen.
ALONZO D. MOHLER, A. M., is a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, born January 26, 1848. His ancestors were from Germany, who came to this country in the eighteenth century. His father, Amos Mohler, was a native of the Keystone State, and his mother (Maria Rasor), of Ohio. They were married in Ohio, and had ten children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the eldest. The father, in early life, learned the carpenter trade, and for a number of years was engaged in building. He followed his occupation for a number of years, near Dayton, Ohio, and then moved to Shelby County, Ohio, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1865, the family removed to Hunting- ton, Indiana, where the father again engaged in the building trade. Alonzo D. learned the carpenter trade with his father, and afterward took instructions in cabinet making. Up to the time he was twenty years of age, he had received no more than a common school education; but after some private instruction, he entered the Freshman class of Asbury (now De Pauw) University, at Greencastle, Ind., where, after four years of study, during which time he supported himself, by working at the cabinet maker's bench, of afternoons, he graduated in 1873, with the degree of A. B., and in 1876 he received the additional degree of A. M. Soon after graduating from college, he took charge of the Muncie High School, and after one year's service went to LaGrange, Ind., to take charge of the public schools of that place: his work there was such as to place the schools in the front rank in the State. He remained in LaGrange seven years, and in 1881 took charge of the Lima, Ind., schools, remain- ing there three years. In 1883 he purchased an interest in the daily and weekly Herald, of Huntington, and in 1884, became one of the editors of the paper. In 1885 he was elected County Superinten- dent of Schools, for Huntington County. On January 1, 1874, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah A. Davies, born in Hunt- ington, July 27, 1850. She is a daughter of Jesse Davies, who is one of the old settlers and business men of Huntington. To Mr. and Mrs. Mohler have been born two daughters, viz .: Inez and Ruth. The elder daughter, Inez, died October 19, 1885. Mr.
520
HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
Mohler is a Republican in politics, a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of P. orders. He also is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and an active worker in the Sabbath School cause.
O. E. MOHLER, the son of Amos and Maria Mohler, was born in Lockington, Shelby Co., Ohio, February 9th, 1855. His father was at that time engaged in mercantile business, and here the family resided until April, 1865, when they removed to Indiana, locating in Huntington. For a number of years after coming to Huntington the subject of this sketch was employed as office boy for Dr. D. Yingling, who took a great interest in him, and it was during this time that the lad was inspired with a desire to complete a collegiate course, which desire was always warmly encouraged by the Doctor, and henceforth every effort was bent in that direction. Compelled to earn his living, his studies were kept up at night, after the day's work was done, and thus he was prepared, when he was enabled to go to college, to enter the Freshman year. With the opening of the factory of Col. C. E. Briant, he took employment, and there remained for several years, but in the summer of 1871 he entered the Herald office as an apprentice, under John F. Moses & Co. His appren- ticeship served, he remained the better part of another year as foreman of the office, and until the fall of 1885, he had saved enough money to start on his cherished desire - a collegiate course - and that year he entered the Freshman class at Asbury (now DePauw) University. During the four years in that insti- tution he worked his way, setting type in the offices during the afternoons and going to recitations in the mornings, and gradu- ated with his class in 1879, receiving the degree A. B .: and three years later the same institution conferred on him the degree A. M. During the summer of 1878, and from June, 1879, until April, 1883, he was city editor of the Huntington Democrat. At the latter date he secured an interest in the Indiana Herald, and for four years, with his brother, A. D., and J. B. Kenner, con- ducted the paper under the name of The Herald Printing Com- pany. On the 1st of May, 1887, this company consolidated with the News-Express Company, under the name of the Herald and News-Express Company, Mr. Mohler still retaining an interest, and he was chosen as manager and one of the editors, which po- sition he now fills. In politics, he is a Republican, expressing his views fearlessly, and he is thoroughly sincere in his belief. In religious belief, he accepts the tenets of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having been a member of that denomination for the past twenty-two years. He is also a member of La Fontaine Lodge, No. 42, I. O. O. F., and Huntington Lodge, No. 93, K. of P.
SAMUEL MOORE, deceased, was born in Lancaster, Pa., February 14, 1809. His father died when he was two years old, leaving a widow and four children, in straightened circumstances.
521
HUNTINGTON - CITY AND TOWNSHIP.
At nine years of age Mr. Moore found a home among strangers. Here he was obliged to rise at four in the morning, feed the stock, chop wood, and drive oxen, summer and winter, enduring un- told hardships, until he was fourteen years old. During this time he was sent to school for three months of one winter, the only educational advantage he ever enjoyed. His mother then removed to Clinton County, Indiana. When twenty years of age, Mr. Moore became the owner of a wagon and yoke of oxen, with which, as a teamster, he carried supplies from the vicinity of Lafayette to a trading post near Fort Dearborn. On one of these trips he was urged to trade his team for a section of land now occupied by the city of Chicago, but he thought a yoke of oxen on dry land was a better possession than a farm under water; a lost opportunity, which verifies the truth of Shakes- peare's words: "There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune." Mr. Moore first came to Huntington in 1832, while buying furs for Hollister & Co., of Buffalo; he packed the furs upon the back of his Indian pony and walked by its side, following the Indian trails that alone marked the forest. In 1833 he settled at Woodworth's near the forks of the Wabash River, selling provisions to those engaged in the construction of the canal. In June, 1834, he voted at the first election to elect Justices of the Peace for Huntington Town- ship, which is now known as the county of that name. One hundred and forty-seven votes were polled at that election. His marriage in June, 1837, was the first in the county of which any record is found. In 1838 he was elected one of a board of jus- tices, taking the place of County Commissioners. He subse- quently held a postoffice appointment under President Fillmore. He was one of three directors who constructed a plank road from Huntington to Liberty Mills. He contributed liberally to every public enterprise; churches, schools, public roads, every- thing tending to material, social and religious advancement, shared his generosity. But it was as a merchant and citizen that he was best known in Huntington and vicinity. Beginning his business career in a little shanty at Woodworth's, he became one of the leading grain and dry goods merchants of Hunting- ton. For forty years he pursued his chosen work, with unques- tioned honesty and tireless industry. The early settlers found in him a friend and helper, loaning money to many of them, to make the first payment on their land, giving them credit for food and clothing until their crops were gathered. Hundreds of those who planted their homes in the wilderness, now blooming like the rose, remember, with tears, his generous sympathy, and bless his memory. He never oppressed the poor, wronged the widow or defrauded the fatherless. Although he experienced many business trials and reverses, he never sacrificed the purity of his purpose to wreak vengeance on an enemy, and his gentle- ness was never embittered by a betrayal. Quiet, modest and unassuming, deeds, not words, revealed the excellence of his
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
character. Although possessing unusual facilities for amassing a large fortune, he enriched others rather than himself. His un- suspecting confidence made him, sometimes, the victim of dis- honest designs, and his gains passed from under his very eye without awakening suspicion. At his death he was in only moderate circumstances, yet there is not a tear or a stain upon aught that he bequeathed to his family. His example, embodied in a long and blameless life, and holy, peaceful death, is an im-
perishable inheritance. He died April 24, 1877, at Huntington, aged sixty-eight years. As a fit tribute to his daughter, we ap- pend the following brief biography of Alice Moore: The 10th of May, two weeks following Mr. Moore's death, the business of the old firm of "S. Moore " was re-established, and its management assumed by the second from the youngest of his children, Miss Alice. When twelve years old she had one year's light business education with her father, one year of active experience and re- sponsibility, during an interim in her college life in 1873, when on account of the business disturbance all over the country she did not return to school. Immediately after her graduation, six months previous to her father's decease, owing to his failing health, much of the buying and selling was entrusted to her by her father. Thus with only two and a half years of business experience, one of which was that of a child, she became her father's successor and established the first dry goods firm in Huntington controlled exclusively by woman. The years of '71 and '72 she attended the "Western Female Seminary," at Oxford, Ohio, and the years of 1874 and '75, at "Glendale Female College," at Glendale, Ohio, graduating there in June, 1875. Though an artist in taste and culture, and- successful in literary pursuits, she is a keen observer, active, in- dustrious, practical and independent, assuming a business career when a woman had to almost beg recognition and acceptance, so distasteful was such position to the general public. Her father's declining health, and her attention to his interests de- veloped her business energies, until now, after ten years' constant service, she ranks among the commercial women of the state. She is also one of the charter members of the City Library As- sociation, has been treasurer and one of its board of directors. And as an unavoidable result after paying hundreds of dollars in "taxation without representation," she was one of the origin- ators of the " Woman's Equal Suffrage Club." In the spring of 1886, her name was presented to the City Council as a candidate for the office of School Trustee. Her petition was signed by over seventy ladies, representing the best homes and highest intelligence in the city; and although defeated, her fitness for the position was unquestioned. As an incentive and example of what even a young girl may accomplish, her name will be an inspiration and encouragement, while in business circles she stands co-equal with her competitors in her native city and state.
523
HUNTINGTON - CITY AND TOWNSHIP.
JOHN MORROW, an old citizen of Huntington Township, was born in Preble County, Ohio, February 2, 1834, being the son of Hugh and Elizabeth ( Holmes ) Morrow, the former of whom was the son of George and Sarah Morrow, born in North Carolina, September 1, 1801. The latter was the daughter of Sam- uel and Margaret Holmes and was born in Kentucky, August 7, 1805. At the age of fourteen our subject came with his parents to this country and located with them upon the farm that is now occupied by the County Infirmary. There his youth was spent assisting to clear and cultivate his father's farm. His marriage to Rachel E. Hamm, occurred May 4, 1858. She was born in Berks County, Pa., February 22, 1832, being the daughter of Benjamin and Rachel ( Moyer ) Hamm, both natives of Pennsyl- vania. In the month of October, following their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Morrow settled upon the land they now occupy as a farm, and there they have ever since continued to reside. They had located right in the woods, and the clearing of a farm natur- ally occasioned for them a great deal of hard work. In the course of a few years the forest home was converted into a good farm. The course of improvement has gone on until now they have a comfortable home. The politics of Mr. Morrow is Repub- lican. His first presidential vote was cast for John C. Fremont, and he has ardently supported the principles of the Republican party ever since. He is a hard working man, a successful farmer, and he and wife are worthy and honored citizens. When the parents of Mr. Morrow came to this county they had a family of ten children, six of whom are still living. The sub- ject of this sketch, however, is the only one living in Hunting- ton County. The mother of Mrs. Morrow now lives in Wayne County, this State, at the age of seventy-nine.
PATRICK O'BRIEN, a pioneer of Huntington County, and one of the venerable citizens of the City of Huntington, is a na- tive of Ireland. His birth occurred March 20, 1826, being the fourth child and only son born to William and Mary (Brady) O'Brien, who emigrated to America and to Huntington in 1854. Here their deaths occurred, the former in the spring of 1865 at the age of eighty, and the latter in about the year 1872, at the age of ninety-two. The subject of this sketch had preceded his parents in emigrating to this country - he having come in 1849. He first found employment on public works in the State of New York. He naturally drifted westward and in the fall of 1850 he found himself in Huntington County. In February, 1851, he became employed on the Indianapolis & Peru Railway which was then in course of construction. He acted in the capacities of superintendent of works and as civil engineer. During the latter part of 1851 and in 1852 he superintended the construction of the Huntington and Liberty Mills Plank Road, which was built through Huntington, Whitley and Wabash Counties. In the fall of 1852, he again became employed on the
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
I. & P. Railway and thus continued until the road was com- pleted in 1853. He then became employed on the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railway, and thus continued until two years af- ter its completion, or in 1857. For some months thereafter he participated in the location of the Tiffin, Fort Wayne & West- ern Railroad. After participating in the construction of portions of that road, he in the fall of 1859, returned to Huntington. In 1860 he was employed as boss of repairs on the 2d division of the Wabash & Erie Canal, and continued in this way some five or six years. He was then commissioned as Superintendent and Pay- master upon that division - a position he retained until the spring of 1874. In the meantime, in the fall of 1873, upon the incorporation of Huntington as a city, he was elected a Council- man from First Ward. He was elected Treasurer of the city with- out political opposition, in the spring of 1874, and was in the same manner. re-elected in the spring of 1876. His appointment as City Civil Engineer occurred in the spring of 1874. This po- sition he has filled in a very creditable manner ever since. In 1877, he was appointed by the commissioners of the county to lo- cate and prepare plans for the construction of a number of free gravel roads that were built during the years 1877, 1878 and 1879. He is a member of the Catholic Church.
MRS. ISABELLE ODEN, whose maiden name was Isabelle Olinger, was born in Huntington Township, this county, Febru- ary 3, 1851, being the daughter of Israel H. and Mary Ann (Whit- more) Olinger, who were natives of Montgomery County, Ohio, the former of English, and the latter of German descent. Her pa- rents were married in their native county, and in 1850 they came to this county and settled upon a tract of land in Section 23, Huntington Township, where they resided when our subject was born. There the parents both died - the latter on the 9th day of November, 1875, and the former on the 12th day of November, 1882. The early life of Mrs. Oden was spent at the home of her parents. Her marriage to George T. Oden, occurred August 14, 1872. He was born in Green County, Ohio, October 31, 1845, and was the son of William and Elizabeth (Pickens) Oden, both na- tives of Maryland. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Oden set- tled upon a farm in Lancaster Township, but in December, 1872, they removed to a farm in Huntington Township, and a year later they located where our subject now resides. There they lived happily together until the union was broken by the death of her husband, January 2, 1882. Since that time Mrs. Oden has been a widow. She is the mother of four children, three of whom are living. They are: Albert I., born May 24, 1873, died May 7, 1879; John C., born February 6, 1877; Cora A., born July 28, 1878, and George G., born November 1, 1880. Mrs. Oden is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She owns a hand- some farm of 205 acres, most of which is in a high state of culti- vation.
525
HUNTINGTON - CITY AND TOWNSHIP.
JOHN OVERHOLT, an old and honored citizen of Hunting- ton County, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, September 26, 1827. He was the fifth in a family of six sons and three daugh- ters, born to Joseph [Joseph Overholt was born in Bucks County, Pa.] and Barbara (Kline) Overholt, both natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. When John was yet a young child his par- ents removed to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and some six or eight years later they removed to Stark County, Ohio, where John spent his youth working upon his father's farm. After he be- came of age he worked for a few years upon a farm by the day and month. Just before his twenty-fifth birthday, or September 23, 1852, he was married to Theresa Younkman, a native of Stark County, Ohio, born July 23, 1831. She was the sixth in a family of eleven children, ten of whom lived to be grown, and nine of whom are still living. The parents of Mrs. Overholt were Daniel and Magdalena (Swank) Younkman, the former of whom was born upon the Atlantic Ocean while his parents were emigrating to America. The latter was born in Huntingdon County, Pa. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Overholt resided upon a farm in Stark County, Ohio, four years. They then came to this County, arriving October 18, 1856. They located upon a tract of land in Warren Township, where Mr. Overholt pursued the vo- cation of a farmer, until the spring of 1881, since which time he and his wife have been residents of Huntington. They have had born to them seven children: Daniel J., Adeline M., Rebecca E., Silas A., Emma E., Mary A. and Cora C., all of whom are living except Silas A., who died in the fourth year of his age, and Cora C., who died when but five months old. Our subject and his wife are members of the Evangelical Church. In politics the former is a Democrat. He had scarcely gained his residence in Warren Township, when his fellow citizens elected him to the office of Clerk of the township, which office he resigned to ac- cept the office of Township Assessor. To this latter office he was re-elected seven times, and afterward filled the office by appoint- ment one year. He then retired, having served in the capacity of Assessor, in all, fifteen years. As an official he discharged his duties to the complete satisfaction of the public, evidence of which is found in the fact that his constituents refused for so long, to allow him to retire. Besides a comfortable property on Webster Street, he owns a good farm in Jackson Township, which he purchased in August, 1881.
ALBERT P. PENFIELD, an engineer on the Chicago & Atlantic Railroad, is a native of Warren County, Pa., and was born September 15, 1849. He was the only child born to George and Mary Penfield, natives of New York. His early life was spent in his native county. At the age of seventeen, he accepted a position as fireman on the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad. His vo- cation ever since has chiefly been that of a railroader. He after- ward became a fireman on the D. A. V. & P. Railroad. Some three
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