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 48
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
or four years later he was promoted to the rank of an engineer on that road. In 1880, he was employed by the Brooks Locomo- tive works of Dunkirk, N. Y., for whom he acted as traveling engineer about two years. April 1, 1882, he became employed on the C. & A. Railroad, to take charge of an engine and construc- tion train on the Western Division. On the completion of the road he became a passenger engineer, and has continued as such ever since. He enjoys the credit of having charge of the engine that pulled the first passenger train (a solid Pullman train), out of Chicago, on the C. & A. Railway. He moved his family to Huntington, in July, 1883, and is now comfortably located on the corner of Gilford and Washington Streets. He was married to Emily J. Nesmith, September 18, 1870. She, also, was born in Warren County, Pennsylvania, October 29, 1854. Their marriage has resulted in the birth of two children: Harrison, born July 9, 1871, and James G., born January 9, 1873. Our subject is a mem- ber of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Royal Arcanum. In politics he is a Democrat. Mr. Penfield is a trustworthy engineer, evi- dence of which is found in the fact that the C. & A. Company have placed him in charge of a limited express, one of the fastest trains In the United States. The card time of this train is over forty miles per hour, forty-two miles of the road are made in fifty two minutes. He was elected Councilman in May, 1885.
JOHN S. PROVINES, dealer in agricultural implements, is a native of Washington County, Pa., and was born July 20, 1829. He was the seventh in a family of ten children born to James and Charity (Sebring) Provines, the former of whom was born in Washington County, Pa., and the latter a native of Berks County. Pa., of Irish and English descent, respectively. While John was yet a young child his parents removed to Ohio, and located in Columbiana County, Ohio. There his boyhood was spent working upon a farm. At the age of sixteen he accom- panied his parents to Wayne County, Ohio. In 1847, the family came to this county and located in the woods of Salamonie Township. There he assisted his father to clear a farm. He continued there until 1864, when he came to Huntington. Here he continued to reside ever since. His attention in the mean- time had been turned to the sale of agricultural implements in which he has ever since continued. He has, however, in connec- tion therewith, devoted a part of his time to the grocery busi- ness and to the purchase and sale of seeds and produce trade. He was married August 25, 1853, to Mary E. Wiley, a native of Darke County, Ohio, born February 20, 1837. She was the daughter of John and Sarah (Owens) Wiley, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter a native of Darke County, Ohio. Mrs. Provines died January 30, 1872. He was married May 4, 1873, to Mary Beck, daughter of Charles and Phebe (Cochran) Beck. She was born in Jay County, this State, May 4, 1845.
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Her death occurred September 8, 1873, and on the 27th day of January, 1874, he married Annie Beck, a sister of his second wife. She was born also, in Jay County, this State, the event occuring April 27, 1847. His first marriage resulted in the birth of six children, James W., Elizabeth A., Sarah M., John W., Rosalie A. and Mary E. He and his present wife are the parents of one child, Lena May, born May 21, 1875. James W., Sarah M., and Mary E. are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Provines are members of the Presbyterian Church. The former is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, and a Democrat in politics.
JOHN W. PROVINES, the junior member of the firm of J. S. Provines & Son, agents for machinery, is a native of Salamonie Township, this county, and was born July 7, 1861. He is the only son of John S. and Mary E. (Wiley) Provines, the former a na- tive of Ohio, and the latter a native of Illinois. When our sub- ject was but three years of age, his parents came to Huntington, a resident of which his father has been ever since. John grew up to manhood in this city, attending the public school in the winter time and indulging in the sports and pastimes during summer incident to city youth. At the age of fifteen he became a clerk in a grocery store, and was thus employed about two years. At the age of twenty, he learned the trade of a barber, to which his attention was directed about four years. Late in the year 1885, he became the partner of his father in the sale of agri- cultural implements, and has thus continued ever since. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, and in politics is a Democrat.
HARMON M. PURVIANCE, proprietor of the large livery and feed stable on State Street, is a native of this city, and was born March 30, 1857. He was the second son in a family of nine children, born to Samuel H. and Elizabeth J. (Montgomery) Pur- viance, who were among the early residents of this place. He attended the public school in this city, and afterward attended Franklin College one year. In the fall of 1877, he accepted a clerkship in the clothing store of Levi & Marx, a position he held for two years. After making a trip through the West, he returned and entered the store of Leopold Levy. He remained there one year. July 20, 1881, he purchased the large livery and feed stable on State Street, which he has controlled ever since. He is a young man of push and enterprise and will yet rank among the substantial citizens of the county. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of P. Lodges, and a Republi- can in politics.
JOHN ROCHE, the subject of this sketch, is a native of County Wexford, Ireland, born October 3, 1817, being the fifth child and oldest son born to Martin and Mary (Druhan) Roche, both of whom were also natives of County Wexford, the former of French, and the latter of Irish descent. His ancestors, who
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
were of Catholic persuasion and farmers by occupation, had resided in his native county for many generations back. In September, 1830, the family, consisting of father, mother and eight children, embarked for America, and reached the City of New York on the 7th day of November, having spent twenty- eight days upon the ocean. A few weeks later they embarked upon another vessel which landed them safely at the port of Baltimore on the 3rd day of December, following. They settled upon a farm about four miles from that city in the following spring, and continued to reside there two years. In the spring of 1833, they removed to Zanesville, Ohio. The trip was made by wagon, and occupied three weeks. A year later, or in May, 1834, they came to the present site of the City of Huntington, then a mere hamlet in the wilderness, and distinguished from it only by the absence of a portion of the natural timber, and its pren- ence in the form of probably two dozen rudely built log cabins, the construction of which had been occasioned by the canal. Here the father, Martin Roche, died in the October following, and, in consequence, since our subject was the eldest son, the support of the family thereafter devolved upon him. His only capital was willing hands. With these, united with strength and a mental capacity to direct them with prusence, he went to work. He first found employment as a common laborer upon the canal. In July, 1835, he was promoted to the Engineer Corps of the canal, with which he continued until 1841. During one year thereafter he served the Canal Company in the capacity of Superintendent of Repairs. In March, 1843, he was placed, by appointment, in charge of the Treasurer's office of Huntington County. He retired from this at the end of one term, and in 1844, he was employed by Francis La Fontaine, Chief of the Miami Indians, to attend to the management of the latter's store at the Forks of the Wabash, and to superintend and conduct his business, in general. He became the partner of Mr. La Fontaine in the fall of 1845, and the store was moved to to the village of Huntington. The firm continued until it was dissolved by the death of the Chieftain in the spring of 1847. The business was continued by Mr. Roche until 1859, since which time he has devoted his attention to farming and to the purchase, improvement and sale of real estate. In this pursuit his success has been remarkable. He was once the com- mon laborer with nothing and, at one time, even overwhelmed with debt. He is now one of the wealthiest men of Huntington County, and is her most extensive freeholder. This is the direct result of his unflinching integrity, his shrewd management and his natural business tact. His career is one which the youths of this county may admire with pride and imitate with impunity. At the time of its organization he was chosen a director of the Wabash Railway Company, and for a number of years he was one of the real estate agents of that road. When the Chicago & Atlantic Railway Company was formed he was also chosen
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one of its directors. His religious affiliations have always been with the Catholic Church. His associations are always accom- panied with kindness and courtesy, and he deservedly enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
THOMAS ROCHE, one of the senior members of the Hunt- ington Bar, was the son of Martin and Mary (Druhan) Roche, and was born in County Wexford, Ireland, April 2, 1830. He accom- panied his parents to America when he was but six months old, and to the village of Huntington when he was but four years old, or in 1834. In the spring of 1839 his widowed mother moved with her children to Ft. Wayne, but in the fall of 1840 they re- turned to Huntington where the subject of this sketch grew up to manhood. At fifteen years of age he became a clerk in a general store of the village and thus continued about seven years. In the meantime, he had entered Bacon's Mercantile College, Cincinnati, where he finished a commercial course in the spring of 1851. In 1852 he went to Attica, this State, where he was employed as clerk in a dry goods store two years. He then accepted the position of bookkeeper in the Bank of Attica, in which capacity he continued one year, at the expiration of which time he resumed his position in the store. Six months later he returned to Huntington, and on the 14th day of August, 1855, he entered upon the duties of cashier of The Huntington County Bank, and was thus engaged until in January, 1857, when he resigned. He then returned to Attica where he became asso- ciated with William Zeigler in the mercantile pursuit. Shortly afterward they established a store in Leavenworth, Kansas, but in 1858 it was discontinued, and Mr. Roche took a position in the office of Clerk of the Probate Court of Leavenworth County. In company with a number of others, he, in the spring of 1859, went on a prospecting tour to Pike's Peak, but he returned to Leaven- worth in the fall following, and during the ensuing winter he was there employed in the office of Clerk of the U. S. District Court. He then returned to Huntington and entered upon the study of law with the Hon. John R. Coffroth. He was admitted to the bar in February, 1862, and immediately entered upon the practice of his profession. In 1870 he became associated with Moffitt & McCurdy in the foundry trade. Two years later Mr. McCurdy retired and the firm of Moffitt & Roche continued until 1877, since which time the entire attention of Mr. Roche has been given to the practice of law. His marriage to Hannah C. Lebo occurred at Attica, this State, January 7, 1875. She was born near Harrisburg, Pa., November 27, 1839, and was the daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Kraus) Lebo, who came to In- diana and settled in Montgomery County in 1841. They removed to Attica, Fountain County, in 1844, where Mrs. Roche grew up to womanhood and where she resided until the time of her mar- riage. The first presidential vote of Mr. Roche was cast for Gen. Scott in 1852, and he has ever since supported the principles of
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
the Democratic party. He possesses a good knowledge of his profession and is recognized as one of the best counsellors and legal advisors of the Huntington Bar.
HON. HENRY B. SAYLER, Judge Twenty-Eighth Judicial Circuit, was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, March 31, 1836. His parents were Martin Z. and Barbara Sayler, and he is the eld- est of a family of five children. His grandfather, Daniel Sayler, was twice a member of the Ohio Legislature prior to 1820. His father was a member of the Indiana State Legislature in 1840 and 1841. His mother's father, Henry Hipple, was an Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas from about 1832 until 1836. In August of the latter year, his father removed with his family to Indiana, where he remained until 1847, then going to Illinois. Mr. Sayler's education was almost entirely that of the common school, attending the Illinois Wesleyan University, at Blooming- ton, one year (1852-53) only, when he was obliged to suspend his studies on account of defective sight. He then commenced teaching school and reading law in Fulton County, Ill., where he remained until the summer of 1855, when he went to Preble County, Ohio, teaching there until the winter of 1858-59. Con- tinuing his law studies, on the 24th of February, 1859, he was ad- mitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Ohio, and March 31st, 1874, was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States. In 1859 he removed to Indiana, and, after spending a few weeks at Delphi, settled at Huntington, where he began his profession, which he has since followed, residing all the time at this place with the exception of a few months at Indianapolis and Connersville. He is a member of the Republican party, and was elected to a seat in the House of Representatives of the Con- gress of the United States in 1872. In 1862 he was the candidate for Recorder of Huntington County, and with the rest of the Re- publican ticket, was defeated. July 15, 1863, he joined the Union Army, and was mustered in as First Lieutenant. The 28th of the same month he was promoted Captain, and on the 3rd of September was made Major of the One Hundred and Eigh- teenth Indiana Volunteers, and, with the regiment, was mustered out March 1, 1864, having been in East Tennessee during the occupancy of that country by Longstreet, and in the battles of Blue Springs, Tazewell, Clinch River, and a number of skir- mishes. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, and has passed the chairs of the subordinate lodge and encampment. He is a mem- ber and Elder of the Presbyterian Church of Huntington. Janu- ary 17, 1856, he was married in Preble County, Ohio, to Miss Isabella Hart, whose ancestors were distinguished ministers of the German-Baptist Church. They have two children, both sons.
HENRY F. SCHEERER, proprietor of Lime City Restaurant and Bakery, was born in Stark County, Ohio, November 16, 1842. He was the fourth son in a family of twelve children, born to
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Jacob Henry and Catharine (Phillips) Scheerer, both natives of Bavaria, Germany, who emigrated to America in 1837, and located in Stark County, Ohio. When Henry was in the ninth year of his age, he came with his parents to this county, and located in Dallas Township. There the youth of our subject was spent upon a farm. At twenty years of age he came to the city of Huntington, where he engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods. At the end of seven years he went to Michigan, and a year later or in the fall of 1870, he returned to Ohio, and became a clerk in a grocery store in Fostoria, Seneca County. In 1875, he went to Hoytsville, Wood Co., Ohio, where he engaged in merchandis- ing. To this his attention was directed until in 1884, when he located upon a farm in the same county. From that, in 1886, he came to this city, and on the 1st day of May following he opened up the restaurant he at present occupies. July 2, 1876, he was married to Mary Reichard, daughter of Peter and Mary (Moon) Reichard. Mr. and Mrs. Scheerer are the parents of three child- ren: Emma L., Mary C. and Franklin R., all of whom are living. Our subject is a member of the F. & A. M. Lodge, and a Demo- crat in politics. While a resident of Wood County, Ohio, he held the office of township treasurer, three years. He held the position of postmaster at Hoytsville, from 1877 to 1881.
HERMAN SCHEIBER, one of the business men of the City of Huntington, was born on a farm in Warren Township, this county, March 22, 1852. He was the third son born to John and Rufena (Wiler) Scheiber, the former of whom was born near Strausburg, Germany, and the latter was born in Baden, Ger- many. His father, John Scheiber, was the son of Jacob and Lena Scheiber, with whom he came to America and located in Stark County, Ohio, when he was twelve years of age. The mother of our subject was the daughter of Matthias Wiler, and she came with her parents to America when she was nine years old. They, also, settled in Stark County, where an acquaintance was formed between John Scheiber and Rufena Wiler. This re- sulted in their marriage in February, 1842. In 1851 they came to this county and located in Warren Township, where they resided when Herman was born. The latter spent his boyhood and youth working upon his father's farm in this county. After he had at- tained the age of twenty-one he left home and learned the carpen- ter's trade at which he worked two years. On the first day of Janu- ary, 1874, he entered uopn a commercial course in the Lafayette Business College, which he completed in four months, and, be it said to his credit, that was a shorter period of time than any one had ever accomplished the same work in that institution, as- surance of which fact was given him by his preceptor, Prof. Kennedy. After graduating he went to Canton, Ohio, where he ac- cepted a position in a wholesale house. He remained there seven years. In June, 1882, he returned to the City of Huntington, and on the 10th day of August following, he and his brother, Peter
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Scheiber opened up the China Hall on North Jefferson Street. A few months later his brother's interest was purchased by Jacob Zahn, who still retains an interest in the Hall. The firm name is H. Scheiber & Co. Their establishment, popularly known as China Hall, is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Indiana, and is one of which the City of Huntington may well feel proud. From front to rear, from floor to ceiling -case upon case of china, glass and queensware of beautiful designs and in endless variety - altogether present to the eye a most gorgeous sight. A visit to this establishment can not fail to pay any one, even though he leave it empty-handed. Mr. Scheiber is a member of the Catholic Church.
JOHN SELLERS, a prominent farmer of Huntington Town- ship, was born in Perry County, Ohio, January 4, 1822. He was the ninth of twelve children -six sons and six daughters - born to John and Mary (McMullen) Sellers, both natives of Pennsyl- vania, the former of Dutch, and the latter of Irish descent. He spent his early life in his native county working upon his father's farm. At the age of twenty -or in 1842-he came to this county and for some five or six years thereafter he did such work as he could find to do in the way of chopping, grubbing, farm- ing, etc. In 1848 he purchased a tract of land, a part of which was cleared, in Clear Creek Township. There he settled down and worked at clearing and farming until January, 1852, when he sold his place and emigrated to California. After a brief period of mining he turned his attention to the dairy and live stock business. He returned to this county in the summer of 1859, and located where he now resides in Section 2, Huntington Township. Since then his undivided attention nas been given to farming and the raising of stock. October 24, 1850, he was married to Rebecca Marker, a native of Fairfield County, Onio, born No- vember 10. 1829. She was the daughter of David and Sarah Ann (Ewing) Marker, the former a native of Maryland, of Dutch and English descent, and the latter a native of Pennsylvania, of Irish descent. Mr. and Mrs. Sellers have had born to them eight children, as follows: Almira, Louisa, John, Commodore W., Lillian, Elmer E., Addie A., and a son that died in infancy, unnamed. The second, Louisa, also died in infancy. Our sub- ject and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
DR. NORMAN SESSIONS, the subject of this sketch, was born in Clearspring Township, LaGrange County, Ind., January 4, 1841. His parents were Norman and Minerva (Gains) Ses- sions. The former a native of Painesville, now in Lake County, Ohio, the latter of Oneida County, N. Y., both of English de- scent. His paternal grandparents were Anson and Asenath (Folbs) Sessions, natives of Connecticut and Massachusetts. His maternal grandparents were Obed and Lydia (Conable) Gains, both of Vermont. Norman Sessions, Jr., was the young-
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est of a family of three children. His boyhood days were spent upon a farm in his native county. His father died when he was but four weeks old, and he was obliged to become the "architect of his own fortunes." When a mere boy he began the carpenter trade, and worked at it when out of school during his minority. At the age of fifteen he entered the Academy at Painesville, Ohio, where he remained nearly a year. He then went to live with his uncle, Horace Sessions, at Defiance, Ohio, and attended the public schools at that place. At the end of the year he returned to LaGrange County and worked at his trade until the winter of 1860, when he entered as a pupil the Academy at Wolcottville, Ind., and remained until the news of the capture of Fort Sumter startled the north. He was at this time twenty years old, and like all young men of those days, thought that the young men without families should be the de- fenders of our country. He returned home immediately, intend- ing to enlist, but more men answered the first call of the President than could be accepted, and he did not enlist until October, 1861. He then joined Company H, Forty-Fourth Regiment Indiana Vol- unteers, and served over two years, and then re-enlisted as a veteran, his Regiment being in the Army of the Cumberland. He remained with his Company until the close of the war, and was mustered out September, 1865, having served a few days less than four years. Returning home, he took up the tools he had laid down four years before and began to work at his trade. On January 29, 1868, he married Sarah R. McClaskey, daughter of Robert and Hannah (Dwinnelle) McClaskey. The former was born in Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish parentage. The latter in Vermont, of French and English. Mrs. Sessions was born in Crawford County, Ohio, February 17, 1844. Of their family of two children, Horace W., born November 26, 1868, and Robert N., born April, 1873, only one remains, Horace W., having died March 7, 1876, in the eighth year of his age. In 1869 he removed to Coffey County, Kas., where he remained during the summer and fall, and then moved to Butler County and engaged in stock raising for two years. A severe attack of sciatic rheumatism disabled him for an active, out-of-doors life, and he was compelled to give up what was then a profitable business, and try a change of climate. He returned to LaGrange and began the study of dentistry. After fitting himself for his profession, he located in Albion, Noble County, Ind., and practiced his profession until August, 1877, when he removed to the City of Huntington, where he has since resided, engaged in dental business. The Dr. and Mrs. Sessions are members of the Presbyterian Church.
LAGRANGE SEVERANCE was born December 28, 1839. His early education was obtained in public school and academy, which he left at the age of fourteen, and entered the office of the Bangor Daily Whig and Courier, Bangor, Me., where he re- mained until he arrived at the age of twenty-one. At the break-
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ing out of the war, he unhesitatingly entered the army, as a private, in Company H, Twelfth Regiment Maine Volunteers. His regiment was assigned to Gen. B. F. Butler's Division, and after the capture of the forts in the Gulf of Mexico, was assigned to duty at New Orleans. He was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant in April, 1863, and again to the responsible position of Adjutant of his Regiment, in February, 1864. He was. with his regiment at the battles of Ponchatoula, Irish Bend, siege of Port Hudson, and in the campaign of the Shenandoah; under Gen. Phil Sheridan at the battles of Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek; was wounded at Ponchatoula and Port Hud- son; after the battle of Cedar Creek, was again promoted to the position of Acting Assistant Adjutant General of the First Brigade, Second Division, Nineteenth Army Corps, where he re- mained until the mustering out of the regiment in December, 1864, at the expiration of its three years' service. Soon after the close of the war, he began the study of medicine, and graduated from the Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, in May, 1868, when he commenced the practice of medicine in South Whitley, Ind., and in October, 1869, he came to Huntington County, and has remained here ever since, enjoying the confi- dence and respect of all with whom he has associated. Dr. Severance is a member of the Masonic Order, having attained the rank of Knight Templar.
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