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 51

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: [s.l.] : Walsworth Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 958

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 51

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HENRY H. WAGONER, of this city, was born in Clear Creek Township, this county, March 8, 1858. He was the young- est son in a family of four sons and four daughters, born to Joseph and Margaret (Hilderbrand) Wagoner, who are old resi- dents of Clear Creek Township. Henry spent his boyhood and early youth at the home of his parents, in this county. During that time he attended the district schools, in which he received sufficient education to teach school, which he did at the age of eigh- teen. He taught, in all, six terms - three of which were in Whitley County and three in Huntington County. As a teacher he was very successful. In the fall of 1880, he received the appointment of Deputy Surveyor for Huntington County, in which capacity he served two years. In the fall of 1883, he was elected to that office himself and was re-elected in 1884, serving in the capacity of surveyor, in all, six years. He was married April 6, 1883, to Mary E. Sprinkle, daughter of Jonathan and Catharine A. (Stults) Sprinkle, the former a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, and the latter a native of Stark County, Ohio. Mrs. Wagoner was born in Whitley County, this State, March 6, 1861. This marriage has resulued in the birth of one child, Harry M.

CHARLES A. WALTER, druggist, of the City of Hunting- ton, is a native of Switzerland, where he was born February 19, 1852. He was the youngest son born to John A. and Catharine (Kohler) Walter, both natives of Switzerland. His parents emi- grated to America when he was but two years old. They settled in Adams County, this State, where they still reside. There

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HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.

Charles spent his boyhood and youth working upon a farm. At the age of twenty-two he accepted a position as clerk in a cloth- ing store at Bluffton, this State. In the fall of 1879 he came to the City of Huntington, and engaged in the drug business, in connection with Martin Jacquemai. That partnership existed un- til in May, 1884, after which time Mr. Walter became the partner of John Eisenhauer. Since October, 1886, he has been in busi- ness alone. September 29, 1883, he was married to Cecilia M. Moffit, a native of Ohio, and daughter of W. P. Moffit, of Port- land, Ind. This marriage has resulted in the birth of one child, Clara, born July 28, 1885. Our subject is a member of the Catho- lic Church, and a Democrat in politics.

JAMES O. WARD, dealer in agricultural implements, of Huntington, is a native of Onondaga County, N. Y., where he was born May 8, 1840. He was the seventh in a family of eight children, born to John A. and Eliza (Bond) Ward, both of whom were also natives of Onondaga County, N. ; Y., of English descent. When James was a lad ten years old, his parents re- moved to Massillon, Stark Co., Ohio, and a year later at the tender age of eleven years James left home and placed himself at the mercy of an unfriendly world. He made his way to the Atlantic coast, and for a year was employed upon the ocean. He then returned to Ohio, and for some two or three years was employed as a teamster in Akron. At the age of fifteen he took a position as a fireman upon the Michigan Southern Railroad. Two years later while he was but seventeen years of age, he was made a locomotive engineer on that road, and was the youngest engineer on the road. In the fall of 1858, he went into the employ of the Wabash Rail- road, and at the end of one year became an engineer on a freight train. In the spring of 1860, he was transferred to the Logansport & Peoria Railroad as freight engineer. In the

spring of 1861, he went to New York City, and took a position as fourth engineer on the vessel Great Eastern, and made one trip to Liverpool and return. In the following fall he became an engineer on the I. P. & C. Railroad. October 26, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, Sixteenth Indiana Infantry, and was mustered out October 26, 1865. He first entered the service as a private, but was afterward promoted to the rank of Sergeant and then to Lieutenant. For one year thereafter he was an engineer on. the Wabash Railroad. In 1867 he opened up a grocery at Roanoke, this county. He continued there in the grocery and dry goods business until 1884, when he came to Huntington. Since that time he has peen engaged in selling coal and agricultural im- plements. December 25, 1866, he was married to Annie E. Hagans, daughter of William and Catharine (Johnson) Hagans, both natives of Huntingdon County, Pa. Mr. Ward is the father of seven children, Fannie F., Mertie A., John W., Darris P., James O., Annie L and Lulu, all living. Mr. Ward is a

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HUNTINGTON - CITY AND TOWNSHIP.

member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the G. A. R., F. & A. M. Lodges, and a Republican in politics.

CHARLES W. WATKINS, a member of the Huntington Bar, was born in Logan Co., Ohio, on May 3, 1849. He was the second son born to William W. and Rebecca (Elliot) Wat- kins, the former a native of Logan County, Ohio, and the latter a native of Stark County, Ohio, both of English descent. The former was the youngest child of James and Nancy (White) Watkins, both natives of Sussex County, Virginia. The latter was the daughter of Joseph and Mary (John) Elliott, both natives of Washington County, Pennsylvania. Our subject spent his boyhood working upon his father's farm, in his native county. At the age of fourteen, he entered Company D, One Hundred and Twenty-Fourth Ohio Volunteers, from which he received an honorable discharge in August, 1865. He par- ticipated in the engagements of Resacca, Picket's Mills, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Franklin and Nashville. At the close of the war he returned to his native county, where until March, 1872, he was attending school and teaching. At that time he entered upon the study of law, under Judge William Lawrence, of Bellefontaine, Ohio. He pursued his legal studies under his instruction two years. His admission to the bar occurred at Ken- ton, Ohio, September 1, 1871. In March, 1874, he came to the City of Huntington, in which he has ever since been actively and successfully engaged in the practice of his profession. He first formed a partnership with James C. Branyan which existed until in December, 1882. On the first day of January, 1883, he be- came associated with B. M. Cobb, whose partner he has been. ever since. November 8, 1877, he was married to Irene Wicker- sham, also a native of Logan County, Ohio, born May 15, 1856. She was the daughter of Cyrus and Susan (Leymaster) Wicker- sham, the former a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, and the latter a native of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This marriage has resulted in the birth of two children: Cosette I., and Grace A., both of whom are living. Mrs Watkins is a member of the Lutheran Church. Our subject is a member of the F. & A. M. and G. A. R. Lodges, and a Republican in politics. He has been twice elected Circuit Prosecutor for the Twenty-Eighth Judicial Circuit, of Indiana, composed of Grant, Blackford and Huntington Counties.

ANTON WEBER is a native of Germany, born March 6, 1826, and oldest child of Anton and Elizabeth (Lahr) Weber. His boyhood and youth were spent in his native country. At six years of age he entered school and continued to attend until he reached the age of fourteen. He then spent the rest of his youth working upon a farm. At the age of twenty-one he left home and emigrated to America, reaching New York City in the latter

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HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.

part of September, 1847. Upon reaching this country he im- mediately set out for the far west and reached the village of Hunt- ington about the 8th day of October, of the same year. During the first few years of his residence here he worked upon a farm by the month. His marriage to Rebecca Kettring occurred March 15, 1853. She was born in Stark County, Ohio, August 28, 1831, and was the daughter of Jacob and Dorada (Miller) Kettring, both natives of Germany, who emigrated to America in 1826. Im- mediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Weber located upon a farm in Section 6, Huntington Township, where they have ever since resided. The life occupation of Mr. Weber has been that of a farmer, and as such in former years he was very suc- cessful, but more recently the impaired condition of his health has interfered to a considerable extent with his ability to attend to his farm. He and his wife are the parents of fourteen children: Jacob J. and a twin sister, that died in infancy, unnamed. The others are: Anton, Elizabeth, William, Mary R., Frederick, Re- becca D. and Addie E. (twins), Maggie, Wilhelm L., John, Oscar P. and Peter O. Of those named, William, John and Os- car P. are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Weber and family are mem- bers of the German Reformed Church. In politics Mr. Weber is a Democrat. He owns ninety-two acres of good land, where he and Mrs. Weber are spending their declining years in a quiet, happy way. They have resided where they now live for thirty- four years, and they are among the worthy and honored citizens of the township.

ORLANDO W. WHITELOCK, of the Huntington Bar, is a native of this county, and was born July 12, 1857. He was the only son born to Jonathan and Elizabeth A. (Souers) Whitelock, old residents of Rock Creek Township. The boyhood and youth of our subject, were spent working upon his father's farm in this county. During the winters of 1872 and '73, and 1873 and '74, he attended graded school at Bluffton, Wells County. In the fall of '74 he took up the vocation of a teacher and taught school for four consecutive winters. His vacations were spent attending school and working upon the farm. In April, 1878, he entered the normal school at Valparaiso, where he completed the Scientific course in August, 1879. He then entered the Law Department of that school, where he remained one year. He then came to Huntington and read law with Milligan & Moore one year. In the fall of 1881, he entered the Law School at Ann Arbor, from which he graduated in March, 1882. He then re- turned to Huntington and entered upon the practice of his pro- fession. In November, 1883, a partnership was formed in the practice of law between him and Col. Milligan, which partner- ship still exists. June 1, 1882, he was married to Jennie M. Not- tingham, by whom he has two children: Wilfred J. and Mary E. Mr. Whitelock is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, and a Democrat in politics.

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HUNTINGTON - CITY AND TOWNSHIP.

ALFRED C. WILKERSON is a native of Allen County, this State, and was born November 17, 1847. He was the tenth in a family of thirteen children, born to Thomas and Nancy (Lawrence) Wilkerson, the former of whom was born near Fayetteville, North Carolina, and the latter was born in Clinton County, Ohio, both of English descent. The boyhood and youth of our subject were spent in his native county, working upon his father's farm. In winter he attended the public school, re- ceiving a good common school education. He was married September 18, 1870, to Amanda E. Slater, a native of Warren County, Ohio, born of English descent, January 13, 1852. She was the ninth in a family of twelve children, all of whom are living, grown and married. The parents of Mrs. Wilkerson were Joseph and Mary Ann (Thompson) Slater, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter a native of Ohio. Two years after his marriage Mr. Wilkerson moved to Decatur, Adams County, but a year later he returned to his father's farm, in Allen County, and during the five years which followed he farmed the old home place. In January, 1879, he came to Huntington and oper- ated a saw mill until the following September, when he removed to Whitley County. There he had charge of a saw mill until the following December. He then came to Roanoke, this county, but in September, 1883, he returned to Huntington, where he has since continued to reside. Since returning to this county he has given his entire attention to his saw milling interests and to the lumber business in general. He and wife are the parents two children: Bertha D., and Effie B .; Bertha D., born February 22, 1871, and Effie B., born September 21, 1872, both living. Our subject is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge.

HENRY F. WILLIS, coal dealer of Huntington, is a native of Morris County, New Jersey, and was born October 26, 1828. He was the third in a family of five children born to Thomas C. and Deborah (Farrand) Willis, both natives of New Jersey, of English descent. Henry spent his early life in his native county. He received a good knowledge of the ordinary branches of learning, and also a fair knowledge of some of the higher branches. His early employment was in a rolling mill owned by his father. For a number of years preceding the war, he was engaged in mining and merchandising, in Morris County, N. J. In August, 1862, he organized Co. L, 27th New Jersey Regiment. He served as captain of that company about six months, when he was promoted to the rank of Major. As such he served, until in July, 1863, when the regiment to which he belonged, was mus- tered out. He participated in the battle of Fredericksburg, Va. From the army he returned to his native county and resumed the business of mining and merchandising. Some two or three years later he went to Harford County, Md., and there he was engaged in agricultural pursuits about ten years. In 1878 he re- moved his family to a home near Stanford Conn., and from

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HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.

this place he went daily to New York City, about forty miles distant, where he had employment in a steel manufacturing es- tablishment. He thus continued about three years. In August, 1SS1, he came to Huntington, where he has since resided. His first employment here was for the C. & A. Railroad, for which he purchased ties and timbers for its construction. Since June, 1884, he has given his attention to the coal business, though more recently, he has also been more interested in the real estate and insurance business. June 9, 1864, he was married to Mary J. Fairchild, a native of Hyde Park, N. Y. To this union two children have been born, Louis C., born April 17, 1865, and Ella C., born January 20, 1867.

WILLIAM K. WINDLE, Treasurer Huntington County, is a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, and was born June 3, 1840. He was the youngest child born to Benjamin and Lydia (Cooper) Windle, both natives of Lancaster County, Pa. His boyhood was spent working upon his father's farm in his native county. In 1856 he went to Massillon, Ohio, where he was employed as a clerk in a store. He followed clerking about two years, a part of which time was spent in Cleveland. In the spring of 1858 he came to this county and located at Roanoke, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. Until the fall of 1867 he had a stock of general merchandise. In the spring of 1868 he engaged in the hardware business in which he has ever since continued. Feb- ruary 21, 1860, he was married to Mary B. Bash, by whom he has had four children: Ion B., Frank M. B., Charles D. and William C. The third, Charles D., died in infancy. Mr. Windle is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, and a Republican in politics. He held the position of Postmaster at Roanoke a number of years. In the fall of 1886 he was elected to the office of County Treasurer, and is the present incumbent. He is an influential and highly respected citizen, and well worthy the confidence the public has imposed in him.

CHARLES L. WRIGHT, M. D., was born in Jefferson Township, this county, June 30, 1862. He was the youngest son born to Marshall and Mary (Bain) Wright, the former a native of Virginia, of English descent, and the latter a native of Wayne County, this State, of Scotch descent. His early life was spent attending school and clerking in a drug store. In 1878, he entered the High School of Huntington. During the Junior year he quit school and engaged in the drug business in Huntington, in con- nection with his father. A year later he began the study of medicine. In the fall of 1881, he entered the Indiana Medical College, where he attended one term of lectures. In the spring of 1882, he went to Portland, this State, where he was employed as clerk in a drugstore three months. He then went to North Manchester where he had a like position nine months. In the summer of 1883, he became a student in the office of Dr. Sever-

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ance, of Huntington, and pursued his studies until the fall of 1883. At that time he went to Plymouth, Ind., and clerked in a drug store until the spring of 1885. After clerking in a drug store in Peru a short time, he returned to Huntington, and con- tinued his studies with Dr. Severance until October, 1885, when he entered Rush Medical College, of Chicago. He graduated from that institution February 16, 1886. He then entered upon the practice of his profession in the City of Huntington. He is a member of the K. of P. Lodge, and a Republican in politics. In the fall of 1886, he was elected to the office of Coroner of Hunt- ington County.

WILLIAM A. ZELLER, of Huntington, was born in the State of Baden, Germany, January 11, 1837. He was the only son born to Matthias and Elizabeth (Obergfell) Zeller, both natives of Germany. His paternal grandfather was Anthony Zeller. William spent his early life in his native country, where, when he was fifteen years of age he began to learn the trade of a shoemaker. He served an apprenticeship of two years and nine months in the City of Donaueshingen, in the southern part of of the State of Baden. At the age of eighteen he left father, mother, relatives and friends and emigrated to America, land- ing in New York City, May 6, 1855. He soon drifted to Auburn, N. Y., where he worked as a journeyman shoe-maker until 1858. In the spring of 1859 he went to Wisconsin. In the City of Madison, of that State, he was married to Frances Prinz, on the 21st of July, 1859. She was also a native of Germany, where she was born May 8, 1837. She came to Amer- ica with her parents in 1854, landing at New York City, August 15. In the fall of 1859 Mr. and Mrs. Zeller located in Fort Wayne, this State, where the former worked at his trade until August, 1862, at which time he came to the City of Hunt- ington. His residence has been in this city ever since. Oc- tober 5, 1864, he entered Company G, One Hundred and Fifty-Sixth Indiana Regiment, from which he received an hon- orable discharge on the 21st day of November, following. On the 7th day of March, 1864, he went into the employ of E. T. Taylor, formerly a prominent boot and shoe dealer of Hunting- ton. His first employment was upon the bench. He continued thus until in November, 1867, and from that time until April 1st, 1873, he did the cutting in the boot and shoe establishment. He was promoted from this to the position of salesman and foreman in that establishment. On the 14th day of March, 1886, he pur- chased the entire stock, and thus became sole proprietor of one of the best stocks of boots and shoes in Northern Indiana. To this was added, a few days later, another stock that he purchased from H. K. Parry. The two stocks were consolidated, making a stock worth over $13,000.00. Our subject and his wife are the parents of seven children: Lizzie F., William A., Anna B., Charles F., Edwin S., Lina C. and Henry A. Charles F. died

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HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.

July 14, 1886, aged nineteen years, one month and one day. Mr. Zeller is a member of La Fontaine, I. O. O. F. Lodge, No. 42, and of Silica Fons Encampment, No. 88.

P. W. ZENT, one of Huntington's prominent citizens, is a native of Stark County, Ohio, and was born May 2, 1827. He was the seventh of eleven children born to Samuel Zent, a native of Franklin County, Pa., of German descent. His mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Hege, was also a native of Franklin County, Pa., of German descent. She was a descendant of Hans Hege, the progenitor of the Hege family in the United States, who emigrated from Switzerland, crossed the ocean on the ship, James Goodwill, commanded by David Crocket, and reached the City of Philadelphia on the 27th day of September, 1827. He settled upon a farm in Lancaster County, Pa. He was the father of several daughters and a son named John, who was married to Elizabeth Pealman. By her he became the father of eight chil- dren, one of whom, Christian, married, as his second wife, Maria Shank. This marriage resulted in the birth of seven children, one of whom was Elizabeth Hege, who, through her marriage to Samuel Zent, became the mother of P. W. Zent. The subject of this sketch was reared upon a farm in his native county, and dur- ing that time received in the district school an ordinary common school education. For a few years after he became of age he farmed the old home place in Stark County. In 1852 he came to this county and located in Jackson Township where he pursued the vocation of a farmer until about 1859, when he removed to a farm in Clear Creek Township. There he resided until the spring of 1876, since which time he has been a resident of Huntington. Here he was engaged in the grocery business and the sale of ag- ricultural implements until his retirement from active business, which occurred in 1884. He was married October 10, 1849, to Belinda F. Ritter, also a native of Stark County, Ohio, born Jan- uary 4, 1828. She was the daughter of Henry and Sarah (Kryder) Ritter, who were natives of the State of Pennsylvania. This union was broken by the death of Mrs. Zent on the 2d of Jan- uary, 1853. His marriage to Catharine H. Gallatin occurred March 2, 1854. She was born in Franklin County, Pa., March 30, 1832, being the daughter of Daniel and Hannah (Howard) Gallatin, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. The first marriage of Mr. Zent resulted in the birth of two chil- dren, Lovenia C. and Franklin S., both of whom are living. He and his present wife are the parents of two children, Isaac N. and Howard F., the former of whom died in infancy. Howard F. Zent has the general agency of the State for the J. I. Case ma- chinery, and resides, at present, in Indianapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Zent are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, the former is a Republican. For six years he served as president of the Huntington County Agricultural Society, and he was in- strumental in effecting a re-organization of that society. From

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CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.

boyhood he has been an ardent temperance worker, and, in senti- ment, is a prohibitionist. He takes an active part in Sabbath School work, and, at this time, he is superintendent of a very interesting and successful school in the Methodist Episcopal Church of this city.

CHAPTER VIII.

CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP - SITUATION AND BOUNDARY - SOIL AND NATURAL FEATURES - EARLY SETTLEMENT - PIONEER LIFE - TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION - MILLS - RELIGION - MISCELLAN- EOUS ITEMS - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

C LEAR CREEK Township, so named from Clear Creek, its principal water course, lies in the northern part of Hunting- ton County and embraces a superficial area of thirty six square miles, bounded as follows: Whitley County on the north, Jack- son Township on the east, Huntington Township on the south, and Warren Township on the west. Clear Creek flows through the township in a southwesterly direction, entering at Section 2, and leaving from Section 32. It is a stream of considerable im- portance and, besides furnishing ample drainage for a large area of country, was early utilized as a motive power for mills, several of which have been erected along its banks from time to time. West Fork flows through Sections 4 and 9 in the northern part of the township, while Little Creek in the southwest corner waters and drains a scope of country in Sections 30 and 31. The surface of the country is agreeably diversified, gently rolling in places, but in no locality too broken for cultivation. Indeed, the only parts that can be called broken are certain sections ad- jacent to Clear Creek, the rest of the township being sufficiently undulating to render artificial drainage unnecessary. As an agricultural district Clear Creek occupies no second place among the townships of Huntington County, the soil being of great depth and fertility and admirably adapted to all the fruits and cereals common to Northern Indiana. The evidences of thrift and prosperity are apparent upon every hand, and there are per- haps, among its residents, as many well-to-do farmers and stock raisers as can be found in any similar area in the northern part of the State. Like other parts of the county, it was originally covered with a heavy forest growth, the greater part of which has long since fallen before the settler's ax, while immense quan- tities of fine timber have in later years been sufficient for the de- mands of trade.

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HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.

The settlement of Clear Creek, dates from the year 1834, at which time one Michael Doyle, a native of Ireland, and a con- tractor on the Wabash & Erie Canal, located a home on the southeast quarter of Section 33, where he lived until the spring of 1835. He moved to Carroll County, the latter year and sub- sequently sold his land to different parties. In the latter part of 1837, James and Alexander McCambridge, moved to the country and settled on the northwest quarter of Section 34, where they made considerable improvements.

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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 51

Author: Publication date: 1900 Publisher: [s.l.] : Walsworth Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 958

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: [s.l.] : Walsworth Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 958