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 62
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92
660
HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
acres. Mr. and Mrs. Richards, in 1838; became converted and have been active Christian workers ever since. They are the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are living, to-wit: Ruhamma E., Byron A., Mary A., Marvin W., Ervin E., Har- riet R. and Newton B. E.
REV. F. A. ROBINSON, Minister Methodist Episcopal Church, was born in Allen County, Ind., August 14, 1842, and is the seventh of a family of thirteen children, born to H. and Catherine (Freshour) Robinson. The father was born in Ohio, June 22, 1806, grew to manhood on a farm, and when quite young, came to Allen County, Ind., where he has since resided. He took an active part in redeeming the country from a wilderness state, and bore his full share of the many hardships which beset all early settlers in a new and thickly wooded country. He has for fifty years been a zealous member of the Methodist Church, contrib- uting liberally of his means to its support, besides always being forward in every enterprise having for its object the good of his fellow-man. His wife died February, 1864, and the year follow- ing he married Amanda Bart, who bore him one child. F. A. Robinson was raised on his father's farm, received a good educa- tion in the common schools, and later attended the college at Ft. Wayne where he made substantial progress in the higher branches of learning. On attaining his majority he engaged in teaching, in which he acquired great proficiency, and in 1869, began study- ing for the ministry, entering upon the active labors of his holy calling a little later. He is still engaged in the work, being at this time in charge of Roanoke Circuit, where his efforts have been greatly blessed. He owns a farm one and a half miles west of Roanoke, and carries on agricultural pursuits in connection with his ministerial labors. He married December 29, 1867, Miss Rachel Van Arsdol, daughter of John and Lois Van Arsdol. Mrs. Robinson was born June 26, 1851, and is the mother of three children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows, viz .: Charles G., born November 18, 1869; William E., born November 8, 1873, and Lois Gertrude, born January 27, 1878.
WILLIAM M. SHREVE, farmer and stock raiser, is a native of Lewis County, W. Va., born November 15th, 1823, to Jacob R., and Susannah (Wamsley) Shreve, of the same State. The pa- rents in an early day emigrated to Monroe County, Ohio, and subsequently moved to Union County, where they resided until their respective deaths. The following are the names of their children, viz .: Margaret, William M., James, Thomas, Mary, Mel- vina, Samuel and Harrison Shreve. William M. Shreve was raised a farmer, and spent the years of his youth and early manhood in Virginia and Ohio. June, 1847, he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Zent, daughter of Samuel and Eliza (Hega) Zent, of Stark County, Ohio, who has borne him four
663
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
children, to wit: Emma, Mattie, Katie A., and Cora M. Mr. Shreve, in the fall of 1859, moved to Huntington County, Ind., and settled upon the farm, where he has since resided, near the town of Roanoke. He is a substantial citizen, and one of the representative men of Jackson Township.
ABRAHAM SIMON, retired farmer and pioneer of Jackson Township, is a native of Pennsylvania, and dates his birth from the 7th day of May, 1812. He is the third of a family of eight children, born to Jacob and Catherine (Dinius) Simon, both par- ents born in Pennsylvania of German ancestry. Jacob Simon grew to manhood in his native State, and in early life learned the shoe maker's trade. In 1819, with his wife and six children, he emigrated to Stark County, Ohio, where for some years he lived the life of a pioneer, and where he succeeded in accumulat- ing a comfortable competence, including a fine farm of 160 acres upon which he lived until his death, a number of years later. Abraham Simon was raised in Stark County, Ohio, and upon his father's farm learned those lessons of industry and thrift by which his subsequent life has been characterized. Having early manifested a liking for mechanical pursuits, he while still a young man, took up the carpenter's trade, to which he devoted his attention for about two years, after attaining his majority. March 27, 1836, he was united in marriage to Mary Hafla, who was born in Franklin County, Penn., July 6, 1815, the only daughter of Peter and Sophia (Bruner) Hafla. Mr. Simon farmed his father's place untill the fall of 1844, at which time he moved to Huntington County and settled on eighty acres of land in Jackson Township, which he had located the year pre- vious. Like the other early settlers, Mr. Simon encountered his full share of the difficulties incident to pioneer life, but by energy and determination, finally succeeded in developing from the forest a comfortable home, his farm at this time consisting of 135 acres of choice land, the greater part of which is under a successful state of cultivation. He is a well-preserved man, in full possession of his mental and physical faculties, and is one of the representative, self-made men of Huntington County. He cast his first ballot in 1836, for William Henry Harrison, and since the birth of the Republican party, has been of its most earn- est and uncompromising adherents. In religious matters Mr. and Mrs. Simon have always taken an active interest, and it was at their dwelling that one of the first classes of the United Brethren Church in Huntington County was organized. This was in the fall of 1845, since which time the church has grown to be one of the largest and most aggressive societies in the township. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Simon, four of whom are now living, viz .: John, William, Josiah and Eli. The first and fourth farmers, and the second and third ministers of the United Brethren Church. The following are the deceased members of the family: Harriet, Rebecca, Daniel and Mary.
664
HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
E. M. TAYLOR, dealer in general merchandise, Roanoke, In- diana, was born in the City of Eaton, Ohio, June 22, 1843, and is this son of Enoch and Elizabeth (Clawson) Taylor, natives re- spectively of North Carolina and Ohio. Enoch and Elizabeth Taylor were the parents of twelve children, whose names are as follows: Rebecca, Alzima, Dudley, Eliza, Jane, Nancy, Mary A., John, William, David, Elizabeth and Ernest M., the subject of the biography. E. M. Taylor came to Huntington County, Ind., in the year 1869, and for some time thereafter was employed as clerk in the mercantile house of S. Moore. He subsequently went to Illinois, and was a resident of that State until 1867, at which time he returned to Huntington County, and remained here until 1869. He went to Michigan that year, in which State, on the 22d of June, 1869, he was united in marriage to Lizzie Ayres, daughter of Peter Ayres. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Taylor began the manufacture of fanning mills, at the town of Lawton, which branch of industry he continued with good success for a couple of years. In 1873 he engaged with the Studebaker Bros., at South Bend, Indiana, and continued in their employ until his return to Huntington County, in the winter of 1876. In 1882 he moved to Roanoke and engaged in the mercan- tile business, which he carried on until 1885, at which time he sold out and removed to Huntington, where he still resides. He purchased, in 1884, a stock of groceries at Andrews, and in No- vember, 1886, bought his present large stock of general mercan- dise at Roanoke, both of which he now controls.
JOHN VAN ARSDOL, retired farmer, was born in Mont- gomery County, Ohio, July 20th, 1812, son of Cornelius and Jane (McLelan) Van Arsdol native of Kentucky and Pennsylvania. The father was reared in Kentucky until nineteen years of age, when he accompanied his parents to Ohio, where he lived until his removal to Delaware County, Ind., about the year 1820. He was one of the earliest settlers of that county, and a pioneer in the true sense of the word. He was a farmer by occupation. Lived to see all but one of his children grown, and departed this life in 1870, aged eighty years. He was for years a leading man of the community in which he resided, and with his wife was an active member of the Christian Church. John Van Ars- dol was eight years of age when his parents emigrated to Dela- ware County. His early years were spent amid the ruggid scenery of pioneer life, and on attaining his majority, he began working for himself, making rails at the rate of three shillings per hundred. By this means he was enabled in a few years to save sufficient means to purchase 110 acres of land, upon which he at once began farming. He subsequently traded his land for an interest in a saw mill and another tract, and followed the lumber business about three years, when he moved to Blackford County. Eight years later he returned to Delaware County, and after remaining there eleven years, disposed of his interest and
665
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
came to Huntington County, where he has since resided. His has been a life of great activity, throughout which no breath of suspicion was ever uttered against his honor or integrity. Feb- ruary 18, 1836, in Union County, Ind., he married Miss Louis, daughter of William and Mary Payton, a union blessed with six children, viz .: Mary J., wife of Robert Shroyer, born January 29th, 1837; William, born November 28th, 1839; Isaac, born May 9th, 1842; Martha, wife of A. J. Bell, born November 14th, 1849; Rachel, wife of Rev. F. A. Robinson, born June 26th, 1851, and John W., born November 16th, 1856.
AUGUSTUS WASMUTH, prominent business man of Roan- oke, member of the mercantile and banking house of Windle & Wasmuth, is a native of Germany, and dates his birth from the 26th day of August, 1841. When quite young he accompanied an uncle to the United States, and in September, 1859, came to Huntington County, Ind., where he remained until entering the army the following year. He responded to one of the earliest calls for volunteers, enlisting in Company E, Forty-Seventh Indiana Infantry, with which he served until honorably dis- charged at the close of the war, participating in many active campaigns and bloody battles in the meantime. After his dis- charge Mr. Wasmuth returned to Huntington County, and a short time afterward engaged as clerk in the store of J. S. Grim, at Roanoke, in which capacity he continued for a period of about two years. April, 1867, he affected a co-partnership in the hard- ware trade with W. K. Windle, and the firm thus constituted still exists, being at this time one of the most substantial houses in the county. In addition to the general hardware trade, Messrs. Windle & Wasmuth deal quite extensively in agricul- tural implements, grain, etc., besides doing a general banking business, being proprietors of one of the most successful private banks in the county. Mr. Wasmuth married at Roanoke, Ind., Miss Margaret E., daughter of Peter and Barbara (Weimer) Grim, a union blessed with the birth of seven children, viz .: Eva, Edmund M., Arthur D., Daniel A., Lizzie, Lawrence and Harry Wasmuth. Mr. Wasmuth is a member of the I. O. O. F., and also belongs to the G. A. R.
JACOB WOHLFORD was born in York County, Penn., March 7, 1819, and is the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Wohlford. Jacob Wohlford, Sr., was a native of Pennsylvania, his parents moving to that state in an early day from Germany. He grew to manhood in York County and served as a private soldier in the War of 1812. Late in life he moved to Columbiana County, and subsequently emigrated to Indiana, settling near Goshen, where his death occurred. He was the father of eleven children ten of whom grew to man and womanhood, the subject of this sketch being the seventh in number. Subject passed the years of his youth and early manhood in his native county
666
HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
and at the age of eighteen began life for himself as a farm laborer. In 1838, he went to Columbiana County, Ohio, and January 1, 1841, near Wooster that State, was united in marriage to Miss Mary S. Kraamer, daughter of Michael and Susan (Shiley) Kraamer, of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Wohlford was born in Pennsylvania, October 30, 1825, and is the mother of the follow- ing children viz .: Benjamin F., died in the army; Thomas J., John M., James A., deceased; Mary E., deceased; Jacob H., Will- iam F., Samuel P., Harriet, deceased. The three older sons served in the late war and rendered efficient service in defense of the National Union. Mr. Wohlford, in September, 1850, located in Jackson Township, and settled on the place where he has since resided. He owns a good farm supplied with all the modern appliances of agriculture, and is one of the worthy and in- dustrious citizens of Jackson. Prior to the war he was a Demo- crat, but since that time has voted with the Republican party . He and wife are members of the United Brethren Church.
AMOS D. YOUNG, is a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, and son of Robert and Nancy Young. Robert Young was born in Maryland, in the year 1802, but in an early day emigrated to Ohio, where he still lives. His wife was the daughter of Caleb Fox, also a native of Maryland, and one of the earliest pioneers of Ohio. He served with distinction in the War of 1812, and departed this life in Ohio many years ago. Mrs. Young died in the year 1855. She was the mother of eleven children, nine sons and two daughters, seven of whom grew to man and womanhood. Amos D. Young, was born February 11, 1829, and passed the years of his youth and early manhood on his father's farm, attending such schools as the country afforded at intervals in the meantime. At the age of twenty-one, he began life for himself as a farm laborer, and was thus engaged until 1856, when he purchased a small tract of land to which he subsequently made additions, and upon which he lived until 1864. In that year he disposed of his inter- ests in Ohio, and purchased in Jackson Township, this county, eighty acres west of Mahon Village, where, in the almost unbroken forest, he began carving out a home. He subsequently added to this purchase, and in 1879 bought his present beautiful home of 130 acres, to which he moved in 1881. He is in every sense of the term, a self made man, and a liberal patron of all public enter- prises, having always taken an active interest in the development of the country. He is a Democrat in politics. February 8, 1853, he married Miss Anna E. Palmer, who was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, December 6, 1830. To this union four children have been born, two of whom, James F. and Smith, are living. The names of those deceased are: Emily J. and John P. Young.
JOHN M. KEEFER, a Jackson Township farmer, was born January 23, 1847, being the third of seven children born to George and Hannah Keefer. George was reared a farmer's boy and re-
667
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
mained at home with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age, when he came west to Wooster, Ohio, a poor man, empty handed, and engaged at farm work. Two years later he was married to Miss Hannah Franze, and began farming on rented land near Wooster, and one year later purchased thirty acres of cleared land on which he built good buildings. He, in the spring of 1844, sold and removed to this county, and bought eighty acres of forest land for $300. He erected a log cabin and began in the woods living a life of a pioneer. He and wife were young and both worked hard and thus made their home. He is one of the energetic, strong men, and has by a well spent life made a good home. He has built good buildings and now enjoys the fruits of earlier labor. All their children are located near home and all well-to- do. John M. was born and reared in Huntington County. At the age of eighteen he enlisted in the army in Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-Third Indiana Volunteers, and served seven months, when he was discharged and returned home. He lived with his father about four years when he was married to Miss Caroline Freehafer of this county. After marriage he removed to a farm in Section 33, Jackson Township, where he still resides. He has 115 acres of good land well improved; in early days he was a hard working man and as the fruits of his labor has a good home. He is a Democrat. Belongs to G. A. A. post No. 167, Ro- anoke, Ind. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Keefer three children have been born: Edwin A., Franklin M. and Pearlie I. Mr. and Mrs. Keefer are people well respected.
JOHN M. SETTLEMYRE, a farmer of Jackson Township, was born April 3, 1840, being second of four children born to William and Anna Settlemyre, of Warren County, Ohio. Our subject was reared as a farmer boy in Warren County, Ohio, until twen- ty-one years of age, when he came with one brother to Indiana in 1860. After removal to Indiana they began farming and clear- ing on a farm given them by their father. In 1872 he was mar- ried to Margaret Arick, of Huntington County. After he had been married two years he began building on his farm a good building. Mr. Settlemyre has remained on the same farm ever since he came to Indiana. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Settlemyre two children have been born, the oldest James - Elmar. Mr. and Mrs. Settlemyre are good people, well respected by the com- munity. He is a Republican in politics.
PRESTON B. SETTLEMYRE, a citizen of Jackson Town- ship, was born June 5, 1857, being the oldest of six children born to Charles W. and Mary (Hathaway) Settlemyre. Our subject was born in Warren County, Ohio; when but three years old his parents removed to Huntington County (1860). Was reared as a farmer boy; lived with father until his death, in 1874. After father's death Mr. Settlemyre remained with his mother until her death, in 1876, when, two years later, he was married to Miss
668
HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
Nancy M. Arick, of Huntington County. After marriage he be- gan farming on the old home place; remained at farming until 1884, when he began business as a tile maker, in Jackson Town- ship, three miles southeast of Roanoke. Mr. Settlemyre runs a business of about $2,000 per year. Is a Republican in politics. He and lady belong to the United Brethren Church. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Settlemyre two children have been born, the oldest, Charles A., born January 25, 1879; second, Tillie N., born May 15, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Settlemyre are good people; well respected by the community.
CHAPTER XI.
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP - SURFACE -FEATURES THE PIONEERS - CONDITION OF THE EARLY SETTLEMENTS - IMPROVEMENTS MILLS, ETC .- RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS - TOWNSHIP ORGAN- IZATION - ITEMS OF INTEREST - PLEASANT PLAINS - BIO- GRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
J
EFFERSON TOWNSHIP, which was named in honor of
the illustrious statesman and President, Thomas Jeffer- son, embraces an area of thirty-six square miles, or all of Con- gressional Township 26 north, Range 9 east, and is bounded as follows. Lancaster Township on the north, Salamonie on the east, Wayne on the west, and Grant County on the south. The Salamonie River flows through the northeast corner, along the margin of which are to be seen some broken lands with outcrop- pings of limestone in several localities. After leaving the river the land southward is generally level, while in the extreme southern part the country is flat, and before cleared was quite wet and unproductive. By artificial drainage however, and judicious cultivation, the soil has been greatly improved in quality, and in that particular makes a fair average with the other lands of the township. In the central part the lands pos- sess a richness of soil not surpassed by any in the county, and in their primitive state were covered with heavy forests, the princi- pal varieties of timber being: walnut, sugar, poplar, beech, oak, with a considerable proportion of hickory, ash, linden, and in fact nearly every kind of trees indigenous to Northern Indiana. Jefferson is a rich farming district, and upon every hand can be seen the evidences of prosperity, in the shape of commodious. barns, elegant residences, well stocked fields, etc., while the presence of numerous school houses and churches show that the intellectual and spiritual welfare of the people have not been neglected.
-
669
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
The Pioneers .- The early history of Jefferson is similar in most respects to that of other townships of the county, especially in the facts and data that are matters of record. The pioneers who first sought homes amid the dense forests of this part of the county were not adventurers, but plain matter-of-fact men, who were lured to the new country by the advantages it offered in the way of cheap lands, which could at that time be obtained for the Government price of $2.00 per acre. To make a home in the woods was an undertaking attended with difficulties and hard- ships, of which we of a later day can form but a faint concep- tion. The wild condition of the country, the absence of roads, mills, etc., and the long distances to be traversed to the nearest market places, together with the general poverty of the settle- ments, together with the immense amount of drudgery and hard labor required in order to obtain a livelihood during the first few years, were obstacles well calculated to shake the determination of the most energetic and brave hearted of the pioneers. Theirs was, indeed, a task attended with many dangers, and the years of constant struggle and the motives which animated and nerved them, are deserving of all praise. Prior to the year 1834, the country embraced within the present limits of the township was the undisputed possession of the Indians, and save by an occa- sional daring hunter and trapper, attracted by the abundance of game, knew not the presence of white men. The land was sur- veyed by order of the Government in 1824, but it was not until the construction of the Wabash & Erie Canal through the county several years later that any attempt at settlement was made in the southern part of the county. It is generally conceded that the first actual settler, one George W. Helms, made his appear- ance late in the winter of 1834, and with his family, consisting of four persons, located a house where John Kratz now lives, in Section 12. Mr. Helms was a native of Tennessee, and resided in the township until his death in 1876 or 1877. It is not positively known who came next, but among those who followed close in the wake of Mr. Helms, was Peter Wire, who moved from Ohio early in the thirties and settled in Section 3, choosing for his home the place owned at this time by his son, James P. Wire. He was a man of local prominence, took an active interest in politics and in an early day served a term as County Commissioner. He was an honored resident of the township until his death, which occurred in the fall of 1882.
In the spring of 1836, John A. E. Nordyke moved from Henry County, and settled in Section 6, where he lived until his death, in 1883. One son, Benjamin, and two daughters, Mrs. Snyder and Mrs. Abbott, are residents of the township at this time. William L. Taylor, in October, 1836, made a settlement in Sec- tion 24, and in September of the following year, Oliver W. San- ger, who had previously settled in Wayne Township, began improving a farm where Zachariah Carl now lives, in Section 17. Mr. Sanger was born in the state of Connecticut, but in an early
670
HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
day emigrated to Licking County, Ohio, from whence, in the fall of 1836, he made a tour of Northern Indiana for the purpose of securing a home in the new country then opened for settlement. After locating his land, Mr. Sanger remained for some months in an adjoining township, but at the time mentioned moved to Jef- ferson, of which he has since been an honored citizen. He took an active part in the organization of the township, served for a number of years as Justice of the Peace and Trustee, and in 1860 was elected Treasurer of Huntington County. He moved to his present home in 1857, and is the oldest living resident of the township at this time. William Purviance moved from Preble County, Ohio, in 1837, and made a home in Section 9, and about the same time Garrett Heffner erected a cabin, and began im- proving a farm in Section 21. The year 1838 witnessed the arri- val of a number of substantial settlers, among whom are remembered Lewis Purviance, Enoch Preble, Nathan Anderson, Johnathan Arnold, William D. Williams, John Shull and a Mr. Stewart. Mr. Purviance settled in Section 9. He was a represen- tative citizen and at one time served a term in the State Legisla- ture. Enoch Preble made a home in Section 14, and appears to have been a man of much more than ordinary intelligence. He died in the spring of 1840. Nathan Anderson made a farm in Section 21. Mr. Williams settled where his son Philip Williams lives, in Section 23. Mr. Shull located where he is still living, Section 26, and Mr. Stewart lived a short time in Section 12. Har- rison Lyman, sometime between 1838 and 1840, settled in Section 26, where he is still living, and a little later came John and Henry Lyman, the former locating in Section 13, and the latter in Sec- tion 2%.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.