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 82
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JESSE R. HANEY was born in Richland (now Morrow) County, Ohio, April 22, 1828, son of Jacob and Phoebe Haney, of York County, Penn. The father was born March 8, 1802, his an- cestors coming to the United States from Switzerland in an early day. He married in 1824, Miss Phoebe Rowbaugh, and the same year emigrated to Ohio and engaged in farming. He sub- sequently purchased a tract of forest land, from which he re- deemed a good home, and upon which he spent the remainder of
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his life, dying in the year 1873. Mrs. Haney was born Novem- ber 17, 1802, and is still living, making her home at this time with her youngest daughter, in Barry County, Mich. Jesse R. Haney is the third of a family of ten children. He was raised on a farm, enjoyed the advantages of a common school educa- tion, and at the age of twenty-one entered upon an apprentice- ship to learn the carpenter's trade, which he abandoned in a short time and engaged in farming. In the fall of 1853 he came to Huntington County, Ind., and purchased forty acres of land in Union Township, upon which he experienced many of the hardships as well as many of the pleasures of pioneer life. He subsequently added to his original purchase, and at this time owns a farm of 120 acres under a good state of cultivation. He is a substantial citizen and enjoys the confidence and respect of a large circle of friends and acquaintances in Union and other townships. He was married March 24, 1850, to Miss Catherine, daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Risurick) Feighner, of Frank- lin County, Penn. Mrs. Haney was born August 14, 1828, and at the age of three years was taken to Ohio, where she lived until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Haney are the parents of ten child- ren, six of whom are now living, viz .: Edward, born Decem- ber 8, 1850; Phœbe A., born December 31, 1854; Maggie, born January 2, 1860; William M., born July 4, 1864; Joseph. A., born February 7, 1866, and Jacob, born October 13, 1870. The deceased members of the family were John ()., Charley, and two that died in infancy, unnamed.
WILLIAM R. MARDENIS, merchant, was born in Urbana, Champaign Co., Ohio, November 20, 1839, and is the son of Chris- tian N. and Elizabeth Mardenis. The father was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in the year 1814, and when quite young was bound out to an uncle with whom he lived until nearly grown. Being dissatisfied with his treatment and possessed of a desire to better his condition he ran away from his uncle's family and going to Ohio, secured employment at the City of Columbus, as stage driver, which he continued several years. He subsequently moved to Mercer County, Ohio, and began in farming, and was thus engaged until the time of his death. He was united in marriage at Colmubus, Ohio, to Elizabeth Donovan, who was born in Sussex County, Del., in 1822. To this marriage were born six children, three sons and three daughters, the subject of this sketch being the oldest of the family. Mrs. Mardenis, after her husband's death, married Thomas H. Sutton, by whom she had three children. She died in the year 1862. William R. Mardenis was reared on a farm and early contributed his share toward the support of the family. After his mother's second marriage he began life upon his own responsibility, first as a hotel clerk and later as a clerk in a general store, in both of which capacities he won the confidence and esteem of his employers. September 27, 1860, he married
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Miss Mary E. Harper, daughter of John M. and Elsie A. Harper, of Ohio. Mrs. Mardenis was born in Mercer County, Ohio, Novem- ber 30, 1842. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Mardenis engaged in agricultural pursuits which he continued in Mercer County, until 1863, at which time he abandoned the farm and opened a general store in the Town of Mercer. He followed the mercantile business with fair success for a short time, and in 1870, moved to Huntington County, Ind., and settled on a tract of wood land in Union Township. He cleared a nice little farm, but his health finally failing, he was obliged to abandon hard manual labor and engage in some lighter and more congenial employment. Accordingly he erected a small building on the C. & A. R. R., and was appointed railroad agent at the place then known as Miner's Switch, now Mardenis, of which town he was proprietor. He subsequently added a stock of goods and by repeated efforts succeeded in securing a postoffice of which he was postmaster until April, 1887. In his business venture Mr. Mardenis has been quite successful, being at this time in the enjoyment of a large and constantly increasing trade. He is a Republican in politics, and with his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Mardenis are the parents of three children, whose names are as follows: Clellen E., Elsie J., and Clara E.
ANTHONY A. WEBER, a prominent citizen and Trustee of Union township, is a native of Huntington County, Ind., and the oldest of a family of three children born to Michael and Barbara (Huffman) Weber. Michael Weber was born in Germany, and before immigrating to the United States married Mary Falter, by whom he had eight children. He came to America in 1840, and making his way to Huntington County, Ind., settled in Clear Creek Township, where he engaged in farming and where he still resides in the enjoyment of a comfortable competence the fruits of his persevering industry. His first wife died about the year 1847 or '48, and he subsequently married Barbara Huffman who is still living. Mr. Weber is a man of local prominence, served as Trustee of Clear Creek in an early day and is deserv- edly classed among the representative citizens of that township. Anthony A. Weber was born in Clear Creek Township on the 21st day of January, 1853. He grew to manhood on the farm and early learned those lessons of industry and thrift which char- acterize the successful business man. He enjoyed the advan- tages of a good common school education, and by diligent application to his various studies was sufficiently advanced at the age of twenty to obtain a teacher's license. For eight suc- cessive winters he taught in the common schools of the county, seven terms in his own township, employing his vacations work- ing on the farm. The summer of 1877 he sold agricultural im- plements for P. P. Baker, of Huntington, and in 1879 purchased forty acres of his present farm in Union Township, to which he
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subsequently added another forty, owning at this time a fine farm of eighty acres, the greater part of which is under a high state of cultivation. April, 1886, he was elected Trustee of Union Township, the duties of which position he is still discharging, having proved himself a capable and painstaking official. He is an earnest supporter of the Democratic party, and one of Union's most estimable citizens. Miss Mary C. Bucher, of Clear Creek Township, daughter of Samuel and Eliza (Johnson) Bucher, be- came his wife March 20, 1879. Mrs. Weber was born August 6, 1859, and is the mother of three children, viz .: Lilly M., born April 23, 1880; William M., born June 28, 1882, and Grace G., born June 18, 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Weber are members of the Lutheran Church.
JOHN S. YOUNG, the subject of this biography, is a native of Warren County, Ohio, and the elder of two children born to John and Sarah Young, natives respectively of New Jersey, and Ohio, the father born near the city of Camden in the year 1800, and the mother in the vicinity of Cincinnati, October 15, 1808. John Young grew to manhood in his native State, and in early life learned the carpenter's trade. Shorly after his first mar- riage he emigrated to Warren County, Ohio, and settled in the woods near the Little Miami River, where for a number of years he experienced all the hardships and privations of pioneer life. Here his wife died in 1834, leaving three children, one son and two daughters. April 1836, he married his second wife who is still living, making her home at this time with her son, the sub- ject of this sketch. Mr. Young was a man of great energy and industry, well respected by all who knew him; he died in the year 1842. John S. Young was born March 20, 1837. He was but five years old when his father died, accordingly, was early in life obliged to rely in a great measure upon his own resources, begining active work on the farm at the age of nine. A little later he took charge of the home place, and from the age of six- teen has looked after his mother's interest, proving himself a son of which any mother might feel justly proud. In the fall of 1864, he sold the farm, and coming to Huntington County, In- diana, purchased eighty acres of his present place, in Union Township, to which he moved the following spring. He has added to his place at different times, and now owns one hundred and twenty-five acres of well improved land, the fruit of his own in- dustry. He has been a hard working man, begining life's battle with but a limited capital; has succeeded in accumulating a handsome competence, his farm and improvements being among the best in the township. He is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, and a Democrat in politics, though not a partisan in the sense of seeking official preferment. November 25, 1862, was solemnized his marriage with Miss Elvie Ward, of Warren County, Ohio, daughter. of James and Ellena Ward, natives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively. Mrs. Young was born March
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10, 1844, and died October 31, 1885; she was the mother of the following children, to wit: Ida B., born March 12, 1864; James E., born January 19, 1866; John G., born March 18, 1871; William H., born March 13, 1873, and Sarah E., born June 25, 1878. Mr. Young married his present wife, Frances Smith, on the 13th day of January, 1887. She is the daughter of Jacob Smith, and was. born in Montgomery County, Ohio, July 9, 1840.
CHAPTER XVII.
WARREN TOWNSHIP - BOUNDARY AND SURFACE - EARLY SET- TLEMENT - ORGANIZATION -RELIGIOUS HISTORY - CLAYSVILLE - BIPPUS - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
W ARREN TOWNSHIP .- Warren originally formed a part of Clear Creek Township, and was set apart as a distinct division in June, 1853. It includes a superficial area of twenty- four square miles in the northwest corner of Huntington County, bounded on the north by Whitley County, on the east by Clear Creek Township, on the south by Dallas Township, on the west by Wabash County, and forms part of Township 29 north, Range 8 east, of the Congressional survey. The surface of the country is quite level, requiring artificial drainage to bring the greater part of the land into successful cultivatian. The soil is a black loam, very fertile and well adapted to general farming. All the crops grown in this part of the State being sure of rapid growth and large returns. There is perhaps a greater amount of drain tile used by the farmers of Warren than by those of any other township in the county, there being a perfect net work underly- ing all parts of the country. By this means large bodies of wet lands have been successfully reclaimed, and in localities once considered almost worthless are now to be seen some of the most fertile and best improved farms in the township.
Warren is a heavily timbered district, but the greater part of the dense forests which greeted the eyes of the pioneers has been gradually cleared and brought into cultivation. Timber is still an important factor in the township, and immense quantities are every year manufactured into lumber and shipped to various parts of the country.
Settlement. - The first permanent settler within the present limits of Warren Township, was George Sellers who moved from Stark County, Ohio, in the spring of 1836, and located a home in Section 11. He was a widower, and had a family of three sons and four daughters, all of whom lived in the wagon until a house could be erected, an undertaking which required a couple of
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weeks of very hard and laborious toil. Unlike many of the pioneers of a new country, Mr. Sellers possessed considerable means which by judicious investments in land enabled him as years went by to accumulate a handsome property. He died in the township several years ago. A son, George Sellers, Jr., also an early settler, is one of the prominent residents of Warren at the present time. Thomas Staley was, perhaps, the next person to attempt a settlement in the township, his arrival anti-dating the year 1837. He came from Ohio, also, and settled in Section 2, where he lived for a number of years, disposing of his place in a later day and moving from the county. The place upon which he settled is now owned by Emery Slusser. George Slusser, in the spring of 1837, settled where Frank Sprinkle lives, in the eastern part of the township, and the same year the Hockensmith farm, a short distance east of Bippus, was settled by Henry Kuntz. Hiram Westover was an early settler in Section 9, and about the year 1840 or 1841, George Slusser, cousin to the Slusser above named, is reputed to have been living in Section 24. Conspicuous among the comers of 1840, was John Altman, who improved the farm where his widow still lives in Section 14. He was a man of intelligence, and in an early day filled the offices of Jus- tice of the Peace and Township Trustee. C. Dailey, an early pioneer of Clear Creek, moved from that township to Warren, about the year 1840 or 1842, and settled where Dr. Trembley now lives on the present site of Bippus.
In 1838, John Funk, a native of Ohio, came to Huntington County, and a little later took possesssion of a tract of land in Section 15, which his father had formerly entered. He began improving the same in 1840, but did not become a permanent resident of the township until some time in the fifties. He cleared a small patch of ground and set out an orchard and in 1842, taught the first school in the township in a little log build- ing on Section 14. Mr. Funk has always taken an active interest in the affairs of the township and is quoted as an authority on everything that pertains to its history.
As early as 1839 or 1840, one Michael Smith, rented the Fink- enbiner place, Section 14, where in connection with farming he for some years carried on the shoemaker's trade.
Peter Kitt, in 1841, settled in the northeast corner of the town- ship, and about the same year, William Guffin, Jacob Shull and Ezra Thorne moved to the county; the first named settling near the Whitley County line, Section 2, Mr. Shull in the same section, and Thorne in the southern part of the township.
The following settlers came in an early day and took an active part in the developement of the township, to-wit: George France, Daniel Dishung, Jacob Myers, David Shoemaker, Peter Gressley, John Byers, George Brugh, Samuel Funk, John T. Cook, and Mr. Noyer.
Warren was formally organized in June, 1843, and within a short time thereafter an election was held for the purpose of
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choosing the necessary township officials. Jacob Shull was appointed Inspector, and the canvass of the votes showed the following officers elected: Christian Dailey, George France and John T. Cook, Trustees; William T. Guffin, Clerk; James White, Treasurer, and John Funk, Constable. The last board of Trustees was composed of John Funk, Elias Sprinkle, and Peter Elser. The first single Trustee was John Altman. The Trustee at this time is Thomas Bolinger; Justices of the Peace, Philip Bolinger and Levi Kuntz.
The first mill in the township was built by Joseph Miller, about the year 1885, and stood on Section 22. It was started as a saw mill, but machinery for the grinding of grain was subse- quently attached, thus relieving the neighbors of the necessity of traveling to remote parts of the country for their breadstuffs. It did a good business, was in operation for a period of six or eight years, and finally burned down. Messrs. Howenstine and Brightmire were the last owners. A steam saw mill was built at Claysville, some time in the fifties, by a Mr. Bolinger, which did a fair business for several years. It passed through the hands of different parties and was finally moved from the township. A Mr. Cole built a steam saw mill in the southeastern part of the township many years ago, which manufactured much of the lumber used by /the settlers of that locality. At this time there are four saw mills in the township operated by the follow- ing men: Bradley Howenstine, Reuben Bentz, Mossman & Smith, and Mossman & Co. The other industries of the town- ship are two tile factories, operated by Bender Bros., and George Rickard, and two large cider mills, by Bolinger & Krider, and L. Everhart.
The religious history of the township dates from quite an early day, many of the pioneers having been active members of the church before moving to the new country. The first meet- ing was held at the residence of George Sellers in 1839, by a traveling minister of the Methodist denomination, and later in the same year a society of the United Brethren Church was or- ganized and a log building for public worship erected on the land of George Slusser, in the eastern part of the township. This house while erected nominally as a United Brethren Church was placed as the disposal of all denominations, and services were frequently conducted by various members. The United Brethren Society continued to increase in members and influence and early became a potent factor for good in the com- munity. Many of the substantial citizens having been enrolled among its members. A new frame building was erected about the year 1875 or 1876, and at this time the organization is in a prosperous condition, supporting preaching at regular intervals and a good Sunday School.
The Lutherans organized a church in an early day, and erected a house of worship about a mile west of the village of Bippus. The society is still kept up and has a substantial mem-
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bership. The German Baptist was early represented in the township, and in 1881, that denomination in connection with the Evangelical Lutherans erected what is known as the Union Church, in Section 15, a large and commodious brick building representing a capital of about $4,500. Meetings are held by denominations. Elder David Krider preaching for the Baptists, and Rev. Thomas Bolinger for the Lutherans. The Brethren or progressives of the German Baptist order use the house at inter- vals also, their ministers being Rev. William Summers and Reuben Binkley. The Albright denomination or Evangelical Church have an organization at the village of Bippus, which dates its history from about the year 1885. A beautiful brick temple of worship was erected in the summer of that year at a cost of $2,200. The present pastor is Rev. A. S. Fisher.
The first birth in the township was that of Thomas Staley, which occurred in the year 1839. The first marriage was solem- nized in 1837, the contracting parties being William Delvin and Susan, daughter of George and Sophia Sellers. George Sellers, Jr., and Rebecca Stally were married in an early day also. The first death in the township was that of Mr. Noyer, who was accidentally killed by the falling of a tree in 1841. A couple of years later William Stally, while cutting a bee tree was killed by a piece of a dead limb falling upon his head. St. Peter's Cemetery in Section 15, is the oldest burying ground in the town- ship, the first person laid to rest therein being Sarah, daughter of John Altman, whose death occurred in 1844. Jacob Shull, one of the pioneers of the township, was the second person buried at this place, his death occurring a little later.
The first orchards in the township were set out by John Alt- man, George Sellers and John Funk, and the first wheat was raised by George Slusser. The first road was the one leading from Huntington to Goshen, cut through the township as early as 1838. A section of this highway was cleared of logs the fol- lowing year by John Funk.
Village of Claysville (Bracken Postoffice), in Sections 9 and 10, was laid out in an early day on the land of Hiram Westover. It early became the chief source of supplies for the surrounding country, and among its business men from time to time were James Ferguson, Smith & Blood, Frank Sprinkle and Thomas Bolinger. There are at this time two general stores, kept by Elias Sprinkle and William Moffat. Charles W. Fry is the resi- dent physician of the place, and the village blacksmith is Robert King.
Bippus .- The Village of Bippus on the C. & A. Railroad in the southern part of the township was laid out into lots by Jacob Coblentz about the year 1884. Prior to that time, however, a small store had been started in the place by Joseph Sell, who for several years carried on the goods business in connection with his trade of wagon making. When the C. & A. road was constructed efforts were made to secure a station; but unfortu-
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nately for the village the depot was erected nearly a mile east of the town, a fact which has doubtless prevented the place from becoming one of the flourishing towns of the county. Since the completion of the road, however, the village has been quite a good trading point, and has at this time three business houses kept by G. R. Stillwell, Sell & Co., and W. D. Sult, the first two handling general merchandise, and the last named carrying a full line of drugs.
The following medical men have practiced the healing art in the village at different times, viz .: Joshua Simons, Dr. Peters, William Deidrich, John Horn, J. D. Horn and G. D. Trembley, the last named being the present physician.
The mechanics of the village are Simon Bolinger and Philip King, blacksmiths; Jacob Lent, Ephriam Brightmire, Jacob Lamont and J. W. Graybill, carpenters.
In the year 1884 a large saw mill was built in the village by Hoffman & Co., who subsequently sold out to Jacob Nye, Jr., and he in turn to Mossman & Co., the present proprietors. The mill does a very large business, and is one of the most successful in- dustries of the kind in Huntington County. The other manu- facturing interests of the place are a tile mill operated by the Bender Bros., and a hoop factory carried on by the same firm.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
THOMAS BOLINGER, a citizen of Warren Township, is a native of Ashland County, Ohio, where he was born March 31, 1838, being the next youngest in a family of eight child- ren born to Henry and Mary (Carmoney) Bolinger, who were both natives of Dauphin County, Penn. They emigrated from Ohio to this county and State, September, 1853, settling on the farm, on which they continued residents until their death. Our immediate subject was reared to almost manhood in his native county. He received a common school education, all obtained in Ohio. Upon coming to this county, he at once engaged in teach- ing, and followed that at intervals for some time, since which he has made farming his occupation. June 12, 1869, his marriage with Letitia A. Barnes was solemnized. Mrs. Bolinger was a daughter of Peter and Mary (Lewis) Barnes, who were natives of Virginia. Mrs. Barnes was born February 10th, 1842. Mr. Bolinger has been a successful farmer. He now owns 220 acres of well improved land, the accumulation of his own industry and economy. He and wife are members of the Evangelical Luth- eran Church. In politics, he has always been a staunch Demo- crat, and has been honored with an election to the offices of County Surveyor, Justice of Peace, two terms, and Township Trustee in 1886, and is the present incumbent of that position. Since 1884, Mr. Bolinger has occupied the pulpit of the local churches, preaching and filling regular appointments at the
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churches in the Zion charge, and has conducted and assisted in several protracted efforts. With the exception of twenty acres, owned by his brother Philip Bolinger, the old homestead is in the possession of our subject.
ANDREW G. BROOKOVER, farmer of Warren Township, is a native of Brown County, Ohio, born near Aberdeen, Decem- ber 29, 1838, being the eldest of a family of ten children, born to George W. and Eliza J. (Guffin) Brookover. They were natives of Brown County, Ohio, and Bracken County, Ky., respectively, the former of German descent, his paternal grandfather, Jacob Brookover, being a native-born German, emigrating to the then Colony of Maryland, later removed to Frederick County, Va., of which he continued a resident until his death. His son, Aseal Brookover, paternal grandfather of our immendiate subject, was born in Maryland, July 1, 1775. He grew to manhood in his na- tive State, from whence he removed to Mason County, Ky. Before coming to that place he had married Margaret Guffin in Virginia. In 1801 he removed to Brown County, Ohio, where Geo. W. Brook- over, father of our subject, was born June 1, 1816. The latter came to Indiana in September, 1855, locating immediately in Warren Township, of which he continued a resident until his death, which occurred October 2, 1879. He was united in mar- riage with Eliza J. Guffin, February 14, 1838, in Bracken County, Ky. His widow still survives him and makes her home at Hunt- ington. Our immediate subject grew to manhood and has always lived in Warren Township since the settlement of the family in the county. He received a common school education in the schools of the vicinity. September 25, 1862, his marriage with Cordelia A. Lewis was solemnized, and to their union seven chil- dren have been born, of whom these six are now living: Eva O., Ulysses G., Cora A., Iva D., Jessie I., and Guy Lewis. The de- ceased child was Ina May. Mr. Brookover has always made farming his occupation, and he has been very successful. He now owns 285 acres of well improved land. He is a member of the Church of God. His politics are Republican, and he always manifests a good live interest in the political affairs of the county and community in which he lives. Mrs. Brookover was born in Rush County, Ind., July 6, 1844, and is a daughter of Thomas S. and Elizabeth (Summers) Lewis. They were born January 8, 1821, and September 23, 1823, in Bracken and Bath Counties, Kentucky, respectively. They came to this county in 1851. and have ever since resided in Warren Township. Mr. Brookover is one of the leading men of Huntington County, and is highly esteemed by those who know him.
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