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 83

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 83

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NEHEMIAH BROWN, of Warren Township, is a native of Preble County, Ohio, born near the village of Camden, March 6, 1828, being the eldest of a family of two children born to Isaiah M. and Mary (Thompson) Brown, the former, a native of New

Andrew Is Brookover

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Jersey, was born October, 1805, the son of Clayton Brown, who was also a native of New Jersey. The latter a native of Penn- sylvania, was born June 16, 1805, from whence the family re- moved to Ohio about 1816, where the father of our immediate subject grew to manhood, receiving what was for those days a fair education. Shortly after attaining his majority he was united in marriage with Mary Thompson. This marriage was of comparatively short duration, his wife dying October 6, 1830. In the spring of 1833, Martha A. Silver became his wife. In the fall of 1848, he emigrated to Indiana, reaching Huntington County, the first of November that year, and he continued a resident of this county until his death, which occurred April 16, 1857. His last wife survived him, and died at the house of her daughter, in Missouri, July 18, 1883, at the age of seventy-eight years. He was a man of considerable local prominence and was honored with an election to the office of Township Trustee. He was an active member in the Society of Friends, and lived a true and devout Christian life. The two children by his first marriage were Nehemiah and Charles, who became with their father resi- dents of Huntington County, and have since remained such. The former, the subject of our sketch, received a common school edu- cation in his native State and county sufficient to enable him to take charge of the neighborhood schools, upon coming to this county. He remained at home and assisted his parents until he attained the age of twenty-four, when June 10, 1852, his and Sarah Moore's nuptials were celebrated, and to their union six children have been born, of whom these five are now living: Mary J., now Matron of the Ladies' Hall at the Valparaiso Normal School; Albert, who married Annie Sprinkle; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Cyrus Stultz; Laura E. and Emma L. He has always made farming his occupation and he has been very successful. He now own 200 acres of well improved land. He is a member of the Friend's Church, a man of pronounced temperance views and as such casts his ballot for and with the cause of the Prohibi- tion party, and is a warm advocate of the principles of that party. He was one of the principal stockholders, and was largely instru- mental in having the Huntington and Maple Grove Pike Road con- structed, serving as its superintendent six years. Mrs. Brown is a daughter of John and Margaret (Evans) Moore, who were among the early settlers of this vicinity. She was born Febru- ary 27, 1831. John C. Brown and family, came to the county and settled in Warren Township about 1853, and lived here until his death in 1872. He was the father of a large family of children, most of whom have removed from the county, only one descend- ant, a daughter, Mary, wife of J. F. Smith still living here.

JOHN T. COOK, a citizen of Warren Township, and one of its earliest settlers, is a native of Kent County, Delaware, where he was born, October 27, 1815, being the only child born to James and Sarah (Taylor) Cook, who were also natives

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HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.

of Delaware. Our subject grew to manhood in his native State receiving a limited education in consequence of the poor facili- ties of those days. Upon attaining his majority he emigrated to Indiana and first located in Rush County, of which he remained a resident for six years, when in January, 1842, he removed to this county and settled on the farm, where he has since lived. The country was then a wilderness of woods which abounded in game of all kinds. May 11, 1837, his marriage with Mary Morris was solemnized, and to their union seven children were born, of whom these four are now living: Hugh, who married Margaret Vorse; James, whose wife was Eliza J. Ransom; Camilus, whose consort was Elizabeth Vorse, and William, who married Amelia Davis. Oliver, whose wife was Serf Blood, since deceased; John, deceased, lost his life in the service of his country, and Charles, deceased. February 8, 1853, Mr. Cook suffered the bereavement of losing his beloved wife. July 26, 1853, his and Lurana (Baugher) Kerns nuptials were celebrated and three children have been born to them: Minerva now Mrs. David Kincade; Octava, widow of John King, and Artemessa, deceased. Mr. Cook has always made farming his occupation and he has been very successful. He is the proprietor of a fine, well improved farm of 160 acres, all the accumulation of his own industry and economy, and may take rank as one of the self-made men. He and wife are members of the Adventist Church commonly known as Soul Sleepers. In politics he has always been a Repub- lican and he always manifests a good live interest in the politi- cal affairs of the county and community in which he lives, where he enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him.

LINUS EBERHART, of Warren Township, is a native of Hohenzollern, Prussia, where he was born September 16, 1833, being the third in a family of five children, born to Michael and Barbara (Henger) Eberhart. Our subject grew to manhood in his native country, receiving a good education in the German and Latin languages. In 1852, he emigrated to the United States, first locating in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, where he lived until the spring of 1855, when he settled just over the west line of Hunt- ington County, Chester Township, in Wabash County, living there until 1860, when he removed to the farm on which he now resides. In 1854 his parents followed him to this country, but his father died at New York with cholera. October 7, 1858, his marriage with Elizabeth Ade, was solemnized, and to their union nine children have been born: Eliza, now Mrs. Clayton Rodkey; Christina K., wife of Samuel L. Emley; John, unmarried; Emanuel, who married Jane Emley; Lydia M., William F., Emma A., Jacob H. and Simon F. He has always made farm- ing his occupation, in connection with which he shipped and manufactured staves for a number of years, and he has been very successful. He now owns a fine, well improved farm of eighty acres. He and wife are members of the Evangelical

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Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Democrat, and the good condition of the roads of the township is due to his having filled the position of Road Supervisor for a number of years.

DR. CHARLES W. FRY, physician and surgeon, at Bracken, is a native of Crawford County, Ohio, where he was born March 1, 1853, being the eldest of a family of four children born to Jacob and Ellen (Cross) Fry, who were natives of Tuscarawas and Wayne Counties, Ohio, respectively. They migrated to Indiana, and Huntington County, in the year 1861, settling in Clear Creek Township, since which time they have remained residents of the county. Our immediate subject grew to manhood in this county receiving a common school education, supplemented by attend- ance at the Mt. Union College, Stark County, Ohio. In 1873, he engaged in teaching, which he continued until 1875, when he commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Shaffer, under whose tutorage he continued until 1878, during which time, in the winter of '76 and '77, he took a course of lectures at the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery. He also at inter- vals taught school. In the winter of 1885 and '86 he took a sec- ond course at the same school, graduating from that institution in the spring of the latter year, since which time he has devoted his entire attention to the practice of his profession. May 3, 1885, his marriage with Ettie Griffin was solemnized. While young in the profession he has been quite successful, and enjoys a good remunerative practice. In politics he is a staunch Republican, and he always manifests a good live interest in the political affairs of the county and community in which he lives. Dr. Fry is a member of the Huntington County Medical Society.

DAVID LICHTENWALTER, a leading citizen of Warren Township, is a native of Starke County, Ohio, born near Canton, June 17, 1819, being the third in a family of nine children born to Daniel and Rachael (Bear) Lichtenwalter, who were both born in Pennsylvania, the former of Swiss descent. Our immediate subject was reared in his native county, remaining at home and assisting his parents on the farm until he attained the age of eighteen years, receiving a limited education in the primitive log school houses of those days, which was greatly supplemented by reading and study without the aid of a teacher, becoming suf- ficently well qualified to engage as an instructor, which he did two terms. Upon arriving at the age of eighteen he began learn- ing the carpenter trade, serving an apprenticeship of two years. He continued to follow that for about fourteen years. May 18, 1842, his marriage with Matilda Kelt was solemnized, and to their union twelve children have been born, of whom these six are now living: Rachel, widow of H. D. Fox; James, who mar- ried Laurella Gorsage; Matilda, Lillie, Sadie, wife of J. C. Henry, and Lincoln. John, the eldest son, lost his life in his country's cause, at Fort Donaldson, the first fight after his enlistment,

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HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.

August, 1861. After a three years' residence at Crestline, Ohio, he removed to Piercton, Kosciusko County, 1855, coming there contracting to bridge a mill pond in that vicinity for the Pitts- burg Railway. He continued to reside there until June, 1873, when he removed to his present residence. November, 1861, he realized the necessity of the preservation of our Union, and en- listed in Company I, Forty-Seventh Regiment of Indiana Volun- teer Infantry, entering the service as principal musician, continuing in that capacity until October, 1862, when he was discharged on account of disability. Since coming to Hunting- ton County he made saw milling his occupation, but has now retired from that business, and devotes his entire attention to farming, and has been very successful. He now owns 180 acres of improved land. He belongs to the I. O. O. F. and Masonic fraternities, but is now on demit from them. He also is a mem- ber of the G. A. R. His political views are Republican, and while a resident of Kosciusko County was honored with an elec- tion to the office of Justice of the Peace. Mr. Lichtenwalter has never entirely recovered his health, and the government in recognition of his services, assists him with a pension at the rate of $4 per month.

ELIAS SPRINKLE, merchant at Bracken, established his business in 1878. He carries a stock of about $2,000, doing an an- nual business of about $5,000. He is the senior member of the firm of Sprinkle & Son. Mr. Sprinkle is a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, where he was born August 11, 1824, being the sixth in a family of eight children, born to Michael and Mary M. (Muntz) Sprinkle,who were both natives of Maryland; the former lived to be seventy-three years old and died in Ashland County, Ohio, his widow survived him, coming with our immediate sub- ject to Indiana in 1854, where she lived until 1876, when she died at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. May 4, 1845, the nuptials of Mr. Sprinkle's marriage with Catherine Bolinger, were celebrated, and to their union these three children have been born: Benjamin. F., who married Flora A. Myers; Thos. A., whose wife was Mary A. Brodbeck, and Mary J., now Mrs. Henry P. Myers. Upon settling in Huntington County, Mr. Sprinkle en- gaged in work at the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1877, in connection with which he farmed some. From a business point of view he has been reasonably successful. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, he is a Republican. While a resident of Wabash County, he was Assessor, and in former years was honored with an election to the office of Township Trustee for Warren Township.

LAFAYETTE SULT, a leading and one of the most enter- prising citizens of Warren Township, was born July 29, 1843, in Morris County, Ohio, the youngest son of a family of six sons and four daughters, born to Daniel and Barbara (Tergarden)

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Sult, who were both natives of Lehigh and Westmoreland Counties, Penn., respectively: They came to Ohio in a very early day, from whence in the year 1855, they removed to Indiana and Huntington County, first locating and continuing to live the rest of their days on the land now owned and occupied by our sub- ject. LaFayette grew to manhood in this county, receiving a limited education in consequence of the poor facilities afforded the children of his day. At the early age of eighteen years, he alive to the necessity of the preservation of our Union, gallantly enlisted as a volunteer, August 6, 1861, in Company C, Thirty- Fourth Indiana Regiment, where he served until September 12, 1862, when he was honorably discharged at Helena, Ark., on ac- count of disability. October, 1863, he re-entered the service in Company D, One Hundred and Thirtieth Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, from which he was mustered out as First Duty Ser- geant, on the staff of Capt. A. S. Purviance, December, 1865. Anterior to entering the service he had learned the tinner's trade; after his return he followed that business for about six years, when for a period of five years immediately subsequent he was engaged in contracting and constructing public work, since which time he has made farming and stock raising his occupa- tion. October 31, 1865, his marriage with Harriet C. Clark was solemnized, by whom he is the father of seven children, these six now living: William D., Cora L., Minnie J., Melvin W., Sol- omon T., and Robert J. F. William D., the eldest, is engaged in the drug business at Bippus, having the finest store in the village, which he established in June, 1885, and by his courteous and obliging manner and straightforward dealing has been enabled to build up a good remunerative trade. From a business point of view Mr. Sult has been successful. He is the proprietor of a fine farm of seventy-seven acres and a member of the I. O. O. F. In politics, he is an ardent Republican and always warmly ad- vocates the principles of that party, and may be found always working for its success. He was honored with an election to the office of Justice of the Peace, April, 1881, which bespeaks his popularity as the party is largely in the minority.

GEORGE D. TREMBLY, physician and surgeon at the village of Bippus, is a native of Whitley County, Ind., born January 29, 1846, being the next eldest of seven children born to John S. and Ellen D. (Witt) Trembly, who were natives of New Jersey and Ohio, respectively, they having settled in Whitley County about 1844. Our immediate subject was reared to manhood in his native county. He received a high school education supple- mented by one year's attendance at Mendota College, Mendota, Ill. In 1872 he began reading medicine with C. Sonder, with whom he remained three years, during which time he took two courses of lectures at the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, graduating from that institution February, 1875, he then returned to Whitley County and entered into partnership with

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HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.

Dr. E. Merriman, which continued two years, when he removed to Bracken, where he remained engaged in the practice of his profession until the spring of 1885, when he located at Bippus. April 15, 1875, his marriage with Martha Bechtel was solemnized, and to their union five children have been born, of whom these three are now living: Clara A., James R. L. and an infant boy. Mrs. Trembly, a native of Whitley County, a daughter of Martin and Maria (First) Bechtel, natives of Ohio, and early set- tlers of Whitley County, was born November 22, 1847. October, 1864, Mr. Trembly enlisted for a term of one year in the service of his country, but owing to sickness and the way hostilities were arranged he never saw active service, and was discharged May, 1865, on account of the close of the war. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity and also belongs to the Huntington County Medical Society, and filled the position of President of that association for the year of 1886. He formerly belonged to the Wabash County Medical Society before an organization of that kind was perfected in this county. He enjoys a good re- munerative practice. In politics he is a Democrat, and he always manifests a good live interest in the political affairs of the county and community in which he lives. After his return from the army his physical health being greatly impaired, he then en- gaged in teaching, which he followed at intervals, during which time he was enabled to save some means which he subsequently used in paying his expenses while pursuing his study of medi- cine, but that was soon expended, and he was enabled to com- plete his education by borrowing of his friends. His literary and medical education are almost entirely the fruits of his own energy, industry and economy.

JACOB WETHERS, a prominent citizen of Warren Town- ship, is a native of Wayne County, Ohio, where he was born, February 5, 1842, being the next eldest in a family of seven children, three boys and four girls born to Jacob and Kathrina (Howenstine) Wethers, who were of German descent, born in Switzerland near the boundary of Germany, where their mar- riage occurred. The former had made a visit to the United States, prior to his marriage, but only remained one year, when he returned to his native country. Upon coming back to the United States, he first located in Pensylvania, where he lived seven years and worked in the iron works, when in 1844 he emi- grated to Wayne County, Ohio, living there one year, when he came to Huntington County, and settled in Warren Township, of which he continued a resident until his death which occurred November, 1870. He was what might be termed one of the ear- liest or pioneer settlers of Warren Township. The country was a wilderness of woods, abounding in game of all kinds. He ex- perienced all the difficulties incident to pioneer life. Our im- mediate subject grew to manhood in this county, receiving a common education, greatly supplemented in later years by read-

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ing. He remained at home and assisted his parents on the farm until he attained the age of twenty years, when he worked for about four years by the month, when he purchased a farm. November 1, 1868, his marriage with Charlotta A. Rice was solemnized, and to their union four children have been born, of whom these three are now living: Elizabeth A., born January 6, 1870; William F., born December 11, 1876; John F., born Janu- ary 7, 1882. He has always made farming his occupation, and he has been very successful. He now owns eighty acres of well improved land. He and wife are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. In politics, he is a Republican, and he always manifests a good live interest in political affairs.

CHAPTER XVIII.

WAYNE TOWNSHIP - AREA AND SITUATION - LAND ENTRIES - SETTLEMENT-TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION - EARLY EVENTS - IMPROVEMENTS - CHURCHES - BANQUO - BIOGRAPHICAL.

W TAYNE TOWNSHIP embraces a territorial area of twenty- four square miles in the southwest corner of Huntington County, and forms part of Township 26 north, Range 8 east, of the Congressional Survey. Its boundaries are as follows: Polk Township on the north, Jefferson on the east, Grant County on the south, and Wabash County on the west. The surface may be described as level, with undulations along the water courses, and the country, when first seen by white men, was covered with a dense forest growth of the finest timber, the greater part of which has been removed in preparing the ground for cultivation. Perhaps no similar area in the county could boast of as much valuable timber as this township, and the amount of lumber manufactured from time to time has been the source of valuable income to the country. Among the leading varieties are walnut, poplar, oak, elm, ash, hickory, sugar tree, in almost inexhaustible quantities, a fact which early made the manufacture of lumber one of the most important enterprises of the community. The township is watered and drained by a number of small streams, affluents of the Salamonie River, chief among which is Richards' Creek, a water course of considerable importance flowing in a northerly direction along the eastern border; Prairie and Logan Creeks, easterly from southwest to northeast, and Rush Creek, a small stream in the northwestern part of the township, affords ample drainage for a large area of territory through which it passes. These water courses, while small the greater part of the

2 872 J HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.

year, sometimes become raging torrents, and during overflows and spring freshets, frequently overflow their banks for consid- erable distances on either side. The soil is a black loam of great depth and fertility, and as an agricultural region, the township is perhaps unsurpassed by any like number of acres in the county or State. In point of material prosperity, Wayne will compare favorably with any community in Indiana, and there are among her citizens a greater proportion of well-to-do farmers and intel- ligent business men than in any other division of Huntington County. This statement is made after mature deliberation, and the intelligent observer in passing over the well improved high- ways and noting the superior condition of her finely cultivated farms and elegant residences, will not long question the justness of the claim.

Land Entries. - Land was first entered in Township 26 north, Range 8 east, in 1834, at which time Isaac Branson laid claim and obtained a patent for a tract in Section 1, in the northeast corner of the township. The following year entries were made by Moses Kelley and Asher Fisher in the same section; Miles Gray, in Section 2; Anderson Liverton, Section 12; Joseph Weaver and Daniel Dwiggins, Section 14, and Thomas Hallowell, Section 23. During the year 1836 the following persons purchased land from the Government, to-wit: Nathan Hildreth, James Jennings and William Richey, Section 2; Smith Grant, Joseph Anthony and Samuel Bullock, Section 3; James Starbuck, Moses Herrell, Jacob Wister and Rinard Rinearson, Section 4; Caleb Satterthwaite, Jacob Snyder and John Scott, Section 9; James Hildreth, Section 10; Thomas Fisher, John Moffatt, John Ruggles and E. Starbuck, Section 11; James Belsford and John Buzzard, Section 12; Thomas G. Runnells, Section 13; William McBride, Section 14; Elias B. Stowe, John D. Lindsey and Jacob Coon, Section 15; Johnson Knight, John Reicker, Aggrippa Henderson and Robert A. Rob- ertson, Section 21; Jackson L. Stevens, Ephraim Johnson and Robert Mcknight, Section 22; James Camphel, Section 23; John Blackledge and Joseph McGarrough, Section 24; Asbury Steele and John Crest, Section 25; Anderson Meheffy and John V. Dea- con, Section 26; William Reed, John Teavis and Jefferson Helm, Section 27; James. Dearth, David Clingenpeel, John Hawkins and Henry Klum, Section 28; John Robb, J. P. Thompson and Abra- ham Hackleman, Section 33; Peyton Daniel and James Bain, Section 34; John Thomas, Section 35; Charles Ginley and Charles Morgan, Section 36.

Settlement .- The first white men to lead the advance of civili- zation into what is now Wayne Township, were John Ruggles and John Buzzard, whose arrival is said to have been in March, .1835. The former located where his son, Joseph Ruggles now lives, on the northeast quarter of Section 13, and was a man of considerable prominence in the early days of the county, hav- ing at one time held the office of Township Trustee. He was a native of Ohio, but moved here from near Lafayette, Tippecanoe

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County, having located in that part of the State as early as 1833 or 1834. Buzzard was a native of Ohio also, and a brother-in- law of Mr. Ruggles. He settled the Thomas Pinkerton farm, southeast quarter of Section 13, and upon the same erected the first house in the township. He was a prominent citizen for a period of thirty-five or forty years, and is remembered as one of Huntington County's representative pioneers. The next perma- nent settler was Anderson Leveston, who moved from Wayne County in the fall of 1835, and purchased from the government a tract of land in the northwest quarter of Section 12. He made substantial improvements upon his place and like the majority of the early residents was a man of industry and sterling worth. About the same time came Asher Fisher and settled on the south- west quarter of Section 1, where he resided until his death in 1884. His brother, Thomas Fisher, the oldest resident living at this time, moved from Wayne County in the fall of 1836, and set- tled on Prairie Creek, Section 12, where he has since resided. He made a tour of the country, however, the previous spring, and after entering his land cleared and planted a small "truck patch" besides erecting a cabin for the reception of his family. He was seven days in moving his family to the new home in the woods, and immediately on reaching his destination he began pioneer life in earnest. He soon succeeded in widening his area of cleared land and as soon as time would permit he set out an orchard, the first in the township, and one of the first in the southern part of the county. Mr. Fisher is still living, having reached the ripe old age of seventy-eight years, and is justly classed among the most intelligent and prosperous citizens of the township in the development and organization of which he took such an active part. .

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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 83

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