USA > Indiana > Marshall County > History of Indiana : containing a history of Indiana and biographical sketches of governors and other leading men. Also a statement of the growth and prosperity of Marshall County, together with a personal and family histry of many of its citizens, Vol. II > Part 18
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Prominent among the successful self-made men of Marshall county is David L. Gibson, who was born in Highland county, Ohio, on the 25th of March, 1824. He is a son of Johnand Mary (Looney) Gibson, who left their native state of Kentucky at an early day, emigrating to Ohio, thence in 1827 to Rush county, Ind., where the father cleared two farms and where he resided until 1834. In October of the latter year, he came to Marshall county, Ind., and located in Center township, which at that time was an almost unbroken forest. He developed one of the first farms in the township, produced the first wheat ever raised in Marshall county, and also started a tannery which, though not very successful financially, was highly prized by the early settlers of the community. He was a man prominent in county affairs, served as a member of the board of commissioners in 1837, and took an active part in the moral as well as the material develop- ment of his adopted county, having been one of the leading Pres- byterians in this part of the country. He became identified with the church when a young man and continued a consistent mem-
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ber of the same for overa half century. He assisted in building the first Presbyterian church at Plymouth, was for many years an elder of the congregation there, and against his moral character no breath of suspicion was ever known to have been uttered. He departed this life in 1866 and his faithful wife with whom he had lived for so many years, was laid to rest within one week after the death of her husband. She was also a pious member of the Presbyterian church and raised a family, six members of which are still living, viz .: the subject of this sketch; Peter, who resided in Center township; Mrs. Elizabeth McCoy, of Chicago; Mrs. Sarah Barden, of Nebraska; James, who also resides in Cen- ter township, and Mrs. Mary Boggs, who lives near the village of Argos. David L. Gibson came to Marshall county when about ten years of age, since which time he has been one of its most prosperous and well-known citizens. His educational training was obtained in the country schools which in the time of his youth were of a very indifferent character, hence it may with pro- priety be said that he is a self-educated man, his knowledge being of that practical kind, the result of intelligent observation and contact with the world in various business capacities. He as- sisted his father on the farm until attaining his majority, and in 1850, in company with two companions, made the long overland trip to California with an ox team, and was there engaged in the gold fields for a period of about eighteen months. He met with reasonably fair success in this venture, and returning to Marshall county purchased his present place in Center township which he cleared from the woods, and which is now one of the finest farms in this part of the state. With a desire of improving his fortune he made a second trip to the west in 1859, this time going to Colorado, where he remained for only a limited period, return- ing to Marshall county and resuming farming, which with stock- raising, has been his business ever since. Mr. Gibson is essentially a self-made man, and as such ranks with the most successful farm- ers and stock-raisers of the county. He began life for himself with little capital save a well formed determination to succeed and his present social and financial standing show how well that de- termination has been carried into effect. He has traveled ex- tensively through the western and southern states and now owns a fine orange farm in Hernando county, Florida, which returns him a comfortable revenue. He was married in 1853 to Han- nah D., daughter of Huron Haines, of Marshall county, to which union three children have been born, viz .: Alice, wife of Dr. B. W. Parks, of Bourbon; Lizzie, wife of W. S. Howard, of Ash- land, Kan .; and John H., who lives on the home farm. John H. Gibson married Miss Jennie Van Vactor, daughter of Riley Van Vactor, of Center township. Politically Mr. Gibson's views are in accord with the republican party, but he has never asked nor
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sou ght official honors at the hands of his fellow citizens. He is a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Center township and assisted liberally in the construction of the build- ing in which the congregation worships.
James A. Gilmore, cashier of the First National bank of Ply- mouth, was born in the state of New York, Livingston county, July 29, 1840, son of John and Margaret (Skellie) Gilmore, both natives of the same state. John Gilmore was for some years prominently identified with sheep-raising in Genesee county, of the above state, where his death occurred in 1882. His wife died in 1868. They had a family of five children, whose names are as follows: John E., Jane E., Martha A., Sadie and James A., our subject. James A. Gilmore grew to manhood in Genesee county, N. Y., and after obtaining his early educational training in the common schools entered the Alford academy, Allegheny county, which he attended for some time, obtaining therein a practical knowledge of the higher branches. On leaving school he farmed for some time, and later engaged in the mercantile business at Warsaw, Ind., in which city he located in 1866. He continued there for seven years, a part of which time he served as agent for the Adams and American Express companies, and in 1873 became a resident of Plymouth, since which date he has held an official position in the First National bank. Mr. Gilmore is an accomplished accountant, a successful business man and pos- sesses the confidence of the corporation by which he is employed. He is at this time city treasurer of Plymouth, which office he has held for thirteen years, with two more to serve. Politically he is a supporter of the democratic party.
Henry Grossmann, whose brief biographical sketch is here- with presented, is a son of Jacob and Mary (Landis) Grossman, who were natives of Lancaster county, Penn., where their respective deaths occurred in the years 1857 and 1888. Jacob Grossman was by occupation a farmer and drover and was widely and favorably known in his native county as an active member of the Lutheran church, of which his wife was also a communicant. Of their ten children, nine are living, viz .: John, of Lancaster county, Penn .; Mrs. Maria Kreider, of the same county and state; George, of the city of Lancaster; Henry; Mrs. Margaret Zehner, of Plymouth; David, of Rutland, this county; Levi, of Chester county, Penn .; Mrs. Catharine Hartzler, of Lancaster county, Penn., and Daniel, of this county. Henry Grossman received his education in the township schools in Lan- caster county, and having a taste for mechanical pursuits, early learned the carpenter's trade in which he became quite skillful, and which he followed for a period of seven years. He came to Marshall county, in 1857, and the same year was united in marriage to Mary R. Shoemaker, daughter of John Shoemaker,
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of Center township, to which union the following children have been born, viz .: Iden Monroe, Howard J. (deceased), Matilda E. (deceased), Isaiah H., Stacy F., Grace R., Eunice S., Sidney C. and Erdie B. Mrs. Grossman died in 1878, and in 1879 Mr. Grossman married his present wife, Mrs. Sarah Seider, widow of John Seider. Immediately after his first marriage, Mr. Gross- man began farming in Center township, where he now owns 251 acres of fine land which is one of the best places in this part of the county. He is a member of the Reformed church, and as a democrat has filled several official positions in the township.
Among the leading German citizens and business men of Ply- mouth, is Joseph Haag, senior member of the firm of Haag & Wade, extensive dealers in groceries, provisions, hardware, cut- lery and crockery. Mr. Haag is a native of Germany, having been born in Kaiserslautern, Rhein Pfaltz, Bavaria, on July 8, 1840. After leaving school he learned the blacksmith trade, and in 1864, he emigrated to the United States, landing at New York after a trip of about sixteen days on the ocean. From New York he came direct to Plymouth, where he had relations and acquain- tances residing. Upon his arrival in this place he went to work at his trade, for the Haslinger Bros., with whom he was employed until the spring of 1868, and then entered the hardware store of Buck & Toan, where he clerked until the fall of 1883, when he engaged in his business with his present partner. Mr. Haag was married in the old country, in 1862, to Elizabeth Schoner, who was born in Bavaria, in 1839. One child was born to them in the old country, which died when but six weeks old. Four have been born to them in Plymouth, as follows: Ernst, in 1866; Henry, in 1869, learned the tinner's trade and is in that business at Marmont, Marshall county; Amelia, born in 1877, and Bertha, born in 1882. Mr. Haag and family are members of the German Lutheran church. He is considered one of the representative German cit- izens of Plymouth, and is an enterprising and energetic business man.
W. H. Hallock, night ticket agent on the P., Ft. W. & C. R. R. Co., is a native of Litchfield, Conn., in which state his ancestors, both paternal and maternal, settled in an early day and resided many years. His grandfather, Benjamin Hallock, was a native of Litchfield county, and a shoemaker by trade, which calling Charles Hallock also followed. The family moved to Ottawa, Ill., 1850, and in 1872, came to Marshall county, Ind., locating in Plymouth, from which city they afterward moved to Medina county, Ohio, where the father and mother died. They were the parents of three children, all living: Fannie, wife of Austin Peet; A. P. and W. H. Our subject remained in Connecticut until thirteen years of age, and then accompanied his parents to Illinois, in which state he resided until his removal to Marshall
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county, in 1872. Prior to moving to this county, Mr. Hallock was engaged in agricultural pursuits, but for the past eighteen years has held his present position with the railroad company, a fact which speaks well for his efficiency as a trusted employe. He was married in 1879, to Miss Jennie Gault, daughter of Jacob Gault, of Kosciusko county, who has borne him two children: Alice and Cora. Mr. Hallock takes an active interest in politics, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, holding the position of steward in the Plymouth congregation.
James E. Hanes, freight and passenger agent of the P., Ft. W. & Č. R. R. Co., is a native of Ohio, born in the city of Lima, Allen county, that state, April 4, 1845. His parents, Isaac and Lydia (Harrison) Hanes, were natives respectively of Pennsyl- vania and Ohio, the former born January 25, 1812, and the latter in the year 1815. Isaac Hanes removed to Ohio in 1845, and was one of the early settlers of Allen county, where he followed the occupation of farming, and where his death occurred in 1876. His wife died in 1855. Of their several children, only three are living at this time, viz .: Frances E., wife of William McClain; James E., for whom this biography is prepared, and Samuel, a farmer of Allen county, Ohio. James E. Hanes spent his youth- ful years upon a farm in Allen county, in the common schools of which he received a good English education. February 24, 1864, he left the paternal roof and began his career of railroading as one of the section force of the P., Ft. W. & C. R. R. Co., and in November, 1865, began breaking on a freight train, in which de- partment of the work he continued until August, 1867. At that time he was promoted freight conductor on the western division of the above road, and in the spring of 1870 became extra pas- senger conductor and continued as such until promoted regular passenger conductor in 1871, running between Fort Wayne and Plymouth. He held this position until January 11, 1887, at which time he was appointed freight and passenger agent of the com- pany at Plymouth, and has since had charge of the office at this place. Mr. Hanes has been with the above company for twenty- six consecutive years, having risen by regular promotions from the very humble beginning of section hand to the responsible position he now holds. He possesses the confidence of the wealthy corporation by which he is employed, and is one of the oldest employes in point of continued service on the western division. May 14, 1869, Mr. Hanes and Miss Alice Farnan, daughter of Owen Farnan, of Fort Wayne, were united in mar- riage, a union blessed with the birth of four children, viz .: Cath- erine Frances, John E. (deceased), Charles D. (deceased), and James A. Mr. Hanes and family are members of the Catholic church at Plymouth. Mr. Hanes is a member of the city council, and takes an active interest in the deliberations of that body.
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Among the old and honored citizens and business men of Plymouth, is William W. Hill, who for nearly half a century has resided in Marshall county, and for over thirty-five years has been a citizen of the county seat. Mr. Hill was born at Coving- ton, Ky .. on February 6. 1830, and is the son of Jordon and Denisa (Hawkins) Hill. The father was a native of Kentucky. At an early date Jordon Hill removed from Lexington to Cov- ington, where he was married, and where he engaged in the manufacture of ropes and the ferry business, being the first man to run a ferry boat between Covington and Cincinnati. His death occurred at Covington in 1837, and his widow soon after- ward removed her family to Indiana, locating in Bartholomew county. In IS41 she removed to Peru, Ind., and in 1843 came to Marshall county and settled near Maxinkuckee lake. In about 1864-5 she removed to a farm about two miles west of Argos, where she is residing at present, and is in her eighty-fifth year. There were four children born to the parents, two of whom are living. The children are, our subject and younger brother George, who resides near Argos. The mother was married a second time, while living in Bartholomew county. Ind., to James Finney, and to this second marriage six children were born, five of whom survive. While at a very tender age our subject was, by the death of his father, thrown upon his own resources. With but little more than the rudiments of an education, and while but a mere boy, he was apprenticed to a baker at Peru, with whom he remained long enough to acquire a very good knowl- edge of the trade, and then came to Plymouth, and for one year worked in the bakery of N. R. Packard. Being by force of cir- cumstances very economic and possessed of a laudable ambition to succeed in life and rise above being a wage-worker, he ac- cumulated a small sum of money, and left the employ of Mr. Packard to open an establishment of his own, which was neces- sarily a small affair. He established a bakery first in a small house south of the river, but soon built a two story structure on Michigan street, and removed his business thereto. This build- ing, however, was destroyed by fire on March 21, IS57, but he at once rebuilt, and carried on business successfully until January, 1866, when he was again burned out, losing in the last fire over $3.000. Nothing daunted he again rebuilt, and has since contin- ued business, meeting with deserved success. He now has the largest as well as oldest establishment in his line in the city, and does the bulk of the bakery and confection business of Plymouth. Mr. Hill is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Plymouth-Kilninning lodge, No. 149, of Plymouth chapter, No. 49, and Plymouth commandery, K. T., No. IS. He has filled most all of the chairs in the chapter and commandery, and is a past eminent commander. Hewasmarried on January 1, 1857, to Joanna Anger-
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man, who was born in Solon, Saxony, Germany, and came with her parents to the United States during the fifties, and settled first at South Bend, Ind., and subsequently settled in Plymouth. To this union four children have been born, only two of whom survive: Fred W., in business with his father, and Anna B., now the wife of C. H. Buck, formerly of Plymouth, but now of St. Mary's, Penn.
J. N. Holem, proprietor of a livery stable and dealer in agri- cultural implements, was born in West township, this county, January 31, 1854, and is a son of Peter and Rebecca (Weyrick) Holem, who have been residents of Marshall county for a num- ber of years. Mr. Holem was reared in his native township on a farm, attended the public schools for some years, and subse- quently entered the Valparaiso normal school in which he ob- tained a professional training for teaching. He followed this useful calling for a number of years, having taught fifteen terms of school, all in West township, a fact which speaks well for his ability as a competent instructor. He also followed agricultural pursuits for some years, and on January Ist, 1877, was married to Miss Ellen C. Fertig, daughter of David and Elizabeth (Freese) Fertig, residents of West township. For some time after his marriage he farmed on the place of his father-in-law, but abandoned agricultural pursuits in 1888 and purchased an interest in a livery business in Plymouth which for some time was con- ducted under the firm name of Holem & Swigard. In June, 1890, Mr. Holem traded his interest in the livery to J. W. Brown for the right to a patent tongue support or spring, for Indiana, and is now operating the same. Mr. Holem deals quite extensively in agricultural implements and farm machinery, and is the patentee of a device for supporting the tongues of vehicles besides having a patent on a double dash churn. He is a public spirited citizen, democratic in politics, and is now the representa- tive of the Second ward in the Plymouth city council. He and wife are members of the German Baptist church. They have three children, viz .: Franklin O., Oran F. and Clara Alice.
John Hoham, an old and honored citizen of Plymouth, was born in Alsace, Germany, in the city of Strasburg, June 17, 1820. In September, 1831, he left home and began working on a farm, and in 1840 came to the United States, landing in New York city after a voyage of fifty-six days. From that city he went to Lyons, N. Y., near which place he found employment on a farm at $100 a year, and after remaining there one year he found similar employment near the city of Buffalo, where, in addition to farm work, he was also engaged in the lumber business. He then came west, and in September, 1844, located in Marshall county, Ind., purchasing a farm of eighty acres in the old Indian reserve at Lake Maxinkuckee, in Union township. He was the
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first one to purchase real estate in that part of the county, and for one year lived entirely alone in the little log cabin which he had erected upon his land. In 1845 he was married to Mary Moller, a native of Germany, but living at that time in Fulton county, this state, where the marriage took place. He continued to reside on his farm for eight years, in which time he added to his original purchase, becoming the possessor of 160 acres of land. He disposed of his farm in 1852 and purchased a farm of 200 acres in West township, 125 acres of which he cleared and put in cultivation and resided upon the same for a period of about five years. During the years 1854-55 he was joined by his friends and relatives from the old country, his father and mother having died in Germany previous to that time. In October, 1857, he purchased three acres of land one mile southwest of Plymouth, to which he at once removed and upon which he erected the first brewery in Marshall county. He continued the brewing business and in connection with the same carried on farming and stock-raising quite extensively for a period of ten years, when he sold the brewery to his brother-in-law and part- ner, John Klinghammer, who continued the business, Mr. Hoham remaining possessor of the outside property. In 1867 he pur- chased from Henry Carter, of New York city, the block between Center and Michigan streets, in Plymouth, Ind., paying for the same the sum of $15,000. Returning to Plymouth he erected nine one-story business houses which, with those already on the property, made twelve in all, of which he was at that time owner. He purchased at the same time lot 176, Center street, upon which his present residence is standing. In 1869 he em- barked in the hardware business, in which he was engaged about five years, disposing of his interest at that time for $13,000. In 1872, while absent at La Porte, attending the funeral of a friend, the greater part of his valuable property in Plymouth was completely destroyed by fire, entailing upon him a loss exceeding $25,000. With that energy which has always characterized his actions he at once began to rebuild, and within three months had com- pleted six brick business houses, the aggregate cost of which was $20,000. During these years he became the possessor of good landed property in the country, having purchased several valuable farms which he subsequently sold. He still owns the six business houses above mentioned, besides other city property, and about eighty acres of land within a short distance of Plymouth, which is among the most valuable real estate in the county. While a resident of West township he filled the office of trustee for four years, aside from which he has not asked nor sought official po- sitions. Mr. Hoham's life has been a very active one, and in his business ventures he has met with success such as few attain. He has been liberal in the use of his means in advancing the
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material welfare of Plymouth, and as a public-spirited citizen fully alive to the interests of city and county, few stand higher in the estimation of the people than he. His first wife died in 1875, leaving nine children, seven of whom are living: Oliver C., John E., Fred B., William E., Mrs. Catherine Palmer, Mrs. Mag- dalena Loesch, Mrs. Louisa Haberkorn. Mr. Hoham was again married July, 1876, to Margaret Hansen, a resident of Plymouth, but a native of Denmark, who has borne him five children, four living, viz .: Mary, George K., Harry and Martin L. Mr. Hoham and family are members of the Lutheran church, and for twenty-five years he has been an active worker in the Sab- bath school. During the late war Mr. Hoham put in a substi- tute, whose name was Alexandria Dunlap, and paid him $800.
Among the old citizens and pioneers of Marshall county is Hugh Jackman, who was born in Franklin county, Ind., Decem- ber 10, 1815, the son of Edward and Mary (Brison) Jackman. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, but when a child was taken by his parents to Franklin county, Ind., in which part of the state he grew to manhood. Mrs. Jackman was born in Vir- ginia, and was the daughter of Hugh Brison, who was a soldier in the war of the revolution. She was reared in Franklin county, Ind., and with her husband came to Marshall county in 1846, and settled in Center township, where their respective deaths after- ward occurred. They reared a family of seven children, five of whom are living, viz .: The subject of this sketch; William, of Howard county; Maria, wife of Joseph Burton, of Wisconsin; Edward, of Missouri, and Mrs. Margaret Carr, of the same state. When ten years of age Hugh Jackman was taken by his parents to Decatur county, Ind., in the primitive log school-houses of which he received the elements of an English education. He was reared on a farm, and early became a tiller of the soil, which useful calling has been his life's work. He settled upon his pres- ent place in Marshall county, in 1847, and is now one of the old- est residents of Center township. He has a well improved farm, and is one of the successful men of the community. He was married in Fayette county, Ind., to Julia, daughter of Nathan Aldridge, who bore him a family, none of whom are living. Mrs. Jackman died in 1848, and the following year Mr. Jackman married Caroline Groves, by whom he had the following chil- dren: Jasper, Theodore, William W., Marion, and Commodore. Mrs. Jackman departed this life in 1872. Mr. Jackman is a democrat in politics.
John C. Jilson, freight and passenger agent of the Lake Erie & Western R. R. company, at Plymouth, Ind., is a native of Ohio, born January 26, 1846. The father of Mr. Jilson was Sidney Jilson, who was a native of New York state, born in 1813. He removed to Ohio in about 1835, and was one of the pioneers of that state.
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He located in Dayton, where for several years he followed car- pentering. From Dayton he removed to Troy, where he resided for two years, and then went to Piqua. While in Troy he began the practice of medicine, having previously fitted himself for the medical profession. He continued to reside and practice medi- cine in Piqua, until he removed to Plymouth, in the fall of 1889, and now makes his home with his son. He was married in Day- ton to Ellen B. Chapman, who was born in 1815, and who is still living. There were six children born to the parents, four of whom survive. The subject of this sketch remained in Dayton until his eleventh year, and then he went to Troy, Ohio, where he attended school. He also attended school in Piqua, and in 1864 left the latter place and went to Rockford, Ills., where he entered the grocery store of his uncle as clerk. The same summer, in June, he enlisted in Company B of the One Hundred and Forty- sixth Illinois volunteer infantry, and served until the close of the war, being mustered out at Springfield, Ills. After the war he re- turned to Piqua and learned telegraphy, and subsequently he held positions as operator at Morrow, Ohio, Richmond, Ind., Colum- bus, Ind., Rochester, Ind., and in 1869 he located at Plymouth and took the position of agent and operator of what is now the L. E. & W. R. R. Co. He has been in the employ of this com- pany for over twenty years, and is one of the oldest employes in point of experience in the service of the company. Mr. Jilson is a member of Killninning lodge, No. 149, F. & A. M., is one of Plymouth chapter, No. 49, Plymouth commandery, K. T., No. 26, and has filled all the chairs in the different degrees, and is a past eminent commander of the commandery, also a member of Cy- rene council, No. 944, Royal Arcanum. He was formerly a G. A. R. From 1882 till 1886 he was clerk of Plymouth, and in 1886 he was elected to the council from the Second ward, and was re- elected, being a member at the present time. Mr. Jilson was married in 1876, to Fanny Shearer, who was born at Lima, Ohio, and is the daughter of Benjamin F. Shearer. To this union one son has been born, J. Romer, in 1885.
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