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 29
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of the land, into which the family removed and here began the struggle of pioneer life, under its many trials and privations. Six years later the father was called away by death, but the widowed mother and her children continued the unfinished work of the father, and on the homestead the mother remained till she, too, was called above.
Samuel Shafer, a son of Jacob Shafer, was born in Stark county, Ohio, February 12, 1838, and was reared on a farm, where his work of life has been principally done. He came with his parents to this county in 1848, and has since resided in the county. In early life he worked at whatever work he could get to do, as a day laborer, and March 25, 1858, he was married unto Mary Ellen Dawson, and soon thereafter settled in life on a farm. Mrs. Shafer is a daughter of Ranyard and Lucretia (Holland) Dawson, the former a native of Virginia, the latter of Ohio. In an early day they settled in Hancock county, Ind., later in Fayette county. Mrs. Samuel Shafer was born September 23, 1837. One daughter, Alice by name, has been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Shafer, who are both members of the Christian church, and are highly respected by a large number of friends.
Elihu Shafer, a son of Jacob Shafer, was born in Stark county, Ohio, February 19, 1838, and was reared on a farm, and farming has been his life occupation. He came to this county with his parents, and has since made this county his residence. Octo- ber 17, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Forty-sixth Indiana vol- unteer infantry, and was discharged at Louisville, Ky., Septem- ber 12, 1865, as a veteran. Among some of the engagements in which he participated may be mentioned, the battles at New Madrid, Island No. 10, Fort Pillow, Memphis, St. Charles, Vicks- burg, Sabine Cross Roads and others. At the last named en- gagement he was captured, but subsequently was paroled and exchanged and then ordered on to Louisville on provost duty. At the close of war he returned home and has since been en- gaged in farming. May 2, 1873, he married Mrs. Elizabeth Stroup, nee Miss Elizabeth Dawson, who is a sister of Mrs. Sam- uel Shafer. She was born in Fayette county, Ind., February 14, 1842. Unto her first marriage there were born two children, William A. and Charles D .; her marriage with Mr. Shafer has resulted in the birth of two children, Cora E. and Herbert F. Mr. Shafer is a member of the G. A. R., Lafayette Gordon post, No. 132, of Argos, and in politics a staunch republican, and is both a representative farmer and citizen.
Fred Shaffer was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, near Dayton, March 10, 1832, and is a son of John and Catherine (Oldlinger) Shaffer, the father a native of old Virginia, and the mother of Pennsylvania. John Shaffer was a son of Frederick Shaffer, a native of Virginia, and of German descent, and Mrs.
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Shaffer was a daughter of George Oldlinger, a native of Pennsyl- vania. Their marriage resulted in the birth of five sons and three daughters. The father was a farmer by occupation, and was a very large man, weighing a few pounds less than 500. He died in 1853 at the age of sixty years. The mother, who is now be- yond the advanced age of eighty-five years, resides in Iowa. Fred Shaffer was reared on a farm, and at the early age of fif- teen, took up carpentering as a life work, which trade he has since followed. He is a skillful mechanic, and has the reputa- tion of being one of the most competent builders in this part of the country, doing all kinds of work from the simplest framing, up to the highest form of architecture. He has through life, been in some way, identified with farming, always residing on a farm. October 17, 1857, he was united in marriage with Eliza- beth Brumback, born July 24, 1837, in Wayne county, Ohio, where the marriage was consummated. To this marriage have been born: Annie Mary, Laura E., William B., Enos L., Armedia A., Mahala; Sarah E., deceased; Charles A., deceased; Nelson F. and Mina F. For a short time after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Shaffer resided in Iowa, but later, returned to Wayne county, Ohio, where they continued until the fall of 1860, when they lo- cated in Marshall county, Ind. They now reside in Walnut town- ship, near Argos, and are among the representative citizens of the county. In their religious faith, Mr. Shaffer is a Lutheran, while Mrs. Shaffer is a Dunkard. September 4, 1864, Mr. Shaffer became a private in the United States army, from which he was honorably discharged May 5, 1865. He is a member of the G. A. R., Lafayette Gordon post, No. 132, Argos, Ind., and of the Argos lodge, No. 399, F. & A. M. In politics Mr. Shaffer is a staunch democrat.
Marquis L. Smith, who is among the earliest settlers of Mar- shall county, came to the county in March of 1843, and settled in what was then a part of Green township, but now known as Walnut township. He was born in Nicholas county, Ky., on July 25, 1817, and is the son of Hezekiah and Mary Ann (Rector) Smith. The father was of Scotch descent, but of Virginia birth, in which state the mother was also born. They were mar- ried in Virginia, where their parents had made their home, and from that state removed to Nicholas county, Ky., where eleven children were born, viz .: Elizabeth, Susan, Debrah, Daniel, Peter, Hezekiah, Jr., Nancy, Simeon, Miles C., Caralton, Marquis L. In 1822 the parents and their eleven children came to Indiana and settled in Marion county, where they continued to reside till called away by death, the father dying in 1824, at the age of s': J-one years, and the mother in 1836, at the age of sixty-one yea 's. The father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, under the commandery of Gen. Washington, and for forty-
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five years of his life was a minister of the gospel in the Metho- dist Episcopal church. Marquis L. Smith was but five years old when his parents came to Indiana, and hence was mainly reared in this state. He was educated in the early country schools, which gave but a poor chance for an education, but by an active life and through the avenues of books and papers he has since become conversant with subjects of general interest. In 1837, in Marion county, this state, he embarked in the mercantile business, but because of a general depression in business of that year, he, with many others, sustained a failure, and it was some six years later that he cast his lot in Marshall county, where he has since resided. In 1843 (August), he married Cyntha Bliven, born in Rush county, Ind., the daughter of Edward and Famar Bliven. Soon after his marriage Mr. Smith settled on his present homestead, where he has since lived. He has been engaged in farming, and for many years kept the only hotel in Argos, his hotel being the first of the place, and the origin of the town of Argos. He is extensively known, because of being the landlord that had given headquarters to so many weary travelers. For over thirty years he has been an active and zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has filled many positions of honor and trust. Throughout life he has been in politics either a whig or republican. He voted for Gen. W. H. Harrison in 1840, and was one of the delegates to the organization of the republican party in Indiana, and has since been an active worker in the party. He is a Master Mason of Argos lodge, No. 399; became a member of the Plymouth, No. 149, some thirty years ago.
Frederick Stair was born in Cumberland county, Penn., March 5, 1822. John Stair, his paternal grandfather, was a na- tive of Scotland, which country he left at an early day, emigrat- ing with his family to America and settling in Cumberland county, Penn., where he followed farming and blacksmithing. He lived a long and useful life, was twice married, raised a large family, and died in the country of his adoption leaving a valua- ble estate. His son Jacob, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Cumberland county, Penn., November 28, 1786, and died in Ohio in 1883. He was married to Anna Stahl, and had a family consisting of the following children: William, Elizabeth, Jacob, Daniel (deceased), John, Mary, Peter, Levi, Frederick, Daniel, Priscilla and Malinda. Jacob Stair moved from his native state in the spring of 1829, and settled in Wayne county, Ohio, where our subject grew to manhood, working on the farm with his father until past twenty-two years of age. At this time he began the study of veterinary surgery, and subse- quently took a six months' course, and still later graduated from the Philadelphia veterinary college. Desiring to obtain a still
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more thorough knowledge of the profession, he afterward at- tended an institute at Toronto, Canada, where he completed his studies and became one of the most thorough veterinary sur- geons in the country. Being thoroughly equipped for the prac- tice he traveled extensively for several years, operating in over eighteen states, and performing some of the most difficult sur- gical operations with admirable skill. In 1849 he was united in marriage to Mary Downer, who departed this life one year later. In 1850 he settled on a farm in Wayne county, Ohio, where, on March 20th of the following year, he married his present wife, Mrs. McCoy, whose maiden name was Alleman. To this union have been born six children, viz .: Anna, Jacob, Maria, Carrie, Isadore and Emma. Soon after his marriage Mr. Stair removed from Ohio to Indiana, and located in Walnut township, Mar- shall county, where he purchased 585 acres of land, and began farming upon an extensive scale. He is the founder of the town of Walnut, having laid out the place soon after coming to the county. Recently he removed into Walnut township from the township of Green, where he had resided for a number of years, and in which he had served as trustee, besides filling other official positions. Mr. Stair is a representative citizen, a staunch democrat, and a man widely and favorably known throughout this and adjoining counties.
Asa St. John, one of the oldest citizens of Walnut township, was born in Ontario county, N. Y., September 18, 1813, and is a son of Peries and Mary (Talbert) St. John, both natives of New York, born near Cazenova. The marriage of the parents was consummated in York state, and resulted in the birth of the fol- lowing children: Harlow, Peries, Betsie, Charles, Asa, Edward and James. After their marriage the parents continued to re- side in their native state till 1826, when they removed to Michi- gan, where they resided till their deaths occurred. Asa St. John was reared on a farm, received a limited education in the early subscription schools, but being of a naturally shrewd and observ- ing nature he acquired, by experience, a practical knowledge of the world and of business that has served him in lieu of an edu- cation. He is now one of the foremost farmers of Walnut township, owning a well-improved farm of 212 acres. He began life a poor man and has gained prosperty through industry and hard toil. He has resided in Marshall county since 1837, a period of over a half century. February 7, 1839, he was united in marriage with Lucinda Roberts, born in Kentucky, March 12, ISIo, dying in this county, October 27, 1870. The above marriage resulted in the birth of three children, namely: Sarah J., born November 20, 1839; Rebecca, born May 16, 1843, and Albert R., born March 24, 1845. Our subject has lived a long and active life. Though not a member of any church, he is a sober, moral
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and honest man in the daily walks of life. He is an ardent advo- cate of the temperance cause, and though not a Christian in name is a believer in the existence of a Supreme Ruler. He has lead a quiet and peaceful life; has never had a law-suit, and has so lived that he has gained the universal esteem of a wide acquaintance.
T. O. Taber was born in this county, November 25, 1856, and is a son of Cyrus and Rachel (Plake) Taber. The father was the first white child born in Marshall county. The date of his birth was June 26, 1833. He was a son of Samuel D. Taber, who was among the very first settlers of Marshall county, and was a farmer by occupation, and took an active part in the improve- ments inaugurated during his life. Cyrus was reared on the farm, and for a life occupation chose farming. November 15, 1853, he was united in marriage with Rachel Plake, daughter of John and Nancy Plake, early settlers and highly respected citi- zens of Marshall county. To the above union were born five sons and one daughter. T. O. Taber, the immediate subject of this biography, was reared on a farm, and received a liberal edu- cation in the schools of Plymouth, supplementing the same by a commercial course at Valparaiso, Ind. October 18, 1879, he was married to Melissa J. Railsback, daughter of William Railsback, of Marshall county, a union blessed with the birth of four chil- dren, namely: Setta, Earl, Gracie, and Cyrus. For three years after his marriage, Mr. Taber followed farming, and in 1883 began merchandising at Plymouth, being actively engaged up to 1885, when he located in Argos, Ind., and formed a partnership with William Railsback in the banking business. He and Mr. Railsback have since continued to operate the Argos Exchange bank. Mr. Taber and his brother, J. H. Taber, also operate the Citizens' Bank of Mentone, Ind. Mr. Taber and wife are mem- bers of the Church of God of Argos, and he is a member of the Argos lodge, No. 212, K. of P.
George Van Dorston, the subject of this sketch, is a farmer and citizen of Walnut township, and was born in Wayne county, Ohio, April 4, 1828. His paternal grandfather, Samuel Van Dorston, was a native of Holland. It is told that Samuel on one occasion was provoked by the king of Holland, whom he struck and knocked down, in consequence of which he was arrested and placed under guard, to which guard at night, he gave liquor so that he became intoxicated. Taking advantage of the guard's helpless condition, Mr. Van Dorston gained his freedom and se- creting himself on board a vessel almost ready to set sail for America, he remained hidden until the ship was far out at sea. Upon being asked his name he gave it as Van Dorston, changing it from Dorston. Subsequently he married and settled in the southern part of Ohio. He was the father of the following child-
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ren: Henry, Jacob, Samuel, Rudolph, Herman and three daughters. Of these Samuel was united in marriage with Mary Flickinger, a native of Pennsylvania. The marriage was blessed by the birth of the following children: Matilda, Leah, Levi, George, John, Harmon, and Cornelius. Soon after marriage the parents settled in Wayne county, Ohio. In after years the father died in St. Joseph county, Mich., while the mother died in Indi- ana. Their son George, the immediate subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm and given a limited education. In early life he learned and followed blacksmithing, but has done much farming. In Wayne county, Ohio, August 5, 1851, he was united in marriage with Catherine Keifer, also a native of Wayne county, born August 1, 1828. Unto the above union have been born, Alvin W., Lydia E., Mary E., Barbara A .; Caroline, de- ceased; Clary U., and Marion W., deceased. In 1860 Mr. and Mrs. Van Dorston left Ohio and came to Indiana, and settled in Marshall county, where they have since remained. Our subject, though given a limited education, has through the avenues of books and papers become conversant on subjects of general in- terest. He is a natural mechanic and has made much study of machinery. He, with his son, Alvin W., are joint patentees of a promising steam boiler which they invented a few years since. His son is the inventor and patentee of the Van Dorston car coupler, that has proven a marvelous success. Mr. Van Dorston is indeed one of the representative and progressive citizens of the county, and is entitled to much praise, for he began in the struggle of life with no capital and under adverse circumstances, and through industry and honesty has grown prosperous and well respected.
Hiram Vanvactor, one of the pioneers of Marshall, settled in the county near Argos, in August, 1845. He had visited the county in 1837, and purchased a homestead in the north part of what is now Walnut township, where he now resides. He was born in Union county, Ind., November 29, 1817, and is a son of Joseph and Sarah (Burt) Vanvactor, the father of Virginia birth and German lineage, and the mother a native of Pennsylvania. Unto them were born: David, Hiram, Cyrus, Hannah, Maria, Sarah and Emily. The marriage of Joseph and Sarah Vanvac- tor was consummated in Pennsylvania, and soon after their mar- riage, emigrated to Indiana, and settled in an early day in Union county. Hiram Vanvactor was reared and educated on a farm, and has always resided on a farm. He was married August 3, 1845, wedding Catherine Buck, a native of Preble county, Ohio. Unto this marriage have been born Cyrus, deceased; John, David, A. Lincoln, Tyner; Tilman, deceased; Sarah, Malissa, Emily and Martha. Mr. Vanvactor begun life a poor man but is now pros- perous, and enjoys the esteem of a wide acquaintance. He has
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kept aloof from public life, preferring the life of a reserved and respected citizen.
Oliver J. Warner, the popular proprietor of the Argos livery stable, was born in Elkhart county, Ind., December 5, 1861, and is a son of Jacob and Margaret (Wilhelm) Warner. Jacob Warner was born in Franklin county, Ind., March 5, 1828, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Cook) Warner, the former of Dutch, the latter of Irish, descent. In 1852 Jacob wedded Mar- garet Wilhelm, born August 10, 1830, in Ohio, of Dutch descent. The marriage resulted in the birth of the following children: Sarah E., Francis, Oliver J., and Cora and Nora (twins). The family have resided in Marshall county since 1863, and the father, who is a farmer by occupation, is now a citizen of Argos. Oliver J. was reared on a farm and remained with his parents till past twenty-five years of age. In January, of 1887, he began business in Argos, and he now has a well-stocked livery, feed and sale stable, and always has on hand good rigs, single and double, and gives special attention to the commercial trade. Mr. Warner was united in marriage in 1886 with Miss Hattie Taylor, daughter of Jordon Taylor, who was killed in the civil war as a Union soldier. Mrs. Warner was born in Marshall county, and by her marriage has become the mother of two children. Mr. Warner is a live and energetic business man and is a member of the Argos lodge, No. 212, K. of P.
James H. Watson was born in Wellsville, Columbiana county, Ohio, November 15, 1848. He is a son of John S. and Bathsheba (Hull) Watson. The father, a native of Ohio, born in 1828, and was a son of Jacob Watson, a native of Pennsylvania, and a son of an English emigrant, who came to the colonies a short time prior to the American revolution, at the conclusion of which he settled in Pennsylvania. Jacob Watson settled about the year 1808, in Ohio, where John S. Watson was born, reared and mar- ried, wedding Miss Bathsheba Hull. The marriage resulted in the birth of the following offspring: Robert E., William H., James H., Daniel D., Samuel S., Charles M., Edward R., Ben- jamin F. and Anna A. The three oldest sons and father were Union soldiers in the civil war. James H., the immediate sub- ject of this sketch, enlisted as a private in March of 1865, and was discharged in the following December. From the age of thirteen years up to enlistment, he had worked at the printer's trade, and at the close of the war he resumed the trade and has since followed the same. In 1882, he located at Argos, where he purchased the Argos Reflector, a non-political and weekly paper, of which he has since been editor and proprietor. Mr. Watson was married in Ohio, in 1871, to Mary Rosenberry, a na- tive of Ohio, who was born in 1851. To this marriage have been born the following children: John H., Jenette, (deceased), 18-B.
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Homer, Frank, Howard (deceased), and Mildred. Mr. and Mrs. Watson are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which they have both belonged since early youth. Mr. Watson is a member of the Lafayette Gordon post, No. 132, G. A. R., of Argos. He is progressive, and as an editor he has ability and enterprise, and before him lies a bright future.
Willis Whisman, a native of Rush county, Ind., was born April 1, 1836. He is a son of Michael and Diademia (Spurgeon) Whisman, the father a native of Virginia, and the mother of Kentucky, both of German lineage. To these parents there were born five children, namely: Nancy (deceased), Lavina, Willis, Thomas, and Mary. In an early day the parents settled in Rush county, this state, and in about 1857 they settled in Mar- , shall county, where the father died in 1885, aged seventy-eight years, the mother's death also occurred in this county. The father was a farmer by occupation, and was a sturdy pioneer of the county. In politics he was a staunch democrat. He and wife were members of the Christian church, and were universally respected by many friends. Willis Whisman is one of the fore- most farmers of Walnut township, and his life has been spent on a farm. February 16, 1860, he was united in marriage with Miss Lavina T. Gordon, daughter of Sandford and Sarah (Wright) Gordon. The father, a son of Robert Gordon, was born in Ohio, January 1, 1808, and died a citizen of Marshall county, Ind., De- cember 20, 1881. Sarah, his wife, was born in Virginia, Febru- ary 25, 1811, and now resides with our subject and his wife. She is of German and Irish descent. Unto her marriage with Sand- ford Gordon, there were born the following offspring: Francis, Sarah J., John, Elizabeth, Romania, Lavina T., Cordelia, Isaac, Samuel, and William. The parents were married in Ohio in 1832, and one year later located in Wayne county, Ind., later in Fulton county, and in the early fifties located in Marshall county. The father was for many years a school teacher, but during his later days followed farming. He and wife became members of the Methodist Episcopal church at an early date, he died a faith- ful member of the church, and she remains one. Their daugh- ter, now Mrs. Whisman, was born in Wayne county, Ind., September 22, 1839, and by her marriage with Mr. Whisman, she has become the mother of the following children: William D., Luella E., Willis W., Reason E., Clinton D., and Herbert P. Mr. and Mrs. Whisman are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and enjoy a high social standing.
J. M. Wickizer, a resident of Walnut township, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, February 23, 1831, and is a son of John B. and Annie (Brooke) Wickizer. The father was born in Penn- sylvania in 1803, and died in Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1843. He was a son of Andrew and Mary (Bennett) Wickizer. Andrew
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Wickizer, who was a native of Pennsylvania, was one of four sons, namely: Abraham, Conrad, Jacob and Andrew, born of German-born parentage, the parents emigrated to Pennsylvania from Germany in an early day. Andrew and Mary Wickizer had born unto them the following offspring: Asa, William, John B., Conrad, Rebecca, Lydia, Wealthy, Hannah, Rhoda, Mary, Ros- anna, Sallie and Elizabeth. In a very early day, Andrew Wick- izer and family emigrated to Ohio and settled in Fairfield county, where he died in 1844, aged seventy-five years. He was a far- mer by occupation, and a Master Mason. John B. Wickizer was united in marriage with Annie Brooke, and became the father of the following children: Hannah, George W., Thomas J., James M., Andrew J., John Q., Jacob S., Sarah J. and Pulaski. The father died in 1843, and soon after the death, the widowed mother and her children determined to move to Indiana. In the fall they came to this state and settled in Marshall county, where the mother died in 1879, aged seventy-six years. James M., our subject, was not of age when he came to this county with his mother. His youth was spent on a farm, and in his native county he gained a fair education in the Greenfield academy. He came to Marshall county in the fall of 1850, and in the winter of that year, began school teaching in the district schools of the county, and afterward taught some nine or ten successful terms In March, 1860, he entered general merchandising in Argos, where he continued a successful business until 1882, when, on account of ill-health, he suspended business and removed on his present farm near the town where he has since resided. April 7, 1861, he wedded Miss Rebecca Williams, who became the mother of six children, after which her death occurred. These are the children born unto the marriage: George, Albert, Corben W., Frank, Richard and Samantha. November 7, 1878, Mr. Wick- izer married for a second wife, Alice Haines, unto whom a son, named Elmer Otis, was born, and then her death occurred in 1883. Mr. Wickizer is a well respected citizen, a self-made man, a member of the Christian church, and a demitted member of the Argos lodge, No. 399, F. & A. M.
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