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 36
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D. M. Bowser, a representative farmer of German township, was born in Elkhart county, Ind., May 6, 1835, and is a son of Daniel and Sarah (Brombough) Bowser. The parents were perhaps both born in Pennsylvania, and in an early day, with their parents, came to Montgomery county, Ohio, where they were married. They had the following children: William, Philip, Henry, David M., Joseph and Eve, all except Joseph still live. In about 1833, the parents moved from Ohio to Elkhart county, Ind., where they settled, and later, removed to Kosciusko county, where the father died in 1849, aged forty-five years. The mother subsequently married a second time and lived in Elkhart county, where she died March 1, 1868, aged sixty-three years. The parents were of a mixed descent, being that of the Scotch, English and German, and their church faith was that of the Ger- man Baptist. The father was a farmer by occupation. He lived in Elkhart county but a short time when he removed to Kosci- usko county, where David M., our subject, was reared up to the age of fifteen years. On the second marriage of his mother, he began the battle of life for himself, working as a hired hand on a farm, as a poor boy. In youth he gained a fair education for his day, in the country schools, learning to read, write and cipher. But through the avenue of books and papers, he has become con- versant on subjects of general interest. Later, for two or three years he farmed upon his own capital, and when the civil war broke out he was among the loyal and first to enlist. He an- swered to the first call in 1861, for a three months' service, and enlisted in a company that was not accepted because the call was filled when they had reached Indianapolis. Their captain was Gen. Haskill, and to his hesitancy may be credited their rejection. And November 21, 1861, he was enrolled at Goshen, Ind., as a private in Company M, Forty-first Indiana mounted volunteers for a term of three years, or during the war, and October 4, 1864, at Indianapolis, was discharged by reason of expiration of term of service as a sergeant of Capt. A. S. Mitchell. Record: Gal-
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latin, Tenn., Shiloh, Tenn., Carthage, Tenn. Then Forrest captured our subject and four others, who were carrying a dis- patch to Mitchell, then in pursuit of Morgan, and were held pris- oners for about seven months before they were paroled and exchanged. Then took part in the engagements at Buzzard Roost and siege of Atlanta. When he was discharged Mr. Bowser came back to Elkhart county, and in 1865, was married to Mary E. Allen, daughter of Avry and Mary A. (Stockmore) Allen. Mrs. Bowser was born in Fulton county, N. Y., Septem- ber 7, 1840. The children are: Edward C., Allen A., Franklin U .; Charles, deceased; George E., Hattie M., and Orvil E. March 2, 1868, Mr. and Mrs. Bowser removed from Goshen to Marshall county and settled on their present homestead in German town- ship where Mr. Bowser has since been engaged in farming. Of their children, Edward C. is married and is farming near his parents, and Allen A. is a typewriter for a business firm in Indianapolis, but once was a teacher. The other children are at home.
Jacob Carbiener, a representative citizen of German town- ship, was born in Wayne county, Ohio, May 26, 1852. He is a son of George and Catherine (Siefer) Carbiener. The parents were born in Alsace, Germany, the father in 1823, the mother in 1826. In 1850 the father emigrated to America, and in 1851 the mother, both locating in Wayne county, Ohio, where, in 1851, they were united in marriage. To this marriage were born the following children: Mary, Jacob, George, Catherine, Elizabeth, Annie, Sarah, William and Matilda. In 1854 the parents re- moved from Ohio, and settled in St. Joseph county, Ind., where the mother died in 1869. When they settled in St. Joseph county, they located in the woods, and in an early day of the settlement of that county, and, clearing, chopping the heavy timbers, was the first work of the father, whose life occupation has been farming. The advantages then were poor for farming, but through trials and privations this pioneer and his family passed on to success and prosperity. The father still lives, and is a well known and respected citizen. He is a member of the German Presbyterian church, of which church the mother died a member. Jacob, their eldest son, the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm, and acquired a fair common school education for his day. He was given poor advantages in youth to gain an education, for the schools of his day were poor, and in them were taught hardly more than reading, writing and arithmetic. However, through the means of books and papers, he has gained knowledge of subjects of general interest. He worked on the farm with his father till past twenty-one years of age, and then the struggle of life for himself, with no capital other than ambi- tion and a determination to succeed. In 1876 he married Susan-
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nah Link, who was born in Mohoning county, Ohio, July I, 1851. The marriage resulted in the birth of the following child- ren: Delbert, Gracie, Nora, Arthur and Earl. Soon after his marriage Mr. Carbiener settled down in life on a farm in German township. He followed agricultural pursuits for a few years. and then began saw-milling and lumbering. He still owns a farm, but has his farming done by hired help, his work and at- tention being turned to saw-milling and lumbering, in which he has been successfully engaged for over twelve years. At the present he and William H. Huff are operating a stationary saw- mill at Bremen, with an annual out-put of nearly one and a half million feet of lumber. He is one of the leading business men of Bremen, and is one of the representative citizens of the county. He is a self-made man; and although he began life poor, he has achieved success in his various undertakings, and grown prosperous. In politics he is a staunch democrat. In the spring of 1890 he became the choice of his party, as their candi- date for township trustee, and in the April election was triumph- antly elected. He is a man of less than forty years, and at this early age has a bright prospect for a future career.
Morgan Fink, proprietor of a meat market in Bremen, was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, October 14, 1845, and is a son of Martin and Polly (Weaver) Fink. The following are the names of the children born to Martin and Polly Fink: Louis C., Amanda, Morgan, Eli, Ellen, Lorinda, Charles, Uretta, Eliza, and William. The parents settled in St. Joseph county, Ind., in 1855, removing to Marshall county in 1857, and subsequently re- moved to Bremen, where the father followed merchandising for several years. He died in Bremen at an advanced age. He was an honest, thrifty, and progressive citizen, a leading democrat, and respected by all alike. His widow now resides in Bremen, and is one of its oldest citizens. Morgan Fink was raised on a farm and given a fair common school education. Upon reaching his majority he began the battle of life for himself as a farmer on rented lands, consequently beginning with a very limited cap- ital, but by energy and enterprise he has become prosperous, and now enjoys a high rank in life. In 1866, he married Margaret Felnaggle, a native of Mahoning county, Ohio, and unto the marriage there have been born three children, namely: Clayton (deceased), Florence and Pearl. Mr. Fink farmed till in the spring of 1882, when he became a citizen of Bremen, where he has since been operating a meat market.
Jacob Fries, Jr., a live and energetic citizen of Bremen, Ind., was born in Holmes county, Ohio, May 9, 1841, and is the eldest child of Jacob and Louisa (Huff) Fries. The father was born in Bavaria, Germany, January 12, 1812, and emigrated to the United States in 1833, locating in Holmes county, Ohio, where
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he married Louisa Huff, who was born in Germany in 1818, and who died in Bremen in 1887. The parents came to German township in 1845, and the father is one of the oldest citizens of Bremen. His life has been spent at the shoemakers' trade and farming. The subject of this sketch is his oldest son, and he was reared on a farm, receiving a fair education in both the En- glish and German languages. He worked with his father on the farm till he entered the army, September 10, 1861, enlisting as a private in Company K, of the Twenty-ninth Indiana vol- unteer infantry. Among the principal engagements in which he participated were the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Stone River, Liberty Gap, Chickamauga and others. At the last named battle he received a gun shot wound in the right shoulder, disabling him, and leading to his discharge at Indianapolis, May 4, 1864. After returning to Bremen, and recovering, he engaged in farm- ing, together with operating threshing machines up to 1879, when he began dealing in farm implements at Bremen, and has since continued in that business. At present he is a special salesman for the Whitley binder and mower machine company of Spring- field, Ohio. January 15, 1865, Mr. Fries was united in marriage with Annie Seiler, born in Switzerland, March 19, 1843. Unto the above union have been born five children, namely: Flora, Ellen, Charlie, Maudie and Minnie. Mr. Fries is a representa- tive citizen, a democrat in politics, and a member of the Hard- zog G. A. R. post of Bremen.
John P. Gass, proprietor of a meat market in Bremen, was born near Bremen on a farm, October 22, 1850, and is a son of John and Barbara E. (Ponadour) Gass. Both parents were born in Germany, the father in 1813, and the mother in IS15. The father died in German township, this county, in 1869, and the mother now lives in Bremen. They emigrated to America separ- ately, he about 1846, and she about 1847. They were married in 1847 in St. Joseph county, Ind., and immediately after their marriage settled in German township, where the father followed farming till he died. Unto their marriage were born the follow- ing children: Maggie, deceased; John P .; Jacob, deceased; Mary, deceased; Katy, deceased; Urva, deceased, and Charles. The parents reared their children in the Lutheran faith. John P., the subject of this sketch, was reared to farming and was given a fair common school education in the country schools, learning to read and write both the English and German languages. He re- mained under the parental roof till past twenty-one years of age, at which time he began the battle of life as a farmer. May 27, 1871, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Foltz, daughter of John A. Foltz, an early settler of the county. Mrs. Gass was born in Carroll county, Ohio, December 13, 1851, and her mar- riage with Mr. Gass has resulted in the birth of the following
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children: Oliver T., Charles U., William E., Ida R. and Earnest F. Soon after his marriage Mr. Gass began farming on the old home farm, and in 1874 he engaged in carpentering, which he followed for eight years. He then purchased his father's home farm, and there farmed until the spring of 1889, since when he has resided in Bremen, operating a meat market. He and wife are leading members of the German Lutheran church, and he is one of the prosperous and enterprising citizens, and enjoys the high esteem of all who know him.
Henry M. Garver, a native of Elkhart county, Ind., was born September 11, 1840, the son of John S. and Mary (Stutzman) Garver. The parents were born in Ohio, and in an early day the father settled in Michigan, and the mother settled in Elk- hart county, Ind., and in the latter county the parents were united in marriage, which union has resulted in the birth of twelve children, two of whom are deceased. In 1855 the parents settled in Union township, Marshall county, where they still reside. The father, by occupation a farmer, is one of the most extensive land owners of the county, and is among the oldest and best respected citizens of the township in which he resides. Henry M. Garver was reared on a farm and was given a fair country school educa- tion for his day. He worked on the farm with his father till he was past twenty-three years of age, and then left the parental home and began a life for himself, choosing agriculture for his occupation. In 1861 he was united in marriage with Caroline Thomas, a native of Ohio, a union blessed with the birth of four children, namely: Melvin, Lizzie, John E. and Nettie; in 1876 the mother's death occurred, and in 1878 Mr. Garver married for a second wife, Mrs. Cornelia (York) Baughman. In 1878 Mr. Garver removed from a farm in Green township to Plymouth, where he lived but a short time, and in August, 1878, he located in Bremen, where he has since remained engaged in the hotel and livery business. He ran the Thompson house until Feb- ruary 4, 1880, when the house was burned down. This misfor- tune was a severe financial blow to Mr. Garver, but through energy and successful management he has almost recovered from his loss. He is now proprietor of the Garver house, of Bremen, and in connection with the hotel he has a well-stocked livery stable. As a business man Mr. Garver is practical and judicious. As a citizen he is progressive and well-respected, and in politics he is a zealous and ardent worker in the democratic party. He is a member of the Bremen lodge, No. 414, F. & A. M., and belongs to the Bremen K. O. T. M.
Edw. Geiselman was born in German township, Marshall county, September 22, 1866, and is a son of Josiah Geiselman, an early settler of the county. He was reared on a farm and ob- tained a common school education, which he completed in the
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Bremen schools. He left the farm at the age of sixteen years, and in Bremen learned the painter's trade. He visited Kansas for a short time and then returned to Bremen, and in January of 1887, became proprietor of the Bremen Marble works, dealing in marble and granite monuments, headstones and building stones. As a stone cutter, Mr. Geiselman is a skillful workman, and his work consists in making all designs from the simplest to the most elaborate and beautiful, running from the cheapest to the most expensive. He is prepared to do any work desired of a stone mason. He is an enterprising, energetic young man, and practical in business affairs, and has established an increasing trade in Bremen and other places, and has two traveling sales- men employed. His annual sales will run from $4,000 to $6,000. He began with a very limited capital and is now a prosperous and responsible business man. In 1889 he was united in marriage to Miss Ida Wahl, of Bremen, and a daughter of Michael Wahl. Mr. and Mrs. Geiselman enjoy a high social standing and are well respected citizens.
Josiah Geiselman was born in Stark county, Ohio, Decem- ber 19, 1826, and is the oldest of the following children, born unto Michael and Eliza (Hufferd) Geiselman: Josiah, Elijah W., James D., Jacob H. and Malinda. The father was born in Penn- sylvania and the mother in Maryland, each of German descent. These parents were married in Stark county, Ohio, where they lived till in 1834, when the family removed to St. Joseph county, Ind., and settled in the wilderness. Here they continued to live for many years, the mother dying here. The father who was a blacksmith by trade and a farmer by occupation, in old age lived with our subject, at whose home he died. Josiah Geiselman was reared and educated on a farm, and learned of his father his first knowledge of blacksmithing. His mother died when he was only fourteen, and at this early age he began the struggle of life, be- coming his own support. He lived in Michigan, and worked at blacksmithing for a while at first, then returned to St. Joseph county and finished learning his trade. In 1846 he located just east of what is now Bremen, in Marshall county, and followed his trade till in 1848, when he built the second building of the town of Bremen, where he followed his trade up to 1855, when he went to Iowa, returning in 1860, working until 1864, in which year he abandoned blacksmithing and took up saw-milling, and since has been engaged in both saw-milling and farming, but of late years only farming. In 1866, he located on his present farm in German township, and where he now resides. In 1849, he married Mary Ringle, born in Stark county, Ohio, April 4, 1828; and the mar- riage gave issue to the birth of the following children: Eliza, John D., Nathan H., Edward, Jacob, Emaline, Cora E. and others that died in early life. Mr. and Mrs. Geiselman are members of
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the United Brethren church, and are among the oldest and best respected citizens of their township.
Charles H. Gollatz, a veterinary surgeon, of Bremen, has had an extensive practice in this state elsewhere. He is well versed in his profession, and successfully treats diseases of horses and cattle. Mr. Gollatz was born in the kingdom of Prussia, Germany, March 12, 1849, and is a son of Charles and Wilhelmina (Brit- ziuietz) Gollatz, both natives of Germany, in which country they died, the father dying in the German army. There were but two children, namely: Mary and Charles H. In 1852, with an uncle, the children came to Canada, and later to Michigan, where Mary was married and now lives. At the age of fifteen years Charles H. went to New York city and followed canal boating for about three years. From New York city he went to Spring- field, Mass., and entered a veterinary hospital, and for two and a half years studied veterinary surgery. Then for a short time he was in Michigan, where he practiced his chosen profession, and in 1875 came to Indiana and located at Bremen, where he has since remained. He has had an increasing patronage in veterinary work, and through a wide experience and a close and continued study he has become skillful and successful in his profession. He supplies himself with the latest publications on surgery, and has a full equipment of instruments for the practice. He is a progressive and energetic man, self-made, and worthy of com- mendation. When a youth he was given a fair common school education in the schools of Canada, and at fifteen he began the struggle of life for himself, a poor boy. He has since achieved success in his various undertakings, and is one of Bremen's most worthy citizens. He married Mrs. Susan Phelps, nee Condo, who was born April 7, 1847. The children are: Wilhelmina, Elsie, Charles H. and Jacob F.
S. J. Hayes, attorney at law, of Bremen, was born in Craw- fordsville, Ind., January 19, 1850. He is a son of Aaron L. and Mary (White) Hayes. The father and mother were natives of Montgomery county, Ohio, and their births occurred in the years 1825 and 1827, repectively, both born of Scotch and Irish extrac- tion. The mother came to Montgomery county, Ind., with her parents as early as 1829, and the father became a resident of the same county in 1832. The marriage of Aaron L. and Mary Hayes was consummated in Crawfordsville, Ind., and their union resulted in the birth of six children, namely: Elizabeth, Sam- uel J., Thomas B., Rosa, Jennie and May. The father was a farmer by occupation, which he followed till in 1856, since which time he has been a minister of the gospel in the Methodist Epis- copal church, and is now a resident minister of Rankin, III., where the mother died in April of 1890. Samuel J. Hayes, the immediate subject of this sketch, was given a fair common
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school education in the graded schools of Indiana and Illinois, and completed a classical course in the Illinois state university, at Champaign, which he attended three years. For two years in Rankin, Ill., he was engaged in merchandising, but his store be- ing burned out by accident, he then suspended merchandising, and then began the study of law, entering the law department at Ann Arbor, Mich., from which he graduated in 1876. Mr. Hayes then located at Buchanan, Mich., where he remained but a few months, and in 1876 located in Bremen, Ind., where he has since remained, his law practice increasing each year. In 1876 he was united in marriage with Miss Annie E. Clark, who was born in Buchanan, Mich., August 26, 1853. The marriage has been blessed by the birth of the following offspring: Clark, Dallas, May, Zeta and Harold. Mr. Hayes is in the true sense of the term a self-made man. He has practiced in this and sur- rounding counties, and is regarded as a man possessed of ability in his profession, and as having a good legal mind. He was once the republican candidate for prosecuting attorney of the 4Ist Indiana district. He is and has been for several years town attorney of the town of Bremen. He is credited with being an honest and conscientious worker in the practice of law, and does whatever he performs with sincerity, and is a careful and judi- cious advocate, ranking among the ablest of his profession. He is a member of the Bremen lodge, No. 414, F. & A. M., and as a citizen he is progressive and enterprising.
Jacob Heckaman, one of the oldest and earliest settlers of German township, was born in Lancaster county, Penn., August 7, 1812, and is one of fourteen children born to Samuel and Mar- garet (Miller) Heckaman, who were natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. In 1829 the parents removed from their native state to Ohio, and settled in Stark county, where they thereafter lived and died. The subject of this sketch was raised to farming and blacksmithing, and received a fair education in the German language. Owing to his parents being poor, he found it neces- sary to become his own supporter, and at an early age he worked at various kinds of work, but mainly at the blacksmith's trade, which, together with farming, he has followed up to within the last few years. In 1834 he was married to Elizabeth Shearer, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, September 19, 1814. The marriage resulted in the birth of the following children: John, Sarah Ann, Mary, Samuel, Emanuel, Rachel, Philip, William, Jacob, Margaret and Adam. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Heckaman settled down in life in the woods on a farm in Stark county, Ohio, where they lived till in 1839, when they came to Indiana, settling in German township, this county, in the spring of 1840, and here they have since continued long and useful lives. When they settled here the surrounding country was a 22-B.
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wilderness and the Indians were still numerous. They have lived in the county for over fifty years, and are among the oldest and best respected citizens. By hard toil, honesty and frugality, they have gained a good home, name, and character. They have been life-long members of the German Lutheran church, and they enjoy the esteem and confidence of all who know them.
John Heckaman, the oldest son of Jacob Heckaman, was born in Stark county, Ohio, October 10, 1834, and was but five years old when brought to Marshall county by his parents. He was reared on the farm and gained a limited common school ed- ucation. In 1856 he was united in marriage with Catherine Wyraugh, born in Germany, April 23, 1836. Unto the marriage there have been born five children that have grown to years of maturity, viz .: George, Mary, Edward, John W., and Jacob H.
Mr. Heckaman followed farming up to 1870, when he became a citizen of Bremen, where he lived for fifteen years, serving ten years as justice of the peace. In 1885 he removed out to his farm, in this township, where he now lives. He has held several minor township offices, and for the last several years has been township assessor, and is the present incumbent. In politics he is a staunch democrat. October 14, 1864, he became a private in Company F, Forty-second Indiana infantry, being discharged by reason of close of war, June 20, 1865.
James B. Huff, a representative farmer and leading citizen of German township, was born in said township, August 2, 1856, and is a son of Philip Huff, an early and well-known settler of Marshall county. Our subject was born and reared on a farm, and given a fair education in the country schools. He worked on the farm with his father till he was past twenty-one years of age, and December 23, 1877, was united in marriage with Mary M. Heckaman, who was born in German township, November 2, 1858, a union blessed with the birth of the following children: Nella M., Oliver C. (deceased), Cora E., Elvin and Alvin (twins and deceased), Earl E. and Bertha C. Farming has been Mr. Huff's occupation, and as a farmer he is one of the most practical and successful in the county. He owns a well improved farm, consisting of 200 acres situated in sections 6 and 5, of Ger- man township. He has never aspired to a public career, but has lived the life of a well-respected and independent farmer. His wife is a member of the German Lutheran church, and in poli- tics he is an unwavering democrat, and enjoys the esteem and confidence of his fellow townsmen.
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