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 40
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49
366
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
land in Greene township, where he is now considered one of the substantial citizens of the community. He was married on the 29th of May, 1869, to Rachel, daughter of John A. and Rachel Davis, of Fulton county, Ind. Politically, Mr. McElfresh is an unswerving supporter of the republican party; as a citizen, is in- telligent and public spirited, and all movements for the general welfare find in him an honest supporter. He takes an active in- terest in educational enterprises, and is justly ranked among the enterprising citizens of Green township.
John W. Price was born June 18, 1845, in Holmes county, Ohio, and is the son of John and Hannah (Manning) Price. He remained under the parental roof until his seventeenth year, when, on account of impaired health, he was compelled to leave school, after which he went on a visit to Michigan, thence to Ohio, for the purpose of regaining in some degree his exhausted physical powers. This was in 1862 when the country was thrown into excitement by the great war between the states. Actuated by a patriotic desire to serve his country, young Price responded to the call for volunteers, and enlisted December 26, of the above year, in the One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio regiment, at Sandusky, being one of five who left his uncle's family for the front, and the only one that returned at the close of the war. He was mustered into the service at Cumberland, Ohio, January 7, 1863, and thence went with his command up the Shenandoah valley to Lynchburg, his regiment being in the corps commanded by Gen. Thomas. The first engagement in which he participated was at Lynchburg, and subsequently he was with his regiment in all its varied experiences in the Virginia campaigns. He bore a gallant part in a number of bloody engagements, and in the lat- ter part of the war did skirmish duty up and down the valley of the Shenandoah. As already stated Mr. Price was in indifferent health on entering the army, and his constant exposure during the campaigns in which he took part added to his disability, so that at one time he was compelled to accompany his regiment in an ambulance, not being able to march on foot. With an energy born of patriotism he determined to remain with his regiment, which he did until the surrender of Lee, when he was taken to the hospital at Sandy Hook, Md. The regiment to which he be- longed was mustered out of service June 12, 1865, at Camp Chase, near Columbus, Ohio, John Price being reported dead. His comrades all believed him dead, but they were happily dis- appointed when on the 28th of June he appeared at his captain's headquarters and demanded his discharge. On leaving the army he returned to Ohio, and made his home with his uncle until the following autumn, at which time he rejoined his father's family in Marshall county, Ind., where he remained two years recuperating his health and assisting with the farm work in the
367
MARSHALL COUNTY.
meantime. He subsequently purchased an interest in a thresh- ing machine, which he operated successfully during certain sea- sons, and also became largely interested in horses, which he purchased for the local and general markets. January 11, 1873, Mr. Price was united in marriage to Miss Phœbe Voreis, daugh- ter of Abraham and Clarissa (Morris) Voreis, and to this union have been born two children, Robert T. and Laura M. After his marriage he engaged in farming upon 120 acres of land, which he had previously bought, and upon which he still lives, having added to his original purchase until at present he owns 267 acres, the greater part of which is in a successfal state of cultivation. Mr. Price is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge, 263, at Argos, and is an active worker in Lafayette Gordon post, No. 132, G. A. R. Politically he is an unswerving republican, and in religion is an earnest member of the Methodist church, as is also his wife.
Corban Spencer, for whom this sketch is prepared, was born in Holmes county, Ohio, December 29th, 1840, the son of Nathan and Mary (Foltz) Spencer, both natives of Pennsylvania. He was reared on a farm, received his educational training in the common schools, and early chose agriculture for his occupation. Shortly after attaining his majority the great civil war broke out, and on the first day of February, 1862, he enlisted as a private in the Forty-eighth Indiana volunteers, with which he served gallantly until his discharge, February Ist, 1865. During his period of service he participated in two engagements, which were Iuka and Corinth, Miss. At Corinth, October 4, 1862, he received a severe gun-shot wound in the breast, and to-day car- ries in his flesh the bullet which so nearly cost him his life. He was a brave and gallant soldier, and during his three years' service in defense of the national Union he made a record of which he feels deservedly proud. At the close of the war he re- turned to Marshall county, which he has since made his home. He is a member of the Lafayette Gordon post, No. 132, G. A. R., of Argos, and in politics is an unswerving supporter of the re- publican party. Martha J. Johnson, whom he married on the 15th day of March, 1868, is a daughter of William and Martha (Flack) Johnson, early settlers of Marshall county. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer have a family of five children, whose names are as follows: William A., Cora M., Frank M., Pearly D. and Frederick.
Ross Thornburg, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1788, and grew to manhood in that state. He was a man of intelligence and culture, and for some years followed the profession of teaching with marked success. When quite a young man he moved from Pennsylvania to Knox county, Ohio, and was there united in marriage to Jane Highlands. He subsequently lived at different places, finally locating at Van
368
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
Wert county, Ohio, where his death occurred in December 20, 1864. Harvey Thornburg, the subject of this mention, was born July 22, 1834, in Holmes county, Ohio, and while still a youth re- moved with his parents to Van Wert, Ohio, where he remained until his twenty-fourth year. He was reared on a farm, received his educational training in the country schools, and on the 11th day of November, 1858, was married to Mary Jane Rodgers, daughter of James and Mary (Chess) Rodgers. After following agricultural pursuits in Van Wert county about four years, Mr. Thornburg came to Marshall county, Ind., and bought the farm upon which he still resides, in Greene township, having added to his original purchase from time to time, until he is now the owner of 760 acres of fine land, upon which are some of the best improvements in the county. He is one of the representative farmers of this part of the state as well as one of the most suc- cessful, his farm property being valued at over $50,000. In July, 1886, he suffered a serious loss by fire, in which a large beautiful barn containing 1,500 bushels of wheat, 1,000 bushels of corn, 600 bushels of oats, 100 tons of hay, five valuable horses, and a large part of the building material for his new residence, were entirely consumed, the loss aggregating $5,000. Politically Mr. Thornburg is a representative democrat of the old school, though not a partisan in the sense of seeking office. Mr. and Mrs. Thornburg have a family of four children, viz .: Francis A., Celestion E., Jennie M. and Willis W.
James Vermillion, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Jef- ferson county, Ohio, and one of three children born to John and Rebecca (McGrew) Vermillion. The other two children were daughters, Mary and Nancy. John Vermillion spent his youth- ful days in the state of Ohio, and was by occupation a farmer. He died in Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1841. James Vermillion was born on the 9th day of March, 1845, and at the early age of three years, lost his father, after which he was taken by his mother to Marshall county, Ind., where she purchased land and engaged in gardening. Mrs. Vermillion subsequently married Christopher Mossman, and removed to his farm in Fulton county, where her death occurred in 1856. Left an orphan at the early age of eleven years, James Vermillion was thrown entirely upon his own re- sources, and until his seventeenth year, worked at different occu- pations in Marshall and Fulton counties. In 1862, with a laud- able desire to enter his country's service, he became a volunteer in Twelfth Indiana cavalry, at Plymouth, and was mustered into the service, February, 1863, at Kendalville, being at the time but a mere boy of seventeen. He was with his command throughout the Kentucky and Tennessee campaigns, participated in a num- ber of hard fought battles, including among others, Murfreesboro, siege of Mobile, New Orleans, and was honorably discharged
369
MARSHALL COUNTY.
December, 1865. On leaving the army, Mr. Vermillion returned to Marshall county, and worked upon a farm until 1868, when he went to Kansas, in which state and the Cherokee nation he re- mained until 1872. In April of the latter year, he returned to Marshall county, and on the 10th day of the following October, was united in marriage with Miss Eliza A. Price, daughter of Jonah and Hannah (Manning) Price, to which union the follow- ing children have been born, viz .: Charles C., Perry E., Minnie B., Albert L., Lawrence O. and Marietta. For about eighteen months after his marriage, Mr. Vermillion resided in the village of Walnut, and at the end of that time moved to Tiosa, Fulton county, where he remained for a limited period, subsequently re- turning to Marshall county and taking possession of the Price farm, which he operated about three years. He then purchased a beautiful farm of eighty acres in Green township, upon which he still resides. Mr. Vermillion is a substantial citizen, a repub- lican in politics and although not a member of any church or- ganization, he is a friend and liberal patron of all moral and re- ligious movements.
Thomas L. Voreis, an enterprising and prosperous citizen of Green township, is one of seven children born to James and Elizabeth (Pollard) Voreis, and dates his birth from the 22nd day of February, 1848, his nativity being Marshall county, Ind. The father was born February 2nd, 1806, and was the son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Downing) Voreis. The following are the names of the children born to Abraham and Elizabeth Voreis: Sophia, Margaret, Jeremiah, Nancy, Rachel, Sarah, John, James, Abraham, David and Francis. Abraham Voreis was a native of New Jersey and a farmer by occupation. He early settled in Pennsylvania, thence moved to Ohio and lastly came to Indiana, locating in Rush county, about the year 1832. James Voreis, father of the subject of this mention, was married January 15th, 1831, to Elizabeth Pollard, by whom he had the following children: William, Elizabeth, Malinda, Samantha, Jonas, Thomas L., George W. Mr. Voreis farmed in Rush county until 1836, at which time he came to Marshall county and settled upon 120 acres of land which he had previously pur- chased from the government. He is still living, being one of the oldest citizens of the county at this time. Thomas L. Voreis was reared and educated on a farm, and remained with his parents until his twenty-first year when he began life upon his own re- sponsibility. March 7th, 1869, he married Harriet S., daughter of Aden and Elizabeth (Morris) Clevenger, who has borne him the following children: Howard E., Nora M. and James A. (deceased). After his wife's death Mr. Voreis was for some time unsettled in life, traveling from place to place, principally in the west. Later he returned to his home and on the 26th of 24-B.
370
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
June, 1879, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Hattie De Line, daughter of Henry and Hannah (Winklepleck) Warnes. Since his second marriage Mr. Voreis has continued on his farm in Greene township and is one of the thrifty farmers of this part of the county. He is a democrat in politics, and as such was elected trustee in 1890, being the present incumbent of that office. In addition to this position he was for four years deputy sheriff of Marshall county, during which time he resided in Plymouth. Fraternally he is a member of Plymouth lodge, No. 139, F. & A. M.
Conspicuous among the prosperous farmers of Green town- ship is Franklin Worthington, a native of La Porte county, Ind., where he was born on the roth day of October, 1848. When seven years of age he was brought by his parents to Marshall county, and spent the years of his youth and early manhood upon a farm one mile west of the town of Argos. He attended the schools of that village in which he gained a good practical English education. At the age of twenty he began life for himself, and in partnership with his brother George operated a farm for about two years in La Porte county. May 30th, 1870, he mar- ried Minerva Jordan, daughter of Benoni and Julia O. (Boggs) Jordan, and for two and a half years thereafter continued farm- ing in La Porte county, moving at the end of that time to within a short distance of Argos in Marshall county. He subsequently acquired an interest in his father-in-law's place, and with his brother, T. J. Worthington, purchased the balance of the farm, consisting of 112 acres, upon which he lived about one year. He then exchanged his interest with his brother for forty acres of land opposite where he now resides, and immediately thereafter moved to his father's old homestead where he lived for a short time. He afterward traded a farm in La Porte county for the place which he now owns in Green township, consisting of 138 acres of fine land situated within one mile of a good market, and valued at $80 per acre. Mr. Worthington is an energetic citizen, a firm believer in the principles of the democratic party, and although adhering to no church or creed takes an active interest in all movements having for their object the moral wel- fare of the community. The following are the names of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Worthington: Josie, Matilda, Benoni, James and Kate.
David Zehner, a native of Schuylkill county, Penn., was born June 5, 1830, and is a son of Solomon and Salena (Hoppis) Zehner. The father was born in the above county and state in 1803, and was a son of David Zehner, whose father, Adam Zehner, came from Germany in the time of the colonies, and set- tled in one of the eastern states. In an early day Solomon Zehner became a settler of Wayne county, Ind., where he oper-
37 I
MARSHALL COUNTY.
ated a flouring mill for several years. He was also a farmer, to which occupation he gave the latter years of his life. He died in the year 1852. David Zehner was reared to farm and mill work, and remained under the parental roof until his father's death, after which he and his brother took charge of the mill. Later his brother became sole proprietor of the mill, and David purchased a store at Wolf Creek, which he subsequently dis- posed of. November, 1857, he was united in marriage to Eliza- beth, daughter of James and Elizabeth Voreis, who were early settlers at Marshall county. Soon after his marriage he engaged in farming, and later, in partnership with his brother, operated a saw-mill successfully for several years. He afterward became interested in a foundry, at Plymouth, which was destroyed by fire, incurring a very heavy loss. On the 17th day of May, 1872, Mrs. Zehner died, and in February, 1875, he married for a sec- ond wife, Savannah Hubel, who departed this life December 6, 1876. To his first marriage were born the following children: John W., Saloma (deceased), Thomas M., David, James L. and Eva M. On the 14th day of October, 1877, Mr. Zehner married his third wife, whose name was Mary J. White, a union blessed with the birth of the following children: Mary C., Lawrence C., Clarence L., Bertha, Daisy and Adam. At this time Mr. Zehner is engaged in farming, in connection with which he also carries on the lumber business, operating a saw-mill in this county. He is a practical and successful farmer and miller, and ranks with the prosperous citizens of Green township. He held the office of trustee for three terms, is a democrat in politics, and a member of the Lutheran church.
NORTH TOWNSHIP.
Prominent among the self-made men of North township is Hiram Baker, who is the fourth of the family of five children, three sons and two daughters, born to Isaac and Rebecca Baker. The father was born in Virginia in 1794, and the mother was a native of Ohio, born in 1798. The father of Isaac Baker was Abraham Baker, who came from England, with his parents, prior to the war of the revolution, in which struggle he and his six brothers participated, he being the only one who lived to re- turn home. At the close of the revolution, Abraham Baker settled in Ohio, in which state he married and reared two sons, John and Isaac. Isaac Baker secured a good education, taught school for a number of years, and afterward became a practicing physician. His first wife died in Jackson county, Ohio, in 1821, and he subsequently married Jemima Corham, who bore him twelve children, six sons and six daughters. After remaining in Ohio some years he came to Henry county, Ind., where he en-
372
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
tered land and lived the life of a pioneer, practicing his profes- sion among the early settlers of that part of the state. He was a man of prominence in the community where he resided, a con- sistent member of the Christian church, and died in 1872, at the age of seventy-eight years. Hiram Baker was born in Jackson county, Ohio, August 6, 1819, and is the youngest of three children now living, all of whom now reside in North township. When six years of age he was taken by his parents to Henry county, Ind., where he grew to manhood on a farm, and upon at- taining his majority, began life for himself, choosing the pursuit of agriculture. He became a resident of St. Joseph county in 1840, and there learned the blacksmith trade with his brother, John Baker, and after working at the same about two years, he and another brother, Abraham, engaged in farming, which they followed for some time. In the fall of 1844 Mr. Baker came to North township, Marshall county, and purchased 120 acres of land, which he at once began to improve, and which he soon had under a successful state of cultivation. February 3, 1846, he married Eliza Ann Powers, who came with her parents, Jacob and Nancy (Lynn) Powers, to this county in 1836. Mr. and Mrs. Powers were natives of New Jersey and Westmoreland county, Penn., respectively; the former born March 28, 1778, and the lat- ter, December 23, 1782. They were married March 4, 1800, and came to this state from Butler county, Ohio. Mr. Powers be- came a large land owner in La Porte county. He removed to Crawfordsville in 1838, and died there the following year. His widow returned to North township and resided here until her death, July 17, 1847. She was the mother of eleven children, only two of whom are now living. Soon after his marriage Mr. Baker exchanged his original purchase for 160 acres of land near the site of Linkville, which he disposed of in 1865, and purchased his present farm of 184 acres, where he has since resided. Mr. Baker is a prominent farmer, a.deservedly popular citizen, and occupies a conspicuous place among the successful farmers and stock-raisers of Marshall county. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Baker, viz .: Enoch B., Nancy J. (de- deased), John F., Sarah L. (deceased), and three who died in infancy, unnamed. Mr. Baker cast his first presidential vote for Martin Van Buren, but since that time has supported the repub- lican party. He and wife are members of the Wesleyan Metho- dist church.
A well-known old pioneer of Marshall county is Abraham Baker, who is a native of Indiana, born in Jackson county, March 11, 1817, being the second son and oldest child now living of Isaac Baker, who was among the early settlers of this state. Abraham Baker grew to manhood in Henry county, to which part of the state he was taken when but eight years old. Like
373
MARSHALL COUNTY.
other boys of that period, his early days were spent in hard labor as the country was then new, and required constant effort in order to be brought to a state of cultivation. He experienced in full measure the vicissitudes of pioneer life, and well remem -. bers the time when he spent from fourteen to twenty consecutive days in log rolling, and often went several miles to assist the early settlers in erecting their cabins. He moved to St. Joseph county in 1841, and in 1843 purchased eighty acres of land in Marshall county, a part of which he cleared the following year, but to which he did not move as a permanent resident, however, until 1845. During the early days of the county, Mr. Baker was a noted hunter, and often went as far north as the big woods of Michigan in quest of game. He well remembers the time when bear, deer, wild turkey, and other large game were plenti- ful, while the Indians with whom he frequently went upon the hunt, were quite numerous. Mr. Baker located upon his present farm in 1851, and has since been a well-known resident of North township. He was married in the latter year to Miss Sarah Abshire, a native of Michigan, and daughter of Absalom Ab- shire. To this union ten children have been born, seven now living, viz .: Ellen, wife of James Wade; Hester, wife of John Anders; Martha, wife of William Hill; Thomas, William, and James M.
Moses Beyler was born January 10, 1859, and is the second son and sixth child of Jacob and Ann E. (Berger) Beyler. Moses Beyler is a native of Marshall county, in which all of his life has been passed. He was educated in the schools of Bremen, and on the 27th day of January, 1881, was united in marriage to Ma- tilda Zimmer, who was born in this county November 22, 1860, the daughter of George and Dorothy (Kuntz) Zimmer, both parents natives of Germany. This union has been blessed with the birth of three children, viz .: Alvin, born October 11, 1881; Ada E., October 7, 1885, and Lillie A., March 10, 1888. After his marriage Mr. Beyler moved to the farm where he now lives, which contains 160 acres. This is one of the well improved places of the township, and Mr. Beyler is justly entitled to men- tion among the representative citizens of this community. He and wife are both members of the Wesleyan church.
The subject of the accompanying sketch is Albert Bohmer, a well-known farmer and stock-raiser, of North township, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, April 28th, 1842, the fifth in a family of thirteen children, eight sons and five daughters, born to Con- rad and Barbara Bohmer. Mr. Bohmer spent the first fifteen years of his life in his native country, attended school until his mother's death, after which he worked upon a farm and contrib- uted his share toward the support of the family. He came to the United States in 1857, and after working upon a farm for some
374
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
time, learned the miller's trade, which he followed for a limited period and then began learning the saddlers' trade in Logans- port, Ind., at which city the parents located on coming to this country. At the age of nineteen, he entered the army, enlisting August 14, 1861, in Company B, First battalion Nineteenth United States infantry, which was mustered at Indianapolis, and assigned to McCook's division, army of the Ohio, and later army of the Cumberland. Briefly stated, the following is a review of Mr. Bohmer's military experience: First engagement, battle of Shiloh, after which he participated in the siege of Corinth, fol- lowed the rebel Gen. Bragg to Louisville, was in an engagement near Harrodsburg, intercepting Gen. Kirby Smith, thence to Nashville, taking part in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, at which place he did active duty until the battle of Lookout Mountain, in which he also participated; re-enlisted February 12, 1864; was with Sherman in the celebrated Georgia campaign, during which he took part in the battles of Resaca, New Hope Church and Kenesaw Mountain. Was wounded in the left forearm in June, 1864, after which was sent to field hos- pital at Big Sandy, and later transferred to Fort Wayne, near Detroit, Mich., as convalescent, where heremained until October, 1865; was then sent to Newport Barracks, and in March, 1866, was sent to Little Rock, Ark., where he was then a member of the Nineteenth United States infantry band; was sent to Fort Gib- son to furnish music for the frontier post; went to New Mexico with wagon train; returned to Little Rock, Ark., by way of Fort Smith, Ark .; was finally discharged February 12, 1867, after serv- ing five years and six months, the longest term of any enlisted man in Marshall county. After his discharge he returned to his home in Logansport, and resumed his trade, and in October, 1867, moved to Winnamac, Ind., where, the year following he ac- cepted a clerkship in a dry goods house, in which capacity he continued fifteen months. In March, 1869, he again engaged in the saddlery business, and after continuing the same for one year, sold out and began farming in Marshall county, locating near Lake Maxinkuckee, where he lived nine years. In the fall of 1880 he became a resident of North township, moving upon the place where he has since resided. Mr. Bohmer was married November 9, 1868, to Catherine Overmeyer, daughter of Lucas and Mary (Burkett) Overmeyer, to which union five children were born, three living, viz .: Marion, Anna and Emma. Mrs. Bohmer died April, 1880, aged twenty-seven years, and on January 19, 1881, Mr. Bohmer married his present wife, Mrs. Elizabeth (Ferguson) Saltenright, daughter of Pleasant Fergu- son, of North township, Mrs. Bohmer was born February 14, 1845, married David Saltenright September 12, 1869, by whom she had three children: Emma, Harland and Lunetta. Mr.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.