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 42
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Marshall Kirkley, whose name introduces this sketch, is the son of John and Mercy Kirkley, who were natives of West Vir- ginia and Ohio, their respective births having occurred in 1813 and 1817. John Kirkley was the son of Asa Kirkley, who be- longed to one of the pioneer families of Virginia, and afterward became one of the earliest settlers of Hancock county, Ind. . The father of Mrs. Kirkley was Isaac Roberts, a native of Ohio, and a soldier of the war of 1812. He was also a pioneer of Hancock county, Ind., in which part of the state he died in 1857. John Kirkley was an early resident of Hancock county, moving there with his parents when a mere boy, and was there married to Mercy Roberts. He moved to Marshall county in 1843 and took an active part in the growth and development of the country. He experienced many hardships in his new home in the woods, and being unable to support his family from the proceeds of his diminutive farm, found employment on the prairie a number of miles distant. During his absence Mrs. Kirkley remained with her small children in the little cabin around which the wolves would howl, making night hideous to the great annoyance of the
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family. The family at that time consisted of two small children, one son and one daughter, the latter of whom died from the effect of a rattlesnake bite shortly after their arrival. Mr. Kirkley improved his first farm, erected fair buildings thereon, and in 1859 sold out and went west, since which time nothing has been heard of him. Marshall and Andrew J. Kirkley are the only representatives of the family at this time in Marshall county, the mother and an older son living in Missouri. Mar- shall Kirkley was born October 16, 1849, in Marshall county, and was reared on a farm, receiving his educational training in the country schools. He did his first work for himself as a farm hand when eighteen years of age, and continued as such about four years, a part part of the time in southern Michigan. De- cember 22, 1872, he was married to Miss Martha Mast of Holmes county, Ohio, her parents, Daniel and Elizabeth (Troyer) Mast, being natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Kirkley located on the farm where he now lives, and has followed agricultural pursuits with flattering success ever since. Prior to her marriage Mrs. Kirkley was a teacher in the common schools, having taught in this state and Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Kirkley are members of the Church of God. They have a family of five children, as follows: Herbert, Bertha, Albert, Lulu and Clement.
The gentleman, whose sketch is here presented, is one of the self-made men of North township, and for a number of years has been an industrious and well-known citizen of Marshall county. George Koontz is the youngest of a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters, born to Jacob and Cath- erine (Gray) Koontz, who were both natives of Germany, in which country they reared their family to maturity. Jacob Koontz served in the Napoleon wars and was with the emperor in the celebrated Russian campaign, including the march to, and the retreat from, Moscow, during which he suffered untold hard- ships. He died in the year 1847. Our subject was born in Wur- temburg, Germany, September 15, 1835, in which country he was reared and educated. He came to the United States in 1857, landing at New York after a voyage of forty-seven days, and shortly afterward went to Lancaster, Penn., where he found em- ployment in a hotel, which he followed fourteen months. At the end of that time he went to Fort Wayne, Ind., thence to Colum- bia City, at which place he was engaged as teamster for eighteen months. He then came to Plymouth, and found employment with a railroad company as assistant to the transfer agent, and later, worked with a wood saw a part of one year. For two years he had charge of the mail route between Plymouth and South Bend, working for $10 and $12 per month, and later, was employed as 'busman in Plymouth, which he followed for some
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time. In the meantime he became acquainted with Miss Martha Roberts, whom he married March 18, 1862. She was born in Dayton, Ohio, July 27, 1839, the daughter of Jacob and Matilda (Bell) Roberts, natives respectively of Shelby and Greene coun- ties, that state. After his marriage, Mr. Koontz engaged with the P., Ft. W. & C. R. R. Co. as blacksmith, and was thus em- ployed six years, during which period he worked extra time, so that he was credited with more days than the years contained. In 1875 he invested his earnings in eighty acres of land in North township, to which he moved, and since which time he has given his attention to agriculture and stock-raising, having added to his original purchase. Mr. Koontz is a practical farmer, and a self-made man. He has a family of four children, viz .: Fred- erick, George, Edward, and Orpha M. He and wife are members of the Methodist church, and are highly respected by all who know them.
John Kunz, farmer and apiarist, and also justice of the peace, was born in Tuscawaras county, Ohio, February 2, 1851. He is the eldest of ten children, four sons and six daughters, born to Ernest and Mary Kunz. The father, a native of Germany, was born in 1829, early learned the blacksmith trade, and at the age of twenty-one came to the United States, and for some years worked at his trade in various parts of the country, especially in Ohio. He married in that state Mrs. Mary Hahn, of Coshocton county, who was born in 1824. They resided in Tuscarawas county, until 1865, in the spring of which year they moved Mar- shall county, settling in North township, where for some time Mr. Kunz was engaged in driving wells. He afterward followed farming, and also conducted a grocery business and hotel at Linkville, and at the time of his death was in very comfortable circumstances. His widow still survives, residing at this time in Linkville. The immediate subject of this mention was reared in Ohio until his thirteenth year, at which time he accompanied his parents to Marshall county. He remained with his parents until his twenty-eighth year, having in the meantime assisted them in making a home and looking after their interests until his father's death. October 5, 1879, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Emma E. Thompson, daughter of Frederick and Nancy (Cum- mings) Wiverly, parents natives respectively of Germany and Marshall county, the father born in 1823 and the mother in 1826. Mrs. Kunz was born August 14, 1859, and is the mother of four children, viz .: Allie D., Charles, Rosa and Laura. It is a fact worthy of note that of the above children, Charles and Laura were awarded premiums as the handsomest and best formed children at the county fairs of 1883 and 1889 respectively. Soon after his marriage Mr. Kunz located where he now resides, and has since given his attention to farming and bee culture, in
25-B.
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both of which enterprises he has met with much more than or- dinary success. He keeps on hand a full supply of all kinds of bee fixtures, and gives especial attention to the Holy Land or Syrian bee, which have proved very hardy and well adapted to the north and west. The product of his hives in 1889 was 2,500 pounds of honey, having one yard at home and one on the bank of the "Lake of the Woods." His business is constantly increas- ing, and he expects to start other yards from time to time. Mr. Kunz manufactures the celebrated honey vinegar, which has been awarded first premiums over all competition, wherever ex- hibited. Mr. and Mrs. Kunz are highly respected citizens, and in politics he is a supporter of the democratic party. He was elected justice of the peace in 1882, and has filled the office by successive re-elections until the present time, and during his official career has never had a decision reversed by a higher court.
Thomas Milner, second child and eldest son now living, of Michael Milner, is a native of Preble county, Ohio, and dates his birth from the second day of March, 1825. He came to this county with his parents when eleven years old; was educated in the common schools, and at the age of twenty-one began working for himself on a farm at $100 per year. He afterward farmed with his father, on the home place, and in 1854 went to Iowa with the intention of locating, but not being pleased with the outlook in that state, returned to Marshall county, and purchased land in North township in partnership with his father, a part of which land he now owns. In 1859, in company with his brother and others, he started for the west with the object of engaging in mining, but before reaching his destination he abandoned the project, and returned to Marshall county, which has ever since. been his home. December, 1848, he married Miss Ruth Hopper, who died in 1851, leaving one son, John, who afterward died at the age of four years. Mr. Milner made another trip west in 1865, driving four yoke of oxen from Plattsmouth to Denver, Col., but did not remain long in that country, returning again to Marshall county, since which time he has followed the pursuit of agriculture in North township. Miss Emarilla Downs, who was born in Mansfield, Ohio, August 4th, 1845, became his wife April 29, 1869. She is the daughter of John B. and Harriet (Dille) Downs, and prior to her marriage was engaged in teach- ing in Marshall county. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Milner, Ely B. and Alice, the former of whom is one of the successful teachers of this county. By diligent attention to his business, Mr. Milner has become one of the well-to-do men of the township, having an excellent record as a farmer and stock-raiser. He is a democrat in politics, though not a partisan as far as office seeking is concerned. Mrs. Milner is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
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E. D. Milner was born in Preble county, Ohio, February 4, 1836, and is the fourth son and eighth child of Michael and Martha (Banfield) Milner, both parents born in the year 1797. The sub- ject's paternal grandfather, William Milner, served seven years in the war of the revolution, entering the army when but seven- teen years of age. He moved from Virginia to Ohio, prior to 1797, and reared his family in the latter state. He was a tailor by trade, but afterward engaged in farming. Michael Milner was raised on the frontier, was a farmer by occupation and be- came a well known citizen of Preble county, Ohio. He disposed of his interests there in 1836, moving to Marshall county, Ind., settling in center township, and afterward moved to Iowa, but soon returned to Marshall county, and purchased 320 acres of timber land in north township. He was a hard working man, highly esteemed by his neighbors, and died in this county at the age of seventy-three. His wife died at the age of sixty-four. E. D. Milner was six months old when his parents came to this county, and he grew to manhood on the farm, which he assisted in developing. On reaching the year of his majority, he began life for himself, and for some time thereafter lived in St. Joseph county, but soon returned to North township and engaged in farming on the home place. He has followed agricultural pur- suits all his life and is one of the thrifty citizens of his community. He was married November 20, 1873, to Miss Mary Casper, of Stark county, Ohio, who was born January 5, 1850. Three child- ren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Milner, two of whom, R. L. and Frank E., are living.
Joseph B. Milner was born in Preble county, Ohio, Novem- ber 10, 1833, and is the third son of Michael Milner. He came with his parents to Marshall county when three years of age, and has been a resident of the same ever since, being now classed with its enterprising and well-to-do citizens. His early expe- rience was on the farm, where he learned the lessons of industry and frugality by which his subsequent life has been characterized, and he began business for himself as a wood cutter, his only property at that time being an ax. He walked to Michigan and there found employment cutting wood at 50 cents a cord, and making rails at 75 cents per hundred. After remaining in Michigan less than a year, he returned to Marshall county and began improving forty acres of land that had been given him by his father in exchange for two years' work. In 1859, in company with his brother Thomas, he started west with the in- tention of engaging in gold mining in Colorado, but becoming disheartened at the uninviting prospect, turned back before reaching his destination, and returned to North township where he has ever since resided. Mr. Milner has lived the life of a successful farmer, and by diligent attention to his calling, has
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succeeded in making a comfortable home, owning at this time 140 acres of well improved land, the fruit of his own industry. Politically, Mr. Milner was formerly a democrat, but is now inde- pendent. He married Miss Ann Murphy, eldest daughter of David and Hannah (Jones) Murphy, December 15, 1867, to which union four children have been born, three living, viz .: John B., Irene, and Michael D.
Noah Wiltfong, one of the representative farmers of North township, is a native of Miami county, Ohio, and son of Michael and Catherine Wiltfong, who were born in the states of North and South Carolina, respectively, both families being of German descent. George M. Wiltfong, the grandfather of Noah, was a sol- dier in the revolutionary war, and a farmer in his native state of Carolina, from which he afterward emigrated to Canada, where his death occurred at the advanced age of one hundred and six years. His wife was a Miss Miller, who bore him four children. She died while the family was en route to Canada, about the year 1800. Michael Wiltfong lived a pioneer life, a part of which was spent in Canada, and a part in Ohio. He came to Indiana in 1833, locating near South Bend, moving thence to La Porte county, and in 1846 became a resident of Marshall county, set- tling in section 11, North township, where he purchased 40 acres of forest land. He married his second wife, Catherine Fes, in Miami county, Ohio. She was born in North Carolina, in 1780, and moved to Ohio in her childhood. Mr. Wiltfong was a man of great endurance, a noted hunter in his time, and passed the greater part of his life on the frontier. He departed this life at the age of seventy-six. Noah Wiltfong was born February 22, 1823, and at the age of ten years was taken by his parents to St. Joseph county, Ind., in which part of the state, and La Porte county, he was reared to manhood. His early life was unevent- ful, having been passed in hard labor on the farm which he as- sisted in clearing and developing. At the age of twenty-one, June 27, 1844, he married Elizabeth Hostetler, who was born in Somerset county, Penn., June 2, 1824. She was the youngest of. eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, born to Joseph and Mary Hostetler, both natives of Pennsylvania, and of Ger- man lineage. After his marriage, Mr. Wiltfong rented a farm in La Porte county, and continued there until April, 1865, when he returned to Marshall county, locating on land which he had previously purchased in North township. He purchased the pa- ternal homestead after the death of his father, and is now the possessor of valuable real estate, the greater part of which is well improved. Mr. Wiltfong was originally a whig and cast his first vote in 1844 for Henry Clay. Since the organization of the republican party he has been one of its firm supporters, but has never sought official positions at the hands of his fellow citizens.
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He and wife are members of the progressive branch of the Ger- man Baptist church. They have had a family of ten children, six now living, viz .: John W., Benjamin F .; Sarah, wife of Win- field Shafer; Sylvester, Noah S., and Mary, wife of Andrew Thayer.
Allen Moore, M. D., a native of Holmes county, Ohio, is the third of a family of eight children born to John and Margaret (Miller) Moore, and dates his birth from the 13th day of Febru- ary, 1846. Gabriel Moore, his grandfather, was born in Ireland, but left that country when five years of age and with his parents came to America and settled in one of the eastern states. John Moore, the doctor's father, was reared a farmer, and received a good education, which was acquired mainly by his own unaided efforts. He was a man of liberal culture, well read in the cur- rent literature of the day, and his knowledge of the law, the scriptures and history, was very extensive. He moved to Indi- ana a number of years ago and settled in St. Joseph county, and afterward moved to South Bend, Ind., where his death occurred at the age of seventy-seven years. He was an active politician of the democratic faith, and for fifty-seven years was a consis- tent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Dr. Moore spent his boyhood days upon his father's farm, received a good common school education, and at the age of eighteen taught school in Marshall county. His two brothers were practicing physicians, and he determined to make that profession his life work, and accordingly he devoted his leisure time to reading under their instruction. During the time that he was engaged in teaching he pursued his literary studies, and during vacations attended the Northern Indiana college at South Bend two terms. After pursuing his studies for some time under the instruction of Dr. John Moore, he entered Wooster university at Cleveland, Ohio, which he attended during the years 1869-70. He began the practice of his profession at Linkville, this county, where he resided six years, and afterward located at Lapaz, where he still makes his home, being one of the leading physicians of the county. The doctor is well acquainted with the theory of his profession, having graduated from the Fort Wayne medical col- lege in 1880. He is a general practitioner, but of late years has been making a specialty of the eye, ear and diseases of females, in the treatment of which he has already earned a reputation much more than local. The doctor was married in St. Joseph county, April 17, 1871, to Miss Anna Robertson, a well-known teacher, who was born August 14, 1850, the daughter of William and Hannah (Schumaker) Robertson. Dr. Moore is a prohibi- tionist in politics, and for years has been a strong advocate of the temperance reform. His wife is a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church.
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David R. Rodanburger was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, February 14th, 1841, and is the second son of Augustus and Lu- cinda (Cowden) Rodanburger, who were natives of the state of Pennsylvania and Ohio. Augustus Rodanburger moved to Ohio in his childhood, and resided in that state until 1847, when he moved to Illinois, settling in Fayette county, where his death oc- curred in 1849. He left a widow and three small children, three children having previously died in one week. Mrs. Rodanburger soon afterward returned to her home in Ohio, where she subse- quently married Henry Rittenhouse, by whom she had a family of three children, having had six children by her first marriage. The subject of this mention was nine years old when his father died, and he grew to manhood in Fairfield county, Ohio, receiv- ing a limited education in the common schools. At the early age of ten years he began doing for himself, working upon a farm and also following other employments from time to time. He took a gallant part in the late war, enlisting September 1, 1861, in Company G, Forty-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, with which he served until July, 1865. His army experience embraced a number of campaigns and hard fought battles, among which were Shiloh, Corinth, Tullahoma, Chattanooga, Haines Bluff, Vicksburg, Raleigh, Wheat Swamp, and many others, including Sherman's Georgia campaign and the battles in and around At- lanta. In January, 1864, while visiting home on furlough, he was united in marriage to Miss Julia Cashdollar, who was born in Licking county, Ohio, October 4th, 1839, the daughter of Joseph Cashdollar. He soon returned to his regiment and at the close of the war, rejoined his wife in Licking county, and en- gaged in farming, residing there until 1868, when he moved to St. Joseph county, Ind., which was his home until his removal to Marshall county, in 1871. On coming to this county he purchased his present farm in North township, consisting of 100 acres, the greater part of which is under cultivation and upon which are many valuable improvements. Mr. Rodanburger has made his own way in life and is a self-made man in all that term implies. He is a democrat in politics, taking an active part in political matters, but is not a partisan so far as seeking office is concerned.
Rev. Nicholas Schroeder, an early minister of the Lutheran church in the United States, was born in Prussia in 1745, came to America in 1785, and located in Pennsylvania, in which state and Virginia, he ministered to a number of congregations for several years. He afterward came to Indiana, where he lived with his son, Peter Schroeder, who, with another son, John, composed the family. Rev. Mr. Schroeder subsequently returned to Virginia, where he died in his seventy-fourth year. Peter Schroeder, the older son, was born in Schuylkill county, Penn., November II,
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1786, moved with his family to Virginia, and became an expert millwright. He married in 1812 Miss Nancy Lyons, who was born in Rockingham county, Va., in 1778, and reared a family of seven children, viz .: Susana, Robert, Eliza, Peter, Jesse, John and Joel. Peter Schroeder came to Indiana about the year 1810, locat- ing in Dearborn county, moved to Rush county about 1820, thence to Clinton county in 1831, and in the fall of 1834 came to Marshall county, where his death afterward occurred at the age of eighty- two years. Mrs. Schroeder died at the age of sixty-eight. Their son, Rev. Robert Schroeder, who is one of the well-known citi- zens of Marshall county, was born near Dearborn county, Octo- ber 27th, 1815. He accompanied his parents to Rush and Clinton counties, as above stated, and made his first visit to Marshall county in the year 1832, at which time, with his father, he dug ginseng, and gathered cranberries, marketing the same afterward in Logansport and La Fayette. Being well pleased with Mar- shall county, he determined to make it his home, and accordingly, September, 1833, returned and purchased land within a short dis- tance of Plymouth, and later, about 1835, built a saw-mill on Pine creek, which was the first enterprise of the kind in the county. Mr. Schroeder was married February Ist, 1836, to Miss Catherine Driskill, whose parents, William and Elizabeth (Leonard) Driskill, moved from Clinton county, Ohio, to Tip- pecanoe county, Ind., where they were among the early settlers. In 1849 Mr. Schroeder was elected a member of the board of county commissioners, and in 1852, in company with his brother John and others, made an overland trip to California, for the purpose of engaging in mining, which he followed about three years and then returned to Marshall county, where he has since resided. He became a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church a number of years ago, and in 1857 was licensed to preach, and since that time he has been actively engaged in church work in this and other counties. He was admitted to the bar in 1858, and for a number of years has done a lucrative business in justice's courts, and drawing up all kinds of legal documents. He has served as notary public and justice of the peace, and in 1880 was the republican candidate for representative, for which office he was defeated, his party being in the minority, although he ran far ahead of his ticket. Mr. Schroeder is a strong advo- cate of temperance, and has done much toward awakening pub- lic sentiment against the liquor traffic in Marshall county. He cast his first presidential vote for William Henry Harrison, and since the birth of the republican party has been one of its staunch supporters. His wife died March 14, 1890, aged seventy-three years. She was the mother of nine children, three of whom died in infancy. Those who grew to maturity were: John, Mrs. Caroline Thompson, Mary A .; Susana died in 1888, wife of Jacob .
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Byers; Catherine, wife of A. L. Trowbridge, and Robert. Mr. Schroeder moved to his present farm three miles north of the county seat in 1867, where he is now passing his declining years. His descendants at this time, besides his children above named, consist of twenty-six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Few men in Marshall county are more widely and favorably known than William Scofield, who, as a farmer and stock-raiser, has few equals and no superiors in northern Indiana. He was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, December 4, 1833, the second child and oldest son of a family of eight children, born to Will- iam and Mary (Marshall) Scofield; the father a native of Mary- land, and the mother of Virginia, both of English descent. The subject's paternal grandfather was Caleb Scofield, who came from England many years ago and located in Maryland, and later became a resident of Ohio, having built the first cooper shop in Cincinnati, in 1813. Caleb Scofield raised a family of six children, three sons and three daughters, William, Sr., being the second son. William Scofield, father of our subject, came west in 1813, locating in Hamilton county, Ohio, near Cincinnati; was married in 1829 to Mary Marshall, and in the spring of 1834 moved with his wife and two children to Franklin county, Ind., locating near the present site of Mt. Carmel, where he worked at the cooper's trade, which he had previously learned. He marketed his goods at Cincinnati, and became quite successful in his business. He died in the year 1862, and his wife died in August of the following year. Our, subject's maternal grand- parents were among the early settlers of Virginia, where they became large slaveholders. They raised a family of thirteen children, twelve daughters and one son, only two of whom are living. They moved from Virginia to Franklin county, Ind., in the thirties, and after residing some years there, settled near the city of Madison, where the family became widely and favorably known. The immediate subject of this mention passed his youth- ful days amid the routine of farm work, and at the age of eigh- teen rented the home place, which he continued to operate until his twenty-first year, thus obtaining his first start in life. In the spring of 1857 he came to Marshall county, Ind., and settled in North township, on a place which he had selected, but upon which no improvements had been made, having previously made a tour of the country for the purpose of securing a home On arriving in North township with his wife and one child, he took shelter in a small log school-house, which stood near where he now lives, and a little later he erected a diminutive board shanty, which served as a residence until a more comfortable and commodious struc- ture could be erected. He immediately went to work, and soon had a goodly number of acres under cultivation. He was mar- ried in 1855 to Miss Julia Jackman, of Franklin county, Ind.,
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