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 44
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
POLK TOWNSHIP.
D. M. Barber, merchant and postmaster of Teagarden, was born in Polk township, Marshall county, Ind., December 15, 1854. He is the son of Joshua T. and Mary Ann (Odell) Barber, who were natives of Washington county, N. Y. The family moved to Marshall county, Ind., about 1845-46, and first settled at Ply- mouth, where the father followed the profession of teaching for two years and then purchased a farm in Polk township, to which he at once removed, and upon which his death occurred Febru- ary 18, 1874. He became one of the leading men of the township, was a local politician of the republican party, and an active mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he was class- leader for a number of years. His wife died December 18, 1879. They reared a family of seven children, viz .: Eliza, married Isaac Sheeks; John H., of Polk township; Charles J., of Omaha, Neb .; Albert, of this county; Julia C., wife of Smith W. Davis; Delia, wife of David Carter, and D. M., whose name introduces this sketch. D. M. Barber grew to manhood in his native county, was educated in the schools of Polk township, and resided upon the home farm until 1888. In August, 1889, he was appointed 26-B.
402
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
postmaster at Teagarden, since which time he has resided in the village where, in addition to his official duties, he carries on a well-ordered store of general merchandise. His marriage with Miss Mary E. Martin, daughter of Sylvester Martin, of Polk township, was solemnized in the year 1877, and six children have been born to their union, viz .: Cora Bell, Gertie Dell, Ethel May, Ora Foster, Harry Clyde, Hattie Maud. Mr. Barber is a republican in politics, and his wife is an earnest member of the United Brethren church.
A prominent farmer of Polk township is Albert Barber, a son of Joshua T. and Mary A. (Odell) Barber, of whom a notice ap- pears elsewhere in this volume. Albert Barber was born in Washington county, N. Y., December 4, 1843, and accompanied his parents to Marshall county, Ind., about the year 1846-47. As stated elsewhere, his father was a teacher by profession, and the subject of this sketch enjoyed the advantages of a liberal educa- tion in the country schools, and home instruction. He was reared on a farm, and early chose agriculture for his life-work, and has followed that useful calling with encouraging success ever since. His marriage, which took place in 1868, to Miss Sarah A. Reynolds, daughter of James Reynolds, of Noble county, this state, has resulted in the birth of twelve children, seven living, viz .: Elmer M .; Ella M., wife of Matthew Robin- son; Mary A., Ada M., Alva M., Alice M., and an infant not named. Shortly after his marriage he settled upon the farm where he now resides, the greater part of which he cleared, and which has been brought under a high state of cultivation, rank- ing with the best farms of the township. Mr. Barber served in the late war as private in Company I, One Hundred and Fifty- first volunteer infantry, enlisting in 1864, and continuing with his regiment until honorably discharged at the close of the war. He is active in all movements having for their object the well-being of the community, is a republican in politics, and as such, was greenback-republican candidate for the office of county com- missioner, but was defeated although running far ahead of his ticket. He was the republican candidate for state representa- tive in 1890. He is a forcible speaker, and has exercised this gift in several recent campaigns in Marshall county. He is a member of the Jesse Coppock post, No. 378, G. A. R., of Walk- erton, and belongs to the Masonic lodge at the same place.
John H. Barber, farmer and stock-raiser, is the oldest son of Joshua T. and Mary (Odell) Barber, and dates his birth from the 9th day of June, 1840, his place of nativity being Washington county, N. Y. Paternally, Mr. Barber is descended from New England ancestry, his father's people having been early residents of Connecticut. 3 They subsequently moved to Washington county, N. Y., where the father was reared and where he re-
403
MARSHALL COUNTY.
mained until his removal to Marshall county, Ind., in 1846-47. He was by occupation a stone-mason, and afterward achieved considerable prominence as a teacher, having been one of the leading educators of Marshall county. He was a man widely and favorably known, and departed this life on the 14th of Feb- ruary, 1874. His wife followed him to the grave in 1878, dying December 29th of that year. They reared a family of seven children whose names are elsewhere mentioned. John H. Bar- ber became a resident of Marshall county when but seven years of age, and for nearly forty years has been a prominent citizen of Polk township, where he follows the occupation of farming and stock-raising. He was first married in 1869, to Miss Emily J. Meyers, daughter of L. C. Meyers, of Polk township, who bore him three children, viz .: Lillian J., Arthur W. and Andrew E. Mrs. Barber died February 4th, 1880, and in January, 1882, Mr. Barber married his second wife, Miss Frances A. Phillips, of St. Joseph county, a union blessed with the birth of one child, Mary Grace. After his second marriage Mr. Barber moved to Ne- braska, where he remained two years, at the end of which time he returned to Marshall county, where for some time he was em- ployed by an insurance company, but since 1873 has given his at- tention to agricultural pursuits, owning a fine farm of 120 acres. Originally Mr. Barber was a republican in politics, but becoming dissatisfied with the financial policy of that party, he afterward became identified with the greenback movement, but is now in- dependent. He served in the late war, enlisting in 1864, in Com- pany H, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Indiana volunteers, and took a gallant part with the same until mustered out at the ex- piration of his term of service. He participated in a number of battles, in one of which he received a severe wound which neces- sitated his removal to the hospital, where for some time he lay under the surgeon's care. He is an active member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the lodge at Walkerton.
John H. Barden is a native of Logan county, Ohio, and son of Elijah S. and Matilda (Hartwell) Barden, parents both born in the state of New York. They moved to Logan county, Ohio, at an early day, thence, in 1840, to St. Joseph county, Ind., where the father died in 1852. Elijah Barden served in the war of 1812, was a democrat in politics and a member of the Methodist church. By his first marriage, which took place in New York, he had two children, one of whom, Valentine, of St. Joseph county, is now living. By his marriage with Matilda Hartwell, he had nine children, four of whom are now living, viz .: Eliza Jane, wife of John Curtis; John H., Josiah C., of Arkansas; Mary Ann, wife of Joseph Cott, of Terre Haute, Ind. Mrs. Barden afterward married Ebenezer Clark and moved to Illinois, in which state she died in 1880. The subject of this biography was
404
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
born January 18, 1831, spent the first fifteen years of his life in Ohio, and then accompanied his parents to St. Joseph county, Ind., where he grew to manhood, in the meantime having learned the mason's trade. In 1856 he moved to his present home in Polk township, Marshall county, and has resided upon the same ever since, making a specialty of farming, in which he has met with well-merited success. He was married in 1851 to Miss Mahala Curtiss, daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Most) Curtiss, of St. Joseph county, who has borne him one child, Ahijah C., a resident of Polk township. Ahijah C. Barden has been mar- ried twice, the result of the first union being three children, viz .: Susie, Wesley D. and Samuel. He afterward married Miss G. Keefe, a union blessed with the birth of one child. Mr. Barden is a public-spirited citizen who takes an active interest in the in- ternal improvements of the township, and belongs to the German Baptist church as does also his wife.
Nathan E. Bunch, superintendent of the Marshall county poor farm, is a native of Indiana, born in Jay county, June 24, 1859. He is a son of Ishmael and Margaret (Bishop) Bunch, the former born in Wayne county, Ind., and the latter near the city of Springfield, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Bunch were among the early settlers of Jay county, where they lived until their respec- tive deaths, which occurred in 1870 and 1876. They had a family of six children, of whom the following are living: Rob- «ert, a practicing physician of Muncie, Ind .; Nathan E., and John A., of New Albany, this state. The subject of this sketch was reared to manhood in Jay county, and after receiving a good education, engaged in teaching, which profession he followed with flattering success for a period of five years. Owing to the death of his father, which occurred when he was quite young, Nathan E. was thrown entirely upon his own resources, since which time he has made his own way in life, without the aid of any one. He became a resident of Marshall county in 1877, and ·engaged in teaching in 1881, and October 19, 1882, was united in marriage to Miss Jessie Forsythe, daughter of Charles A. Forsythe, of Tyner City, this county. In 1886 he was appointed 'superintendent of the Marshall county poor farm, a position he ·still holds, and the duties of which he has discharged in a man- 'ner highly creditable to himself, and satisfactory to all con- cerned. Politically, he is a zealous supporter of the democratic party, and fraternally, belongs to the Masonic order. Mr. and Mrs. Bunch have two interesting children, Clyde and Rolla.
Henry H. Campbell, a successful farmer and prominent citizen of Polk township, was born in Decatur county, Ind., August 21, 1836, son of William and Sarah (Bagley) Campbell, natives of North Carolina and Canada, respectively. Paternally Mr. Campbell is descended from the Scotch, his grandfather,
405
MARSHALL COUNTY.
Walter Campbell, coming from Scotland to the United States in an early day, and settling in North Carolina. He subsequently moved to Ripley county, Ind., where his death occurred a num- ber of years ago. William Campbell after his marriage settled in Decatur county, Ind., where he remained until about 1854, when they moved to St. Joseph county, Ind., where he leased a tract of land and cleared a farm. He died there in 1875, and his wife followed him to the grave ten years later. They were both members of the Baptist church, and reared a family of four children, three sons and one daughter, only two of whom are now living, viz .: Andrew J., of St. Joseph county, and the sub- ject of this biography. Henry H. Campbell was reared in Decatur county, and in his youth attended such schools as the country af- forded. He moved to St. Joseph county with his parents, and there began farming for himself, and has since followed the pur -. suit of agriculture as his occupation. Margaret Jane Hall, who became his wife in 1858, is a native of Decatur county, Ind., and daughter of Thomas Hall. The following are the names of the children born to Mr. and Mrs Campbell: Joseph Irvin; Ida, wife of Warren Burch; William A., Walter S., Jennie, Emerson E., Minnie J., Henry E. and Mahala Josephine. In 1866, Mr .. Campbell moved to Marshall county and settled in Polk town- ship, upon his present farm, which includes 120 acres of well- improved land in one of the best agricultural districts of the county. In 1861, at the call for volunteers, Mr. Campbell enlisted in St. Joseph county, in the Twentieth regiment, of the Indiana volunteer infantry, with which he served one year, entering the service as a member of the regimental band. He is a republican in politics, a member of the G. A. R. post, of Plymouth, and with his wife, belongs to the United Brethren church.
W. B. Kyle, a prominent resident of Polk township, and well- known citizen of Marshall county, was born in Butler county, Ohio, January 8th, 1845. His parents were A. D. and Sarah (Piatt) Kyle, natives respectively of Maryland and Ohio. The father was a miller by trade, assisted in the construction of sev- eral grist-mills, was afterward engaged in the mercantile busi- ness in Ohio, and later in life followed farming. He was a whig in politics, and died in the year 1847. His widow subsequently married William Walker, and in 1858, removed to Allen county, Ind., where her death occurred in 1875. By her marriage with Mr. Kyle she had five children, three sons and two daughters, four of whom are living, viz .: Abraham P., of Fort Wayne; Sarah, wife of Ambrose Adams, of West township, Marshall county; Abel D., of Wells county, this state, and the subject of this mention. Hannah Maria, the only child of the deceased, was the wife of A. Thomas, of Hamilton, Ohio. W. B. Kyle spent the first thirteen years of his life in his native state, and
406
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
then came to Indiana, where he grew to manhood, attending in the meantime such schools as the country afforded. In 1868 he was married to Samantha A. Sewell, daughter of Aaron Sewell of Huntington county, Ind., and four years later, in 1872, moved to Marshall county, locating first at Inwood, and later in Polk township, where he has since made his home. Mr. Kyle has al- ways taken an active interest in political affairs, and in 1882 was elected sheriff of the county, the duties of which responsible po- sition he discharged in a highly creditable manner for a full term of four years. At the expiration of his official term he pur- chased an interest in a flouring mill at Plymouth, and after con- tinuing the business about two years disposed of the same and en- gaged in agricultural pursuits in Polk township, where he owns a valuable farm in a high state of cultivation. He is a democrat in politics, and as such has been a potent factor in county and town- ship affairs, having in addition to the office of sheriff been three times elected township trustee, at this time serving his third term. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, be- longing to lodge 156, Plymouth, also Plymouth chapter and commandery, No. 26. Mr. and Mrs. Kyle have four children living, viz .: Vernon L., who married Miss Myrtle Neff, daughter of John Neff, of Tyner City; Nellie F., Sarah, and William, the last three still at home, and also two other children dead, Buntie R. and Edna P. In addition to his official record Mr. Kyle has a military record, having served 100 days as a private in the One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Indiana vol- unteer infantry.
Jonathan Lemert was born in Crawfond county, Ohio, March 17, 1830, son of Lloyd and Rebecca Lemert. The father was a native of Virginia, and the mother a native of Pennsyl- vania. Joshua Lemert, the grandfather of the subject, was a native of Germany and an early settler of Virginia, moving thence to Crawford county, Ohio, of which he was one of the early pio- neers. He served in the war of 1812, and died in Crawford county, Ohio, a number of years ago. Lloyd Lemert was raised in Crawford county, Ohio, and became a resident of Marshall county, Ind., in 1848, settling in Polk township, not far from the present site of Teagarden village. He cleared a fine farm and took an active part in the growth and development of the town- ship. He served as trustee, and previous to coming to Marshall county, had held the office of justice of the peace in Ohio. He was a democrat in politics, belonged to the United Brethren church, and died on the home farm near Teagarden, in the year 1879. His wife preceded him to the grave, departing this life in the year 1872. He was twice married, his second wife having been Mrs. Anna Thompson, widow of Thomas Thompson, of Polk township. By his first marriage he had nine children, seven
- -
407
MARSHALL COUNTY.
of whom are living, Minerva, Jonathan, Joshua, Lewis, Harriet, Ransom and Lloyd. Jonathan Lemert spent the first eight years of his life in Crawford county, Ohio, and then accompanied his parents to Allen county, Ind., subsequently moving to Noble county, where he resided until 1848. In the latter year he be- came a resident of Marshall county and engaged in farming, which useful calling he has since successfully continued. In 1853, Miss Mary Ann Brown, daughter of William Brown, of Polk township, became his wife, after which he began improving a farm upon which he lived until his removal to the village of Tea- garden in 1873. In addition to his farming interests, Mr. Lemert deals largely in live stock, and also carries on a wholesale butcher business for the Plymouth market. In 1864 he enlisted in Com- pany I, Eighty-eighth Indiana infantry, with which he served un- til the close of the war. He is a democrat in politics, has served as constable in Polk township, and is now serving his third con- secutive term as justice of the peace. Mr. and Mrs. Lemert have five children living, viz .: Francis Marion, of Teagarden; Rebecca, wife of David Bixler, of Chicago; Lewis, William Henry and Elinor, the last three still at home.
R. Neville, M. D., a successful physician of Marshall county, is a native of Beaver county, Penn., born January 30, 1847, the son of Rev. John T. and Mary (Knight) Neville, both natives of the same county and state. Thomas Neville, the doctor's grand- father, was a native of Germany, which country he left at an early day, emigrating to America and settling in Beaver county, Penn., when that part of the country was a wilderness in posses- sion of the Indians. He assisted in driving the savages from Pennsylvania, and bore a gallant part in the last war with Great Britain. One of his sons, Thomas Neville, still survives and lives in Beaver county. Rev. John T. Neville, the father of our subject, was raised in his native state, received an excellent edu- cation in the schools at Pittsburgh, and was for a number of years a minister of the United Brethren church. He owned a fine farm in Beaver county, upon which his death occurred in 1849. His wife who subsequently married Daniel Meeker, is still living at her home in Mahoning county, in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Neville reared a family of six children, all boys, and all of whom served with distinction in the late war of the rebellion. The oldest son, Ira, now living at Delta, Fulton county, Ohio, enlisted in February, 1861, in Company F, Tenth regiment, Pennsylvania infantry, with which he served until his discharge, February 8, 1864. He re-enlisted the latter year in Company I, One Hundred and Ninety-First volunteer infantry, with which he served until the close of the war, his entire military record having extended over a period of four years, four months and twenty-one days. He took part in twenty-one battles, was taken prisoner at Fred-
408
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
ricksburg, Va., and confined for two months in the celebrated Libby prison pen at Richmond. He was again captured at Laurel Hill, and recaptured three days later by our cavalry and sent to Camp Distribution (our camp). Levi Neville, the second son, a resident of Columbiana county, Ohio, enlisted April, 1861, in the three months' service, subsequently re-enlisting August 2, 1862, in the One Hundred and Fourth Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, with which he served until the close of the war. Jason Neville, a resident of East Liverpool, Ohio, entered the army April, 1861, as a member of Company F, Tenth Pennsylvania reserves, with which he served three years, re-enlisting while in the field, in Company I, One Hundred and First Pennsylvania volunteer infantry. He was discharged at the close of the war. The fourth brother, Lemuel P. Neville, now living in Beaver county, Penn., enlisted August 15, 1862, in Company I, One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania regiment volunteer infantry, and was dis- charged October 28, 1864. E. Neville, of Mahoning county. Ohio, entered the service of the Union, July, 1863, in Company E, Ninety-Third Pennsylvania volunteers; re-enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Fourth regiment, with which he served until discharged, July 26, 1865. Dr. Neville passed the years of his youth and early manhood in Beaver county, Penn., and received a good education in the public schools. Having early manifested a liking for the medical profession, he began studying the same under the instruction of Dr. H. P. Bemuss, at Clyde, Ohio, and subsequently completed his studies at the University of Wooster, Ohio, from which institution he graduated in 1873. He began the practice of his profession at Logansport, Ind., and after re- maining there a short time, moved to Stark county. He prac- ticed at North Judson, Koutts Station, and in 1880, came to Marshall county, Ind., locating at Teagarden, where he now en- joys a large and lucrative practice in Polk and other townships. Of the doctor's military career it will be impossible to give any- thing beyond a mere outline, as his period of service extended through the most exciting and bloody years of the war. He en- listed August 6, 1862, in Belmont county, Ohio, and was assigned to Company E, Ninety-Eighth Ohio volunteer infantry, Second brigade, Second division, Fourteenth army corps. He accom- panied his regiment through all the campaigns in which it partic- ipated, took part in all hard fought battles, including the bloody engagements at Perryville, Ky., Stone River, Chickamauga, Resaca, Rome, Ga., Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Jones- borough, Bentonville, N. C., and others, as well as through the famous march to the sea. He was severely wounded in the hip, left leg, and had the third finger of his left hand shot off, also received a shot in the left ear, causing total deafness of that organ. He was honorably discharged from the service on the
409
MARSHALL COUNTY.
12th day of June, 1865, making a total service of the six brothers of nineteen years and three months. The doctor has been three times married, first in 1867, to Miss Eliza J. Houk, daughter of Philip Houk, of Lawrence county, Penn. She died in 1874, leaving twochildren, Ella L., wife of Robert Fowler, of Teagarden, this county, and William R., of Mahoning county, Ohio. His second marriage was solemnized with Emma Houk, sister of his former wife, who died in 1876, leaving one child, Josephine. The doctor married his present wife, Miss Sophia Moll, daughter of Adam Moll, of Fulton, county, Ohio, July 30, 1878, a union blessed with the birth of two children, Hermenia and Pearl. Dr. Neville occupies a conspicuous place among the medical men of Indiana, belonging to the state and county medical societies. He was ap- pointed county physician to the Marshall county asylum, in June, 1888, and is still serving in that capacity. He is a member of the G. A. R. post of Walkerton. Ind., and politically, votes the democratic ticket.
Among the successful medical men of Marshall county is Dr. C. W. Moore, of Tyner City, who is a native of Monroe county, Mich., where he was born on the 15th day of March, 1847. His father, Thaddeus Moore, was a native of New York, and an early settler of Monroe county, Mich., where he was a well- known farmer minister of the Protestant Methodist church. He died in Michigan in March, 1885. Mrs. Moore, whose maiden name was Marv Scott, is still living on the home place in Mon- roe county. Mr. and Mrs. Moore had a family of ten children, nine of whom are living, viz .: the subject of this sketch; Nancy, wife of John Bolinger; Mary, wife of Edward Beckwith; Harry, David, Frank. Joseph, Hattie, and Jonathan, the last two still at home. Dr. Moore was educated in the schools of his native county, where he also began his professional reading and after- ward attended the Fort Wayne College of Medicine, in which he completed the prescribed course, graduating in 1882. Since his graduation he has practiced at Teagarden, and Walkerton, and in 1886 located at Tyner City, where he now has a large and lucrative business in various parts of the county. He was mar- ried in 1864 to Miss Sophia Gillhousen, daughter of John and Mary Gillhousen, of Monroe county, Mich. Mrs. Moore was born in the state of Ohio, and is the mother of five children, whose names are as follows: Lizzie R., wife of Allen Haag, of Chicago; Hattie, Myrtie, John and Harrison. The doctor is a member of the Marshall County Medical Society of Indiana, and belongs to the Walkerton lodge, No. 356, F. & A. M. He takes an active interest in political affairs, voting with the repub- lican party, and in July, 1889, was appointed postmaster of Tyner City, which position he still holds. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Walkerton.
410
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
Valentine Nye, a successful farmer of Polk township, is a na- tive of Germany, born December 10, 1843, the son of Peter and Catherine (Baucher) Nye, who came to the United States in 1847, and located in the city of Buffalo, N. Y., where the father was employed for sometime as foreman in a planing-mill. Peter Nye died about the year 1853, and his widow subsequently mar- ried John Korn, of Elkhart county, Ind. The following are the names of the children of Peter and Catherine Nye: Catherine, wife of James Niehart, of Goshen, Ind .; Elizabeth, wife of John Acher, of this county; Henry, of Elkhart county; Caroline, wife of David Kaylor, of Michigan; Emmett C. and Valentine. By her subsequent marriage the mother had one child, Mary Korn. After the death of his father, the subject of this sketch was taken by his mother to Ohio, and thence to Elkhart county, Ind., about the year 1858. Hiseducational training was exceedingly limited, being confined to a few months each year in the common schools, but by his own efforts he has become the possessor of a valuable fund of practical knowledge. He responded to the country's call for volunteers in 1863, enlisting in Elkhart county, as private in Company I, Twelfth Indiana cavalry, with which he served gallantly until honorably discharged at the close of the war. On leaving the army he went to Chicago, where for about ten years he was employed as steward on a tug boat. He subsequently came to Marshall county, and with the money which he had earned in the service, purchased and improved a farm in Polk township, to which he moved in 1887, and upon which he has since lived. He was married in January, 1874, to Polly Kaylor, daughter of John and Nancy (Martin) Kaylor, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and early settlers of Elkhart county, Ind. The following are the names of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Nye: John R., Annon S., Emma V. and Ellenora. Mr. Nye is one of the representative farmers of Polk township, a supporter of the republican party, and belongs to the G. A. R. post of Plymouth. His religious creed is the United Brethren church, to which his wife also belongs.
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.