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 46
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Valentine A. Lidecker, a native of Germany, and son of Valen- tine and Volpracia (Klein) Lidecker, was born on the Sth day of December, 1848. The family came to America in 1853, and after spending one year in Coshocton county, Ohio, came to Marshall county, Ind., where the father resided until the time of his death. Mr. Lidecker was a man of limited means when he first came to
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this county, but by thrift and industry succeeded in accumulat- ing a comfortable competence. He and wife were consistent members of the German Reformed church, and as citizens were highly regarded by a large circle of friends in Union, West and adjacent townships. Mr. Lidecker died in the year 1879. His widow still survives and makes her home with the subject of this biography. Of their five children three are living at this time, viz .: Elizabeth, widow of Fred Renner; Mary, wife of Adam Motz, of Bourbon, and Valentine, whose sketch is here presented. Valentine A. Lidecker came to Marshall county when but five years of age, and grew to manhood on a farm, attending the country schools at intervals in the meantime. He began life for himself with but a limited supply of this world's goods, but by industry and economy has succeeded in amassing a comfortable competence, owning at this time 240 acres of valuable land, a greater part of which is well improved. He is an honorable citizen of the community, takes an active interest in the affairs of his township, and in politics is identified with the democratic party. His first wife, whose maiden name was Emma A. York, daughter of George York, of Union township, died in 1872, and on the 30th of October, 1875, he married his present wife, Per- melia Rightley, daughter of Peter Rightley, who has borne him two children, Freddie Arlo and Rosa Belle. Mr. and Mrs. Lidecker are members of the Reformed church.
Capt. Edward Morris was born in Union township, Marshall county, Ind., March 7, 1847. His early education embraced the branches taught in the common schools and he early engaged in agricultural pursuits on the farm where he was raised and upon which he still resides. As a tiller of the soil he was quite suc- cessful for a number of years. He still owns his place, but of re- cent years has given his attention largely to constructing row boats and sailing yachts for use upon the lake, upon which he also runs a beautiful steamer, being both captain and proprietor. He was one of the first men to advertise the attraction of Lake Max- inkuckee to the world and has done more than any other man toward making it the most popular summer resort in Indiana. Capt. Morris is a public spirited citizen in all that term implies, and is one of the leading men of Union township. He is a char- ter member of lodge 231, K. of P., at Marmont, and in his politi- cal belief adheres strictly to the republican party.
J. L. Mosher, a representative citizen of Union township, was born in Erie county, N. Y., February 18, 1842, and is a son of Jeremiah and Sarah M. Mosher, natives respectively of New York and Vermont. Jeremiah and Sarah Mosher were mar- ried in Rutland county, Vt., after which they located in Erie county, N. Y., and about the year 1855, immigrated to Indiana and settled in Stark county. Three years later they became
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residents of Marshall county, locating in Union township, where Mr. Mosher cleared a farm, upon which his death occurred in 1882. Mrs. Mosher survived her husband two years, dying in 1884. They had a family of seven children, two of whom, the subject of this biography, and M. F., are living. J. L. Mosher came to Indiana when thirteen years of age, and has since been an honored citizen of the state of his adoption. Being the old- est son he was in early life obliged to contribute his share to- ward working the farm and supporting the family, in consequence of which his educational training was of a limited character, confined principally to a few months' attendance each winter at the country schools, in which he obtained a fair knowledge of the elementary branches of learning. He married in 1862 Miss Sarah J. Thompson, daughter of William E. Thompson, one of the pioneers of Union township, and the same year responded to the country's call for volunteers, enlisting in the Twenty-first Indiana battery, light artillery, with which he served gallantly until the close of the war. Mr. Mosher has been a farmer all his life, and as such ranks with the successful agriculturists of Union township. He is a member of Yellow River grange, No. 155, P. of H., belongs to Tibbett's post, No. 260, G. A. R., and politically adheres to no party creed, preferring to be known as an independent. The names of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Mosher are as follows: Ada B., wife of John C. Butler, county surveyor; Mariam, wife of T. M. Walker, of Green township, and Tracy, who still resides under the parental roof.
William Overmyer, a substantial farmer of Union township, is a native of Perry county, Ohio, and son of Peter and Mary Overmyer; parents born in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, re- spectively. The father was a farmer by occupation, served in the war of 1812, and by his first marriage with Mary Hodge, reared a family, three members of which are still living, namely: the subject of this mention, Ezekiel, and Levi Overmyer, both residents of Fulton county, Ind. Mrs. Overmyer departed this life in Sandusky county, Ohio, and subsequently Mr. Overmyer took to wife Mary Shiveley, who bore him the following children: Mrs. Catherine Boyer, Mrs. Maria Overmyer, Mrs. Mary J. Boyer, Mrs. Ellen Hubbard, Henry H. Chauncy, and Mrs. Isa- bella Meyer, all of whom reside in the state of Ohio. William Overmyer, whose name introduces this biography, was born on the 19th day of May, 1826, and grew to manhood in his native state, attending the common schools at intervals during the years of his minority. On attaining his majority, he engaged in farming, which has been his life work. In 1853, he moved to In- diana, settling in Pulaski county, where he cleared a farm upon which he resided until his removal to Marshall county, in the spring of 1878. He settled where he now lives, in Union town-
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ship, and has a comfortable home, the result of his unaided ef- forts. He is a man of strict morals, an earnest Christian, and as a member of the United Brethren church, has been the means of accomplishing much good in the community. Mr. Overmyer's first marriage, which was solemnized in 1852, with Mary C. Ernsperger, daughter of Jacob and Mary Ann Ernsperger, was blessed with the birth of several children, of whom the fol- lowing are living, viz .: Mary A., wife of S. S. Smith, of Fulton county; Frank P., Ida M. and Georgiana, the last three living at home. A daughter, Fannie Bell, whose death occurred in Stark county, May 23, 1887, was married to Willis Burkett, by whom she had one child, Ethel C., born August 31, 1885. Mrs. Over- myer died in 1876. Subsequently Mr. Overmyer married a second wife in the person of Mrs. Bowersocks, whose death oc- curred in 1881. To this marriage was born one son, Eugene, whose birth occurred October 1, 1877. In 1882, Mr. Overmyer married his present wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Snyder, daughter of William and Sarah (Hiller) Snyder, of Dauphin county, Penn. There has been no issue to this marriage.
O. R. Porter, merchant and township trustee, was born in Union township, Ind., October 17, 1863, and is the son of Oliver and Catherine (Platz) Porter, natives of Ohio. Oliver and Catherine Porter moved from their native state to St. Joseph county, Ind., thence to Marshall county, about the year 1852, settling in Union township. They had a family of eight children, four of whom are now living, viz .: William H., Ellen, O. R., and Alsa L. Mr. Porter was a man of local prominence, and his death, which occurred in 1871, was deeply lamented by all who knew him. His widow still survives. The subject of this biography received his early educational training in the common schools and after taking a course in the Northern Indiana school at Valparaiso, engaged in teaching, which calling he followed with flattering success for several years. He subsequently abandoned the profession, and in 1889 established his present business at the village of Marmont, where he carries on a lucra- tive trade in general merchandise. In 1885 he married Miss Maud Oyler, daughter of Henry and Matilde (Barnett) Oyler, a union blessed with the birth of two children: Oliver and Arthur. Mr. Porter was elected trustee of Union township in 1890.
One of the successful medical men of Marshall county, is Dr. Oliver A. Rea, of Marmont, who was born in Union county, Ohio, October 13, 1843. His parents, John W. and Lucinda (Waite) Rea, who were natives respectively of Massachusetts and Ohio, moved to Indiana in 1873 and settled in Stark county, of which the father at one time served as commissioner. John W. Rea is a farmer and blacksmith, and with his wife is still living in Stark county. They reared a family of five children, whose
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names are as follows: Oliver A .; Amanda, wife of John Williams, of Logan county, Ohio; Mary, wife of Joseph Bolen, of Stark county, Ind .; Abel, of the same county and state, and David, a resident of Logan county, Ohio. Dr. Rea was reared and edu- cated in Ohio, graduating from the Lebanon college, that state, in which he completed the scientific course. He taught school several years, and began his professional reading under the instruction of Dr. Skidmore, of West Mansfield, and after at- tending the college of medicine and surgery at Cincinnati for some time, graduated from the hospital college of medicine at Louisville, receiving his diploma in 1883. The doctor had the distinction of being awarded the highest honors of his class, for which he was presented a gold medal, and was also chosen to de- liver the valedictory address. In 1888, the doctor took a special course in surgery, etc., at the "Polyclinic," of Chicago. He engaged in the practice of his profession in 1876, at the town of Knox, Stark county, Ind., and continued there until his removal to Marshall county in 1880, since which time he has been located at Marmont, in the enjoyment of a large and lucrative business. He is examining surgeon of the Penn Mutual life insurance com- pany, and a member of the board of United States examining surgeons in the pension department for Plymouth, Ind. The doctor is a member of the county medical society, state medical society, and also of the American medical association, in the de- liberations of which bodies he has been a prominent actor. As a physician he stands deservedly high, having a very extensive practice in this and other counties, while his well-known ability as a surgeon has made him the trusted operator in many difficult and skilful cases. The doctor was a soldier in the late war, hav- ing enlisted in 1862 in the Eighty-second Ohio volunteer infantry, with which he served for three years, during which time he took part in many noted battles. He was made a prisoner at Gettys- burg, but was not confined, having made his escape thirty-one days after his capture. He is a member of Marmont lodge, No. 231, K. of P., belongs to the Miles H. Tibbett's post, No. 260, G. A. R., and in politics votes the republican ticket. The doctor and Miss Sylvia A. Green, daughter of Henry and Lydia F. Green, were united in marriage in 1876, and to their union three children, Robert H., Lucretia, and William S., have been born.
Among the substantial farmers and representative men of Mar- shall county is William Shaw, of Marmont, who was born in Richland county, Ohio, December 1, 1822, the son of Henry and Margaret (Williams) Shaw, both natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a carpenter by trade, and a pioneer of Richland county, having settled in Mansfield as early as the year 1812, during the war of which year he experienced all the vicissitudes and dangers incident to a life on the frontier. He subsequently
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became a resident of Hancock county, Ohio, when that part of the state was a wilderness; and after residing there and else- where for a number of years came to Indiana in 1842, settling in Wabash county, where he cleared a farm and engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. Ten years later he moved to Stark county, where his death occurred in the year 1870. Mr. Shaw was a man of great physical strength and endurance, and a representative pioneer of the period in which he lived. His wife, whom he married in Richland county, Ohio, died in 1870. They reared a family of nine children, five of whom are living, viz .: Stephen, William, Joseph, Mrs. Elizabeth Rist, and Henry B. The imme- diate subject of this mention was reared to manhood in Ohio, obtained his educational training in such schools as the country at that time offered, and began life for himself as a teacher, in which calling he continued with good success for a number of years. He came to Wabash county, Ind., with his parents in 1842, and in 1848 was married, in Noble county, to Miss Mary Gilchrist, daughter of John Gilchrist, a pioneer of Richland county, Ohio, who moved to Kosciusko county, Ind., in an early day. Mrs. Shaw died in Kosciusko county, September, 1852, after which Mr. Shaw again resumed the profession of teaching, and continued the same for some time in Marshall county, at a place known as Burr Oak Flats. He subsequently engaged in farming, and in 1863 moved to his present place in Union town- ship, where he has a beautiful farm under a high state of culti- vation. Mr. Shaw's second marriage was solemnized August 14, 1854, with Miss Nancy Thompson, daughter of Job and Sarah Thompson, of Marshall county, where the family settled as early as 1837, moving here from Kentucky. To Mr. and Mrs. Shaw have been born five children, whose names are as follows: Charity, wife of Charles Stoble; Stephen A., who married Eliza- beth Given; James C., merchant at Burr Oak, married Eliza- beth Butler; Della (deceased), and Alexander B. Politically, Mr. Shaw is a democrat, and as such, has been a potent factor in local politics, having represented Marshall county in the legisla- ture of 1883. He has filled various official positions in the town- ship in which he resides, in all of which he has discharged his duties in an able and satisfactory manner. Fraternally, he be- longs to the Improved Order of Red Men, and in his religious views is quite liberal, adhering to no particular church or creed, but believing implicitly in a kind and overruling Deity.
Henry M. Speyer, a successful business man, and member of the mercantile firm of Nussbaum, Mayer & Co., of Marmont, was born in Kentucky, September 3, 1863, son of Henry and Mar- garet (Pickens) Speyer. The father was a merchant by occupa- tion, and about 1879, moved to Marmont, and became identified with the commercial interests of the village. He was a soldier in
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the late war, serving first in the Twenty-third Indiana volunteer infantry for three months, and later re-enlisted for three years, but was honorably discharged before the expiration of his term of service on account of sickness. He entered the army as'a pri- vate soldier, but for gallant and meritorious conduct was promoted captain of his company, which position he held at the time of his discharge. He was a local politician of considerable note, and at one time was the republican candidate for the office of clerk of the circuit court. His widow, who still survives, is the mother of seven children, five living, namely, Jacob, a merchant of New York city; Sarah, wife of Henry Maxwell, of New York city; Eva, wife of Willian Porter, of Marmont, and Marion, widow of Andrew Kork, of Marmont, and the subject of this sketch. Henry M. Speyer was educated in the city schools of Plymouth, and began the mercantile business at Marmont as successor to his father, having received a business training under the latter, prior to becoming a member of the firm. In his business he is careful and methodical, and by strict attention to the demands of the trade has made himself quite popular with a large and con- stantly increasing number of customers. In addition to the goods business, he attends to the postoffice of Marmont, to which posi- tion he was appointed in August, 1889. He is an active member of the K. of P. order, being a charter member of lodge No. 231, and in politics supports the principles of the republican party.
Celestion E. Thornburg, an intelligent young farmer of Union township, son of Harvey and Mary Jane (Rogers) Thornburg, was born in Van Wert county, Ohio, on the 14th day of July, 1863. When ten months of age his parents moved to Marshall county, Ind. He worked on his father's farm in the summer, and attended school in winter, and at the age of eighteen began to teach in the district school. His profession of teaching he con- tinued with flattering success for a number of years. As a teacher, he soon earned the name of a capable, painstaking in- structor. In 1886 he located upon a farm, in Union township, since which time his attention has mainly been given to agricul- tural pursuits. In 1890, he was a candidate for trustee, on the democratic ticket, and was defeated for said office through sec- tional strife by but one vote. He is also engaged in selling agri- cultural implements. In 1886, he was united in marriage to Miss Laura B. Grossman, daughter of David L. Grossman, a union blessed with the birth of two children, Harvey D. Thornburg and Gladis Thornburg. Mr. Thornburg is a member of the I. O. O. F., belonging to the Maxinkuckee lodge, No. 373, and Plymouth encampment, No. 113.
L. T. Vanschoiack, for whom this sketch is prepared, is a native of Fleming county, Ky., born on the waters of Mill Creek, December 18, 1812, the son of Reuben and Frances (Allen) Van-
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schoiack, both natives of the same state. His paternal grand- father, John S. Vanschoiack, was a native of Pennsylvania, and an early settler of Maryland, from which state he emigrated many years ago, to Kentucky, settling in Mason county. He was a soldier in the revolutionary war, and died in Kentucky many years ago. The subject's maternal grandfather was Robert Allen, a member of one of the prominent families of Kentucky, and at one time a very wealthy planter and slave holder. After their marriage, Reuben and Frances Vanschoiack lived for some time in Kentucky, and the father afterward started to California, but died upon the plains before reaching his destination. His widow died in her native state, in 1850. Their family consisted of six children, three of whom are still living, viz .: Louisa, wife of William Grover; L. T., and Elizabeth, wife of James Camp- bell. The early life of our subject was marked by no event of particular interest, until the year 1833, when he left the familiar haunts of his childhood, and removed to the state of Indiana. He located in Wayne county, and in 1845 removed to the state of Illinois. After a residence of five years in that state he returned to Wayne county, Ind., and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1863. He came to Marshall county in that year, and purchased the farm upon which he now resides. In his early life he enjoyed but few educational advantages, yet he possessed a keen desire for knowledge, and availed himself of every oppor- tunity for gratifying that desire. By a diligent course of study he prepared himself for the vocation of teaching, and taught school during the winter seasons. He was always provident, and made it a rule to save a portion of his income, however small it might be. Thus, as years rolled on, he found his fortune grow- ing very surely, if very slowly, and as it increased he wisely in- vested his means in land, establishing his prosperity upon a sure foundation. Throughout his life he has made it a practice to operate within the bounds of legitimate business, and to avoid all speculations or enterprises of uncertain nature. His farm, which is situated on the banks of the beautiful Maxinkuckee lake, is one of the finest in Union township, and all its various departments bear evidence of cultivation by a skilled hand. It has been the aim of its owner to conduct his farm in such a manner as to merit the title, " a good farmer," and this ambition has stimulated him to the exclusion of all desire for notoriety through the channels of public office, though having filled the offices of justice and township trustee. He is a plain farmer, yet to those who know him he is an honorable man, upright in all his dealings with the world, and liberal in the support of public enterprises and religious and educational institutions. In his political faith he affiliates with the democratic party, and in re- ligion is a member of the Christian church of Maxinkuckee, in
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which he holds the office of elder. March 27, 1838, he was mar- ried in Wayne county, Ind., to Miss Esther Bulla, to which union twelve children were born, eight now living, viz .: Francis A., Isaac A., Lavina E., Louisa J., William J., Elizabeth R., Elsa B., and Edward P.
Abraham Voreis, deceased, was a native of Indiana, born in Rush county, December 28, 1830. He came to Marshall county early in the thirties, received a fair educational training in the country schools, and began his life work as a farmer, continuing as such until his death. He was married in 1864 to Miss Rebecca Henderson, daughter of Nathan and Ellen (Jacobs) Henderson, natives respectively of Maryland and Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson were married in the southern part of Indiana, where they lived until 1835, when they came to Marshall county, and located above Wolf Creek, Green township, moving later to Union township, where they lived until their respective deaths occurred. They were both consistent members of the Metho- dist church, but after her husband's death Mrs. Henderson joined the Christian, with which connection she continued during the re- mainder of her life. After his marriage Mr. Voreis settled in Union township, on the farm now occupied by his widow, which was his home until his death in 1874. He was a democrat in his political belief, a member of Maxinkuckee grange, Patrons of Husbandry, and in all the relations of life a substantial and trustworthy citizen. The following are the names of the chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Voreis: Charles, John, Lillie and Florence.
John M. Voreis, farmer and stock-raiser, whose brief sketch is herewith presented, was born in Rush county, Ind., August 9, 1829, and is the son of John H. and Phoebe (Morris) Voreis. The father was a native of Ohio, and became a resident of Mar- shall county in the year 1837, settling in Union township, where he purchased a quarter section of land and cleared a farm. He became one of the leading men of the township, was a local poli- tican of the democratic party, and as such filled several important official positions, including that of county commissioner, to which he was elected in 1862. He was three times married; first to Matilda Coun, by whom he had one child, deceased. By his second marriage with Phæbe Morris he had five children, namely: William, of Nebraska; Milton (deceased), Abraham (deceased), Elizabeth and John. To his third marriage were born the following children: George, Benjamin, Rachel and Louisa, wife of Samuel Loring, of this county. John Voreis was reared to manhood principally in Union township, received a practical English education in the common school, and began life for himself as a farmer, which useful calling he still follows. He resides on the old home place and is justly esteemed as one
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of the substantial citizens of the community of which he has for so many years been an honored member. He is a democrat in politics, but not a partisan, preferring to give his attention to his farming interests, which are large and constantly increasing. Mr. Voreis was married in the year 1867, to Miss Agnes McEl- vaine, daughter of Robert McElvaine, of Plymouth, a union blessed with the birth of five children: Mary, Jessie, Albertus, Abraham Roscoe and Robert.
Leonard Wilson, a highly respected citizen of Union town- ship, is a native of Ohio, born in Shelby county, that state, on the 9th day of April, 1841. His parents, Abijah and Elizabeth Wil- son, were natives of New York and Virginia, respectively. They moved to Pulaski county, Ind., in 1841, where Mr. Wilson fol- lowed farming and brick-making, and where he resided until his removal to Marshall county, in 1863. He located in Union town- ship, and for some time thereafter operated a saw-mill near Lake Maxinkuckee, in connection with agricultural pursuits. He was a republican in politics, and a man highly respected in the com- munity where he resided. His death occurred in the year 1881. His wife, who is still living, is the mother of nine children, seven of whom grew to maturity, five now living, viz .: John, Isaac, Leonard, George and James. Leonard Wilson was reared to agricultural pursuits in Pulaski county, and obtained a common school education. In 1862 he entered the army as private in Company B, Eighty-seventh Indiana infantry, with which he served until the close of the war. While in the service he par- ticipated in a number of bloody battles, including Spring Hill, Perryville, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and numerous others, in one of which he received a painful wound. At the expiration of his term of service he returned to Indiana, and in 1865 became a resident of Marshall county, settling in Union township, where he engaged in his present vocation of farming, in which he has met with well-deserved success. In 1871 Miss Mary E. Ruggles, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Hittle) Ruggles, became his wife, to which marriage have been born five children, whose names are as follows: Lillie May, Albert Lawrence, Arthur Lester, Adelbert Lewis, and Glyde Otis. Mr. Wilson is a repub- lican in politics, an active member of the P. of H. fraternity, in which he has filled nearly every office, and belongs to Tibbett's post, No. 260, G. A. R., of Plymouth. He and wife are identified with the Protestant Methodist church.
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