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 47
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B. W. S. Wiseman, M. D., is a native of Hancock county, Ohio, and the son of L. D. and Agnes (Hufford) Wiseman, both parents born in the same state. Samuel Wiseman, the doctor's grandfather, was a native of Virginia, and an early settler of Ohio, having located in Fairfield county a great many years ago. L. D. Wiseman followed the carpenter's trade in his
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younger days, but later engaged in farming in Hancock county, Ohio, where he lived until 1867, at which time he came to Mar- shall county, Ind., locating in Union township, near Marmont, where his death occurred on the 23d of January, 1890. He was a man of high standing in the community where he resided, and for sixty years was an active member in the Methodist church, in which he held various official positions, including that of class leader and Sunday-school superintendent. He assisted in the organization of a number of congregations, superintended the construction of several church edifices, and in addition to his other religious work, rendered valuable assistance in public wor- ship by his superior gift of song. He was twice married, first time, in June, 1834, to Frances Hooper, who bore him seven chil- dren, of whom the following are living: William T., a practic- ing physician of Coffey county, Kas .; Elsie, widow of A. S. Stadley, of Dunkirk, Ohio, and Charlotte, wife of T. J. Rose, of Henry county, Ohio. By his second marriage with Agnes Huf- ford, Mr. Wiseman had seven children, viz .: Mrs. Samuel Allen, of Pulaski county, Ind .; Lorenzo D., who died in the spring of 1873, leaving a widow, Frances (Wilhelm) Wiseman, and one child, Rosa E .; Mary C., wife of J. H. Hill, of Kansas; B. W. S .; Hannah M., wife of Rev. M. H. Wood; Samuel J., of Marmont, druggist, and Livingstone C., who also resides at Marmont. Dr. Wiseman was born June 24, 1852. He remained in his na- tive state until fifteen years of age, during a part of which time he attended the common schools, and later pursued his studies in the high schools of Napoleon, Ohio, and Plymouth, Ind. He taught school for some time, and while so engaged, read medi- cine under the instruction of Doctors Edmonds and Durr, of Marmont. In the winter of 1876-77, he entered the medical de- partment of the university of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and after pursuing his studies there for some time, became a student in the college of physicians and surgeons, at Keokuk, Iowa, from which institution he graduated in March, 1880. He subsequently took a course in the college of Physicians and Surgeons, at Chi- cago, and after completing his studies, began the practice of his profession at Marmont. After continuing here for a short time, he moved to La Porte county, where he remained for a limited period. He soon returned to Marshall county. In 1885 he re- moved to Chicago, Ill., where in addition to other professional duties, he became interested in the Convalescent Women's Home, of that city. Ill health in his family compelled him to leave the city, and he re-located at Marmont, in 1887, where he has since resided, and where he has a large and lucrative prac- tice, which is constantly increasing. The doctor has spared no pains in preparing himself for his life-work, and is now one of the well-known and successful medical men in this part of the
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state. He is a member of the Marshall County Medical society, in which he holds an important official position, and was formerly a member of a state medical organization, in the deliberations of which he took an active part. Politically he is a republican, and in religion a Methodist. In the year 1877, he was married to Miss Rose M. Buswell, of Marmont, who has borne him five children, viz .: Charles S., Gertrude A., Donald H. (deceased), James S. and Clara B.
WEST TOWNSHIP.
Prominent among the representative citizens of Marshall county is John W. Baugher, who, as the name indicates, is of German ancestry. The name originally was Von Bacher, and in the annals of the old country, it appears in connection with the history of the Napoleonic wars, and it is a family tradition that some of the ancestors of the subject fought under the great emperor. Mr. Baugher was born in Prussia in 1845, and when two years of age was brought by his parents, John and Magda- lene Baugher, to the United States. The family first settled in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and after a residence there of twelve years, moved to Kosciusko county, Ind., where the parents were living at the breaking out of the late war. Whether the subject had inherited a taste for military life from his Prussian fore- fathers or not, the writer can not say, but certain it is, that his inclinations led him to enter the service of his adopted country, and he served as a gallant soldier throughout the war. He was connected, at various times, with the One Hundred and Eigh- teenth, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth and One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Indiana volunteers, and his military career was similar to that of the thousands of brave and patriotic men who risked their lives in defense of the National Union. At the close of the war Mr. Baugher went to northern Michigan, where for four years he was engaged in the manufacture of lumber. While there he attained proficiency as a sawyer, for which business he appears by nature to have been adapted. He returned to Indiana in 1869, and settled in Marshall county, where he has since re- sided, and of which he is in every respect a worthy and popular citizen. He began the lumber business for himself about the year 1870, and the mill which he operated was located a few miles northwest of Plymouth. This mill, in 1879, was completely destroyed by fire, but Mr. Baugher, with that energy which has characterized his life, at once began to rebuild, and soon had a larger and much more complete mill in successful operation. This mill requires the labor of about twelve men, most of whom have been with Mr. Baugher for a term of years, and has a ca- pacity of 12,000 feet of lumber per day. It is supplied with the
yours truly HOW, Baugher
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latest improved machinery, much of which is of Mr. Baugher's own invention. As a machinist, he is quite skilful, and has no superior in Marshall county, and but few anywhere. He has made the subject of mechanical appliances a specialty, and his judgment upon machinery is sound and founded upon scientific knowledge, instead of mere conjecture. Mr. Baugher has been a great reader, both of English and German authors, and though of limited early education, has managed to acquire a practical knowledge of affairs at large, and is well versed in general liter- ature. Socially, "he is a hale fellow well met," and he numbers his friends by the score in all parts of the county. He is fond of traveling, and, including his army experience, he has visited nearly every state in the Union. He is a member of the K. of P., Odd Fellows, and stands high in the Masonic fraternity, having taken the degree of Sir Knight. Politically he is a democrat, and is looked upon as one of his party's leaders in this county. Mr. Baugher and Sarah Conklin, a native of Marshall county, were united in marriage in 1873, and to their union have been born two children, Frank and Norah.
Robert J. Evans claims to be the oldest settler of West town- ship, and has literally seen the county grow out of the woods. He was born in Kentucky, April 24, 1825. His father, Joseph, was a native of Butler county, Penn., and his mother, Bidiah (Turner) Evans, was born in North Carolina. Grandparents were born in America, the father being of Irish, and the mother of Scotch, origin. At the early age of three years, the subject of this sketch was brought to Indiana by his parents, who settled in Franklin county in 1826, and remained there until 1835, when they removed to Marshall county, settling in West township, on what is known as the Sherland place. The country was then en- tirely new, the nearest neighbor of the Evans family being Thomas Singleton, who lived up on the La Porte road, that and the Mich- igan pike being the only roads in the county at that time. Plymouth then contained from four to six houses. Between the Evanses and the alleged town, a man named Murphy lived on what is known as the Wallace farm. The newly arrived family began farming at once, getting in five acres the first year (1836). Mr. Evans says there were plenty of Indians (Pottawatamies) when his family came there. They were hunters by profession, lived in villages, the women doing what little work there was done. They were a lazy lot, true to their friends and never mo- lested any one. Their relations with the settlers were of the friendliest character. Mr. Evans had little chance to get an ed- ucation. There were no schools to attend until he was able to work, and when that time arrived he had to put in all his time helping to dig a living out of the wilderness. Hard work was of more importance in those days than education. At the age of
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twenty, Robert J. Evans was married to Lydia Thomas, whose parents lived near what is now Tyner City. They went to work on their own account at farming and kept it up until 1850, when Mr. Evans started to California, leaving his wife and family on the farm. When he arrived in northwest Missouri he was taken down with fever and lay there fifty days. Owing to this sickness was obliged to return home. After farming there a few years more, he removed to the Wallace farm. Mr. Evans has occupied his present residence for fifteen years. Of the thirteen children born to this devoted couple, eight are living, viz .: Larkin L., who married Frances Rogers, Marshall county; Josephine, wife of Wallace Pitcher, Missouri; Martha Alice, wife of Walter Rogers, St. Joe county; Mary E., wife of John F. Tindall, Han- cock county; Viola, wife of Harry B. Joseph, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Robert L., who is unmarried, lives at home, also Alber- tus and Littie. In religious belief Mr. Evans is a spiritualist. He never had many educational advantages, but keeps posted by reading the papers. In politics he is independent, believing very earnestly that every man should hold himself in position to vote for the best interests of the community, which he certainly can- not always do if he keeps tied, without chance of change, to one particular party. He has never held any office except that of assessor, which has been conferred on him for eleven successive years. But this is his last year in that capacity. Mr. Evans has seen many of the ups and downs of life, many of its hardships and sorrows, he has also enjoyed many of its blessings and inno- cent pleasures. Mr. Evans was present at the organization of the county, and remembers that the meeting was held one and a half miles south of Plymouth, at Austehout's house. There were not over six people present.
Peter Holem was born in Crawford county, Ohio, in 1825. He is a brother of Jacob Holem, whose sketch appears else- where. His father's name was John Holem, and his mother's name, Margaret (Warner) Holem. His father died when Peter was two years old. Left with eight children, Mrs. Holem was taken with her family to Stark county, by her father Adam Warner, and after a time they removed to Summit county, where Peter grew to the age of twenty years. At this time he deter- mined to move to Indiana. Having previously visited the coun- try, he finally concluded to move to Marshall county, which he did in 1848. In the meantime he married Rebecca Weyrick, of Summit county, Ohio, whose brothers and sisters afterward set- tled in Indiana. When Mr. Holem came to Marshall county, his possessions were all packed in a one horse wagon, and the trip occupied eighteen days, from Akron, Ohio, to Marshall county. Mr. Holem located in the woods, and experienced hardships of so discouraging a nature that even his determination wavered,
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and, had the means been at hand, he would doubtless have re- turned to Ohio. His struggle for a start was long, five or six years being consumed working by the day, clearing at home when not employed by his neighbors, and depending on the woods for meat, in the shape of venison and turkeys. But success finally came, and to-day Mr. Holem ranks among the first of Marshall county farmers. His family consists of ten living chil- dren, and one who died in infancy. Of the living, Benjamin, whose biography is attached, is the eldest; Amelia A. is the wife of Samuel Swigart, of Plymouth; Caroline, wife of John Pontious, of Elkhart; Jonathan, lives in Plymouth; Amanda, wife of Louis Friend, of Mishawaka; Harmon, lives in Kansas; Alice, wife of George A. Miller, of South Dakota; Rebecca, wife of John Crawford, of West township, Marshall county, and George C., who lives with his father. Mr. and Mrs. Holem are members of the German Baptist church. Mr. Holem is a democrat. In 1874 he was elected trustee, and succeeded himself in 1876. Elected commissioner of the county in 1882, he served two terms, and in both cases gave entire satisfaction to the people of both parties. He has since been called upon by his party to enter the political arena, but declares himself entirely out of politics. Mr. Holem certainly deserves the title of a " self-made man." His early struggles against poverty and sickness were of a nature that might have appalled even the most courageous. All honor to the men who have made their way, by their own efforts, to comfort and plenty.
Adam Holem, eldest son of Jacob and Sarah Holem, was born in Summit county, Ohio, in the year 1841. He came to Indiana in childhood, and has been in West township ever since. He followed the business of farming till a recent date. In 1868 he married Eliza Kreighbaum, also of this county. They have eight chil- dren, three boys and five girls, all living. The subject of this sketch sold his farm in 1889 and went into the mercantile busi- ness at Twin Lakes, where he is building up a lucrative trade. He has always been a firm believer in the principles of democracy.
Jacob Holem was born in Stark county, Ohio, in 1816. He is the oldest of a family of eight, five of whom are still living. His parents came from Maryland, being of an old family of that state. Jacob's grandfather on the mother's side, Adam Warner, took part in the revolutionary war, as is evident by family traditions still preserved. When Jacob was twenty-four years old he came to. Marshall county, where he has since resided. He has been twice married. and has six children, all of whom are living, four in Marshall county, viz .: Adam, Moses, John and Jeremiah. When Mr. Holem came to West township (1844), he bought the land which he now occupies, the original cost being less than $2 per acre. To-day it ranks among the best farms in West town- 28-B.
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ship. This improvement is the result of hard work and good management. Mr. Holem tried his fortunes in the California gold fields in 1852; but soon grew tired of the life and came back. Mr. Holem has been a life long democrat. He is a member of the German Reformed church.
Benjamin Holem was born in Summit county, Ohio, in 1847. He is the oldest son of Peter Holem, and was only nine months old when his parents came to Marshall county. He was raised a farmer, received a common school education, and at the age of twenty-eight he married Mary E. Stein, whose parents resided at that time in Summit county, Ohio. Mr. Holem's family con- sists of one son, Forrest F., a bright boy of four years. Mr. Holem's farm lies in the Yellow river valley, is well improved, and is one among the best of West township. Although demo- cratic in politics, Mr. Holem is satisfied to leave the heat of con- flict to those more ambitious in that line, he preferring to pay strict attention to his business of farming.
William Holland was born in Staffordshire, England, in 1840, March II. His father's name was James Holland, and his mother's maiden name was Ann Lindop. His ancestors were pure Anglo-Saxon, and his father was engaged in the pottery business for which Staffordshire is so justly celebrated. He began at the bottom of the ladder, having commenced as packing bov, and reached partnership in the business. William is the youngest of eleven children. His brother, James Holland, who is a citizen of South Bend, is the only other member of the family in Amer- ica. When his parents died William was about twelve years old, and soon afterward (1856) he came to America, his brother hav- ing come some time before. He came to Elkhart where he re- mained a short time, when he was induced to go to Des Moines, Iowa, which was at that time the western terminus of railroad travel. Thence to Florence, where he clerked in a store for about one year, when he got a job with a surveying party, with which he stayed about seven months. He was hired for a flag- man, but soon rose to a better position, having had a special edu- cation for such work before he left England. Satisfied with the wild life in the west, he returned to Elkhart, thence to Adrian, Mich., where he remained until the war broke out, when he en- listed as first drummer boy in Company B, Fifteenth Indiana volunteers. His life as a drummer was short, as he had no taste for drumming, but had a burning desire to be a bearer of the musket. He soon became proficient in the manual of arms, and assumed his place in the ranks. After remaining in barracks at Lafayette about six weeks, he re-enlisted in the same regiment for three years. He went through the West Virginia campaign and was discharged on account of sunstroke. He re-enlisted in the Fifty-seventh Indiana, with which he served nine months,
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at the end of which time he became a member of the One Hun- dred and Forty-second Indiana for twelve months. He was pro- moted to orderly sergeant, then to second lieutenant, and was discharged at the close of the war, at Nashville. He participated in the battles of Rich Mountain, Kerrick's Ford, Stone River, Nashville and many others, in all of which he acted the part of a brave and gallant soldier. After the war Mr. Holland returned to the west, but soon came to Indiana, and, in 1867, became a res- ident of Marshall county, where he worked as foreman in the old Plymouth nursery. Having mastered the details of the nursery business, Mr. Holland, in 1871, started in business for himself. The business began in a very small way, but its success can be estimated from the fact that the present "Pretty Lake Nurser- ies" are the largest in Indiana. Mr. Holland has a wide circle of business connections, his trade extending to all parts of the country. The Pretty Lake Nurseries are one of the leading in- dustries of Marshall county. The yearly business of the Pretty Lake Nurseries amounts to $6,000 to $10,000. All kinds of fruit trees, small fruits, evergreens and ornamental shrubbery are kept in stock. A branch nursery at Mishawaka has recently been started to supply the ever increasing demands of the business. Their proprietor might well feel proud of his success, and the reputation he bears for business integrity. He is a member of the Kilwilling lodge, F. & A. M., belongs to the G. A. R., and is a republican in politics. In 1864 he married Eunice Drake, who died a few years later. He afterward married Annie E. Nickleson, who has borne him two children: Kittie, wife of James Wick- izer, and Archer, who lives with his parents.
John E. Hoover, a well-known young man, is a native of West township, born in 1862. His father, John Hoover, was a preacher in the German Baptist church, but, like most of the ministers of that denomination, followed the occupation of farm- ing. He was of German descent, but was a native of Altoona, Ontario, where his birth occurred in 1822. In 1859 he came to West township, where he bought land of the Pa. R. R. Co. and became a well-known farmer. His wife, Hettie Miller, was a native of Ohio, born about 1831. Their family consisted of four children, three of whom are living. Noah V. is a prominent merchant of Plymouth. Margaret is the wife of W. G. Cook; they live in South Dakota; Daniel (deceased), and J. E., the subject of this sketch. The latter was raised on the farm, re- ceived a good education in the public schools of Plymouth, and finished at Valparaiso. His education fitted him for the pro- fession of teaching, which he began in 1879, and followed for seven years. He was considered a successful instructor, being engaged four successive terms in the only graded school in West township. In 1886 Mr. Hoover engaged in mercantile business
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at Donaldson, where he soon became popular on account of his fair dealing, and earnest efforts to please his patrons. Since he became a citizen of Donaldson he has bren a very useful one, having erected several substantial buildings and otherwise aided in the improvement of the town. In 1888 he was put in nomina- tion by the republican party, of which he is a member, for the office of township trustee, and, notwithstanding a strong demo- cratic sentiment, his popularity was sufficient to gain him a hand- some majority. Mr. Hoover is one of the young men who are, as a class, bringing Marshall county into prominence as one of the leading counties of the state.
Among the younger citizens of Donaldson, but one of its lead- ing business men, is Silas H. Joseph, a native of the state of Delaware, as were also his parents, who trace their ancestry back to the first settlers of that state. His early life was passed in Delaware, near the town of Smyrna, where he first saw the light of day. He received his education in the common schools of that state, and his first work was upon his father's farm. In 1878 the entire family came to Marshall county, where they still re- side, having become well-known and substantial citizens. Three years after becoming a Hoosier by adoption, Mr. Joseph was married to Anna P. Hudson, also a native of Delaware, but a resident of Marshall county at the time of marriage. The young couple lived on a farm two years, when they removed to Donaldson, where Mr. Joseph purchased a small general store. The business prospered, and the stock of goods increased in pro- portion to the demand of trade, so that in 1887, Mr. Joseph erected a fine store room, the one now occupied by the Burgener Bros. He also built a large grain and ware house near the Pennsylvania railroad, and a substantial residence. In 1888 he sold his store to the Burgener Bros., and purchased the one on the southeast corner, which he now occupies. Mr. Joseph has been a valuable addition to the population of Donaldson, always alive to the in- terests of the place. Politically he represents the young democ- racy, and is ever ready to use honorable means to promote his party's welfare. That his efforts are appreciated is evinced by the fact that, in the spring of 1890, he was nominated for town- ship trustee, and triumphantly elected. Mr. Joseph is a member of the United Brethren church, and lends his energy to church affairs, as he does to all that he undertakes. Personally, Mr. Jo- seph is quiet and earnest in his intercourse with his fellow citi- zens, and his business methods have been such as to gain the confidence and respect of the community in which he lives.
Geo. W. Knoblock is a son of Fred. Knoblock, who came from Germany about 1827, and first settled in Canton, Ohio, where he followed the business of weaving. In 1840 he came to Marshall county, settling in German township, and began farm-
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ing. As an evidence of the sparse population at that time, we notice, as a matter of history, that Fred. Knoblock was one of six who voted at the first election held in German township. Mr. Knoblock was twice married. His first wife died in Germany, leaving two children, Fred. and Caroline, both of whom reside in Marshall county. Mrs. Knoblock had also been previously married and had one daughter, who is now Mrs. Fred. Landaman, of Bremen. By his second wife, Mr. Knoblock had six sons: John, William, George W., Theodore, Augustus, and Jefferson. The last two are dead, all the others live in St. Joseph county, except George W., who is one of the solid farmers of West township. He was born in 1834, and has always followed the business of agriculture. In youth he attended subscription school about three miles north of Bremen, where he secured an educa- tion, which, though limited, was all that the conditions of the time afforded, and which has been considerably increased by ju- dicious reading. Mr. Knoblock has always been, and is to-day, a friend of liberal education, and tries at all times to keep him- self posted on current events. In 1856 he was married to Rebecca Hughes, daughter of William and Mary Hughes, who were among the very first settlers of Marshall county. It is said that Mr. Hughes organized the first Sabbath school and established the first grave-yard in German township; also that he attended the first election in Marshall county. After marriage, Mr. Knob- lock continued the peaceful occupatian of farming till 1864, when he entered the service of his country as a soldier. He enlisted in the Forty-second Indiana, Company F, which was attached to the fourteenth army corps, known as the Army of the Cumber- land, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. Mr. Knoblock is a democrat, but does not take a very active part in political matters. His family consists of two sons and five daughters. Two children died in youth: of the survivors, two daughters live in Louisville, Ky .; one son is seeking his fortune in the west, and Frederick and Bessie attend school at home. Mr. Knoblock has made a success of farming, bears a splendid reputation among his neighbors, and is in all respects a repre- sentative man among the farmers of his county.
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