USA > Indiana > Miami County > History of Miami County, Indiana : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people and its principal interests, Volume II > Part 23
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 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57
In politics Mr. Raber was a member of the Democratic party, but his farm and the care of his large family occupied his time to the exclu- sion of any active political part he might have played. He died on the 17th of May, 1898, and both he and his wife are buried in the Weasaw Church cemetery.
Solomon D. Raber, the fourth son of Samuel Raber, holds the same place in the regard of the community as his father did before him. A farmer and stock raiser by occupation, Mr. Raber has become very suc- cessful, and is interested in business enterprises outside of the above. Born and educated in this section of the state he has made many friends, and has the good wishes and esteem of all.
Solomon D. Raber was born on the 30th of August, 1863, in Union township, Miami county, Indiana. He grew up on his father's farm and attended the district schools in that vicinity. He learned carpentry and being ambitious for more of an education than the district schools could give him he entered the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso attending this institution for two winter terms and paying his expenses by carpentry and in fact by any odd jobs which he could find to do. When he was about eighteen years of age he started out in life on his own account, and for a number of years he worked on the farm and at the carpenter's bench.
After his marriage he devoted himself exclusively to farming and stock raising. He now owns about four hundred and fifty acres of
589
HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
land and he is one of the largest stock raisers in Miami county. He is a stock holder in the Denver Home Telephone Company and is always keenly interested in any business enterprise that will be for the good of the people of this section. He belongs to the Lutheran church and in politics is a member of the Democratic party. In the fraternal world he is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees.
Mr. Raber was married on the 10th of February, 1889, to Miss Minerva Brower, a daughter of John Brower, who is given further mention else- where in this volume. Three sons have been born to this union, namely, Harry B., Clarence and Charles. The pretty homestead of Mr. and Mrs. Raber is known as "The Weasaw Reserve Stock Farm."
GEORGE L. MURDEN AND JESSE L. MURDEN. For many years the name Murden has been prominently and honorably identified with the business enterprise of Peru. The firm of G. L. Murden & Son now has a large automobile business in this city, and Mr. Jesse L. Murden is prominent in financial affairs as secretary of the Home Savings & Loan Association.
Of pioneer Miami families none is entitled to more special distinction than that of Murden, since it has been continuously identified by resi- dence and activities in this county for eighty years. Charles and Martha (Williams) Murden, the founders of the family in this region came from Maryland and located in Indiana in 1833 and the following year took up their residence in the wilderness of Miami county, their first home being established near the present village of Mexico. They were the parents of thirteen children, most of whom in turn established homes and families of their own, so that the progeny of the Murden stock is well distributed throughout this section of the state and has always . carried excellent qualities of manhood and social character.
In the next generation after Charles Murden was Thomas William Murden, father and grandfather respectively of the two gentlemen whose names are given above. He was born in Maryland, September 25, 1822 and was about twelve years of age when the family located in Miami county. On August 15, 1844, he married Cynthia Ann Smith, who was born November 13, 1826, daughter of Thomas and Catherine Smith, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of North Carolina. Thomas Smith and family introduce another pioneer name in this history, since they settled in Miami county in 1830, several years previous to the location of the Murdens in this vicinity. Their first home was a short distance south of the village of Mexico, but they moved to Chili, in this county. Thomas Smith remained in that vicinity until his death on February 28, 1865, and he and his wife were the parents of fifteen children. Thomas W. Murden and wife, in December, 1846, settled near McGrawville, in this county. After some years of residence there they moved in March 1860 to a farm in Clay township, and that was the permanent home of the family for many years. On that old place Thomas W. Murden died August 13, 1895, when seventy-three years of age, and after fifty-one years of happy married companionship. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, nine of whom grew to mature years. The names of this family were as follows: Mrs. Ann Hutchinson; Mrs. Catherine Erb; Irvin; George L .; Philora, wife of C. Bayless; Oliver S .; Rebecca Ann, wife of Daniel F. Deish; Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Feiser; William died at age of thirty-three; and Mary Adelle, who died in infancy.
On the old homestead in Clay township of this county, George L. Murden was born September 6, 1860, and has spent practically all his life in this county. After attending school and getting the experiences of youth on the home farm, he went to Peru and engaged in the livery
590
HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
business with whieh his name was for many years identified. He mar- ried Miss Hettie B. Hamilton. They became the parents of three sons. Mr. and Mrs. Murden both reside in Peru at the present time.
Jesse L. Murden who is the only survivor of the three ehildren born to his parents, was born in Clay township of this eounty, January 11, 1886. Sinee he was about one year of age, he has spent all his life in Peru, and obtained his education in the public schools of this eity. His career is one of self-advancement, and from an early age he exhibited a strong independenee and self-relianee of spirit. When he was twelve years old he established a little shop for confectionery and iee eream on Grant Street and carried on quite a prosperous business there each summer. During the winter following he went to sehool and also earried the evening Journal as a means of contributing to his private exchequer. In this alternation of pursuits he continued for about six years, and then having arrived at independent years beeame associated with his father in the livery business. For four years they were both engaged in the confeetionary business in this city, but with that exception the livery establishment under the name of Murden was continued in this city for nearly twenty-six years. In 1912 the father and son disposed of the livery and have since conducted an automobile garage.
In April, 1912, Mr. Jesse L. Murden became secretary of the local chapter of the Loyal Order of Moose. He is also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Order of Elks. He represents the American Surety Company of New York, which bonds all the officers of all the subordinate lodges of The Loyal Order of Moose throughout the United States. His church is the Methodist, and in polities he is a Republican. On November 15, 1910, Mr. Murden married Mary K. Radel and they are the parents of one daughter, Mary C. Ruth.
FRANK FISHER. No finer work is being carried on in Mexico than that of Elder Frank Fisher, who has for years been actively identified with the Old Folks' and Orphan Children's Home of the Church of the Brethren of the Middle District of Indiana, with its location at Mexieo, Indiana. Elder Fisher is a native of Monticello, White county, Indiana, born near Camden, Indiana, on November 29, 1856, and is one of the five children of Benjamin R. Fisher and his wife, Lydia (Barnard) Fisher. Benjamin Fisher was born in Virginia, and was a son of David Fisher, also a native born Virginian, and a man of German aneestry.
Coneerning the latter, it may be said that David Fisher and his family emigrated to Carroll county, Indiana, subsequently moving to White eounty, where both he and his son, Benjamin R. Fisher, the father of the subjeet, passed their elosing days. David Fisher was an elder of the Church of The Brethren and he beeame widely known as a preacher and missionary of that denomination. A firm believer in the doctrines of his church, he was long aetive in his work of preaching the brotherhood of man, and he ardently opposed the going to law for legal redress and all war and strife, while he stanehly upheld the anti-slavery theories then gaining a foothold, and was a firm advocate of temperanee in all things.
Elder Frank Fisher is the eldest of the five children born to his parents, all of whom are living today. When he was ten years old his father died and from that time until manhood he remained on the home farm in White eounty, assisting his mother as far as he was able in providing for the younger members of the family. His edueation was thus necessarily limited to a few seasons of attendanee at the country
-
591
HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
schools, but he was ambitious to study and advance himself in book lore, "and it is to his undying credit that he labored strenuously at farm work to earn the money that made possible his passage through the Monti- cello high school. For eleven terms thereafter he taught public school, and he was known for a successful and competent school-master in his time.
In 1881 Mr. Fisher married and following that event he engaged in farming in White county, continuing in the work until the fall of 1889, when he came to Mexico to take charge of the Old Folks' and Orphan Children's Home. In about 1893 he sold his White county farm and later bought land in Miami county, where he is now the owner of a fine place of one hundred and twenty-eight acres in Jefferson township, and this he operates successfully in connection with his other work. He was ordained a minister of the Church of The Brethren in 1884, and since 1905 he has been an Elder of this church. Since becoming a resident of Miami county he has been actively identified with church and charitable work, and for all those institutions that stand for good in any community.
As has been mentioned, Elder Fisher was married on March 6, 1881, to Lilla J. Reiff, the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Klechner) Reiff, natives of the state of Pennsylvania.
GEORGE BAIR AND JAMES S. BAIR. No race has contributed more to the strength of this county than has the German, and the Bair family of Miami county, Indiana, are typical representatives of this race, although the original ancestor who came to this country dates many gen- erations back. George Bair, now deceased, settled in this county in pioneer days, and was one of the men who, blessed with an education, did so much to make the lives of the early pioneer settlers easier, being both a teacher and preacher, as well as a practical and successful farmer. His son, James S. Bair, is now the only representative of the family in this county, and he is one of its leading citizens, not only in a business way but also in the public life of the community, for he is both public spirited and gifted with unusual executive ability.
George Bair was born in Botetourt county, Virginia, on the 1st of January, 1812, a son of Henry Bair, who was a native of Maryland and of German ancestry. George Bair was reared in his native state and there received a good education, practical as well as scholarly. He taught school and also farmed in Virginia and then he married Catharine Crumpacker. With the old spirit that brought their ancestors across the seas these two with their little family determined to go further west and so in October, 1857, arrived in Miami county, Indiana. Here they determined to locate and Mr. Bair bought eighty acres in the north-west part of section 30, in Jefferson township, during the following year. He built thercon a double log house and a log barn and set to work to clear and improve his property. In the winters when there was little work he taught school and he was also a preacher of the German Baptist church. He and his wife became the parents of six children, as follows : Mary Jane, Lewis E., Ann, James S., Jonas B. and Catharine E. Mr. Bair died on the 24th of August, 1864, and his wife passed away on June 3, 1856.
James S. Bair was born in Virginia, on the 13th of November, 1848, and was thus nearly nine years old when he came with his parents in a great canvas-covered wagon to Miami county. He grew up on his father's backwoods farm and received his education in the district schools. Mr. Bair at the age of sixteen found himself on orphan and he and his brothers set to work to support the family. They operated the
592
HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
old farm, and in this work James S. Bair was engaged until 1872. Dur- ing the latter year he farmed on rented land in Fulton county, and then' he returned to Miami county where he bought the old homestead in Jefferson township. He resided on the farm until September, 1906, when he removed to Mexico, Indiana, and there he has since resided. Since 1907 he has been the manager of the Mexico Home Telephone Company, and he has also been kept busy in looking after his farming interests.
In politics Mr. Bair is a member of the Democratic party and he has taken an active share in the affairs of his party. In April, 1886, he was elected trustee of Jefferson township and he served until April, 1888. He was again elected to this office in April, 1890, and served 'until August, 1895. In 1902, he was elected a member of the Board of County Commissioners, taking office in 1904. It was during his term of office that the new court house, the pride of Miami county, was begun, and he was active in his efforts to secure this building for the county. Both he and his wife arc members of the Brethren church.
Mr. Bair was married on the 13th of October, 1870, to Sarah Maus, a daughter of George and Catharine (Minnick) Maus, both of whom were natives of Germany, who came to this country in their young days and were here married, becoming pioneers in Miami county. Mr. and Mrs. Bair have become the parents of three children, namely: Leota, who is the wife of Lawrence E. Strong, a farmer of Jefferson township; Stella May, who died at the age of twenty-one, in May, 1897, and George F., who married Mattie Lineback and is a United States Railway Serv- ice mail clerk, his home being in Peru, Indiana.
JORDEN SWINDLER. A farmer of prominence and success of Jefferson township, and a resident of this county for the past thirty-four years, is a native of Rappahannock county, Virginia, born there February 3, 1853. His parents, James W. and Lucy (Johnson) Swindler, both of whom were natives of the Old Dominion, and paternally of German ancestry, were farming people by occupation.
James W. Swindler moved his family to Green county, Ohio, in 1856, and was there during the Civil war, when he raised a company for service. Being somewhat gifted along the line of military tactics, he drilled the company and prepared it for service, but he himself did not participate actively. He later moved to Daviess county, Missouri, expecting to make that his home, but the country thereabout proving dis- tasteful to him, he returned to Green county, Ohio, some two months later, and there he and his wife passed their remaining days. Mr. Swin- dler was a Democrat, and served in a number of local positions of trust and honor, among which was that of township trustee and justice of the peace. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, seven of whom are yet living.
Jorden Swindler was the seventh born of this goodly family. He was three years old when his parents moved to Ohio, and there he was reared to years of manhood, acquiring his education in the district schools of the neighborhood. On reaching his legal majority he set out for himself as a farm hand, and in this work he continued for five years. During that time he saved something like $150 in cash and had acquired a horse and buggy besides. In 1879 he moved to Cass county, Indiana, where on January 22, 1879, he married Addie Constant, and there remained until the autumn of 1881, when he moved to his present home in Jefferson township, Miami county, on which place he has resided continuously since that time.
On June 5, 1884, Mrs. Swindler died, having borne three children,
COLDHĂ"
"BUNGALOW LODGE"
RESIDENCE OF MR. AND MRS. HENRY ENGEL
593
HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
all of whom are now deceased. On April 15, 1885, Mr. Swindler married Amanda J. Myers, the daughter of John F. Myers, one of the old settlers of the district and a commissioner of Miami county. To them were born the following named children: Iona, now the wife of Charles F. Shively ; James Frederick, who married Marie Eikenberry and resides in Jefferson township; Jessie May and Vesta Jordan.
Mr. Swindler not only makes farming his occupation, but he farms along progressive and intelligent lines. Coupled with this is his stock- raising, his Polled-Angus cattle being a specialty and well known to the county. His farm, comprising 571 acres of the choicest land in the county. is one of the well kept and thriving spots to be found, a credit to its owner and to the community at large. Mr. Swindler is a Demo- crat in his political faith, and he and his wife are members of the Eel River Christian church.
The beautiful cstate of Mr. Swindler is known as "The Eel River Stock Farm." Mr. and Mrs. Swindler have a beautiful 5-passenger Great Western Touring Car for pleasure as well as business, and the machine has run 2700 miles.
HENRY ENGEL. Prominently and profitably engaged in farming and one of the most enterprising and progressive men in Washington town- ship, Henry Engle is a splendid type of German-American citizenship, though he has spent practically all the years since his earliest childhood in Miami county. Besides gaining enough material prosperity for his own wants and comforts and those of his family, Mr. Engel has inter- ested himself in the public affairs of his township and county, and has been an active factor in every movement for the betterment of his locality.
Henry Engel was born in Germany March 14, 1854, a son of Herman and Margarite (Speremberg) Engel. The family immigrated from the Fatherland in 1858 in a sailing vessel and were six weeks in crossing the Atlantic. They made their first permanent settlement in Pipe Creek township of Miami county. On a farm in that vicinity they made their home for six months, and during this time the father worked out by the day in order to acquire the means to support his family. He then moved into Washington township and rented a farm. Up to this time he had been unable to save anything from his current income, income and expense having just about equalized cach other during all the years of his American residence. From that time as a renter he continued for ten years, then lived on another place for a few years, and at the end of that time was in a position to buy a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Pipe Creek township. He then sold that place and bought one hundred acres in Cass county, where he made his home until his death in 1907. He was a man of thrifty and industrious habits, and before his death had acquired means sufficient to provide for all his comforts.
Henry Engel left home after his first marriage, and spent one year with his wife's uncle. He then came to the farm in Washington town- ship, which is his present home. Here he has cighty acres of land, and twenty acres of this he cleared out of the brush and woods with his own toil. He has moreover put up all the buildings and the improve- ments which now classify this place as one of the progressive homesteads of Washington township. About one year ago Mr. Engle built a modern house just across from the old house in which he had lived for a number of years, and in this new home he and his family have many attractive comforts and conveniences, and the entire farm is representative of the
594
HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
conveniences and facilities which one of the best counties in Indiana furnishes to its progressive farming population.
Mr. Engel is a member of the Horse Thief Association of his com- munity, and at the present time is serving on the township advisory board. On December 24, 1878 he was married to Elizabeth Lees, a daughter of John Lees. They were the parents of four children, namely : Maud A., who married Israel Lees, Jr .; Grace M., who married Clarence Pier; Ada A., who married Jesse Welsh; and Walter A., who married Elizabeth Raydell. Grace and Ada received their diplomas from the public schools and Ada was a teacher in Washington township. The mother of this family died September 2, 1888, and Mr. Engel married for his second wife on October 20, 1889, Miss Parlee Lees, a daughter of Israel and Harriet (Klise) Lees, Jr. Mrs. Engel is a native of Miami county and was born May 3, 1864. She has three brothers living in Indiana. Both her parents are deceased. She was educated in the com- mon schools. Mr. and Mrs. Engel are the parents of one son Herman Cecil, born December 19, 1901, and now attending school in Washington township in the fifth grade. The pretty homestead of Mr. and Mrs. Engel is known as "Bungalow Lodge." It was erected in 1911, finished in hardwood and is modern in detail.
THOMAS J. RHODES. The vocation of farming is more and more attracting the energies and ability of the young men of the country, and in the case of Thomas J. Rhodes of Jefferson township love of country life was almost the earliest and certainly the most persistent passion of his career. He is one of the very successful men in this busi- ness, and has gained particular reputation as a stock raiser. He has spent money, patience and labor in laying the foundation of a splendid herd of Poland China hogs, which is now considered one of the best in this section of Indiana.
Thomas J. Rhodes, who has been a resident on his present place in Jefferson township since March, 1901, was born in Fulton county, Indiana, June 14, 1867. He is one of eight children, all of whom are living, born to Joseph P. and Alma (Hoover) Rhodes, who were also natives of Fulton county. The Rhodes family settled in the woods of Fulton county in pioneer days, and were not only settlers, but among the best people locating in that vicinity. Joseph P. Rhodes the father, was a farmer by occupation and during the war enlisted in Company A of the One Hundred and Fifth Indiana Infantry. He enlisted at the age of sixteen, and after the war returned home, married and was en- gaged in farming all his career. By reason of his honesty and upright character he commanded the respect of all who knew him. He belonged to the Baptist church in early life, but later united with the United Brethren. However, he was in no sense a doctrinarian, his religious principles being only one phase of a wholesome and well rounded character. He believed in living up to the golden rule, advocated and practiced temperance in all things, was never known to use profane language, and at the same time conceded many privileges to his fellow men which he would not allow himself. He was as honest as the day was long, and was a credit to his community. Both he and his wife are now deceased.
Thomas J. Rhodes was reared in his native county, and as the oldest of the children his boyhood was largely spent in helping in the work of the home farm. At the same time, especially during the winter season, he attended the neighborhood schools. From boyhood he evinced a love for stock and outdoor life, and it was as a result of a determined purpose that he made farming his life occupation.
JE, milles 7
595
HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY
On February 11, 1888, at the age of twenty-one, he married Miss Orpha D. Mikesell, whose parents were Phillip and Orpha (Girard) Mikesell. To their union was born one son, Cecil Jefferson, on March 9, 1909, who died March 22, 1910. After his marriage Mr. Rhodes engaged in farming in Fulton county, until his removal to his present home in Miami county. Raising the general crops and taking great delight in his stock, Mr. Rhodes has made a specialty of hogs. He sends to market some of the finest Poland Chinas grown in Miami county. His farm comprises two hundred acres of land, one hundred and seventy acres in Richland township, and also he is the owner of city property in Peru. Mr. Rhodes is a Progressive in politics and he and his wife worship in the Evening Light church.
JOSEPH ELISHA MILLER. The late Joseph Elisha Miller, the young- est born of the children of Levi and Ursula (Allbaugh) Miller, concern- ing whom extended mention is made in an article dedicated to Levi and John H. Miller, to be found elsewhere in this historical work, was born on January 11, 1858, and died on March 22, 1911. He was one who received in his home the training of a practical business man in his father, and of a tender, Christian woman in his mother. He inherited more of the characteristics of his mother, be it said, than of his father, and his life begun and developed under her earnest and tender minis- trations and guidance, rounded out into that of well-defined and admir- able Christian manhood. He was taught to work on the home farm and in early boyhood attended the neighboring district schools.
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.