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 27
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Leroy Graft was born on July 27, 1871, and has always made his home on the old place where he was born, here carrying on the work of the farm. His mother, after the death of her husband, kept the place intact and carried it on successfully for twenty-two years, Leroy Graft coming into ownership of the farm upon her demise. He now owns 170 acres, which he operates in a general way, including some rather extensive stock breeding, and is one of the more successful and prosperous operators of the community.
On November 22, 1897, Mr. Graft was married to Miss Myrtle L. English, the daughter of William and Rosanna (Mutchell) English. No children blessed their union, but Mr. and Mrs. Graft are rearing Vol. II-19
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a boy, Gerald B. Howell, a second cousin of Mr. Graft. They are prominent and popular in Jefferson township, worthy successors of two generations of the family who reflected credit upon the name and . added honors to themselves in Miami township as residents thereof.
CHARLES H. BLACK, sole owner of the flouring mill and the mill site on the Eel river at Mexico, and one of the prosperous men of his com- munity, was born in Wabash county, Indiana, on November 14, 1869. He is one of the two children born to his parents, William H. and Ann Elizabeth (Smith) Black, the other child being a daughter, Florence Vida.
William H. Black was a farmer, and is still employed in that enter- prise. He accompanied his parents from Eaton, Ohio, to Miami county, Indiana, in 1843, when he was a babe of two years old. His parents, who were Thomas and Barbara (Croft) Black, settled on a tract of land in Richland township, in the woods bordering upon the Wabash county line, and here he grew to manhood. During the Civil war he served eighteen months of the last half of the war as a member of the Second Indiana Cavalry. Shortly after his return from the scenes of battle, he married, and eventually bought land in Wabash county, crossing the line from Miami county, where he had lived so long, and there he and his wife yet live. One of their children, Florence V., mar- ried Elmer E. Mull, a school teacher of Miami county. She bore her husband two sons and two daughters and died in November, 1911. The only living child of William H. Black and his wife is Charles H. Black, whose name heads this review.
Charles H. Black was reared in Wabash county on the home farm and finished his schooling at Roann high school, taking a great interest in the sciences, in which he is informed to date. He started life in the milling business, but the panic of '73 opened up new avenues of life, and he bought cighty acres of land in Richland township, paying thirty dollars an acre for the same. It was while operating this farm that lie conceived the idea of using a specially formed steel connecting rod in the use of concrete-a specially prepared and reinforced con- crete-particularly applied to bridge work. After a considerable thought he had patented the "Loop hook bridge system," and this has been introduced and tried out extensively on railroads and in county work, with a splendid prospect of becoming universal in its use in these fields of enterprise. The dam on the Eel river at Mexico is particularly note- worthy as an illustration of the use of this idea.
In 1911 Mr. Black became the owner of the mill site and the Mexico Roller Mills, and is operating this at present. He is also president of the Mexico Woolen Mills, organized in 1912, and one of the thriving concerns of the place. He is now building a power plant and will be prepared to furnish power and electric lighting for the entire com- munity and for miles around.
On September 25, 1895, Mr. Black was married to Miss Emma J. Ward, daughter of Charles and Sarah (Hersey) Ward, commissioner of Miami county. They have two children : Frances Elizabeth and Loren Thomas.
Mr. Black is a Progressive in his political inclinations, and takes. only the interest of a good citizen in the politics of lris community, as a general thing.
JOHN W. SWAFFORD. There are few older families in Indiana than the Swaffords. Their home was established within the boundaries of the present state about the close of the eighteenth century. Five or six
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RESIDENCE OF MR. AND MRS. JOHN W. SWAFFORD
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years passed before Indiana was organized as a territory, and the father of John Swafford was a boy about sixteen years old before Indiana became a state. John Swafford has for a number of years been the owner of one of Clay's township good farms, is a man who has won all his prosperity by hard and effective work, and enjoys the reputation of a eitizen whose obligations to the community and to his fellowmen are promptly met, and whose enterprise and influence are valued factors in the community.
John Swafford who is an Indianian himself, and whose father and grandfather before him were natives of old Indiana, was born in Union county, Indiana, June 5, 1848. Isaac Swafford, his grandfather, was a resident of Indiana at the beginning of the last century, for it was on April 23, 1818, in Union county that Archibald Swafford, the father of John, was born. That was one of the first births of white children in that county. Archibald Swafford was twiee married. His first wife was Sarah Burroughs, daughter of Bartley Burroughs. She was born in Wayne county, Indiana, and it was in that county that she and Arch- ibald Swafford were married. The children of their union were: Wil- liam, Mary E., Isaac, James and Rees, twins, Bartley, John, Albert W., Archibald, Ellen and Emmett E. Both James and Rees died in the Union army during the Civil war. The father married for his second wife, Elizabeth Tappen, and by her had one child, Homer.
John Swafford started out in life without financial help, beginning at the lower round of the ladder of life and it was as a result of hard work and eareful management that he has acquired a good farm and a comfortable honic. The only money he ever inherited was sixty-six dol- lars which came to him from his grandmother's estate. His schooling also was limited. His education has been gained chiefly through busi- ness and social channels-the market, the neighbor's fireside, the lodge room and the church-these have contributed to his stock of useful in- formation, and his own practical experience has done the rest. The first furniture be bought, a hundred dollars' worth, he had the misfortune to lose by fire before it was paid for, so he had to go in debt again and start all over.
From Union county, Mr. Swafford eame to Cass eounty which was his home for a period of twenty-three years. From there he came to Miami eounty, and settled on a farm, where he now lives. This farm comprises ninety-two acres, and its buildings have all been remodeled sinee his ownership. The cultivation of his land and the management of his crops indicate the progressive agrienlturist, and the superficial indication of his enterprise is the silo that flanks the barn.
At Liberty, in Union township, Indiana, November 29, 1871, John Swafford and Harriet Dunlap, danghter of Eugene Dunlap, were united in marriage, and their happy union has now continued for more than forty years, almost a half eentury, and has been productive in a family of children, who under their loving care have also taken worthy parts in the world. These children are Harry, born September 3, 1872; Ella, born October 18, 1876, the wife of William H. Peters, of Miami eounty, Indiana; Frank, born May 11, 1882, who married a Miss Davidson, of Danville, Illinois; Dessa, who was born November 4, 1888, the wife of Fred Garrison. Mrs. Swafford is a native of Hamilton county, Indiana, born December 3, 1854, the only child born to her parents, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. Dunlap was a Republican and voted for Fremont. The mother was a member of the Presbyterian ehureh. Mrs. Swafford was edueated in the common schools and has done her part in the rearing of her family.
When Mr. and Mrs. Swafford began their married life their eash
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capital did not exceed ten dollars in ready cash, but the young couple bravely began to establish a home, and in 1913 we find the "Brook View Stock Farm" with excellent buildings, including silo, and highly culti- vated acres, one of the handsome homes of the county. They also have hosts of friends who well know them for their sterling integrity and character. They have reared their children so they are a credit to their parents as well as their native county. Mr. Swafford is a member of the Crescent Masonic Lodge, No. 280 of Miami, Indiana.
Their son, Frank, served three years as a soldier in the Philippine Islands and received his honorable discharge and is now a resident of Franklin Park, Chicago, Illinois.
GEORGE SMITH. A resident of Miami county for nearly half a cen- tury, George Smith is now living retired at his home near Peru, in Washington township, but for nearly thirty years was an active and energetic farmer, and cultivated the soil and managed his business in such a way as to bring the largest returns for his labor. He has been honored officially, and is one of the most highly respected men of his township.
George Smith is a native of Marion county, Indiana, where he was born October 27, 1835. His father was John Smith, and his grand- father was Daniel Smith. The maiden name of his mother was Nancy Dabaney, a daughter of William Dabaney. On the mother's side the ancestry is French, and German on the paternal side.
Mr. Smith was reared and educated in this state and first located in Miami county in 1863. His father in that year had died in Marion county and, after settling up the estate, they came to Miami county. He first engaged in farming in Washington township, on a tract of land that was all in the timber. A log house and a stable constituted the im- provements when he took possession, and he spent about a year in that log house. From here he moved into Howard county, which was his home for five years; then went out to southwestern Missouri, it being his inclination at the time to grow up with the new country of the west. After one year of that experience he returned to Miami county, and here bought one hundred and twenty acres in Washington town- ship. About one-half of this acreage was cleared of the woods and brush and he devoted much of his labors to clearing up and improving the rest of it. In 1886 he replaced the old house and some of the out- buildings with new and, under his management and supervision, the place became a model homestead. This continued to be his home for twenty-seven years, and he then sold out and moved to Peru. Since then he has lived a retired life. For two terms, from 1882 to 1886, Mr. Smith served as trustee of Washington township.
In 1867 he married Alice J. McGinnis, a daughter of James Mc- Ginnis. Their wedding occurred in Peru, although the marriage license was issued in Kokomo, Howard county. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have one daughter, Mary Violet, who married E. C. Beck, and she lives at home with her parents.
WILLIAM L. RHEIN. For nearly half a century Mr. Rhein has been identified with Miami county, where he began his career as a struggling young man, working hard to pay for some land which was to be the basis of his vocation, and in this county he has subsequently won pros- perity and has lived with honor for many years.
William L. Rhein is a native Indianan, having been born in Tippe- canoe county, December 25, 1853. The family was originally German, but have been residents in America for several generations. Its first
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settlement was made in Pennsylvania, and the paternal grandfather owned the land at the city of Reading on which the Hessian soldiers camped during the Revolutionary war. Daniel Rhein, father of William L., was a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, and as a young man learned the cabinet-maker's trade. In 1835 he came west, before there was a single railroad and when the highways themselves werc of the most primitive type. He was one of the first workers in wood and cabinet-makers to locate in the little town of Lafayette, Indiana, and there he found prosperity in following his regular trade. After locat- ing at Lafayette he married Sarah Logan, and they became the parents of three children, namely : William L .; Anna D., who married Michael Ginney and who now lives in Miami county; and one who died in in- fancy. Both the parents died at Lafayette and were there buried.
William L. Rhein made his home in Lafayette until he was ten years of age, and at that time came to Miami county and began living with his uncle, Isaac Crane, who was a farmer in Washington township. In this way he spent most of the years of his youth on a farm and in the environment of the country, his total length of residence with his uncle, Mr. Crane, being for seventeen years. Owing to the deficiencies of public school education during his boyhood and also to his private cir- cumstances, he had only limited schooling as a boy, and in later years. has remedied these deficiencies by extensive reading.
The practical beginning of his substantial success was in 1876, when he and his sister bought sixty acres of low, heavily timbered land in Clay township. They paid Mr. Crane twenty dollars an acre for this tract. In 1876 Mr. Rhein started out for himself and moved upon the land to begin its cultivation. By strenuous labor he cleared the heavy timber from the soil, and also built a tile factory which he operated with considerable success until 1900. It was by the gradual process of hard work, capable management, and the passing of years that sub- stantial success finally came to him. He added to his real estate holdings until he and his sister owned two hundred and sixty acres. Mr. Rhein is still owner of one hundred and sixty acres of first-class agricultural land in Washington and Clay townships.
On May 30, 1888, he married Adelia B. Sweney, daughter of James Sweney, who was a native of Ireland, and for a number of years a farmer of Miami county. In 1900 Mr. and Mrs. Rhein first transferred their residence to Peru, but returned to the farm in Washington town- ship after a few months and continued to make that place their home until the spring of 1907. Since then Peru has been their permanent place of residence. To Mr. and Mrs. Rhein were born seven daughters, namely : Carrie; Helen, now Mrs. Oliver Goodwin; Anna; Frances ; Ruth; Alice, and Florence. Mr. Rhein, up to the campaign of 1912, was an independent Republican in politics, and usually supported the grand old party. In 1912, with the division in political creeds, he cast aside his old party traditions and voted the Progressive ticket. He himself adheres to no religious faith, but his wife and children are members of the St. Charles Catholic church.
JACOB CASPER. Now serving his third term as one of the board of county commissioners of Miami county, Jacob Casper has been a resident of this county for more than forty years, and has made a very success- ful and exceptional record as a developer of farms, having applied his energetic management to a number of run-down places in this county, having improved them to the best standards of local agriculture, and then sold out at a large profit over his original investment. Mr. Casper is therefore a man of enterprise, has always stood high among his fellow-
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citizens, and their confidence in him is testified in his repeated election to the most important administrative office of the county.
Jacob Casper is a native of Ohio, born in Stark county March 15, 1849. His parents were George and Eliza (Ulman) Casper. His father came from Germany to Ohio, where he settled during his early life, and lived there a prosperous and substantial farmer, retiring from the active labors of his career about ten years before his death.
Jacob Casper received his early education in Stark county, lived at home with his father, and gained many lessons of practical' experience as a farmer, and in 1881, in the month of April, arrived in Miami county. He started with little capital and, after several years of hard work, got his first farm. For a number of years he made a practice of buying places which were considered failures as farms and, by in- troducing a good deal of hard work, practical business management, and investing in the necessary facilities for improvements, he soon suc- ceeded in making the land productive and profitable, and then sold out at a price which represented a fine profit for his investment and trouble. In this way he has been owner of some four or five different farms in the county. His present place has been occupied by himself and family for about ten years. He has spent much time and money in improving it, and now has one of the best estates in Erie township. The dwelling was on the land when he bought it, but he has remodeled it, and has put up several smaller buildings, and also built a new barn. All the fences on the farm have been set since he took possession. In this estate are one hundred and forty-three acres, and in Perry town- ship he is the owner of two hundred and twenty acres, with fair im- provements.
On January 13, 1883, Mr. Casper married Caroline Hostettler, a daughter of Jacob Hostettler. They have a fine family of seven chil- dren, who are mentioned, as follows: Ida May married John Holmes, and their three children are Herbert C., John F., and Verne E .; Oda is the wife of I. N. Richer, and their two children are Margaret R. and Rachel C .; Harry married Roxie M. Stoner, and is the father of two children, Robert G. V. and Bernice E .; Iris Grace married Kirt Boswell, and they have a boy, Casper M .; Vere F. is the wife of Ralph W. Groves; Walker L. married Mary Wilson, and Curtis C. is unmarried and lives at home.
Mr. Casper is a faithful member of the United Brethren church, having served as superintendent and class leader, and also as trustee and chairman of the board of his church. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge of Peru, No. 63. In politics a Republican, he has for a number of years been one of the local leaders of his party, and by his public-spirited citizenship has done much for the welfare and the practical administration of local government in this county. In 1904 occurred his first election to the office of county commissioner. His majority at that time was five hundred and seventeen, while Roosevelt polled five hundred and twenty votes from the county. In 1908 he was re-elected, and in 1912, which was the great Democratic year, he was elected by a majority of seventeen.
CLAUDE TRIPPEER. A young farmer and business man of Washing- ton township and Peru, Mr. Trippeer is a native son of this county, and has spent practically all his years within its borders. On reaching manhood he started out to win a position in life, having little capital and only his own resources to depend upon, and has succeeded and found a substantial position in his community.
Claude Trippeer was born in Washington township March 5, 1876,
RESIDENCE OF MR. AND MRS. JOEL SWIGERT "SOUTH VIEW FARM"
kansond.
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a son of Charles and Elizabeth (Lockridge) Trippeer. The paternal grandfather was John Trippeer. The father was born in the state of Ohio, and came to Miami county with the paternal grandfather many years ago. Claude Trippeer obtained a good education by attending the local public schools and a business college in Peru, and remained at home until his marriage. His father was engaged in farming and in the lime business, and continued active in affairs up to the time of his death, which occurred in January, 1908. The father was a devout Christian, believing in practical religion, with only a very little part in civic affairs. He attended strictly to his own business and always stood high in the community where he lived and where he had many friends. The mother passed away March 9, 1903. Mr. Claude Trippeer first began his career as a farmer and continued in that line until about 1912. Since then he has engaged extensively in contracting and build- ing, and for some time carried on that occupation in connection with his farming. At the present time he devotes all his time to general contracting.
Mr. Trippeer in 1908 was elected to the office of trustee of Washing- ton township, taking office in 1909, and being elected for the regular four-year term which then prevailed. Since the new law has been adopted, his term has been extended for six years. Mr. Trippeer is an active Democrat in politics, and his father was also of the same political faith. Mr. Trippeer attends the Methodist church with his family.
In June, 1902, he married Miss Grace L. Jackson, a daughter of George and Mary (Shively) Jackson. Her paternal grandfather was John Jackson and his wife was Frances Roll. Her maternal grand- father was Samuel Shively. Mr. Trippeer's father died December 13, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Trippeer are the parents of one child, Georgine, born May 7, 1903.
JOEL SWIGERT. Of good German parentage, Joel Swigert of Perry township, Miami county, Indiana, shows the sturdy qualities that have made that race nation builders. He has gained his present prosperity by industry and careful management, and. is known in his township as an honorable man and a successful farmer, having given his entire life to agricultural pursuits.
Joel Swigert was born in Pennsylvania, the Keystone State, on the 9th of April, 1848, a son of William Swigert. The latter was born in the same house in which his son was born, on November 1, 1813. The foundation of the house which is still standing in Pennsylvania, was built of straw and clay, for this was before the days of plaster and cement, and it is one of the old landmarks of the region. The great grandparents of Joel Swigert were born in Germany, his mother's maiden name being Elizabeth Burkhiser.
Joel Swigert grew up in his native state and there received his edu- cation which amounted to attendance at the district school for a period of ten months. However, although his opportunities were meagre, he made the most of them, and has added to his store of information by reading and observation. He came to Miami county, Indiana, in 1869, arriving on the 19th of January. He first worked by the month, com- mencing with no money capital but soon married and then moved to St. Joseph county, Indiana. Here he remained for five years, after which he settled in Fulton county. Eleven years were spent in this county and then he returned to Miami county and settled on the farm which he now owns. At the time there were only two small buildings on the place, and during the years which he has spent here he has added a number, all of which are well built and the whole place is attractive and well
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cared for. He has cleared quite a bit of his timber land and has donc considerable fencing and ditching, all with his own hands.
The father of Mr. Swigert was a member of the Reformed church and Mr. Swigert, himself, used to belong to the Lutheran church. He was also at one time a member of the Granger association, but he has never received a public office nor accepted public money for any of the services which he has rendered the people. He has severed all con- nections with politics, however, and no longer takes any active interest in such matters.
Mr. Swigert was married on the 21st of September, 1873, to Amanda DeWald, a daughter of William and Judith (Lutz) DeWald. Mrs. Swigert was born in Miami county February 25, 1854, and it was here that they were married. They have one child, Irvine W., who was born on the 26th of December, 1876, in South Bend, Indiana. He married Catherine A. Hoover, a daughter of Joseph Hoover, and they have one child, Luther M., who was born on the 7th of February, 1905. The pretty homestead of Mr. Swigert is called "South View Farm."
JACOB A. CUNNINGHAM. Born in the township of his present resi- dence and on land which at that time was comprised in his father's possession, Mr. Jacob A. Cunningham of Washington township bears an unusual relation to the soil in this locality and presents in his his- tory elements of unusual interest. He is one of comparatively few living residents of Miami county who attended one of the old-fashioned log schoolhouses as a boy, and during his career he has witnessed most of the improvements which have transformed this county from its primi- tive condition to one of the most representative sections of the state.
Jacob A. Cunningham was born in Washington township on the thirtieth of June, 1859, a son of. Andrew and Sarah (Mason) Cunning- ham. His paternal grandfather was Thomas Cunningham and his maternal grandfather was John Mason. His father was twice married, and by his first wife had the following children: Mary E., who married Joseph Miller; John, who died in infancy, as also another, who died before receiving a baptismal name; and Joseph, who married Mary Anderson. For his second wife the father married Sarah (Mason) Rhodes, widow of John Rhodes. She was the mother of one child by her first marriage, Franklin Rhodes. The children of the second mar- riage of Mr. Cunningham with Sarah Mason Rhodes were: J. A. David, who died at the age of five years; Barbara E., who married John Fox; Lucinda, who died at the age of seven; and Apalona, who married George Mosely.
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