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 36
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JOHN BOONE. There are numerous men today who, born on farms, are still living full and fruitful lives in agricultural communities, reap- ing good returns from their work and taking advantage of the train- ing they received in their youth in the simple, healthy duties of the oldest of all callings. It is generally becoming recognized that the farming element holds a position independent to other vocations ; through its activities the world is fed, and many who have entered other fields of endeavor have once more returned to the soil, satisfied that they can there best work out their success. Among the men of Miami county who has found profit and contentment in the life of an agriculturist may be mentioned John Boone, of Clay township, the owner of 153 acres of well-cultivated land. Mr. Boone's residence here covers a period of nearly three-quarters of a century, during which time he has witnessed and participated in the marvelous changes that have trans- formed Miami county from a wild, useless, non-producing country into a center of agricultural activity and one of the most prosperous sec- tions of the state. He was born at Peru, Miami county, Indiana, De- cember 23, 1839, and is a son of Jacob and Christina (Rohrer) Boone.
Jacob Boone was a blacksmith by trade, and was one of the very carly settlers of Peru, whence he came during the late 'thirties. He was a man of enterprise and industry and was making a comfortable home for his family, when death claimed him at the early age of thirty- two years. His widow survived him a number of years. John Boone received only ordinary educational advantages, the death of his father making it necessary that he early start to work to assist in the support of the family. He has always carried on farming, and after his mar- riage located on a tract of his own, on which was located a log house,
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and the greater part of the property was fairly cleared of timber. Here he and his wife settled down to make a home, and after years of patient labor began to see their efforts bring fruit in the cultiva- tion of one of the section's valuable properties. As the years have passed, and his finances have allowed, Mr. Boone has added to his buildings, his stock and his equipment, and his farm is modern in every respect and a source of great pride to its owner, who values it the more because it has been entirely developed under his personal care. He has 153 acres at the present time, all in a good state of cultivation, well- fenced, tiled and drained, and devotes the property to general farming and stock raising. He is a practical farmer, not averse to experiment- ing with the latest ideas, and is known as a good judge of cattle. Among his associates he bears the reputation of an honorable man of business, who has never indulged in transactions of other than a perfectly legiti- mate nature.
Mr. Boone's first marriage was to Miss Mary Hoffine, and they be- came the parents of two children: Stella, who is married; Chris- tiana, who married Henry Edwards, who is deceased. He was mar- ried (second) to Sarah Eagle, and to this union there were born seven children. Mr. Boone's third wife was Miss Lydia Cunningham, daugh- ter of Samuel F. and Martha (Early) Cunningham, both now deceased. Mrs. Boone is a native of Miami county, born April 4, 1850, and she was educated in the common schools. There are seven daughters and two sons living of her parents' family and four residents are of Miami county. Mr. Boone is a member of the Masonic Lodge of Miami, Indiana, being a master Mason, and for almost half a century he has been a member of the I. O. O. F. No. 52 of Peru. Politically he is a Democrat and has always supported those principles. Mr. and Mrs. Boone are faithful members of the Brethren Church at Loree, Indiana.
PETER C. STINEMAN. The fiscal and educational affairs of Harrison township lave never been better administered nor entrusted to more efficient hands than to the present township trustee, Peter C. Stineman, who has served since 1908 in that office. Mr. Stineman has lived all liis life in this county, was a successful teacher, and for the past twelve years has been a prosperous farmer, and represents one of the promi- nent old families of Miami county.
The present orthography of the name "Stineman" has been angli- cized from "Steinmann," the strict German spelling.
Peter C. Stineman was born on his father's farm about one mile west of his present location, September 11, 1870, a son of Jonas and Lydia (Christner) Stineman. His grandfathers both bore the first name of Peter. Jonas Stineman came to Miami county in 1848, and settled in Harrison township. A little later he moved to a place near the township line, comprising one hundred and thirty-six acres, all covered with heavy timber. There a clearing was made, and a log cabin erected as the home for the family in that section. Subsequently he went over into Clay township, where he lived until 1880. Then came his return to Harrison township, and in 1903 there was another re- mnoval which took him into Clay township, where he has since had his home. These various moves were not so important as they appear from the mere statement, since the entire distance covered in the various removals was a matter of only a matter of a few rods, since his land lies on both sides of the township line. As the first wife of Jonas Stine- man, Lydia (Christner) Stineman, died August 19, 1882, he married for his present wife Mrs. Barbara (Stahley) Metzler.
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Peter C. Stineman remained a member of his father's household until he attained his twenty-first year. Then he engaged in school- teaching, taught for several successive terms, and during that time made several changes in residence in order to be near his school. His work as, a school teacher was of a high class, and he is affectionately remembered by many of his old pupils. In 1901 Mr. Stineman settled on his present farm of eighty acres, and the past twelve years has devoted his energies to the cultivation and improvement. All its build- ings have been placed here by him, and together with the fields and fences, and the general appearance of the farm, all point to the fact that the owner is prosperous and progressive. He is a farmer who be- lieves in modern methods, is thoroughly practical, however, and his previous record insures his success.
While always busy with private business, Mr. Stineman has mani- fested the spirit of community interest which makes good citizens and which makes progressive communities. His father has also been hon- ored with local offices, such as school director and road supervisor, and Peter Stineman in 1908 was chosen by his fellow citizens to the office of trustee. Thus for the past five years he has had charge of the school administration and other local matters, and has shown himself a very efficient and capable trustee.
On July 1, 1895, Mr. Stineman married Miss Ola Swoverland. Mrs. Stineman is a daughter of Levi and Sarah Jane (Hoover) Swoverland. To their marriage have been born three children, mentioned as follows: Wendell Paul, born October 16, 1897; Maurene, born October 6, 1899; and Eva Earl, born April 6, 1902. The children all live at home and are being supplied with the advantages of the Harrison township schools and Mr. and Mrs. Stineman spare no pains to give their little family the best possible surroundings and influences to prepare them for worthy and honorable places in life. Mr. Stineman and family attend the Evangelical Church.
DAVID A. BOWLAND. One of the most prosperous farmers of Harrison township and a citizen whose services have often contributed to the gen- eral advancement and public welfare of his community, David A. Bow- land is one of the oldest native sons of Miami county, having been born in a log cabin home here sixty-five years ago. He is now and has been for many years one of the substantial men upon whom the solid pros- perity and civic progress of his county depend.
David A. Bowland, who is a son of one of the sterling pioneers whose advent to Miami county dates back to a short time after the redmen took their departure from this part of the state, was born on his father's farm in Clay township, December 18, 1849. His parents were Samuel N. and Anna (Wagner) Bowland, the former a son of Alexander Bow- land and the latter a daughter of Henry Wagner. Shortly before the birth of the son David A., either in 1848 or 1849, Samuel N. Bowland came from Ohio, into Indiana, and found a place in the wilderness of Clay township in Miami county. Here he spent the rest of his life.
Samuel Bowland had preceded him to this location and with this brother made a clearing in the midst of the trees, and a small log cabin home erected. The little home was finished in time to become the birth- place of David A. Bowland. The late Samuel N. Bowland was a pio- neer of more than usual energy. He cleared up all the eighty acres comprising his original place, later bought another eighty acres ad- joining this land also covered with timber, and with the assistance of the sons who had in the meantime grown up, he directed its clearing and cultivation until it was a substantial part of the farming area.
"WALNUT GROVE GRANGE" RESIDENCE OF MR. AND MRS. DAVID A. BOWLAND
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Still later Samuel N. Bowland added to his holdings, by purchase at different times of sixty, eighty and sixty acres, until his estate aggre- gated three hundred and sixty acres. Before his death he made a divi- sion of his property among his children, who had lived at home and helped to accumulate it. Not one of the children had left home until about the age of twenty-five. Together they had all worked harmo- niously, carrying forward the clearing and cultivating, and before his death the father had the pleasure of turning over in severalty to his children an estate which represented a handsome degree of prosperity.
On November 6, 1879, at the age of thirty years, Mr. D. A. Bowland was united in marriage with Emily C. Smith, a daughter of Calvin and Nancy (Wilson) Smith. They are the parents of one child, Jesse For- rest Bowland, born February 20, 1890. On February 9, 1909, this son married Lela Ellis, a daughter of Erastus Ellis.
Mr. Bowland during his youth had only such advantages as were supplied by the country schools during the decade of the fifties and six- ties. His training was of the practical sort, such as comes from hand- ling an ax in the virgin timber, following a plow through fields cov- ered with stumps, and in swinging a scythe or old-fashioned cradle. With such a training he has probably appreciated as much as any other resident of Miami county, the remarkable changes in methods of agriculture and industry, which have been introduced during his lifetime. In the year he was married, Mr. and Mrs. Bowland took up their residence on his present farm in Harrison township, and they have lived there and steadily prospered for more than three decades. Fraternally his associations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Amboy, Indiana, and his political support has always been given to the Democratic candidate and principles. A man of influ- ence, and a citizen whose integrity and public spirit have been much appreciated, he was in 1888 elected to the highest office of his town- ship, that of trustee, and gave an efficient administration up to 1896.
Mrs. Bowland has always aided her husband in counsel and advice, and has ably filled her sphere as a faithful wife and an affectionate mother. She too is a native of the dear, old Hoosier State, and a lady who is affable, cordial and genial to all, and her beautiful and com- fortable home is her haven.
Mr. and Mrs. Bowland are always ready and willing to aid the worthy poor and needy, and all who know them, honor them for their sterling characters. Their estate in Harrison township, one of the most valuable farms, is called "Walnut Grove Grange."
WALTER BALSBAUGH. Farming in all its branches has been con- sidered a good line of business since the beginning of the world, but within the last quarter of a century it has developed in a remarkable degree, and at this time offers special field for a man of energy and ability. In this class stands Walter Balsbaugh of Union township, a man who has been the architect of his own fortunes.
Walter Balsbaugh was born in Miami county, in Jefferson township in March, 1877. His father was J. H. Balsbaugh, and his grandfather was Daniel Balsbaugh. The maiden name of his mother was Sarah Jane Fisher, a daughter of George Fisher. J. H. Balsbaugh came from Pennsylvania to Miami county with his parents at an early date, locat- ing near Denver, where they engaged in farming on eighty acres of land. After his marriage he located on a farm near Mexico, where he has lived ever since. Walter Balsbaugh spent his early life on the home farm and was educated in the schools of Miami county, learned all the details about a farm, and continued to live at home and work
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the home place until his marriage. In 1901, on March 20, he married Miss Anna Miller, daughter of A. L. and Elizabeth (Florey) Miller. After their marriage Mr. Balsbaugh rented a place in Jefferson town- ship for three years and then came to his present farm, which he has since acquired and improved until it is one of the model places of the township. It comprises one hundred and fifteen acres of land, and at the time he took possession there were some old buildings which constituted the principal improvement. Since then he has remodeled and rebuilt and erected several entirely new structures, and has cleared twenty acres out of the timber, and has produced as profitable and as attractive a farm as can be found in this neighborhood.
Mr. and Mrs. Balsbaugh have three children, namely: Wilma E., born December 5, 1902; Frances Naomi, born January 24, 1905; and Ralph H., born January 23, 1910. The family attend the Conservative Brethren church, and in politics Mr. Balsbaugh is a Republican.
JAY W. NEWELL, M. D. Since 1885 a Denver physician and sur- geon, Dr. Newell is one of the oldest and best known medical practi- tioners in Miami county. To his ample practice in a largely rural community, he has bought the ability and careful skill which would have gained him perhaps more distinction, but not greater honors for substantial service in the populous urban centers.
Dr. J. W. Newell is a Pennsylvanian by birth, born in Bradford county, of the Keystone State on September 9, 1858. His father was John W. Newell, a farmer by occupation during his earlier years and a native of Pennsylvania, where he was reared and where he married Phoebe Jones. In 1865 the Newell family came west to Carroll county, Indiana, where Mr. Newell had a brother-in-law living at that time. At Rockfield, for a number of years he conducted a hotel, and died in that town May 6, 1897, at the age of eighty-nine years. His wife died in 1889, when sixty-nine years old. They were the parents of three children, all of whom are still living.
In the home in the town of Rockfield, the boyhood and youth of Jay W. Newell were spent, much of his youthful strength having been devoted to the labor on a farm. He attended the district schools, and later finished his literary training by a term in the graded schools at Delphi. He was thirteen years old when he began working regularly on the farm of his brother-in-law, and at the age of seventeen had qual- ified himself and began the work of teaching. During this time he obtained some books and began the private course of reading on physi- ology, anatomy, and other medical subjects, having by this time a defi- nite ambition to enter the profession of medicine. Finally from the means obtained as a teacher he entered the Kentucky School of Medi- cine at Louisville, in 1878. During part of the following year he at- tended the Louisville Medical College, and in the spring of 1880 re- turned to the Kentucky School of Medicine, from which he was gradu- ated in June of that year, being awarded the third honors in general proficiency in his class. In 1879 he had been awarded a diploma in the Louisville City Hospital on diseases of women.
In 1879, a short time before he took up the active work of his pro- fession, Dr. Newell married Miss Alice Gregg. Four children, one son and three daughters, have blessed their union and are all living, as follows: Clifford V., who finished the public school course in Cass county, Indiana, graduated from the Peru high school, and later from the Purdue University in the pharmacy department, is proprietor of a drug store in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He married Miss Mary Sears, and they have a little daughter, Katherine Alice. Vera V., the
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second child, was a student in the Denver high school, took the Normal course in the Ada Normal College at Adam, Ohio, and was a teacher for some time in the Denver schools, before her marriage to Clay T. Olds; they now live at Decatur, Illinois, where her husband is in the employ of the railroad company. They have one little daughter, Hester Alice. Golden V., the third in the family, was educated in the University of Valpariso, Indiana, and married Blair B. Fricke, who is a printer by occupation, and they have their home in Columbus, Ohio. Harriett Mercedes, the youngest, is a student in the fourth year in the Colum- bus high school in Ohio.
After his graduation from medical college, Dr. Newell at once took up active practice in his old home at Rockfield, being an associate of Dr. John W. Powell. Then in 1885 he moved to Denver, where he has ever since been in active and continuous practice. Dr. Newell was local surgeon of the Butler Division of the Wabash Railroad, until that line became a part of the Vandalia System, and has since become a member of the Association of Surgeons of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and has been local surgeon at Denver since 1887. Dr. Newell is an honored member of the Miami County Medical Society, the Indi- ana State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and his membership in those different organizations dates back for a num- ber of years. Besides his comfortable town property in Denver, he has a splendid farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres lying one mile south of Denver. This is known as the "Clear View Stock Farm," and is managed on a scale of modern efficiency and profit. Mrs. Newell was born in Carroll county, Indiana, and was educated in the public
schools. Both her parents are deceased. Mrs. Newell is a member of the Methodist church. The politics of the doctor is Republican, and he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Masonic fraternity. Dr. Newell and wife have a five-passenger Overland touring car, and their chief recreation is derived from its use.
CHARLES H. KERCHER. Foremost among the substantial agricul- tural men of the township of Perry, Miami county, Charles H. Kercher takes a leading place. He has wrought well in the chosen field of his activity and has come to be known for one of the capable and success- ful younger farming men of the community. Born in the county, on November 20, 1873, he was here reared and educated, and he is the son of Frederick and Rachel (Grimes) Kercher, and the grandson of Horace Grimes.
Frederick Kercher came to Miami county from Pennsylvania and settled on a farm adjoining the one his son occupies today, and there he lived until death removed him from the scene of his earthly activi- ties. He was a hard working and earnest, God fearing man, a citizen of a splendid type, and one who shared in the confidence and esteem of all who knew him,-a credit to his community, and a man who lived uprightly all his days. He and his faithful wife are deceased. They were members of the Church of the Dunkards, and lived in accord- ance with the simple faith of that denomination.
Charles H. Kercher received his training in books in the district schools of his native community, and it may be stated in all candor that his education was a limited one, for his youth was devoted, for the most part, to the work of the home farm. After the death of the fa- ther, Mr. Kercher, who had by that time married and established a roof tree of his own, moved to another farm in Perry township, whence he later moved to his present place, which adjoins the old home place. He took possession of this place in 1903, and it stands today as it was
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then, as regards the buildings that are in use upon it, but he has inaug- urated many improvements in the way of fencings, ditches, etc., so that the farm is one of the most productive and attractive hundred and twenty acre tracts to be found in the township today. Mr. Kercher is a man who stands out for improvements at all times, and when he was the owner of his previous farm, he brought it up to a high state of productiveness and of general up-keep that made it one of the finest places of the community, and of which he had no difficulty in dispos- ing when the time came for him to take another place.
Mr. Kercher was married on November 23, 1899, to Minnie Harmon, the daughter of Ananias and Susan (Wiles) Harmnon. She was born on February 11, 1876, and her father is still a resident of Miami county. He was born in Ohio and came to these parts many years ago. He mar- ried in Miami county in 1873, and his wife died here in 1907. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kercher, as follows: Marie E., born January 7, 1901; Ralph T., born February 3, 1903; Opal J., born June 22, 1908; and LaMoine, born July 23, 1910.
Mr. Kercher is a Progressive in his political faith, formerly a stanch Republican, but his politics underwent a radical change in 1912, in common with many another old time Republican.
IRA SEITNER. Concerning the family of Ira Seitner, its origin and the life of certain members, a fuller account is given on other pages of this work, so that detailed mention of the family and ancestry of Mr. Seitner are not required at this point. He was born on the farm where he now lives on March 5, 1863, and is one of the eight children of his parents, who were Jacob and Caroline (Floorah) Seitner. The house in which Mr. Seitner lives today stands but a short distance from the one in which he was born fifty years ago.
Mr. Seitner was reared to farm life, with a rather scant education thrown in between farming seasons, and his life has been devoted to farming from his boyhood on. When his father died he divided his estate among his children, and Mr. Seitner is living upon his portion of the old home place.
January 11, 1891, Mr. Seitner married Sarah, who was the eldest daughter of George W. Tombaugh, and to them three children have been born : Nora E., born October 16, 1894; Mary Edith, who died in infancy ; and Cora R., born December 22, 1899. The daughter Nora received her diploma from the public school and she is a third year student in the high school at Roann, Indiana. Mrs. Seitner finished her education in a college at Mt. Morris, Illinois, and is a woman of excellent mental endowments and intellectual attainments.
Mr. Seitner is one of the well known farming men in the township, and his property is represented by one hundred and seventy-eight acres. For the past seven years he has rented his land instead of operating it independently, and has taken his leisure more or less since that time as a result of that arrangement. The family are members of the Church of the Brethren, and are among the most popular and highly esteemed people in the community, where they have been known all their lives. Mr. Seitner is trustee and deacon of the church of his choice, also treas- urer for some years. The estate of Mr. and Mrs. Seitner is known by "Pine Lawn Stock Farm."
REUBEN SEITNER. The Seitner family, of which Reuben Seitner is a member, has been identified with the history of Miami county since 1847, when Jacob Seitner, the father of Reuben, came with his bride to this county and settled on a farm in Perry township. Since that time
Lucinda
Jätten
Jahr, C . Putten
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men of the name Seitner have labored in the county for the development of the various districts with which they have been identified, and they have left an indelible imprint upon these communities. Jacob Seitner was born in Ohio and was the son of George Seitner, a native son of Maryland, who came to Ohio prior to the birth of his son, Jacob. On October 8, 1846, Jacob Seitner married Caroline, the daughter of Daniel Floorah, and with his young wife came to these parts, locating on a Perry township farm and there rearing his family. There were one hundred and sixty acres in that place, and the first home that graced the property site was a log cabin, while eleven acres of timber being deadened repre- sented the only ground space available for cultivation. As the years passed Mr. Seitner and his faithful and energetic wife accumulated a goodly portion of property in Perry township, and upon their death, the estate was divided among the children, of whom there were eight born, and concerning whom brief mention is here made as follows: Silas, who married Lucy Yarion, died on October 26, 1881. Reuben married Mary Geeting, and concerning him extended mention is made further on in this review. Francis, who married Mary Smith. Mary, the wife of Frank Dewald. Ira, who is mentioned at length in a separate sketch married. Sarah Ann Tombaugh. Catherine, the wife of William Greeting. Emery, who is unmarried and Samuel, who died on February 15, 1892. The father died on September 3, 1887, and the mother on November 18, 1884. Both were members of the German Reformed church, and were regarded as among the best people of their community.
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