History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 100

Author: Ford, Ira, 1848- ed
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 618

USA > Indiana > LaGrange County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 100
USA > Indiana > Noble County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 100
USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 100
USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 100

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).

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

responsibilities as township trustee. He is making a success at his business as a general farmer and stock raiser, and has a fine and well improved place of 127 acres in section 32.

HOLLY J. BONTRAGER, the present trustce of New- bury Township, is one of the busy and energetic young men of affairs of Shipshewana. His own career has been a continuation of an honorable family record that has been identified with La- Grange County since early times.

Mr. Bontrager was born in Newbury Township September 14, 1881, a son of John A. and Sarah (Hershberger) Bontrager. His mother was born in Starke County, Indiana, June 9, 1862, a daugli- ter of Abraham Hershberger. His father was born in Newbury Township October 5, 1856. Mr. Bon- trager's great-grandfather, John Bontrager, was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, October 3, 1781. In December, 1802, he married Barbara Johns, who was born November 22, 1782. Their family consisted of the following children: Fannie, born September 22, 1803; John, born March 10, 1805; Maggie, born January 23, 1807; Mary, born Novem- ber 14, 1808; Joseph, born August 4, 1811; Gertie, born January 25, 1814; Christian, born January 16, 1816; Barbara, born July 21, 1819; and Amos, born November 20, 1826.

The family record is continued through Amos Bontrager, who married Lydia Miller. She was born two years after her husband, on July 21, 1828, and was a native of Western Pennsylvania. Amos Bontrager was one of an early colony of settlers to come from Pennsylvania to Northeast Indiana. The journey was made along the Ohio River until they started north to LaGrange County. The Bontragers brought along a herd of sheep and a number of cattle. Amos Bontrager located in section 21 of Newbury Township about 1848, and lived there the rest of his life. He died October 24, 1899, and his wife December 21, 1898. The names of their chil- dren and dates of birth are as follows: Rosa, born March 10, 1850; Gertie, June 12, 1851; Isaac, Jan- uary 29, 1853; Barbara. November 21, 1854; John, October 5, 1856; Benjamin, October 30, 1858; Tobias, stillborn, 1860; Eli, December 16, 1861 ; David, De- cember 30, 1864; Lydia, March 15, 1867; Abner, February. 19, 1870; and one daughter, stillborn, 1873.

John A. Bontrager has been a farmer in Newbury Township since early manhood and owns a good farm of 100 acres there. His wife died December 20, 1898. They had three children: Holly J., Todd J., born November 17, 1884; and Sadie, born Sep- tember 14, 1898, and died January 2, 1899.

Holly J. Bontrager attended district school in Newbury Township. is a graduate of the high school at Shipshewana, and the first year out of high school he taught in that township. From 1902 to 1915 he lived in Chicago, and on returning to LaGrange County was associated in farming with his father until February, 1919. Since that date he has given his time and energies to his duties as secretary and treasurer of the Farver Lumber Company of Ship- shewana. Mr. Bontrager was elected to the office of township trustee in November, 1918, and entered office in the following January.

June 16, 1909, he married Ethel Preston, a daugh- ter of Henry and Mary ( Raymond) Preston. Mrs. Bontrager, who died August 26, 1914, was the mother of two children: Maurice, born January 31, 1910; and Frances, born May 16, 1914. On April 22, 1919. Mr. Bontrager married Ida Brasen, a daughter of Olaf and Sophia Brasen.

FRANK M. SMITH, who has been identified with the ownership and operation of a number of farms

in Northern Indiana and elsewhere, also was for- merly proprietor of some of the grain elevators in LaGrange County, is a native of that county, and of a family relationship that has received special attention on other pages of this publication.

He was born near Cedar Lake in Lima Township January 16, 1854, a son of James and Sarah ( Burnell) Smith. His mother, it should be noted, was born in England and was six years of age when, her mother having died, she came to the United States with her father, Thomas Burnell, whose name is prominently identified with the carly settlement of LaGrange County, where he located in 1830 and built the first frame house on English Prairie.

Frank M. Smith was six years of age when with his parents he came to Greenfield Township, and he grew up on a farm, supplementing his advantages in the local schools at Orland Academy and the LaGrange Collegiate Institute at Ontario. He also had normal school instruction, and on February 22, 1873, graduated from the commercial department of Hillsdale College in Michigan. With this training he taught school six winters, working on the farm in other seasons. He then engaged in farming as his regular vocation. and bought eighty acres in section 16 of Lima Township. Later he added 160 acres and had a complete and well equipped farm of 240 acres. He bought and sold a number of tracts of land, and at the present time his holdings are represented by eighty acres in Clay Township, forty acres in Lima Township, 160 acres in St. Joseph County, Michigan, and 160 acres in Scott County. Kansas.

Mr. Smith came to Howe in 1901 and engaged in the grain business, at the same time looking after his farms. For several years be bought grain, and later he bought the elevator at Shipshewana and about six months later the Wolcottville elevator. Half a year later he sold these and bought a half interest in the elevator at Howe, hut sold that in 1018. He now devotes his time to looking after his farms and is also owner of some good property at Howe. Mr. Smith is non-partisan in politics. His wife is an Episcopalian.

On January 15, 1878. he married Florence Augusta Deal, daughter of Elisha and Catherine ( Millis) Deal. To their marriage were horn three children, and they now have one .grandchild. Catherine Ber- nice. the oldest daughter, is a graduate of the Howe High School. and by her marriage to Willard G. Sweitzer. of Howe, has a daughter, Catherine. Nel- lie Deal Smith completed her education in the Howe High School and died in 1909, at the age of twenty- three. Marv Elizabeth is a graduate of the Howe High School, had other educational advantages, and is the wife of Dr. Frank Cummings, of LaGrange.

Mrs. Smith was born in Springfield Townshin of LaGrange County January 27, 1859. Her grandpar- ents were Conrad and Elizabeth ( Rawles) Deal, who settled in Springfield Township at an early date. cleared un a farm, and Conrad died in 1870. Elisha Deal, father of Mrs. Smith, was born in Marion County, Ohio. in 1830, and was five years old when he came with his parents to Springfield Township. He lived with his father until he was twenty-seven, when he began farming for himself. For many years he also operated a threshing ma- chine, and had one of the pioneer outfits in La- Grange County. He was owner of a farm of 120 acres in Springfield Township. Elisha Deal married, February 14, 1857, Catherine Millis, a daughter of Levin and Ruth (Leonard) Millis, natives of Mary- land, where Catherine was born in 1834. Elisha Deal and wife had two daughters, Augusta and Mary E., the latter born August 27, 1863.

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

PHILIP CHOLER. The Choler family, prominently represented in LaGrange County by the present county clerk and also by Mr. Philip Choler, one of the largest land owners and leading farmers of Bloomfield Township, was established here more than half a century ago.

Philip Choler was born in Bloomfield Township October 4, 1866, two years after his parents, Levi and Elizabeth (Groff) Choler, established their home in Bloomfield. The parents were both born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. On coming to LaGrange County Levi Choler worked in a saw mill for two years and then bought land and farmed continuously until his death. He owned 160 acres and he and his family were members of the Lutheran Church. His children were: Kate, wife of A. D. Griffith, of Sturgis, Michigan; Phoebe, deceased wife of John Fellows; Mary, Mrs. J. N. Smith, of LaGrange; Philip; Etta, wife of A. J. Gilbert, of California; George, present county clerk of LaGrange County ; and Dora, Mrs. Milo Yoder, of Middlebury, Indiana.

Philip Choler attended the Pleasant Hill School when a boy, and since his school days has been identified with farming. Through many years of industrious effort he has acquired a large and valu- able farm, comprising 250 acres. He has lived on this farm since 1899, and in twenty years has erected a number of substantial buildings.

January 8, 1895, he married Miss Ella Fisher. She was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, a daugh- ter of Adam and Mary Jane (Sherley) Fisher, the former a native of Columbiana County and the latter of Noble County, Indiana. Mrs. Choler's ma- ternal grandmother, Jane (Frederick) Sherley, is still living at the age of ninety years, making her home among her children. She and her husband came from Columbiana County, Ohio, and were early settlers in Noble County, and afterward lived in Steuben County. Her two brothers, William and Ira, were Union soldiers. Mr. Choler's maternal uncle, Philip Groff, was also a soldier in the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Choler are members of the Lutheran Church. They have three children: Vern, Dora Marie and Iva Elizabeth. Dora is the wife of Robert Frutig, a farmer of Bloomfield Township. The son Vern is an honored soldier of the recent war. He was in the service twenty months and one day and in all that time was never home on a leave of absence. He sailed overseas June 11, 1918, in Company D of the Three Hundred and Fourteenth Engineers, part of the Eighty-Ninth Division. He returned to America May 26, 1919. When he went into army camp he trained for the infantry but later was transferred to the engineers. While along the battle front he was slightly gassed. He now makes his home with his father.

WILLIAM M. SANXTER. Northeastern Indiana has produced some of the most prosperous farmers and reliable citizens of the country, men who understand their work and love their country, and can be depended upon to continue their agricultural labors as long as there is need of their efforts to produce a sufficient amount of food to supply domestic and foreign demands, now so greatly increased because of the great war. One of the men who belongs to this class is William M. Sanxter of Otsego Town- ship, Steuben County. He was born in Richland Township, Steuben County, September 12, 1861, a son of Christopher and Rebecca (Brown) Sanxter, both natives of England, he born in 1822 and she in 1824. They were married in England, where four of their children were born, and then in 1852 they came to the United States, landing at New York City. With them came Joseph Brown and James Peachey, neighbors, Joseph Brown being the father-

in-law of Christopher Sanxter and James Peachey. The trip across the ocean took sixteen weeks, as they were shipwrecked, and they had many adven- tures. They were a little more fortunate than many emigrants of their day, as there was enough money among them to pay the railroad fare of the women and children to their objective point, Medina County, Ohio, but the men had to make the trip on foot. Christopher Sanxter and his family later went to Wayne County, Ohio, and still later came to Steuben County, securing land in Otsego Town- ship, but not being satisfied went to DeKalb County, Indiana. Two years later they returned to Steuben County, and spent two years in Richland Township, but then returned to Otsego Township, where Mr. Sanxter owned 1671/2 acres, and here he died in 1889, his wife having passed away in 1883. He was a republican and took pride in the fact that he cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. Both he and his wife joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in England, and connected themselves with that denomination upon coming to their new home. Their children were as follows: Arthur; Catherine, who married J. S. Baker; Frederick, who died in England; Margaret; Frederick (II), who is de- ceased; Margaret (II), who is deceased; Mary Delaney, who married Ted Craig; William M., whose name heads this review; and Ella M., who is the wife of George Beard of DeKalb County. The first four children were born in England, and the remaining five in the United States.

William M. Sanxter was reared in Steuben Coun- ty, and attended the schools of his neighborhood. Having been brought up amid rural surroundings, he early decided to become a farmer and has de- voted himself to agricultural work, now owning a fine farm of 120 acres in Otsego Township, where he carries on general farming and stock raising. Both by inheritance and inclination he is a re- publican.

On January 1, 1884, Mr. Sanxter was married to Ella M. Erlsten, born at Defiance, Ohio, November 7, 1863, a daughter of Alexander and Sarah (Zyler) Erlsten. . Alexander Ersten was born in Wayne County, Ohio, January 1, 1834, and his wife was born in Richland County, Ohio, November 26, 1842. They were married in Ohio, and April .11, 1878, settled on the farm now occupied by Mr. Sanxter. In 1886 they moved to Hamilton, Indiana, where he now lives, but Mrs. Erlsten died December 27, 1918. They had the following children: Ella; Charles, who is deceased; Daisy; and Clara. Mr. Erlsten served during the Civil war as a soldier in the Union army, enlisting in 1861 in the Thirty- Eighth Ohio Infantry, and served for fourteen months, when he was honorably discharged. Mr. and Mrs. Sanxter became the parents of the fol- lowing children: Erlsten Arthur, who married Clara Kepler of Steuben County, has the following children, Estle, Luella and Forrest; Forrest Glenn, who is deceased; Shirley, who married Eula Tee- gardin, a daughter of Thomas Teegardin of Otsego Township, has the following children, Geraldine, Lawana and Marian; Leon, who married Mrs. Inez Tee, has one son, William Edward; Olen G., who is mentioned below; Leta and Lois, both of whom are at home. Olen G. Sanxter was a member of the National Guards and saw service on the Mexican border during 1917, and in the World war, receiv- ing his honorable discharge December 16, 1918, as second lieutenant. He was at Camp Shelby and Camp Taylor. The Sanxter family is one of the best known ones in Steuben County, and it is con- nected by marriage with many other old established ones in this part of the state. The members of

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this family have ever proven themselves worthy citizens and upright men and women, and the several communities fortunate enough to have them as residents can be sure of securing from them a hearty and effective support of public-spirited move- ments and also those tending toward a moral uplift.

GEORGE STRATER. Perhaps at no time in the coun- try's history has every agricultural interest been of so much importance as at the present time, and it is the capable, industrious farmer who has the op- portunity of not only reaping just returns for his hard work, but of also demonstrating a spirit of generous patriotism that entitles him to the gratitude of the rest of the country. One of the excellent farmers and representative citizens of Noble County is George Strater, whose farm is on the southeast quarter of section 26 in Wayne Township. Mr. Strater is the more entitled to credit since he started life absolutely without capital, and has ac- quired a farm, paid for it, improved it, and won his way into the class of most industrious and capable citizens.

He was born in Orange Township of Noble County April 15, 1868, son of John F. and Margaret (Toby) Strater. His parents were both born in Germany, came to the United States with their re- spective parents, located in Richland County, Ohio, where they grew up and married, and then moved to Indiana and established a home in Orange Town- ship, of Noble County. Here they spent the rest of their lives. They began with eighty acres of new land, and kept improving and adding more until they had a complete farm of 260 acres. Besides making this fine farm they had a large family of children grow up around them and for whom they provided liberally. Of their twelve children one died at the age of two years, and one other in 1915. Ten are still living: Catherine, wife of Samuel Linsey, of DeKalb County, Indiana; Mary, of Wayne Township; Nettie, widow of Nelson Chamberlin ; Laura, unmarried ; George; J. M. Strater, of Orange Township; Harvey, of Orange Township; Minnie, wife of W. A. Rhea; Emma, wife of John Rhea; and Albert. of Wayne Township.

George Strater grew up on the home farm, at- tended the common schools, and was with his parents to the age of twenty-one. For one year he worked in Howard County, but with that exception has since lived in Noble County. On September 15, 1896, he married Miss Jennie Ross. She was born in Orange Township. Mr. and Mrs. Strater began house- keeping with practically nothing excepting a few household goods, and as tenants and renters they kept steadily marching ahead, largely in an era of low prices and little demand for what they produced, but eventually have secured and paid for their pres- ent farm of 160 acres, which is a handsome property and very valuable. Mr. Strater handles all kinds of the best grade of stock. He is a democrat in politics and a member of the Evangelical Church at Ken- dallville. Mr. and Mrs. Strater have two living children : Norman R. and Dorothy, both graduates of the common schools and still at home.

JACOB S. HOSTETLER, who is the father of Josiah J. Hostetler of Shipshewana, has for over thirty years been one of the leading farmers of LaGrange County, and a citizen well known and well liked in his community.

He was born in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, March 26, 1863, son af Samuel and Sarah (Miller) Hostetler, both of whom were natives of Cambria County. The maternal grandparents were Jacob and Fannie ( Hershberger) Miller. The paternal grandfather Peter Hostetler was horn in Pennsyl-

vania November 30, 1807, and married Elizabeth Eash. Their children were Polly, Susan, Isaac, Samuel, Henry, Sarah, Lydia. Samuel Hostetler came to Clay Township, LaGrange County, in 1869 and after living on a farm there fourteen years moved eight miles further west to Newbury Town- ship, where he made his home on a farm until his death in 1890. His widow is still living. They were the parents of nine children, named Amanda, who be- came the wife of Aaron D. Yoder ; Jacob S .; Fannie ; Daniel S .; Samuel; Levi; Amos; Henry and Sarah.

Jacob S. Hostetler was five or six years of age when brought to LaGrange County and he acquired his education in the district schools of Clay Town- ship. In 1887 he married Matilda Miller, daughter of Moses P. Miller. For sixteen years after his marriage he was a farmer in Clay Township and in 1903 he moved to Newbury Township. For the past nine years his home has been in section 23, where he owns his farm of eighty acres.

His first wife died in '1898, the mother of three children, Orva C., Josiah J., and Willis, Josiah alone surviving. In 1899 Mr. Hostetler married Carrie Sunthimer and has one child, Ora Wilson. Mr. and Mrs. Hostetler are members of the Amish Mennonite Church.

JOSIAH J. HOSTETLER. A prominent and substan- tial old pioneer family of LaGrange County is that of Hostetler, one largely agricultural although not entirely so, as is evidenced in a well known repre- sentative, Josiah J. Hostetler, who is postmaster at Shipshewana and has been connected with railroad affairs at this point.

Josiah J. Hostetler was born in Clay Township, LaGrange County, Indiana, August 20, 1890, the son of Jacob S. and Matilda (Miller) Hostetler, and a grandson of Samuel and Sarah Hostetler, who came very early to LaGrange County. The grand- father died here but the grandmother survives and is one of the oldest residents of Newbury Town- ship. The mother of Josiah J. Hostetler died when he was a child. His father subsequently married Caroline Sunthimer, and they have one child, Orie, and the family home is in Newbury Township. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Hostetler was Moses P. Miller, a man of prominence in the county at one time, and extended mention of whom will be found in this work.

After attending the public schools Mr. Hostetler took a short course in Goshen College, and then accepted the position of ticket agent for the Valley Line Railroad at Shipshewana, in which he con- tinued until May, 1918, when he was appointed post- master. From early manhood Mr. Hostetler has been a democrat and, believing the principles of this organization are best for the public good, has brought his political strength to bear in their sup- port. The office of postmaster at Shipshewana is no sinecure, the rapid development of the place bringing additional duties and responsibilities. Mr. Hostetler is a popular official and personally enjoys the esteem of everyone.

JOHN H. SCHERMERIJORN. The annals of the Schermerhorn family cover almost the entire period in which LaGrange County has been the home of civilized. men. The family history here goes back over eighty years. Several of the Schermerhorns are well known in the county as practical and pro- gressive farmers, good citizens, and men who have shown a disposition to assume the duties required for the public welfare.

One of the family is Mr. John H. Schermerhorn, a farmer living on his father's old homestead in Clear Spring Township. He was born on that farm

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

December 26, 1876, a son of Horace G. Schermer- horn and a grandson of Ernestus Schermerhorn.

Ernestus Schermerhorn was born in Onondaga County, New York, March 21, 1802. He married Ann Johnson, who was born in the same county. In 1836 they came West, bringing their four children, and located at Howe, Indiana. Ernestus Schermer- horn was a salt boiler by trade, and owned an interest in salt works in the East and also operated a canal boat. In LaGrange County he entered 200 acres of government land in Clay Township, and in 1837 moved into his log cabin in the midst of the woods. Two years later he sold that and bought 240 acres in Clear Spring Township, in section 4. This is the land now owned by his youngest son, Horace, and operated 'by his grandson, John H. Ernestus Schermerhorn was a straight out repub- lican in politics. He was a devoted reader of the old New York Tribune and placed special confi- dence in everything Horace Greeley, its editor, said until Greeley went on Jeff Davis' bond, a procedure that disgusted this reader, as it did many other of the faithful. Ernestus Schermerhorn was the first county assessor of LaGrange County. He was the father of twelve children, seven sons and two daughters reaching maturity. The only two now living are Aaron P. and Horace G. Aaron was born January 2, 1830, and lives at Stroh in LaGrange County.

Horace G. Schermerhorn was born on the old homestead in section 4 of Clear Spring Township August 17, 1847, grew up there and had a common school education. April 4, 1874, he married Evaline Wemple. She was born in New York State, but was brought to Indiana when only a girl. They had five children: Alice, wife of Bert Wier, of LaGrange County; John H .; Myrtie, unmarried and living with her father; Nettie, wife of Earl Fisher, of LaGrange, and Bessie, wife of William Bogert, living on the home farm. Horace Schermerhorn is a republican, served as township assessor, and is now chairman of the County Council of LaGrange County.

John H. Schermerhorn has spent his life on the old homestead. He is the only son of his parents. He graduated from the LaGrange High School, and has taken the short course in agriculture at Purdue University. He is one of the progressive and suc- cessful farmers of the county, and pays much atten- tion to livestock.

August 15, 1906, he married Bertha Showalter. She was born in LaGrange County and is a gradu- ate of the common schools. They have four chil- dren : Horace A., born August 9, 1907; Oneida M., born December 17, 1909; Mary A., born February 9, 1912, and Elmer O., born October 31, 1918. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Schermerhorn is a republican and spent one term of four years as a member of the County Council. In early life he put in five years as a teacher in the district school.

EDWIN R. POWERS, of Angola, was born in Wil- liams County, Ohio, October 25, 1862, a son of Edwin and Clarissa L. (Jones) Powers, the former a native of New York State. The grandparents were Winn and Betsey Powers, who were identified with the earliest settlement of Steuben County, coming about 1836. Edwin Powers, Sr., was seven years old when brought to Steuben County. He attended a school at home kept and taught by his father. He followed the occupation of farming and for a number of years owned a farm in Williams County, Ohio. He finally moved to Angola to edu- cate his children. His wife died in 1872. He served as township treasurer in Williams County, Ohio,

and was a democrat in politics. He and his wife had the following children: Winn, who for two terms was mayor of the City of St. Paul, Minne- sota, and while mayor the commission form of government was established; Edwin R .; Dora B., of Minneapolis; Frank L., county assessor of Ram- sey County, Minnesota; Daisy, wife of Mr. Wise- man, of St. Paul.

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History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 100

Author: Ford, Ira, 1848- ed Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 618

Author: Ford, Ira, 1848- ed
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 618