History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 112

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 112
USA > Indiana > Noble County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 112
USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 112
USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 112

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).

He was born on his father's farm in the same township and county May 5, 1871, son of Christian E. and Catherine (Bowsher) Slabaugh. Of his father, who is still a resident of Noble County, more is said on other pages. Sidney was the oldest of four children, and has spent practically all his life in Perry Township, where he acquired his education in the local schools. He lived at home and helped work the home place until twenty-one, and then en- tered into a formal arrangement of salary and other working conditions with his father, which continued for three years longer.

On November 8, 1894, he married Lillie Sackett, who was born in LaGrange County, Indiana, a daughter of Stephen Sackett. Mr. and Mrs. Sla- baugh after their marriage engaged in farming in Perry Township, and have lived on several different places. Finally they bought sixty-two acres in- cluded in their present home and also ninety acres further north in the same township. Mr. Slabaugh is a general farmer and stockraiser and has other business interests, including stock in the Citizens Bank and the Farmers' Co-operative Elevator in Ligonier. He is a democrat and is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America.

CHANCY DAVID STUKEY. Three generations of the Stukey family have played their part well in Greenfield township, LaGrange county. As farmers they have made virgin soil productive, have cleared and improved, and carried on their diversified inter- ests with profit to themselves and credit to their community.

Chancy David Stukey represents the second gen- eration of the family and was born in Greenfield township February 10, 1864. He is a son of Chris- tian and Sarah (Schrock) Stukey, the former a na- tive of Ontario, Canada, and the latter of Ohio. The paternal grandfather Stukey was the founder of the family in Canada, and after his death there his widow married again and with her son Chris- tian and three of his brothers and sisters moved to Ohio. Christian Stukey was educated in Ohio, and when a single man came to Clinton township, Elk- hart county, Indiana. There at the age of twenty-

eight he married Sarah Schrock, whose father, Peter Schrock, was a minister of the Mennonite church and died in Ohio. Christian Stukey was born November 7, 1825, and about 1858 he located in Greenfield Township of LaGrange County. He bought 88 acres in section 14. This land had some improvements. In the spring of 1864 he moved to the 160 acre farm where his son Chancy now lives. He continued his industrious career on that land until death. He and his wife had three children: Elizabeth, who died as Mrs. Ely D. Yoder. Ade- line, wife of Daniel Agley, of Greenfield Township; and Chancy David.

Chancy David Stukey attended the country schools, graduating from the Lima High School in 1888 and for two years was a teacher in his home township. After his marriage he bought a farm near the old homestead, remained there eleven years, and since then has owned and occupied a farm of 160 acres which his father did much to improve. He has remodeled some of the substantial buildings put there by his father. His sons, consti- tuting the third generation of the family, are actively associated with him in farming, and together they own another 160 acres and are engaged in the busi- ness of raising full blood Shorthorn cattle and Bel- gian horses.

Mr. Stukey married in 1892 Miss Mary Lehmer, a native of Greenfield Township and a daughter of Isaac Lehmer. Isaac Lehmer is remembered not only as an early settler of Greenfield Township, but as inventor of one of the first traction engines. Mr. and Mrs. Stukey's three sons are: Frank L., Lee C. and Lynn I. The family are members of the Methodist Church.

E. E. HOUSEL, proprietor of a fine farm at St. John in Butler Township of DeKalb County, is the only son of the late Jared Housel, long a promi- nent old soldier and farmer of DeKalb.

Jared F. Housel was born at Farmington in Trumbull County, Ohio, September 6, 1836, a son of Absalom and Rhoda (Allen) Housel. When he was eleven years of age his parents moved to Wells Countv, Indiana, and from there in 1857 he came to DeKalb County. After several years of farming he was called away to the serious business of war, enlisting on September 25, 1861, in Company K of the 44th Indiana Infantry. He reached the front with his command in the following December, and took part in some of the following operations of the Army of the Tennessee. At the battle of Shi- loh on April 6, 1862, he was wounded in the right thigh and was confined in a hospital at Evansville, Indiana, until November of the same year. He was then discharged and on account of disability re- turned home. Not long afterward he resumed farming, and was actively identified with the agri- cultural interests of Butler Township for many years. In 1882 he became postmaster of DeKalb, and several times was honored with places of trust and responsibility. He was a steadfast republican in politics and served the people of the community of DeKalb or St. John as postmaster for twenty- seven years. He was a member of the Grange and active in the United Brethren Church.

On April 19, 1864, soon after his recovery from his army service, Jared F. Housel married Drucilla Reever. She was a daughter of Michael and Re- becca Reever and was born in Frederick County, Maryland, in 1834. Jared F. Housel died March 18, 1909, and his wife February 6, 1917.

Elza E. Housel, only son of his parents, was born in Butler Township March 4, 1868, and has always lived on the old farm. He owns two hundred acres. He received his education in the common

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schools. On April 12, 1894, Mr. Housel married Sadie A. Snyder. She died June 29, 1918, the moth- er of six children: Esther, at home; Hazel, wife of Hiram Cool; Vernie and Russell W., both high school students; Mary C. and Victor Wayne. Mr. Housel is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and with the Order of Moose. Politically he is a republican.

REV. R. W. PAGE is one of the leading ministers of Northeast Indiana, and for many years has given his able services to the Merrian Christian Church in Noble County.

He was born in Clinton County, Ohio, June 8, 1858, and since boyhood has had to depend upon his own resources, yet has accomplished a wonderful amount of service and good to others and to the cause which he represents. His parents were James R. and Maria (Hardesty) Page. His father was of Scotch-Irish ancestry and was a blacksmith by trade, having a shop at Westboro, Ohio. From there he enlisted as a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war, and he lost his life in that struggle. He left his widow with eight small children, seven sons and one daughter, and she afterward moved with her family to Marion, Indiana.

Rev. Mr. Page had to become self supporting and contribute to the upkeep of the family at the age of eight years. He acquired a liberal education in Marion, Indiana, and since reaching manhood has been a constant student and searcher of the Word, and is a man of much information in books as well as of men and affairs.

While living in Grant County, Indiana, he was converted and became a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. He studied two years and en- tered the ministry of this church, preaching for three years. Later he joined the Christian denomi- nation, and after two years of theological training was ordained in February, 1889. He has held a number of important charges, including Bluffton and the Six Mile Church, and has had two periods of service in the Merrian Christian Church in Noble County. The first time he was its pastor for eight years, then followed an interval of work in Foun- tain and Boone counties for five years. He has now been connected in his third term with the Merrian Christian Church for six years.

October 7, 1876, Rev. Mr. Page married Mary J. Coppock, who was born in Grant County, Indiana, and received her education in the schools of Marion. The following children have been born to their mar- riage: Bert A., who married Winnie Setter, of Wabash County, and lives at Bluffton ; William N., of Butler, Indiana; Eva E., wife of Ambrose E. Mckinney, of Whitley County; Blanche H., wife of Harry Chalfont; Effie F., wife of Ord Ott, of Fort Wayne; Beulah Eileen, wife of Arthur Hire; and Jessie N., who is still at home.

Rev. Mr. Page is affiliated with the Masonic Or- der, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Improved Order of Red Men. He is a member of the Encampment of Odd Fellows and of Marion Canton No. 5 of the Knights of Pythias, and is a past grand and past chief patriarch. In politics he is a republican.

JOHN E. LANG, representing one of the oldest families of Noble County, is secretary-treasurer of Raber & Lang Manufacturing Company, one of the firms that is doing much to raise Kendallville's reputation as a manufacturing center.

Mr. Lang was born at Kendallville, December 15, 1881, son of Julius P. and Lena (Smith) Lang. His father was a native of Brooklyn, New York. a son of Julius Lang, Sr. Julius Lang, Sr., was an

.early resident of Noble County, served at one time as county treasurer, and founded the firm of J. P. Lang & Sons, shoe merchants at Kendallville. After his death this business was continued by his sons and is now conducted under the name Henry Lang. The Lang family is of remote German extraction. As a family they were members of the German Lu- theran Church. Julius Lang had one son and one daughter. The daughter, Elizabeth, is the wife of Louis Holzer, of Kendallville.

John E. Lang spent all his life in Kendallville. He is a graduate of the high school and after leav- ing school was employed in different capacities as a clerk with the firm of Flint & Walling for eight years. He then entered his present business as a partnership, and in 1908 the firm was incorporated. O. P. Raber is president, John E. Lang, secretary and treasurer, and R. L. Raber, superintendent.

In 1905 Mr. Lang married Miss Maude Raber, a graduate of the Waterloo High School. Mrs. Lang is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is affiliated with Lodge No. 276, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Chapter No. 64, Royal Arch Ma- sons, Council No. 50, Royal and Select Masters. In politics he is a republican, represents the Fourth Ward in the city council and is a member of the Rotary Club.

HENRY J. PLATT was for many years a business man of LaGrange, and as proprietor of the Platt Monumental Works, now owned by his widow, de- veloped a business second in size and importance to none of its kind in Northeast Indiana.

He was born at Akron, Ohio, July 15, 1851. Soon after his birth his parents moved to Jones- ville, Michigan, and at the age of eighteen he came to LaGrange. Here as an employe of Jacob New- man he became a finished and skillful stone cutter and acquired a knowledge of the monument busi- ness. Later he and his brother-in-law, Robert Hays, hought the Newman establishment, and the firm of Platt & Hays was formed, but for many years Mr. Platt individually owned the industry and established it on such sure footing that it contin- nes to enjoy the prestige of its former owner. Mrs. Platt is herself a splendid business woman, and keeps the works in their accustomed channel of progressiveness and prosperity. Mr. Platt died at LaGrange March 20, 1915.

April 5, 1877, he married Phoebe . Hays. Their home life was one of ideal happiness and their com- panionship continued unmarred for nearly forty years. In that time six children were born, four, Grace, Vibra, Charles and Lydia, dying at an early age. The two now living are Myra and Lora. Myra is the wife of Franz W. Frurip, and they have two children, Franz Platt and Leland Hays. Lora is the wife of J. Vawter Rowan, of Indiana- polis, and to their marriage were horn three chil- dren, Henry Platt, John Vawter and James Platt. Henry Platt is deceased.

The late Henry J. Platt as a business man ad- hered to a routine of absolute integrity in all his transactions, and that was only a reflection of his generous character. He was a Knight Templar and Scottish Rite Mason, a member of the Mystic Shrine, and was also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. For several years he was a member of the Board of Town Trustees of LaGrange, and during that official service he worked without ceas- ing in behalf of permanent paving for the city streets. Both he and his wife were active members of the Presbyterian Church.

Mrs. Phoebe (Hays) Platt was born in Johnson Township, LaGrange County, October 9, 1859, a

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daughter of David and Lydia (Ferguson) Hays ... vania in 1863, when their son John J., was seven Her parents were both natives of Pennsylvania. years old, and located on a farm in Newbury Town- Her father was born in Washington County June ship of LaGrange County. Jacob Kauffman was a 30, 1813, and her mother on September 18, 1816. blacksmith by trade. In 1873, aften ten years of residence in LaGrange County, he moved with his family to Cedar County, Missouri. He and his wife had fourteen children, ten of whom reached man- hood and womanhood, and nine of them went to Missouri. He lived in that state until his death in 1897, at the age of sixty-three. His wife died in Missouri in 1891, at the age of sixty-eight. Both were members of the Brethren Church. They were married in Ohio April 18, 1839, and in 1853 came to LaGrange County, buying a farm near Oliver Lake. About 1874 they moved to LaGrange, where David Hays was connected with the grain firm of Wills & Clugston and manager of the ele- vator. He died at LaGrange July 2, 1881, at the age of sixty-eight. His widow survived him until December 13, 1904. Soon after her death the old Hays homestead in LaGrange was sold. David Hays was a republican, and while living in Johnson Township served as township trustee and later was a member of the school board at LaGrange. He had become affiliated with the Presbyterian Church at the age of eighteen and for twenty-five years was a ruling elder. He and his wife were charter members of one of the churches of that denomi- nation in LaGrange County. Mr. and Mrs. Hays had eight children: Mary Jane, who died in child- hood; William, who died during the Civil war; Crosby, who died at Tacoma, Washington, in 1890; Sarah Ellen, who died in 1912, the wife of Isaac Van Kirk; Levi Ferguson; Robert F., who died in 1902; Phoebe Ann, Mrs. Platt; and Alice A., who died in infancy.

ORLO R. WERKER is one of the younger genera- tion of farmers in Noble County and has assumed many of the responsibilities and burdens carried by his father for so many years. He lives on the old Werker homestead a mile west of Kimmell and three miles east of Cromwell.

He was born on that farm August 21, 1892, son of Yangulph and Clara A. (Schlabach) Werker. His father was a native of Germany and his mother was born in Ohio. The Schlabach family have long been prominent in Noble County, locating there in 1860. Yangulph Werker and wife were married in that county and were the parents of seven children : Charles; William, of Iowa City, Iowa; Melvin L., of Kimmell; Wallace, of Sparta Township; John, of Montana ; Orlo; and Harvey, of Fort Wayne.

Orlo R. Werker has spent all his life on the old homestead, and as a boy attended the district schools. He married Effie E. Naggart, who was also born in Sparta Township. They have two children : Georgia Y. and Lewis R. The family are members of the Sparta Christian Church.

Mr. Werker is affiliated with Cromwell Lodge No. 408, Knights of Pythias, and is a democrat. He is making a success as a farmer and stockraiser, and has the management of 120 acres.

JOHN J. KAUFFMAN. As the present county as- sessor of LaGrange County, for many years a mer- chant, public official, business man and farmer, John J. Kauffman will be readily recognized as one of the best known citizens of this part of Northeast Indiana.

He was born near the city of Johnstown, Penn- sylvania, July 27, 1856, a son of Jacob and Susan (Miller) Kauffman, both natives of Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Jonas Kauffman, left that section of Pennsylvania and with some of his family settled in Kent County, Michigan, about 1864. Jonas lived there until his death about six years later. His first wife had died in Pennsylvania, and he mar- ried for his second wife Martha Miller, who died about 1885. The maternal grandfather of the county assessor was Jacob Miller, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Newbury Township of LaGrange County in 1864 and died there in 1874.

Jacob and Susan Kauffman moved from Pennsyl-

John J. Kauffman acquired his early education in the public schools of LaGrange County. He was eighteen years old when the family went to Missouri, and he lived there with them about two years. He then returned to LaGrange County, and was the only member of the family to come back to Northeast Indiana. Mr. Kauffman has a brother, Joseph, living at Tacoma, Washington. His brothers Eune and Charles are successful fruit ranchers near Selma in Fresno County, California, and both are married and have families. Another brother, Moses, is living near Preston, Kansas. The only sister is Mrs. Joseph Reitz, of Kansas City, Missouri. Two other brothers, Henry and Amos, are residents of Cedar County, Missouri, Henry owning part of the old homestead. Jacob and Levi both died about 1901, Jacob leaving a large family, while Levi was unmarried.

In 1883 Mr. John J. Kauffman established the first store at Shore, Indiana. He was in business there about four years, then for two years mer- chandised at LaGrange, and in 1889 went to Ship- shewana, where he was a successful and leading business man until 1909. In that year he bought a farm in Clay Township, where he has since re- sided. From November 15, 1897, to November I, 1902, Mr. Kauffman was postmaster of Shipshe- wana. The incumbent of that office was selected by popular vote among the patrons of the office, and Mr. Kauffman was preferred among four can- didates. He was elected county assessor in 1918.

Mr. Kauffman married Florence A. (Sparks) Merriman, daughter of Thomas Sparks, one of the early settlers of Newbury Township, who married a Miss Nelson. Mrs. Kauffman's parents moved out to Oklahoma when the Cherokee strip was opened in the early 'gos, and they lived there until their death, the mother in 1908 and the father in 1911. Mr. Kauffman has a son, John C. Kauff- man, who is a farmer near Chenoa, Illinois, and is married and has three children.

Since about 1894 Mr. Kauffman has been an auctioneer by profession. For some years he was also a traveling salesman, for two years represent- ing the Deering Harvester Company.

CHARLES A. KUNCE is senior member of the firm Kunce & Minnick, automobile dealers and garage proprietors at LaGrange. Mr. Kunce has been a farmer, business man and public official in La- Grange County for many years, and is one of the best known citizens of Northeast Indiana.

He was born near Helmer in Salem Township of Steuben County February 5, 1874. His father, the late George R. Kunce, was born in Hunting- ton County, Indiana, August 23, 1842, son of Henry and Susanna (Rhemes) Kunce, the former born in Pennsylvania August 20, 1805, and the latter in the same state June 28, 1807. Henry Kunce was one of the pioneer settlers of Huntington County, In- diana, going there from Perry County. Ohio. He and his wife had a family of eleven children: John, born April 18, 1827; Andrew, born February 7, 1829; Julia Ann, born December 20, 1830; Jacob,

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born April 15, 1833, and was killed as a Union sol- dier in 1863; Elizabeth, born August 3, 1835; Henry, born February II, 1838, served with his brother Jacob in the Civil war and afterward returned home; Thomas, born May 26, 1840; George R., born August 23, 1842; Emanuel B., born February 10, 1845; Amos W., born May 19, 1847; and Su- sanna E., born December 7, 1850.

George R. Kunce grew up in Huntington Coun- ty, and with his brothers shared in the toils and labors of a pioneer farm. He was noted for his physical strength and was a man of great industry all his life. September 29, 1864, he enlisted as a private in Company F of the Garrison Guards, which was an unassigned part of the 32d Regiment of Indiana Infantry. He was on military duty until discharged May 8, 1865. In 1872 George R. Kunce settled in Steuben County and in 1879 moved to LaGrange County, and lived in Springfield Town- ship until his death on September 2, 1919. In 1887 he bought forty acres of land in that township, and on January 18, 1890, bought an additional fifty- two and a half acres. His first wife was Hattie Smith, and the one child of that union, Della, is now Mrs. Cornell, of Huntington, Indiana. His second wife, whom he married in 1872, was Amy Glasgo, who was born in Ohio and was reared from childhood in Steuben County. She died in Kansas. She was the mother of two children: Charles A .; and Lottie, now Mrs. Chalmers of Larned, Kansas. In 1881 George R. Kunce married Savilla (Bumpus) Paulus. There were no children of that marriage, but his wife had a daughter by her first husband, now Mrs. Maud Hockensmith, of Huntington.

Charles A. Kunce was five years old when his father moved to Springfield Township, LaGrange County, in 1879, and he grew to manhood and lived in that township until he was thirty-four. Then for several years he engaged in farming but in 1908 left the farm and became a merchant at Brushy Prairie. He was in business there about two and a half years, when he sold out, and on July 3, 1911, came to LaGrange and engaged in the livery husi- ness. He continued furnishing a high class livery service from the county seat until 1916. At that date he entered the garage business and in 1917 sold his livery. From 1916 for one year he had the agency for the Overland car. For the past two years his firm has been local distributors for the Ford cars. The business was first the LaGrange Auto Company, its partners being B. S. Walters, R. N. Walters, G. Latty and Charles A. Kunce. Later Long & Price bought all the interests except those of Mr. Kunce, and the firm then became known as the LaGrange Sales and Service Com- pany. Mr. Kunce sold his interest during his can- didacy for sheriff of LaGrange County. He was appointed deputy sheriff under Charles A. Min- nick, his present partner in business. Later he and Mr. Minnick bought out the automobile business and the firm is now Kunce & Minnick.

Mr. Kunce is a republican and has wielded con- siderable influence in local politics. He is a mem- ber of the Ancient Order of Gleaners.

February 14, 1897, he married Effa Galloway. She was born at Auburn in DeKalb County Sep- tember 8, 1875, a daughter of Samuel T. and Ma- tilda J. (Wyatt) Galloway. Her mother is a sister of Doctor Wyatt of LaGrange. Her father was born in Ashland County, Ohio, July 27, 1846, while her mother was born in DeKalb County April 15, 1849. Samuel T. Galloway was a son of Thomas and Mary A. (Tarney) Galloway, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Ohio. Thomas

Galloway and seven brothers came from Scotland and settled in Ohio, Thomas locating in Ashland county, where he married and where he lived until his death about 1878. His widow spent her last years in Ashland County, Ohio. Mrs. Kunce's ma- ternal grandfather was John Wyatt, a pioneer of DeKalb County who entered government land and became widely known as a farmer and public spir- ited citizen. He died in 1906, at the venerable age of ninety-five. Mrs. Kunce's father went to De- Kalb County when a young man, was married there, and for a number of years was a carpenter and contractor living at Auburn. Later he established his home at Orland, where he continued in the con- tracting business, and subsequently was a farmer in Jackson Township of Steuben County. March 20, 1902, he came to LaGrange and bought the Clov- erdale Feed Barn, continuing that business for sev- eral years. He also built a fine home at LaGrange and did other building in and around that city. Mr. Galloway died in 1916 and Mrs. Kunce's moth- er is now living at South Bend. Mrs. Kunce was one of eight daughters, six of whom are still liv- ing: Mintie, wife of Howard Adams; Vinnie B., wife of Joseph Wehrly; Effa, Mrs. Kunce; Mamie, who died at the age of seven months; Lena, wife of Charles Munger, of Los Angeles, California; Beulah, who died when eight years old; and Bertha and Bernice, twins, both living with their mother at South Bend.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Kunce are three in number. Glada Marie, born in March, 1899, graduated from the LaGrange High School in 1918, and is now continuing her studies in Purdue Uni- versity. Samuel, who was born December 15, 1902, is a senior in the LaGrange High School. The youngest of the family is Margaret, born October 9, 1909.

CHARLES R. STAGE represents one of the older families of Noble County. His grandfather came here in pioneer times and acquired and developed a large amount of new and raw land. Charles R. Stage is still living on part of that original home- stead, three and a quarter miles northeast of Ligo- nier.

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History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 112

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