History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 113

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 113
USA > Indiana > Noble County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 113
USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 113
USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 113

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 there November 13, 1866, a son of Theron D. Stage and a grandson of Benjamin F. Stage. The grandfather was a native of Ohio and on coming to Indiana entered land from the Gov- ernment and gradually increased his holdings until he owned about 800 acres. He died in Perry Town- ship at a good old age, honored and respected. In politics he was a whig. Theron Stage was born and reared on the old Stage homestead in Noble County and spent all his life there. He died at the age of fifty-one. He was a republican and was honored with several township offices.

Charles R. Stage was the only son of his parents. He acquired a good education in the district schools and the Ligonier High School and for several years lived in Chicago, where he was employed and was also in business for himself. He returned home at the death of his father, and has since been owner and manager of the farm. He has done much in improving the grades of livestock and is a breeder of the Polled Aberdeen Angus cattle, his herd being headed by Sergeant of Angelhurst. He also has good grades of Holstein cattle and other stock. Mr. Stage is a stockholder in the Farmers' Co-operative Elevator in Ligonier.

In 1893 he married Miss Edith Cochran, who was born and reared in Perry Township, a daughter of William A. Cochran. They have two children : Glenn T., who is now attending school at Ligonier;

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

and Eleanor, who was born in 1910. Mr. Stage is a republican in politics.

CHARLES S. NICHOLS from the standpoint of ex- perience and service is the second eldest banker of LaGrange County. For about a quarter of a century he has been identified as cashier and presi- dent with the State Bank of Howe.

He is a member of an old and prominent family of the county. He was born November 14, 1865, at the Nichols homestead in Greenfield Township. The property is still in the family. His parents were Charles G. and Ella (Burnell) Nichols. His paternal grandfather, Drusus Nichols, was born in Connecticut and at an early day came to Indiana and became owner of the Mongo Mills and Dis- tillery and was also a merchant there. Charles G. Nichols was born in Connecticut in 1838, and was the only child of his parents. He was well educated, at first at Mongo, later at Notre Dame University at South Bend, and finally in the LaGrange County Collegiate Institute. He was a man of extensive interests, represented by 400 acres of land in Green- field Township. He specialized in the breeding and raising of road horses. For many years he was township assessor and for one term county asses- sor. In politics he was a republican, and he and his wife were active in the Episcopal Church. Charles G. Nichols died at Howe in 1892.

He married in Greenfield Township Miss Ella Burnell, who was born in that township and died in 1903. Her parents were Samuel and Mary (Mason) Burnell, who settled in Greenfield Town- ship about 1831. Samuel Burnell as one of the pioneers took up a tract of government land on English Prairie, and owned 240 acres there, known as the Burnell Farm. He also had other lands and was a man of great enterprise and ability. He died at Lima January 7, 1889. In the Burnell fam- ily were three children: Ella; Jennie, wife of Charles F. Gunther; and John, deceased. Charles G. Nichols and wife had six children. Drusus B., who died in 1891, married Jennie Shipman, and they had three children, named James H., Drusus and Marion. Mary S. Nichols is unmarried, and she and her brother Charles S. live together. Charles S. was the third in age. Samuel B. is fourth. Frank M. died August 12, 1915. He mar- ried Rachel Kenyon, and had two children, Charles Kenyon and Frank Morse. Gunther, the youngest of the family, died May 26, 1917. His wife was Grace Wyatt, and they had one child, Margaret Ellen.

Charles S. Nichols grew up on the home farm in Greenfield Township, attended country schools, the high school at Howe, and graduated from a business college at Three Rivers, Michigan. About 1893 he entered the service of the bank at Howe, of which his grandfather, Samuel Burnell, was one of the organizers. On April 1, 1896, he and his mother bought out the other interests in the bank, and his mother was its president until her death in 1903, with Mr. Nichols cashier. Since the death of his mother Mr. Nichols has been president of the bank.

He and his brother Samuel also own the old Nichols homestead and have increased this prop- erty until they have 500 acres on English Prairie, located in Greenfield and Springfield townships. They are extensive feeders of sheep and cattle. Both brothers are thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Masons and Shriners and are members of the Knights of Pythias Lodge.

WILLIAM H. SWIHART. A number of circum- stances make appropriate a brief review and per-

manent record of the career of William H. Swihart in this publication. Mr. Swihart is proprietor of the Oakland Farm in Greenfield Township of La- Grange County, and is one of the leading agricul- turists and land owners in that part of the state.

He was born in Allen County, Indiana, south of Fort Wayne, January 30, 1855, a son of Daniel and Sarah (Summers) Swihart. His father was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in 1819, was married in that state, and during the fifties settled in Allen County, Indiana. When William H. Swihart was about a year old his father moved to the vicinity of South Bend, bought a farm, but after a year went to Terre Coupce Prairie and three years later came to LaGrange County, buying 200 acres in Greenfield Township. This was the Joseph Roop farm. The father remained a resident there until his death in 1892. He and his wife had eleven children, named Jonathan, Elizabeth, Martha, Susan, Joseph, Frank, Nancy, William H., Laura, Clara and Samuel.

As a member of such a large household William H. Swihart had at an early age to look out for him- self. He has spent most of his life in LaGrange County, attended the public schools there and has been a farmer from his early experience. He finally bought eighty acres of the old homestead, and since then successive purchases have added to his generous estate. He bought eighty acres of Sam- uel Miller, fifty-two acres of the Mckenzie estate, 140 acres of the John Anderson estate, where he now lives, and finally sixty-five acres of the Wil- liam Anderson estate. These varied possessions aggregate 435 acres, and the buildings and equip- ment are thoroughly modern. He built a large barn in 1899 and a modern country home in 1906. For thirty-five years Mr. Swihart has been a sheep feeder, furnishing for the market from one to three carloads at a time. He also keeps pure bred Duroc swine. He is a democrat in politics. His parents were Dunkards and gave liberally to the construc- tion of the Dunkard Church in Greenfield Town- ship.

December 25, 1876, Mr. Swihart married Miss Susannah Schrock, a daughter of Eli and Eliza (Gerber) Schrock, early settlers of LaGrange Coun- ty. Mr. and Mrs. Swihart have two children, Dyoll and Delia. The latter died at the age of three months. Dyoll was born July 27, 1878, attended country schools, the high schools at Brighton and Howe, and since early manhood has been a farmer. He rents his father's place. Dyoll Swihart married Adelia Dague. Their four children are Donald, Maynard, Stewart and Ledger.

JOHN C. VAN AMAN, while one of the newer citi- zens of LaGrange County, has distinguished him- self by his push and enterprise as a farmer, and has a farm that is widely known for its improvements and fine livestock. This' farm is in Bloomfield Township.

Mr. Van Aman was born in Wood County, Ohio, February 3, 1888, a son of Frank and Alta (Lyle) Van Aman. His father was born in Seneca Coun- ty, Ohio, in 1861, and his mother in Fayette Coun- ty of the same state in 1863. They lived on a farm in Wood County for some years and later went to Henry County, Ohio. Frank Van Aman is a dem- ocrat in politics and was a trustee of Richfield Township in Henry County, Ohio, is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and a mem- her of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Frank Van Aman and wife had a large family of children, namely : Emma, wife of George McGee, of Perrys- burg, Ohio; Pearl, wife of Charles Harris, of Deshler, Ohio; Robert, of Angola; John C. Thur- man, who lives in Canada; Gardner, Clair and Lu-

Um. H. Srichart

Susannak Svihart

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

cile, at home; and Ruth, who was the sixth in age, wife of Rollo Thompson of Fremont, where he is cashier of the National Bank.

John C. Van Aman acquired most of his educa- tion in the public schools of Henry County, Ohio. At the age of twenty he moved to DeKalb County, Indiana, and in 1912 went to Essex, Ontario, Can- ada, and for three years was a renter and then bought a farm. He soon afterward sold and in the spring of 1916 returned to DeKalb County and in the fall of that year hought his present place in Bloomfield Township of LaGrange County. Mr. Van Aman has 116 acres and in a few years has given the farm many improvements. He probably has the largest silo in LaGrange County, a struc- ture 16x45 feet and with a capacity of 250 tons. He is a breeder of pure bred Duroc Jersey hogs and in 1918 was awarded first prize for his herd of Durocs.

Mr. Van Aman is a democrat. His wife is a Catholic and he was reared a Methodist. January 25, 1913, he married Mary A. Simon, who, was born in Fulton County, Ohio, a daughter of Jacob and Catherine Simon, of that county. Her father died in 1911 and her mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Van Aman have three children: Francis S., born January 25, 1914; Helen, born July 17, 1915; and John C., Jr., born January 2, 1919.

JAMES P. BOLTON, an honored survivor of the Civil war, has for fifty years been a resident of Swan Township of Noble County, and has made his presence there productive of benefit to the en- tire community. He is a practical farmer, and is still giving his supervision to his land.

Mr. Bolton was born in Canada, March 1, 1844, son of George and Jane (Shotton) Bolton. His parents were natives of Newcastle, England, and were married and four of their children were born in England. George Bolton was a tailor by trade. On immigrating to America he first settled at Quebec, later at Montreal, and for several years conducted a tailor business at Brockville, Canada. About 1847 he moved to Jefferson County, New York, and in 1854 went into the sparsely settled country of Wisconsin, locating in Dodge County. He worked at his trade there about eight years.

James P. Bolton was a boy when his parents made these different removals, and he finished his education in Wisconsin. At the age of eighteen, in 1862, he volunteered his services in Company A of the Twenty-First Wisconsin Infantry. He was mustered in at Oshkosh and for nearly three years was in active service with his regiment in the armies of the west. Part of the time he was under the command of General Buell. He was in the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, in the first Nashville cam- paign, in the battle of Stone River, and continued a dutiful and brave soldier until the close of the war. He arrived home in June, 1865, and in Octo- ber of the same year came to Noble County, In- diana. After his marriage he located on a farm in Swan Township, and has lived continuously in one house there for half a century.

Jannary 1, 1868, Mr. Bolton married Miss Lucy A. Broughton. She was born just across the road from her present home on August 18, 1847, daugh- ter of Samnel Broughton, one of the early settlers in Noble County. Mr. and Mrs. Bolton had five children : Nina E., wife of William Pfleightner; Ellis D., who married May Bricker, and lives in Swan Township; Amy, wife of George Fitzsimmons ; Carl married Myrtle Strong; and John W., a resi- dent of Avilla, married Ada Drocock.

Mr. Bolton owns a well improved farm of forty acres. He is a member of the advisory board of his

township, is a republican, belongs to the Grand Army Post of Kendallville and is affiliated with Avilla Lodge No. 460 of the Masonic Order.

HENRY CONEY has been a resident of LaGrange County fifty years, and though he has made a num- ber of changes these changes have all constituted progressive steps in his advancement to success as a farmer. Mr. Coney is now associated with two of his sons in farming in Springfield Township.

He .was born in St. Joseph County, Michigan, July 31, 1859, a son of John and Susanna (Pant) Coney. His parents were both natives of Lincoln- shire, England, where the father of John Coney owned a small farm on the east coast. John and Susanna Coney after their marriage and after the birth of several children came to America in 1859 and located where their son Henry was born in Michigan. In 1868 they moved to Milford Town- ship, LaGrange County, and located in the midst of the heavy woods. Jolin Coney lived to clear and improve a tract of eighty acres here. He and his wife had thirteen children. Those to reach mature years were named Robert, Anna, William, Fannie, Rebecca, who became the wife of Henry Neff and is now deceased, John, Henry and Mary, who is Mrs. Benjamin Randall. Those who died in early child- hood in England were named Robert, Henry, John, Elizabeth and Fannie.

Henry Concy was nine years old when his parents located in LaGrange County, and he finished his education while making himself useful to his father on the old homestead. At the age of nineteen he became a farm hand and subsequently bought twenty acres of his father's place. He built a house and lived there several years, later moved to Spring- field Township, near Brushy Prairie, where he owned ten acres, subsequently had forty-five acres in the southwest corner of Springfield Township, and then followed a period of eleven years in which he was a farm renter. Mr. Coney bought his pres- ent place of eighty acres in 1915, two of his sons being associated with him in the purchase. This farm is south of Brushy Prairie. The Coneys are well known breeders of Duroc Jersey hogs.

In February, 1879, Mr. Coney married Miss Mary Ann Pant. She was born in England, a daughter of Henry and Fannie (Blow) Pant, who came to this country when their daughter Mary Ann was ahout fourteen years of age. That was in 1874. From Canada, their first location, they moved to LaGrange County, where the parents of Mrs. Coney spent the rest of their lives, and they died at Mount Pisgah in Milford Township. Mr. and Mrs. Coney had six children: Charles, who died in infancy; Susan, Mrs. Charles Sowers, of Coldwater, Mich- igan ; Robert and Thomas, both associated with their father on the farm; Clyde, who died at the age of eighteen months; and Hildred. Mrs. Coney joined the Methodist Church when fourteen years old.

GEORGE P. SMITH was for twenty years a stic- cessful farmer and for thirteen years has been iden- tified with the business community at LaGrange, where he is one of the leading men of affairs not only in commercial enterprise but also in public movements.

Mr. Smith was born on'the old George Holmes farm in Johnson Township July 31, 1863, a son of Harrison and Margaret Ann (Brown) Smith,

Harrison Smith, an old resident and prominent farmer of Clear Spring Township, LaGrange Coun- ty, Indiana, was born October 17, 1816, in Shen- andoah County, Virginia. He was the second child of a family of three sons and four daughters. His parents were Phillip and Mary (Metz) Smith.

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

Phillip Smith was of German descent, was a native of Shenandoah County, Virginia, and was born in 1792 and was a shoemaker by trade. Phillip Smith's father, the grandfather of Harrison Smith, was named Adam Smith. He was a native of Shenan- doah County, Virginia, was a shoemaker by trade in his early life but later became an innkeeper. Adam Smith married Mary Branen September 30, 1788, during his service as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His military record is as follows-"Adam Smith served in the Revolutionary war as a private, enlisting March 16, 1776, in Captain Michael Bow- yer's Company, 12th Virginia Regiment, commanded by Colonel James Wood. The records show that about May, 1778, this regiment was incorporated with the 4th and 8th Virginia regiments and was designated the 4th, 8th and 12th Virginia regiments until about September, 1778, and the designation of the company changed to Lieutenant Colonel Charles Flemming's Company and later to Captain Andrew Wiggin's Company. His name last appears on a company muster roll dated December 9, 1779. The date of his discharge from service is not shown."

Phillip Smith died 1828, in the prime of life, leaving a widow and seven small children. His wife, Mary Metz Smith, was a weaver by trade and it was by her trade she largely maintained the family. She died in 1842. Harrison Smith was only twelve years old when his father died, and as the estate was limited and he was compelled to assist his mother in providing for the remainder of the family, he was compelled to work from home on a very small salary and for this reason his edu- cation was limited. At the age of fourteen he hired out by the year, receiving $15, his clothes and win- ter schooling of three months. In 1835, with his mother and brothers and sister, he removed to Licking County, Ohio, and in 1838 he and his broth- er John began farming on their own responsibility. February 26, 1841, he married Margaret Ann Brown, daughter of Peter and Hannah (Flinn) Brown. Margaret Ann Smith, was born May 25, 1825, in Culpeper County, Virginia, and moved to Licking County, Ohio, together with her parents when three years old. The family moved from Ohio to LaGrange County in 1859, in pioneer times. Peter Brown was a shoemaker by trade. He lived to the venerable age of ninety-two while his wife survived to the age of eighty-nine. In the Brown family were five children: Mary, wife of James Devlin; Peter ; Anna, wife of Albert Skeer; Mar- tin ; and Margaret Ann.

Harrison Smith moved to LaGrange County, In- diana, in the fall of 1857. He lived the first year in the Town of LaGrange and in the spring of 1858 moved on the old George Holmes farm on Jordon Street in Johnson Township, and it was on this farm he lived several years. During the Civil war lie moved ten miles east and lived three years on the George Greenfield farm and Nicolas B. New- man farm, and in 1867 became the superintendent of the LaGrange County Infirmary, which was lo- cated five miles south of LaGrange. He had charge of this institution for six years. In 1873 he bought the Curtis J. Harding farm in Clear Spring Town- ship and it was on this farm he spent the remainder of his life. He died January 5, 1901. His wife passed away in 1908. They were active members of the Baptist Church at LaGrange and he was one of the trustees when the church was built. Har- rison Smith and wife had a family of twelve chil- dren : Melissa, wife of Thomas Ansel; John Wes- ley, who died when about ten years old; Hannah, who married Charles Mills; Mary, who died in in- fancy; Maggie, wife of Samuel Helmer, of Buf- falo, Minnesota ; William S .; James S .; Isaac New-

ton; Harrison Milton; Ella; Peter Brown; and George P. Smith, who is the youngest of the fam- ily.

Mr. Smith grew up on the homestead farm in Clear Spring Township. He attended district schools, the LaGrange High School, and had sev- eral normal courses, after which he taught for two years. In April, 1887, he married Miss Mary Belle Mckibben, a daughter of John Mckibben, an early settler of LaGrange County.

After his marriage Mr. Smith engaged in farm- ing on what was known as the Hiram Gardner farm. He and his wife bought this place in 1887 and remodeled the house, made many improve- ments, and carried on a prosperous business as an agriculturist until 1906. They still own the farm of III acres. In 1906 Mr. Smith moved to La- Grange and in the same year bought the building supply business of Robert Wigton. He carries on that business today.

He is a democrat in politics, a member of the La- Grange Lodge of Odd Fellows, has filled all the chairs, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They have two chil- dren, Viva and Herman Harrison. Viva, who was born April 30, 1890, attended public school in John- son Township, the LaGrange High School, where she graduated in 1909, also took work in the Tri- State College at Angola and taught for two terms. In 1912 she became the wife of C. M. Johnson, and they have one daughter, Mary Louise, bort August 8, 1914. The son, Herman Harrison Smith, was horn May 21, 1903, and is now a junior in the La- Grange High School.

Mr. Smith was one of the leaders in LaGrange in all war campaigns. He was chairman of the La- Grange County Labor Reserve and for his good work in that position has a certificate signed by the secretary of agricultural at Washington. Mr. Smith built a beautiful home at 317 West Spring Street in 1909.

WILLIAM McCOY is one of the oldest residents of Green Township of Noble County, and has put in half a century of industrious and productive years as a farmer there. He is still living on his old homestead, the south half of the southeast quar- ter of section 14.

Mr. McCoy was born in Beaver County, Pennsyl- vania, February 8, 1838, member of an old and prominent family of Western Pennsylvania. His parents were Isaac and Sarah (Woods) McCoy. Isaac McCoy was a son of James and Rachel (May- ner) McCoy. James McCoy was born in Scotland and came to the colonies and fought as an Amer- ican soldier in the Revolutionary war. He spent the rest of his life in Pennsylvania. Isaac McCoy also lived all his years in Beaver County. He was a democrat and later a republican. He was twice married. By his first wife there were fifteen chil- dren, and five by the second. There are. two still living of the first group and one of the second. The first two are John and William McCoy.

William McCoy was fourteenth among his mother's large family. He grew up on a farm and had a common school education, and lived in his home locality until he came to Indiana.

July 21, 1864, he married Harriet P. Irons, of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, where she was born August 26, 1843. For eight months after their mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. McCoy lived on the old McCoy farm and on March 17, 1866, arrived in Noble County, Indiana, and settled on the land where they now live in peace and prosperity. Mr. McCoy put in many years of hard work, clearing away the woods, ditching and draining, and is largely re-

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sponsible for the perfect tillage and valuable im- provements which his farm now has.

Mr. and Mrs. McCoy had eleven children, two of whom died in infancy. The nine still living are: James W., who married Rebecca Bear and lives in Allen Township of Noble County; Scott, of Swan Township; Margaret J., wife of Frank Hanlon, of Green Township; Murray A., of Whitley County, Indiana; Milo A .; Sarah J., wife of Ira Krieg; Rosa, wife of David Richard; Dessie E., wife of Edward Richard; Pearl E., wife of Charles Sum- mers, of Green Center.

Mr. and Mrs. McCoy are active members of the Hopewell Presbyterian Church, and he has served his church as a deacon. In politics he is a repub- lican.

SAMUEL PORTER WILLIAMS. As many of the in- fluences most distinctive and effective in shaping the destiny of Northern Indiana have radiated from the old and historic community of Lima, so it is possible to assert that from no one personal char- acter did more of those influences proceed than from the late Samuel Porter Williams, whose long life was one of extreme usefulness, honor and import- ance.

He was born January 20, 1814, at Lebanon, Con- necticut, of the best New England antecedents, a son of Solomon and Martha (Baker) Williams. His parents spent all their lives in Connecticut. Mr. Williams was born in the same house which was . the birthplace of William Williams, a brother of his grandfather and a signer of the Declaration of In- dependence. A noteworthy ancestor in the maternal line was Major Baker, who served with gallantry and honor. in the Revolutionary struggle.

Samuel Porter Williams acquired his education in Connecticut. He was only eighteen years of age when he obeyed that impulse common to so many aspiring young easterners and came to the great Middle West then just opened up to settlement and civilization. In 1832 he arrived at White Pigeon, Michigan, then the seat of the Government Land Office for Michigan Territory and one of the points from which a large part of the colonists coming from the East diverged to their new homes. The year 1852 was also signalized by the Black Hawk Indian war. The following year, 1833, Samuel Porter Williams was in what is now Chicago, and was at old Fort Dearborn when the treaty with the Indians was signed. Mr. Williams engaged in the mercantile business at White Pigeon. In April, 1836, he bought a tract of land adjoining the original plat of old Lima, now the Town of Howe. On the 5th of that month he bought another parcel of land and on the 12th still another, giving him 132 acres. The price he paid for all this land was $1,920. A portion of this was laid out as an addition to the town, and the following year, 1837, he became a permanent resident of Lima.

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History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 113

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