History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 117

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 117
USA > Indiana > Noble County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 117
USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 117
USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 117

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).

CHARLES A. GILBERT is the fortunate and enviable possessor of Sunny Knoll Farm in Springfield Town- ship of LaGrange County. Standing as one of the best examples of a farm with modern improvements and efficient management in the county, Sunny Knoll is the result of many years of hard work and skill- ful handling on the part of Mr. Gilbert.

He comes of a race of hard working and thorough agriculturists and was born in the township where he now resides September 9, 1854, a son of Austin and Juliette (Algier) Gilbert. His father was born near Mechanicsburg, Ohio, October 1, 1816. The mother was born January 19, 1832. Austin Gilbert was one of the early arrivals in LaGrange County, coming in 1834. He worked with axe and gruhbing hoe and cleared out some of the first trees and stumps for the first crop. He also made several trips to Cincinnati to buy horses at auction, and several times was back in his native state of Ohio. His first land was bought in Bloom- field Township, in the southwestern corner, where he had 160 acres. He traded that for 178 acres and gradually increased his property to 348 acres. He was a tireless worker and cleared a large part of his land and put up good buildings. He lived at the old home until his death in 1903, his wife hav- ing passed away in 1882. He was a republican in politics and was a member of the Regulators. He and his wife had six children: Washington, born November 24. 1849; Charles A., born in 1854; Lydia, born in 1857 and died in 1895; Seymour, born in 1858 and died in 1881; Nora, born April 4, 1863; and Sidney, born October 21, 1872.

Charles A. Gilhert was educated in the public schools near his father's home and is a graduate of the LaGrange Collegiate Institute at Ontario. When sixteen years old he taught a term of school in Milford Township. Later he improved his edu- cation by normal courses and was a teacher alto- gether for nine terms. In the intervals of teach- ing he did farming, and for thirty-one years he rented the old homestead. He then bought eighty acres where he lives today in Springfield Township, and has kept adding to his holdings until he has 347 acres. Mr. Gilbert built a fine home at Sunny Knoll in 1905. His barn is one of the best in the township, being 47 by 100 feet. He keeps a herd of pure bred Holstein cattle and is also a large sheep feeder. Mr. Gilbert is a republican, but has been too busy with his farm to mix in politics. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias at La- Grange.

May 17, 1881, he married Miss Lovira Hackett. She was born at Batavia, Michigan, January 10, 1861, a daughter of Minor and Eliza (Sheldon) Hackett. Her father was born at Syracuse, New York, and her mother in Wisconsin, in which state they were married and during the sixties moved to LaGrange County. Minor Hackett was in the meat business for many years, and while living in Syra- cuse, New York, delivered meat to lake vessels. He

died in 1904, at the age of eighty-eight, while Mrs. Gilbert's mother passed away in 1901, at the age of fifty-four. There were four children: Charles, William, Lovira and Carrie. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert had three children: Gladys, who was born in 1882, graduated from the LaGrange High School, married Edward Stroup, and at her death in 1906 left a son, Gilbert, who was born December 13, 1903, and has always made his home with his grand- parents at Sunny Knoll Farm. Bess, the second daughter, was born in 1883 and is the wife of Dr. James Duff, of LaGrange. They have one daughter, Bettie, born in 1911. Karl, born in 1890, is now managing his father's homestead. He married Mil- dred Gilhams, daughter of Clarence Gilhams, and they have a son, James, born in February, 1918.

Louis E. DEAL, There are a number of facts con- cerning this well known LaGrange County citizen which make a brief record of himself, his experience and his family worthy of record.

He was born in Sprinfield Township, October 30, 1860, a son of Harrison and Ellen (Jones) Deal. He grew up on the old homestead where he was born, attended the common schools, the LaGrange High School and also the LaGrange County Normal and the Indiana State Normal. For four years he taught school, and as a man of liberal education he has passed on the tradition of good mental equip- ment to his own children. His principal business has been farming. In the spring of 1885 he located on the farm where he now resides in Bloomfield Town- ship, four miles east of LaGrange. A generous prosperity has attended his efforts as a farmer. He now owns 320 acres in Bloomfield and ninety acres in Springfield, and for a number of years has handled live stock on a rather extensive scale, feed- ing many bunches of sheep and breeding Percheron horses. He is a republican in politics, and as the present trustee of Bloomfield Township was elected to that office in 1918. He is affiliated with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias at LaGrange, and with his wife is an active member of the Methodist Church. For twenty years he has been superintendent of the Sunday school.

On September 25, 1884, he married Miss Ella Gage. She was born in Springfield Township, Aug- ust 21, 1863, a daughter of Samuel and Lydia (Gil- bert) Gage. Her maternal grandfather, Elias Gilbert, was a pioneer of LaGrange County. Samuel Gage and wife had only one child to grow to ma- turity, Mrs. Deal. Samuel Gage died about 1868 and Mrs. Deal's mother subsequently married Saul Spero, of Springfield Township.

The four children of Mr. and Mrs. Deal have an interesting record: Fred, the oldest, born Febru- ary 10, 1889, graduated from the LaGrange High School and is associated with his father on the home farm, known as the Sidmore Farm. He married Carlie Grubb, a daughter of Dr. Albert G. Grubb, of LaGrange, and their two children are Albert Louis and Marion Parthena. Veva, the second child, was born August 18, 1890, graduated from the LaGrange High School, attended the Tri-State Normal and Winona College, and in 1914 graduated from Indiana State University. Before going to University she taught in Springfield Township and afterward for one year was an instructor in the Wolcott High School for two years and then for two years taught Latin in the West Lafayette High School. She is the wife of Henry Phelps, who was born in Webster, Massachusetts, March 15, 1893, is a graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute and did post-graduate work at Purdue University. For two years he was an instructor in electrical engineer-

& A Gilbert

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ing at Purdue and is now a telephone equipment engineer in research and development work at New York City. The third of the family is Wava, born October 6, 1895, a graduate of the LaGrange High School and a graduate of the State University in 1918. She taught a year in Bloomfield Township and is now a teacher of mathematics in Hartford City School. The youngest of the family is Helen Lucile, born October 4, 1901, who graduated with the class of 1919 from the LaGrange High School.

GIRT L. GNAGY, who has been one of the leading business men of Hamilton for a number of years, operating the local mills, also a garage, is a native of DeKalb County, and is a grandson of the pioneer in that county, John Houlton. John Houlton was born in Highland County, Ohio, in 1804, son of Samuel Houlton, and was in every sense a pioneer and frontiersman. In 1827 he went to Williams County, Ohio, where with his brother he was con- nected with the saw milling industry. In September, 1833, he came to DeKalb County, and in the same month built the first house in the county in Franklin Township. When this house was torn down in 1860 the DeKalb County Pioneer Society had a number of canes made from the logs, and some of those canes are no doubt carefully preserved. John Houl- ton married shortly before coming to DeKalb County Sarah Vee, who died in July, 1839. Her daughter Margaret, born in '1836, was the first white girl born in DeKalb County. In 1839 John Houlton mar- ried Nancy Lewis, daughter of Samuel Lewis. To this union were born nine children. A daughter, Mary Ann, who died in 1869, was the first wife of Jeremiah Gnagy. Her sister, Rebecca Houlton, later became the wife of Jeremiah Gnagy.

Jeremiah Gnagy was born in Tuscarawus County, Ohio, in 1844, and spent most of his life in DeKalb County. In 1884 he moved to Hamilton in Steuben County and conducted a summer resort there, also owning a farm of fifty-four acres adjoining the village, and was interested in village property. He was a democrat and held several township offices. He died in 1895. He was active in the Christian Church and his widow, Rebecca Houlton Gnagy, was a member of the same church. Rebecca Gnagy is still living at the age of seventy-three. Her five children, all living, are: Guy, George, Girt, Glen and Gladiolus.

Girt L. Gnagy, who was born in DeKalb County October 15, 1879, has lived at Hamilton since he was about five years old. He attended public schools, and as a youth became a teaming contractor. Later he secured an interest in the local water power and developed it and has given Hamilton its chief fa- cilities as a milling center. For the past seven years he has also been interested in the garage business and is owner of some productive farming land. Mr. Gnagy is a republican, a member of the Masons, Knights of Pythias and Grangers, and affiliates with the Christian Church.

April 14, 1906, he married Audry L. Sharp, of Steuben County. Her father, Eugene Sharp, is the present trustee of York Township. Mr. and Mrs. Gnagy have one son, Lyle, born December 24, 1912.

JOSEPH A. CONNELLY is living today in the same community where he was born, Bloomfield Town- ship, and with the exception of a few years spent as a Nebraska homesteader has resided there all his life. Members of the Connelly family have im- proved and cleared a great deal of land in LaGrange County, and the name is well known and respected.

Mr. Connelly was born October 14, 1859, son of Joseph W. and Louisa (Gage) Connelly. His paternal grandparents, Thomas and Savilla Con-

nelly, came from Maryland, where Joseph W. Con- nelly, was horn, and only a year or so after his birth the family located on what is now known as the Charles Marks farm in Bloomfield Township. Thomas Connelly was a Methodist preacher, and besides looking after his farm his services were in great demand for the marriage of many couples and for other occasions. He had 160 acres and had it cleared and improved before his death. The ma- ternal grandparents of Joseph A. Connelly were Jacob and Anna Gage, who came from the East and were early settlers in LaGrange County. They lived on the old Association Farm in Springfield Town- ship and later farmed in different localities. Jacob Gage was also a Methodist minister.

Joseph W. Connelly received his education in the common schools in LaGrange County and farmed his father's place in Broomfield Township many years. With the exception of one year on a farm in Iowa, he spent all his active life in Bloomfield Township, where he had at one time eighty acres, but later sold part of it. He and his wife had ten children: John B., who served two terms as county treasurer of La- Grange County; Martha; Mary Roxina, who died in infancy; Joseph A .; Byron and Hiram, twins, the latter deceased; Savilla; Orpha and Orpheus, twins ; and Charles Franklin.

Joseph A. Connelly grew up on his father's farm and had a common school education. When he went ont to Nebraska, where he spent five years, he took up a 160-acre homestead, proved up and sold out. His location in Nebraska was in Blaine County. At his present home in Bloomfield Township he has eighty acres devoted to general farming, and he is responsible for the building and other improvements possessed by the farm.

December 10, 1885, he married Miss Dora Max- well, a native of LaGrange County, and a daughter of William Maxwell. To their marriage were born two children, Grace, who died at the age of sixteen, and Floyd, who is married and lives on a part of his father's farm.

JOHN FRANKLIN ESHELMAN, who for many years was a successful farmer in Johnson Township, has more recently been identified with the business af- fairs of the City of LaGrange, where he is local manager of the South Bend Creamery.

He was born in Johnson Township, June 9, 1856, a son of Joseph and Mary (Erford) Eshelman. He spent his early life on his father's farm, had a common school education, and forty years ago be- came an independent farmer. He still owns 143 acres in the north portion of Johnson Township, five and a half miles from LaGrange. While on the farm he handled livestock, especially sheep and cat- tle. Mr. Eshelman moved to LaGrange in 1912 and bought a home at 321 Grant Street. Since the fall of 1913 he has been manager of the South Bend Cream- ery Company. This company does an extensive busi- ness handling cream and eggs. Mr. Eshelman is a republican, is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias at LaGrange, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. While living in the country they belonged to the Evangelical Church.

January 9, 1877, Mr. Eshelman married Miss Amanda E. Teeters. She was born in Johnson Township in 1859, a daughter of David and Maria Tecters, both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Eshel- nian are parents of five children. Anna is the wife of Claud C. Price, of Fort Wayne, and has two sons, Donald and Dowe. Harley is the Wabash Railroad agent at Wolcottville, is married and has two chil- dren, named Hugh and Frank. Orley F. is a farmer in Bloomfield Township and married Ethel Aldrich, a daughter of Frank Aldrich. Vera is the wife of

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Erny Albright and has a daughter, Marguerite. Homer, the youngest of the family, made a brilliant record in the war. July 29, 1917, at Elkhart, In- diana, he enlisted for the aviation corps, started to camp the same day, received his training in Texas, and went overseas to France with the Eighty- Eighth Aviation Squadron. He was a sergeant, and he participated in five raids across the Rhine. June 26, 1919, he returned to the United States and re- joined his home community July 15.

HENRY C. WILCOX is a native Indianan and has been a resident of Steuben County over half a century. He came here an orphan boy, and had a hard struggle to get well started in the world, but for many years has been quietly prospered and one of the most esteemed residents of Salem Township. He was born in Wabash County, Indiana, October 12, 1854, a son of Clark Lewis and Susan (Cline) Wilcox. His parents were married at Fort Wayne in Allen County. His mother was a native of Germany. Clark Lewis Wilcox at one time owned forty acres near the present site of the Fort Wayne Court House. By trade he was a millwright and engineer. He enlisted in the Civil war in 1861 and served throughout that struggle. He came home from the army practically blind and suffered so many other hardships that he died in 1866. His widow passed away in DeKalb County in 1871. Their chil- dren were named: Indiana, deceased; Clark; Les- ter, deceased; Henry C .; Charles Sylvester, de- ceased; Caroline; George W., deceased; and An- drew J.

After his father's death and when only twelve years old Henry C. Wilcox came to Steuben County and lived with his uncle, Lester Wilcox. He at- tended a few terms of school at Pleasant Lake and learned the lessons of honest toil when only a boy. When he started out to make his own living he bor- rowed a dollar and worked as a farm hand, later rented land, and made his first purchase of 71/2 acres, which he subsequently increased by eight acres. On October 13, 1877, he married Miss Mary E. Miller, who was born on the farm where she and her husband now reside. She inherited forty acres, and on that place Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox lived for forty years. Mr. Wilcox is a republican, and served a term as constable and for twelve years was township supervisor.

Mrs. Wilcox is a daughter of Richard A. and Rachel (Crook) Miller, both natives of Ohio. Her father came when a single man to Steuben County. Her mother came here with her parents, Michael and Catherine (Slife) Crook, who were pioneers and settled on what is known as the Windsor farm and later acquired the land where Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox now live. The Crooks were here at a time when the woods were filled with wild game, such as deer and turkey. Mrs. Wilcox' parents were married in Steuben Township and later bought forty acres in Salem Township and altogether had about 200 acres there. Richard Miller died in Sep- tember, 1909, at the age of seventy-nine. The mother of Mrs. Wilcox passed away August 7, 1918, at the age of eighty-four. Of their eight children four died in infancy, and those to grow up were Isaiah A., Mary E., Martha and Emma C.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox must be given credit for bringing up a large family of children, most of whom are still living and are now well established and in independent circumstances. Their oldest child, Caroline Elizabeth, married for her first hus- band Charles Mayers, by whom she had three chil- dren, Etta, Letha and Virgil. Her_second husband was John Ackley, and by that union she has a son,

Ansel Asa. Rozelma Wilcox first married W. More, and had three children, Charles, Reba and Harold, and she is the present wife of W. Stevens, by whom she also has three children, Vern, Naomi and Ray- mond. Edith Wilcox is the wife of Frank Ulmer and has two children, Esther and Gerald. Della is the wife of Charles Huffman, and their family consists of Mildred and June. Myrtie Wilcox died when twenty-one years of age. Carl, who married Emma Hendersen, has a son, John Henry. Seldon married Elsie Freed, daughter of Peter and Anna Eliza Freed, of Salem Township, and they have four children, named Ruth G., Walter H., Edna M. and Angeline. Leona was married to Ernest Min- ger, and is the mother of three children, Waunetta L., Rollin W. and Wanda M. The ninth child, Vesta, died in infancy. Emma L., the youngest, is the wife of Earl Strawser.

SIMEON L. HANSELMAN. This is the name of one of the progressive farmers of Greenfield Township, LaGrange County, a citizen who enjoys many warm friends in that community.

Mr. Hanselman was born in St. Joseph County, Michigan, October 6, 1874, a son of Peter and Julia Ann (Duke) Hanselman. His father was born in Pennsylvania January 3, 1846, and his mother in Williams County, Ohio, November 9, 1848. The paternal grandparents were Aaron and Christina (Reid) Hanselman, the latter born in 1813. The Hanselmans were pioneers of Steuben County, Indiana, coming from Pennsylvania and traveling with wagons and ox teams. They located in Steuben Township, where Aaron and wife spent the rest of their years. They were laid to rest in Mt. Zion cemetery. A record of their children with their births is as follows: Charles, 1834; John Q., 1836; Frank and Wesley, 1837; George, 1839; Elizabeth, 1841; William, 1843; Peter, 1846; Eliza- beth, 1849; Daniel, 1854; and Aaron L., 1856.

Peter Hanselman was reared and educated in Steuben County, and married in Williams County. His wife was a daughter of Wright and Ann (Ber- ridge) Duke, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of England. They spent many years in Wil- liams County, where Wright Duke died. His widow spent her last years with Simeon L. Hanselman and died at his home in 1900, at advanced age.

Peter Hanselman moved from Indiana to St. Joseph County, Michigan, and on April 1, 1880, located in Greenfield Township of LaGrange County. His first place there comprised thirty-nine acres, and later he moved to the farm now managed by his son Simeon, known as the Francis Farm. He died there January 8, 1912, and his widow still occupies the old homestead. He was a republican and a member of the United Brethren Church while his wife was a Baptist. There were only two chil- dren: Simeon L. and Clara, wife of William Gay.

Simeon L. Hanselman grew up in LaGrange County, and since his school days has given his time steadily to farming, part of the time as a farm worker for others but since 1909 he has operated and rented the old homestead. He is a republican in politics.

August 16, 1902, Mr. Hanselman married Miss Della Toms. She was born in Springfield Town- ship of LaGrange County, daughter of Cornelius and Jane (Highland) Toms, who came to La- Grange County from Ohio about forty-five years ago. Her father died in Greenfield Township in 1916, at the age of sixty-three, and her mother in 1906, aged fifty-three. Mr. and Mrs. Hanselman have seven children, named Hazel, Marie, John, Edith, Carroll, May and Harlow.

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

BENJAMIN S. DORSEY. One of the most highly respected citizens of LaGrange County is Benjamin S. Dorsey, who has lived in Bloomfield Township for many years, where he is owner of a large farm.

He was born in Allen County, Indiana, December 15, 1853, a son of Jonathan and Mary Jane (King) Dorsey. Jonathan Dorsey was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1829, and was one year old to the day when his parents, Benjamin Dorsey and wife, set out from England to the United States. The voyage was a long one by sailing vessel, and they were six months on the ocean. They settled at Huron, Ohio, where grandfather Dorsey worked for some years as a shipbuilder, and his son Jonathan was also em- ployed on the towpath up the river. The family finally moved to Allen County, Indiana, at the same time with Thomas Barnett, and settled on English Prairie. Benjamin Dorsey died in Allen County about 1866.

The maternal grandparents of Benjamin S. Dorsey were Simeon and Ann (Oliver) King, who were among the first settlers in LaGrange County, set- tling in Johnson Township, on what is known as the McKiffin farm, and Mrs. King's brother was buried on that farm. After the Kings sold the land they settled in Bloomfield Township, on what is now the Minnick farm, where Simeon King died.

Jonathan Dorsey after the death of his father came to LaGrange County and went to work for Simeon King. After his marriage he returned to Allen County, bought a farm, and in 1876 traded that farm for 250 acres where his son Benjamin S. now lives. He finally retired from farming and moved to Valentine, where his wife died in 1896. She was born in LaGrange County in 1835. Jonathan King spent his last days with his son Benjamin and died in 1903. He was a stalwart republican in politics, and he and his wife were members of the Methodist Church. They had two children, Benjamin S. and Plinna, the latter the wife of Charles Jackson.

Benjamin S. Dorsey attended the public schools of Allen County and was about twenty-three years old when his father moved to LaGrange County. He has always lived on the old farm, and since be- coming its owner has increased its area to 330 acres. He is a republican in politics. In 1874 he married in Allen County, Mary Sowers, of that county.

HENRY B. JORDAN. A life of signal purpose and concentrated devotion to his work as a farmer, his duties as a citizen, and the responsibilities of his home, came to a close with the death of Henry B. Jordan on October 28, 1915.

Mr. Jordan, who spent most of his life in Steuben County, was born in Newfane Township, at a vil- lage once called Charlotte, now Newfane, in Nia- gara Conntv. New York, January 9, 1843. His par- ents were David and Alvira (Ware) Jordan, who moved to New York from Pennsylvania and in 1852 came to Steuben County, Indiana. David Jordan had served in the Mexican war and received a tract of government land for his services. He became a large land owner and in Steuben County lived in Pleasant and Scott townships. He died at Angola April 5, 1873, at the age of seventy-nine. His widow passed away in 1886, aged seventy-three. David Jordan was three times married and had six chil- dren by each wife.

Henry B. Jordan acquired his early education chiefly in Steuben County and always followed farm- ing. He began with eighty acres in Fremont Town- ship, and out of his increasing means invested in other land until he had 284 acres and two lots in the city of Angola. For many years he gave par- ticular attention to the breeding of Merino sheep. He was a republican, had no desire to figure as a

public official, and was very much interested in the Masonic Order. All his sons are Masons, and his widow and one daughter are members of the East- ern Star. He had attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite at Fort Wayne in April, 1914, only about a year before his death. He was also a charter member of the Angola Lodge of Knights of Pythias.

Henry B. Jordan married, February 11, 1872, Miss Ada Freligh. Mrs. Jordan, who represents an old and prominent family of Steuben County, was born in the City of Angola April 20, 1851, a daughter of George and Abigail (Squier) Freligh. Her father came to Steuben County when seventeen years of age, was a shoemaker by trade, and for a number of years was proprietor of a shoe store at Angola. His parents were John and Mary (Latta) Freligh, who followed him to Steuben County and spent their last years on a farm in Pleasant Township. John Freligh died when past eighty years of age and his wife also died in advanced years. Abigail Squier, mother of Mrs. Jordan, was a daughter of Dean and Jane (Wiles) Squier, the latter a native of England and brought to the United States when nine years old. Dean Squier moved from New York to Ohio, where he died, and his widow subse- quently came to Steuben County. George and Abi- gail Freligh had five children, Ada, Ervin, Carrie, one that died in infancy and Clyde.

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History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 117

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