History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 16

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 16
USA > Indiana > Noble County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 16
USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 16
USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 16

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).

THOMAS EDGAR GUNDRUM, now living retired at Angola, is one of the reliable and substantial repre- sentatives of Steuben County's agricultural life and for many seasons cultivated a large farm. From farming he received the competence he now enjoys.

Mr. Gundrum was born in York Township in Steuben County, April 20, 1863. His father, Larry Gundrum, a son of John and Charlotte Gundrum, was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, May 26, 1825, and at the age of six accompanied his parents to Crawford County, Ohio. All the schooling he ever had in schoolrooms was not longer than seven weeks. At the age of sixteen he left home and became dependent upon his own resources for a living. He learned the shoemaker's trade, . and worked at that occupation in Crawford County, Ohio, after he married. In August, 1852, he brought his family to Steuben County and settled on 100 acres which he had bought the previous, year in section 18 of York Township. Later he bought an- other seventy acres, and he made farming a source of profit and pleasure and was one of the influential men in his community for many years. He was a republican in politics, was active in community affairs, served as a justice of the peace, and as a member of the Methodist Church helped build the Powers Church in York Township. He died April 14, 1887. May 26, 1847, he married Lovina Beam, who was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, February 29, 1828. Until she was twelve years of age she could not speak a word of English. She died February 8, 1888, the mother of six children : Alonzo R., who died at the age of two years; Wil- liam C., John H., Theodore C., Mary Bell, wife of Cassius M. Thomas, and Thomas Edgar.

Thomas Edgar Gundrum acquired his early educa- tion in the district schools of York and Fremont townships and in the Angola High School. His career as a farmer started on the old homestead, and after abont one year there he moved to a farm of 100 acres near Angola, and made that his home for ten years. In 1807 he moved to York Township, buying 194 acres, and gave. all his time to its man- agement until 1912, when he retired and moved to his present comfortable home in Angola. Mr. Gun- drum has always been interested in the welfare of his home community, is a republican in politics and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

October 8, 1887. he married Miss Lila A. Powers, who was born in York Township, September 4, 1866, and was educated in the public schools of that lo- cality. Her father, Calvin P. Powers, was born in New York State in 1834 and was one of the exten- sive farmers and land owners in York Township. Calvin Powers married in 1860, Jane Clark.

Mr. and Mrs. Gundrum had three children. Mark Duane, who was born March 26, 1889, graduated from high school at the age of sixteen, afterward took the course in the University of Medicine at Chicago, and left a successful and growing practice to enlist in May, 1917, in the Medical Reserve Corps. He was commissioned a first lieutenant and later was made captain. He served at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, until December, 1917, was then sent to Fort Clark, Texas, and in March, 1918, sailed for France and since then for over a year has been with the army on the western front, being now with the Army of Occupation. Doctor Gundrum married Erna Senkey, and they have a daughter, Virginia Rozelle. Mildred Elizabeth, the second child of Mr. and Mrs. Gundrum, is the wife of John Dorsey

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

Folck, a farmer, and has two children, Martha Leona and Jessie Marie. The third and youngest child is Lolabelle, now a resident of Washington, District of Columbia.

THOMAS J. HALFERTY. One of the oldest farms under one continuous ownership in Noble County is the Meadow Brook Farm, comprising 179 acres, all in section 33 of Orange Township. The present proprietor is Thomas J. Halferty. Mr. Halferty was born there, and all his life has been familiar with its scenes, associations and activities.

He was born August 1, 1860, son of William and Catherine (Brodebeck) Halferty. His father was born in Morrow County, Ohio, May 1, 1819, and died July 27, 1875. His mother was born in Mary- land, April 22, 1820, and when she was a girl her family moved to Clark County, Ohio, and later to Morrow County, where she was married. The par- ents after a brief residence in Morrow County moved to Noble County, Indiana, and were pioneers in the community of Brimfield, where they de- veloped a tract of raw land in section 33 of Orange Township. There the father and mother spent the rest of their lives on the old farm. They were among the first members of the United Brethren Church in that community and were active support- ers of the cause. In politics William Halferty was a democrat. To him and his wife were born four children, two of whom died in infancy. The only surviving daughter is Mary E., born May II, 1857, and now the wife of Mason B. Faux, of Orange Township.

Thomas J. Halferty learned much of the science of farming when a boy. He also acquired a good education in the local schools. He was about fifteen when his father died, and almost from that time forward he had an active and responsible part in the management of the homestead.

September 19, 1883, he married Miss Emma L. Kiser. She was born in Jefferson Township of Noble County, November 24, 1860, daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Stotts) Kiser. Michael Kiser was born in Huron County, Ohio, grew up and married there, and in 1858 became one of the pioneer settlers in Jefferson Township of Noble County, Indiana. Mrs. Halferty had a common school education. She and her husband have two children. Addie D., who was born November 22, 1885, is the wife of Ora Bowen, and they have a daughter, Talitha, born November 22, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Halferty are .very proud of this grand- daughter. Their son, Thomas O., born November 6, 1887, was educated in the common schools and now lives at home and has assumed many of the responsibilities of the farm. He married Hazel B. Harp. The family are members of the United Brethren Church and Mr. Halferty has been a leader in that denomination. He is a republican and has served as township supervisor.

JOHN W. ADAIR. When John W. Adair was elected member of the County Board of Commis- sioners of Noble County on November 5, 1918, to represent the Southern District, he received the support of a large majority of his neighbors and old friends, who respected his integrity of character, his good business ability and judgment, and his long standing as a successful farmer in the county.

Mr. Adair, whose farm of 160 acres lies in sec- tions 18 and 19 in Noble Township, was born in Washington Township of the same county, Feb- ruary 1, 1868, son of John N. and Christina (Bash- ford) Adair, both natives of Ohio. The respective families came to Noble County, Indiana, at an early

day, and John and Christina were married here and then settled on a farm in Washington Township. Later they lived for a time in Wisconsin, but on returning to Indiana settled in Noble Township, where they spent the rest of their days. John Adair was active in the republican party and at one time served as justice of the peace in Whitley County. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Church. There were four sons in the family: Wil- liam, of Whitley County; Thomas, of Whitley County; Edwin L., of Albion; and John W.

John W. Adair grew up on his father's farm, and received the advantages of the district schools to the age of sixteen. He then continued to live at home with his parents until he was twenty-one, and on March 31, 1894, he established a home of his own by his marriage to Ella E. Knapp. She was also born in Washington Township.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Adair bought a farm in Washington Township, but after seven years bought their present home in Noble Township. They have been greatly prospered as farmers and in 1915 they completed a modern country home. Mr. Adair is also a director in the Wolf Creek Bank and a stockholder in the Cromwell-Sparta State Bank.

He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church and he on its finance committee. Mr. and Mrs. Adair have four children: Merle, a student in Wolf Lake High School; Helen F., also a high school girl; and Joseph and Donald, both attending the grade schools.

JOHN D. MILLER, JR., is one of the leading farmers and stock men of Eden Township, and has been identified with the agricultural enterprise of La- Grange County since early manhood.

He was born on a farm in Elkhart County, In- diana, July 10, 1885, a son of David C. J. and Fannie Miller. The parents were both natives of Elkhart County, his father born six miles east of Goshen. David J. Miller spent his life on the old home where he was born and reared. He and his wife were members of the Amish Mennonite Church. In their family were eight children: Jacob D., John D., Catherine deceased, Lizzie, Lydia, Clara, Amos and Fannie.

John D. Miller grew up on the farm where his father was born, attended district schools and worked for his father to the age of twenty-one. On February 22, 1906, he married Katie Christner. They have no children of their own but have an adopted child. They are active members of the Amish Mennonite Church.

Mr. Miller has a good farm of ninety-nine acres in Eden Township. He specializes in the breeding of Hereford cattle, his herd being headed by Tips Star Light and Tips Cherry Lass.

MORTON FRIEND is proprietor of a farm in Mil- grove Township, part of which was acquired by his maternal grandfather, a member of the original Vermont colony in that part of Steuben County. Some of the fields have been in cultivation eighty years, and under its present ownership the farm is one of the best in Steuben County.

Mr. Morton Friend was born on this farm, lo- cated a mile north of Orland, July 13, 1873. He is a son of Jefferson L. and Nancy (Kidder) Friend, his mother having also been born on the same land. She was a daughter of Alanson Kidder, a native of Vermont, who married Alzoa Chapin. Alanson Kidder was with the first settlers who came from Vermont to Steuben County in 1836, and was an in- fluential member of the Vermont settlement in and around Orland. He acquired his land, cleared it,

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

and farmed it until about 1866, wlien he sold and subsequently moved to Trempealeau County, Wis- consin, where he died. His children were Mary, Laura, Joseph, Alzoa and Nancy. Alanson Kidder had eighty acres of the farm now owned by Morton Friend.

Jefferson L. Friend was a native of Stark County, Ohio, and as a boy during the '5os went with his parents to Williams County, Ohio, making the journey with ox teams. He grew to manhood in Northwest Ohio, and attended school at Orland. He left school to enter the army and served during the last eleven months of the war in the Fourteenth Michigan Infantry. A few years afterward he bought the eighty acres from Alanson Kidder, and through his energy as a farmer and good manager increased his holdings to about 205 acres. He lived there the rest of his life. His children were: Fan- nie, wife of Dr. Philip Quick, of Olivet, Michigan ; Guy K., who married Emma Barber ; Morton; Zoa, wife of Elmer Hunter ; and Gretchen, wife of Jesse Reek.

Morton Friend acquired his education at Orland, finishing in the high school. Since boyhood he has been at work on the home farm, and since 1900 has been farming the place for himself. He owns 178 acres in sections 17 and 20, and as a stock man is a breeder of blooded Holstein cattle.

In 1903 he married Effie Freeman, a daughter of Samuel and Olive Freeman. They have three children, named Maynard J., Frances Josephine and Philip K.

ALBERT J. COLLINS. There are several communi- ties in Northeast Indiana and Southern Michigan which are deeply appreciative of the services of Albert J. Collins, particularly as an educator. For thirty-eight years he was a schoolmaster, school ad- ministrator, and only recently retired from his office as superintendent of schools at Orland to take up his duties as clerk of the Circuit Court of Steuben County, an office to which he was elected in 1918. His official duties require his residence at Angola, to which city he moved in the summer of 1919.

Mr. Collins was born in Delaware Township, De- fiance County, Ohio, November 27, 1861. He repre- sents old American stock. His grandparents were William and Maria Collins. The former a native of Pennsylvania, moved in early manhood to De- fiance County, Ohio, and spent most of his active life as a farmer in Defiance and Williams County. His children were named John, William, Jr., Jesse L., Mary and Nancy. The parents of the Steuben County official were Jesse L. and Rachel (Grow) Collins, the former a native of Lucas County, Ohio, and the latter of Pennsylvania, daughter of Martin and Elizabeth (Myers) Grow. Jesse L. Collins when a young man took up farming in Defiance County, moved to Williams County in that state in 1864, and for the rest of his active life was busily engaged with the duties of his farm. He spent his last days on the farm of his son Albert in Millgrove Township, where he died August II, 1911. He and his wife were active members of the Dunkard Church. They had a large family of thirteen children, four of whom died in infancy. The other nine were named Alvaro S., Albert J., Elizabeth M., Diantha, who died in childhood, Viola T., Melissa E., Jesse Elmer, who died when a boy, Ora E. and Chloe G.

Albert J. Collins attended his first schools in Williams County, Ohio. He took his high school work at Montpelier and Pioneer, Ohio, and from high school entered Hillsdale College in Michigan, where he completed the regular course and grad-

uated in 1802. Mr. Collins was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Greek Letter fraternity at Hills- dale, and was also well known in athletic circles. He especially excelled as a wrestler, and has in his possession six medals won in contests held under the auspices of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

Since his graduation from Hillsdale Mr. Collins with the exception of one year, has steadily devoted his time to teaching. In the fall of 1893 he came to Orland as superintendent of public schools. He was connected with the schools of that town until 1901, and from then until 1907 was superintendent of schools at Hamilton and from 1907 to 1912 was superintendent at White Pigeon, Michigan. During 1912-13 he was temporarily retired from school work, and spent that year on his farm in Millgrove Township. He resumed his work with the Orland schools in 1913 as assistant superintendent, and in 1914 was made superintendent. Orland has some of the best public schools in Steuben County, and many of the improvements and advances have been made while Mr. Collins has been in charge.

He owns a fine farm of 120 acres in section 32 of Millgrove and in section 5 of Jackson Township. Mr. Collins was therefore not without long and practical experience in official affairs when he was inducted into the office of clerk of the Circuit Court. He is a member of the Masonic Order at Orland.

November 7, 1891, he married Eva Jane Cleve- land, a daughter of Albertus B. and Rebecca J. Cleveland. They have had seven children, named as follows : Albert Russell, Lois G., Gelee, who died when four months old, Floiad G., Cleveland C., Rachel R. and Albertus B.

ALFRED H. KING. The roll of prosperous farmers in Swan Township of Noble County would not be complete without reference to the name of Alfred H. King, who for many years has sucecssfully tended his acres and looked after his interests as an agriculturist at his home in section 12.

Mr. King represents one of the oldest established families in this part of Northeast Indiana. He was born in Swan Township, November 1, 1872, and is a son of Ira M. and Catherine (Haines) King, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Pennsyl- vania. Ira M. King was born September 18, 1828, and came to Indiana at an early date. His parents settled in Noble County as early as 1837, and were among the first to develop the lands in Swan Town- ship. He married for his first wife Jane Perry, a sister of George Perry. There were three children by that union, one of whom is John King, now a resident of Michigan. Ira King married for his second wife Catherine Haines, who came to Noble County in 1854. To their marriage were born seven children, three of whom are still living: Frank E., a graduate of Purdue University with the degree of Civil Engineer, and has attained prominence in his profession; Alfred H .; and Lloyd E., who grad- uated from Purdue University with the degree of Electrical Engineer and is now connected with the Western Electric Company at Peru, Illinois.

Alfred H. King grew up on the old farm in Swan Township, and chose agriculture as his vocation. After finishing the course of the common schools he attended Avilla High School, and later graduated from Purdue University with the degree Bachelor of Science. He has turned his university training to good account as a farmer. For several years he looked after the home farm and he now owns ninety-five acres.

August 29, 1901, he married Miss Alberta Boden-

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

hafer, daughter of Levi and Eva (Morgan) Boden- hafer. Mrs. King is a graduate of the Avilla High School, and before her marriage was a teacher at Kendallville. Mr. and Mrs. King have three chil- dren : Laura A., a graduate of the high school, and Winston L. and Harry P. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Avilla and Mr. King is one of the official board and superin- tendent of the Sunday school. Politically he is a republican.

JACOB C. TROYER has spent many years as a suc- cessful farmer in LaGrange County, his home being a mile north and three-quarters of a mile west of Topeka. He is in Eden Township and owns a seventy-acre place in sections twenty-three and twenty-four.

Mr. Troyer was born in Wayne County, Ohio, February 4, 1868, a son of Levi B. and Leah (Zook) Troyer. His father was born in Holmes County, Ohio, and at the age of four years went to Wayne County, where he spent the rest of his life. His wife was a native of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, but was married in Ohio. In the family of Levi Troyer and wife were five children: Mennow Z., of McPherson County, Kansas; Joel L., of West Liberty, Ohio; Jacob C., and Mary A. and Emma, the latter of McPherson County, Kansas.

Jacob C. Troyer grew up on his father's farm in Wayne County and lived there until he was thirty years of age. He married in Indiana and then for a brief time lived in Wayne County before coming to his present place in LaGrange County.

Mr. Troyer married Elizabeth Hostettler Decem- ber 6, 1892. She was born in Newbury Township of LaGrange County December 7, 1870, daughter of Moses and Mary A. (Mehl) Hostettler. She was reared and educated in her native township. Mr. and Mrs. Troyer have no children of their own but have adopted a nephew of Mrs. Troyer, Keith W. Hostettler, who is a graduate of the common schools and is now in the high school at Goshen. Mr. Troyer and family are members of the Mennonite Church at Maple Grove. He is a republican in politics and is a stockholder in the Topeka State Bank.

FRANK B. DELLER, who has lived in Stenben Coun- ty over sixty years, is the only surviving son of a rather large family, and taking the old homestead which had been cleared and improved by his father in Scott Township, he has gone steadily ahead im- proving and making use of his talents, and has in- creased his material possessions until he is now one of the leading farmers of the county.

Mr. Deller was born in Williams County, Ohio, January 18, 1854, a son of Benjamin and Hannah (Wolf) Deller. His mother was born in Pennsyl- vania in 1823. Benjamin Deller, who was born in France in 1813, was fourteen years old when he came with his parents to New York City. He was a son of Gotlieb and Elizabeth Deller, who soon located in Pennsylvania, and afterward moved to Columbiana County, Ohio, where Gotlieb died a few years later on his farm. His widow then lived with her children and moved with them to Williams County, Ohio, during the '40s. The Deller family had a log house in Williams County. In 1857 they came to Steuben County, where Benjamin Deller and wife settled on the farm now owned by their son Frank. Of 160 acres not a stick of timber had been cut, and the first home of the family was a log building. Benjamin Deller as his means increased put up a substantial barn in 1859 and a house in 1860, and lived there in comfortable circumstances until his death in 1874. His wife died in 1876. He was

a democrat, and they were members of the Dunkard Church. Their children were: Lucinda; William, who was a Union soldier, was wounded in battle and died at Nashville, Tennessee; twin children who died in infancy; Elizabeth; Jane; Frank; Mary ; and Lydia.

Frank Deller grew up on the old homestead and acquired a good education in the district schools and in the Angola High School. In early manhood he applied his energies to farming on the home place, and had just come to manhood when his father died. Taking the original 160 acres, he has gradu- ally increased its area until he now has 358 acres. This land is improved with modern buildings, and the material for those buildings came chiefly from timber grown and cut on the farm. Mr. Deller is a general farmer and stock raiser. He has a pure- bred Shorthorn bull and grades of Holstein and Jersey cattle. He has never sought any office, and is a democratic voter. He gave the land on which the South Scott Union Church is built, and there his family attend church and Sunday school.

Mr. Deller is proud of his family of children and his numerous grandchildren. March 18, 1877, he married Miss Clara Cleveland, who was born in Steuben County, November 1I, 1859, a daughter of Frederick and Amelia (Taylor) Cleveland. Her parents were pioneers in the county, where her father died in 1864. Her mother later married John Lininger, and she died August 6, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Deller have six children: William, Lowell, Ella, Margie, Frank H. and Wayne B. The' two youngest sons are in the home circle. William, whose home is in Steuben Township, married Lena Dutler and has five children, named Ruth, Maud, Helen, Hershel and Lewis. Lowell, who lives in the northwest corner of Scott Township, married Jennie Quance, and has four children, Audry, Russell, Roscoe and Margaret. Ella is the wife of Cary E. Covell, former county surveyor and chairman of the Draft Board, and has two children, Lucile and Wen- dell. Margie is the wife of Carl Sanders and the mother of two children, Dorothy and Willis. Margie Deller was first married to Earl Beard and had one son, Robert.

A. J. RICH has lived a life of varied experience, rich in service and hard work, but for the greater part he has been a successful farmer in Noble County. Mr. Rich has a fine and well improved place of 221 acres in section 25 of Swan Township, and makes his home in the Village of Laotto.

He was born in Eel River Township of Allen County, Indiana, July 27, 1864, son of Byram L. and Sarmelia (Brook) Rich. His father was born in Knox County, Ohio, July 2, 1833, and his mother in Delaware County, Ohio, July 3rd, of the same year. She came with her parents to Noble County and they settled in Green Township as early as 1848, and spent the rest of their days there.

The Rich family is one of the pioneers in the early history of Allen County, Indiana. They set- tled on the Maumee River, eight miles east of Fort Wayne, as early as 1837. Four years later they moved to Whitley County, near Churubusco. The father of Byram L. Rich was a blacksmith by trade. He kept a well patronized shop on his land in Whitley County. He was a very skillful worker and deserved all the patronage that came to him. Later he went to Mason County, Illinois, but finally returned to Whitley County and spent his last years in Churubusco. He was an active member of the Baptist Church. He was a republican and for many years held the office of justice of the peace. The death of this old pioneer occurred in 1887.

Byram L. Rich was one of six children. After

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

his marriage he went to Illinois, then lived in Allen County, Indiana, for some years, and in 1873 moved to Noble County. During all his active life he was engaged in the lumber business. He and his wife were members of the Dunkard Church. Of their nine children five grew to maturity, and those still living are: Appleton; Mrs. Sloffer, of Laotto; A. J. Rich; and Mrs. Dickes.

A. J. Rich was nine years old when his parents moved to Noble County, and he received some of his schooling here. In 1879 he went back to Allen County, and in 1883 he and his brother went south and he was in the South for a period of eighteen months. On returning to Allen County he worked on his father's farm. September 20, 1891, Mr. Rich married Ida A. Zinn. She was born on the farm in section 25 of Swan Township September 1, 1868, and was educated in the common schools. Her father, Levi Zinn, was a native of Pennsylvania and married Mary A. Fryer. They were married in Noble County, Indiana, and then located in DeKalb County. Mr. and Mrs. Rich are the parents of two children : Waldo A., born July 13, 1892, has been in the service of the United States army during the great war, and Perma A., a graduate of high school and now a student in Indiana State Uni- versity.

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History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 16

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