History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 17

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 17
USA > Indiana > Noble County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 17
USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 17
USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 17

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).

The family are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Rich is a Mason, and his wife and children are members of the Eastern Star. In politics he is a steadfast supporter of republican interests.

GEORGE W. GEIGER is one of the oldest residents of Green Township, Noble County, and his position and citizenship is the more esteemed because of the fact that he is a surviving veteran of the great war for the Union. He was a young man when he bore arms in defense of the flag, and since then for more than half a century he has been identified with the agricultural community where he was born and reared.

On the farm that he now owns, comprising 100 acres, he was born, March 7, 1841, son of Thomas and Mary J. (McGuire) Geiger. His parents were born in Licking County, Ohio, his father December 22, 1814, and his mother in 1815. They were mar- ried in Licking County, September 18, 1835, and a few days later they joined a party of thirty or more who started with wagons and teams and after six weeks of journeying over rough roads and trails arrived on Eel River in Indiana, October 20, 1835. In Green Township, of Noble County. Thomas Geiger bought 200 acres of wild land. He at once began its clearing and cultivation, and continued one of the sturdy citizens of that locality the rest of his life. He was an active member of the Baptist Church and a republican. Of eleven children born to this worthy pioneer couple only four are now living: William, a farmer in Green Township; Clara, wife of Horace McDuffee; George W .; and Irene, widow of James Harter.

George W. Geiger grew up on the home farm and as a boy assisted in the work of the fields and in clearing more of the land. He had a common school education. On August 7, 1862, he enlisted in Company E of the Eightieth Indiana Infantry. A few weeks later, on the 8th of October, he partici- pated in the battle of Perryville, Kentucky. Decem- ber 29, 1862, he was in the battle of Murfreesboro or Stone River, and after that continued with his command until May 12, 1863, when he was taken ill, and after a period in a hospital was granted an hon- orable discharge November 3, 1863. He then re- turned home and has since applied himself to the

main business of life, farming, of which he has made a notable success.

On August 12, 1862, a few days after his enlist- ment in the army, Mr. Geiger married Miss Rebecca Russell. They had a long and happy life together for over half a century, until their companionship was terminated by her death on August 17, 1913. Mr. Geiger has four children: Catherine, wife of William Hosler; Dora, wife of C. V. Crider; A. M. Geiger, of Allen County, Indiana; and Herschel Geiger, of Green Township, Noble County. June 27, 1918, Mr. Geiger married Mrs. Alice Robinson, who was born in Allen County, Indiana. Her maiden name was Alice Pratt. Mr. Geiger and family are members of the Close Communion Bap- tist Church, and in politics he is a republican.

JOHN W. Low. The family name of Low is one of the first to occur in the annals of Clear Spring Township, LaGrange County, and the veteran farmer and business man, proprietor of the Sunnyside Farm in Eden Township, John W. Low, is a son of the original pioneer.

Mr. Low, whose farm is a mile and one-quarter north of Topeka, was born in Clear Spring Town- ship February 9, 1845, a son of Nicholas and Eliza- beth (Hendricks) Low. His parents were both natives of Baltimore County, Maryland, where they grew up and on coming west lived for a time in Ohio and in 1832 entered three hundred twenty acres in Clear Spring Township. They were prob- ably the second family to locate in that township, which then was a wilderness with the Indians still roaming through the woods. Nicholas Low cleared a space among the trees for his cabin, and gradually cleared up his land and died there about 1885. His wife was a member of the Methodist Church and he was a democrat in politics. In their family were nine children, four of whom died in infancy, one at the age of ten years, and the others are: Mary J., wife of Joel Greenawalt, of Clear Spring Town- ship; Thomas, living in California; John, and Mar- tha, widow of Solomon Herrington.

John Low grew up on his father's farm and had a district school education. In November, 1867, he married Elizabeth Coppes. She was a daughter of Richard and Hannah Coppes and spent her girlhood in Clear Spring Township, where she and Mr. Low attended the same school. After their marriage they lived on the Coppes Farm for three years, and in 1872 bought the place where Mr. Low is still living. He has a ninety-acre farm and many years of industry have brought their sure rewards in comfort and a competence for his declining years. Mr. Low lost his first wife January 20, 1889. She was the mother of three children: Hannah, who attended the common schools and Hillsdale College and is now the wife of Rudolph Kenagy, of Topeka, Indiana; Martha J., a graduate of the State Nor- mal School, has been a very successful teacher, doing her first work in district schools, spending eight years at Marion, Indiana, for three years was at Gary, Indiana, two years at Oakland, California, and is now connected with the schools of Michigan City, and Emma, who also attended the State Normal and taught for a number of years in the district schools, is the wife of William O. Hostettler of Eden Town- ship. On May 3, 1891, Mr. Low married Laura Prentiss, of Noble County, where she was born. Mrs. Low is a veteran teacher, having thirty-two terms to her credit. She is a member of the Baptist Church at Topeka. Mr. Low was counted as the second active prohibitionist in his township, and several times served as county chairman of his party. He and his wife are both stockholders in the Farmers State Bank of Topeka.

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

WILLIAM E. BUTz. While he has always gone about his affairs quietly and with an unassuming nature, William E. Butz has been identified with the energetic and enterprising citizenship of Noble Coun- ty for over thirty years, and is one of its most useful citizens.

He was born on a farm in York Township adjoin- ing the one where he lives today on May 14, 1868. His father, Christian Butz, was born in Germany and came to the United States when a young man, first locating in York Township of Noble County and later buying land there. He married Mary Lee, and they spent the rest of their days in that locality. They were members of the Lutheran Church and Christian was a democrat. He and his wife had ten children, and nine are still living: Minnie, of York Township; Ulric, a farmer, contractor and carpenter in York Township; John G., a York Township farm- er; Anna, wife of John Shisler; Lena, wife of Clar- ence Wemple; William E .; Ida, wife of George Hoffman; Fred, of Kendallville; and Clara, wife of Thorlo Shaffer, of Kendallville.

William E. Butz grew up on the home farm and had a district school education. After reaching man- hood he married Delma Renahan. They are the par- ents of six children : Cleo, a graduate of high school, who attended Defiance College in Ohio and is now the wife of Walter Wolfe; Lela, a graduate of high school and wife of Harvey Hull; Forest, a high school graduate; Harold, in the second year of high school; Walter, in the eighth grade; and Ruby.

Mr. Butz has been greatly prospered in his busi- ness affairs and is proprietor of the Walnut Row Farm, consisting of three hundred and forty acres and one of the best farms in York Township. Mr. Butz is well known as a breeder of Belgian horses and Shorthorn cattle. He is one of the directors of the Farmers State Bank of Wawaka, a director in the Farmers Telephone Company, and in politics is a democrat. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, while his wife and children are members of the Christian Church.

CLAUD D. KILLINGER. Every progressive com- munity in order to keep up its progress must de- pend not only upon the enterprise of its older fam- ilies but also the fresh blood and life of new- comers. One of the younger men who have recently identified themselves with Steuben County is Claud D. Killinger, now the head of a thriving business as a merchant at Metz.

Mr. Killinger was born at Edgerton in Williams County, Ohio, January 4, 1880, a son of William Henry and Mary (Schaffer) Killinger. His parents were both born in Williams County, his father in 1849 and his mother in 1851. The grandparents, John and Rebecca Killinger, and John and Mary Schaffer, were identified with the very early settle- ment and development of Williams County. William Henry Killinger grew up on a farm, had a public school education and as the oldest son assumed responsibilities in advance of his years. He con- tinued farming until 1888, and since then has been engaged in the meat business at Edgerton. He is a republican and served for several years as assessor, and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is an active member of the Methodist Church. His first wife died in 1888, the mother of four children, Holly, Edward, Claud D. and Georgia. For his second wife William H. Killinger married Sarah Eve, and they have two children, Gola May and Maurice.

Claud D. Killinger grew up at Edgerton, at- tended the high school there, and while going to school was clerk and delivery boy with a local gro-

cery firm. Later he learned more about merchandis- ing as clerk at Edgerton, and in 1913 moved to Metz to take the management of the Stiefel store. Four years later, when the Stiefel Company went out of business, he remained at the old stand, introducing his stock of goods, and today the C. D. Killinger Company supplies much of the merchandise con- sumed in that section of Steuben County.

Mr. Killinger is a republican and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias at Metz. In 1905 he married Miss Glida Sickels, of Steuben County, daughter of Ananias and Flora Sickels, who were early settlers here. The father is still living in Metz.

FREDERICK L. BLUHM is one of the oldest bankers of Kendallville in point of active experience. He is now secretary of the Kendallville Trust & Sav- ings Company and has been connected at different times with practically all the banks of that city.

He was born March 20, 1856, and in 1871, at the age of . fifteen, came to the United States with his parents. The family located at Kendallville, where he finished his education. A poor boy, he went to work on the farm of John Mitchell, and was in his employ for about nine years. During that time he also attended night school and made himself pro- ficient in the English language and other branches. He also saved most of his earnings, and had a steady ambition to make the best of his opportuni- ties. For a year he worked in the great car works of Haskell & Barker at Michigan City, but then resumed employment with Mr. Mitchell, then pres- ident of the First National Bank of Kendallville. Mr. Mitchell took much interest in the young man, gave him every encouragement and opportunity to learn banking thoroughly, and if there is any de- tail in the management of a bank in which he has not had experience Mr. Bluhm does not know what it is. He worked as a janitor, as general utility boy, and clerk, and from that through all the grades of responsibilty. He was with the First National Bank from 1882 to 1893. He was then made cashier, and continued with the institution until it liquidated May 1, 1894. After that he was with the Campbell & Fetter Bank fifteen years, and resigned to become assistant cashier in the Noble County Bank. After eight years there he entered upon his present duties as secretary of the Kendall- ville Trust & Savings Company.

Mr. Bluhm married May 29, 1888, Louise Lang. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, March 24, 1859, and was brought to Kendallville by her par- ents in 1864. She was educated in the public schools of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Bluhm have two chil- dren : Maurice L., born March 25, 1889, a graduate of the Kendallville High School and of Indiana University with the degree A. B., following which he entered the law school of the University of Chi- cago. He is now serving as an interne in the United States navy. He married Clara Miller, a teacher in the public schools of Kendallville. Edith Bluhm, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bluhm, is a graduate of the Kendallville High School and wife of John F. Gerwig, of Auburn, Indiana. The Bluhm family are members of the German Lutheran Church, and politically he is a republican. He has served as city clerk three years and was a member of the City Council from 1899 to 191I.

SAMUEL F. HARLAN is one of the older residents of Green Township, Noble County, and for a num- ber of years has been the proprietor of what is known as High Point Farm, situated on the highest point of land between Fort Wayne and Goshen.

William. E. Butz

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

Mr. Harlan is a man who has become successful through his own exertions and by relying entirely upon himself. He started life without capital beyond a pair of willing hands, and has gained a good farm, provided for his family, and enjoys the complete respect and esteem of a large community.

He was born in section 17 of Green Township July 19, 1869, son of James and Agnes (Baker) Harlan. His parents were both natives of Ohio, his father a native of Ashland County. They were married in that state and then came to Indiana and lived on a farm in Green Township of Noble Coun- ty, where they spent the rest of their days. Both were active members of the Christian Church and the father was a republican. Their five living chil- dren are: Myrtle, wife of John S. Friskney; Jane, wife of Abraham Ott; Fannie, wife of Frederick Ott; Daniel, of Noble Township; and Samuel F.

Samuel F. Harlan grew up on his father's farm and had a limited district school education. When he was only twelve years old a neighboring farmer offered him a home and wages of four dollars a month. From that as a beginning he steadily in- creased his abilities and in a few years was getting sixteen dollars a month as a farm hand. He was not a spendthrift as a youth and by the time he was twenty-one years of age had more capital laid away than most young men at that period of life.

On November 22, 1890, Mr. Harlan married Miss Catherine Hire. She was born in Whitley County, Indiana, October 22, 1871, daughter of Leonard and Ellen (Bumbaugh) Hire. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Harlan bought forty acres, included within their present home, but they have greatly extended their possessions until they now have 180 acres, all well improved and constituting some of the most productive soil in Noble County. The farm has a good barn and a modern home.

Mr. and Mrs. Harlan had four children: Cleta May married Omer Zumbrun of Green Township; Bernice E. is the deceased wife of Floyd Shively; Elza J. is unmarried and living at home; and Lynn H., born in 1908, is still in school. The family are members of the Church of the Brethren and Mr. Harlan is one of its deacons. In politics he is a republican.

WILLIAM O. HILDEBRAND, M. D. In the county where he was born and reared Dr. William O. Hildebrand has carried on a very successful career as a physician and surgeon for the past fifteen years, with home and offices at Topeka.

Doctor Hildebrand was born in Bloomfield Town- ship of LaGrange County April 29. 1876, a son of William and Derline (Debow) Hildebrand. His father was born in Mansfield, Ohio, in 1841 and his mother in LaGrange County, Indiana, in 1845. Mr. Hildebrand when a boy came to DeKalb County, Indiana, with his parents, Moses and Maria (Seig- ler) Hildebrand, who located near Auburn. He grew up there and after his marriage settled on a farm in Bloomfield Township. His wife died there in 1884. They were active members of the Method- ist Church.

Doctor Hildebrand, only son of his parents, grew up on a farm northeast of LaGrange, and completed his preliminary education in the common schools there. He graduated from the LaGrange High School in 1898, and acquired his first knowledge of medicines as a drug clerk at Kendallville, where he remained two years. He paid his own way through the Indiana Medical College, entering in 1901 and graduating in 1905. He has done much to improve his opportunities not only by experience but also by a post-graduate course at Chicago in 1907 and one

at the New York Post-Graduate School in 1912. Since 1905 he has had a busy practice at Topeka and is specializing in the treatment of the eye, ear and throat. Doctor Hildebrand is a member of the County, State, Tri-State and American Medical Associations.

November 26, 1902, he married Miss Edith M. Robbins. They have one daughter, Nedra L., born November 26, 1909. The family are members of the Lutheran Church. Doctor Hildebrand is affiliated with Topeka Lodge of Masons, the Ligonier Chapter and Council, and is a republican in politics. He and his family reside in a modern home completed in 1912. Doctor Hildebrand is a stockholder in the State Bank of Topeka. For two years he was a member of the Town Council. He accepted that post of responsibility largely in order to push the movement for the installing of a waterworks and electric light system, a valuable improvement brought about while he was a member of the Council.

WILLIAM A. Cook, partner and business associate with his son-in-law, Charles E. Lingle, conducting the leading hardware business at Hamilton, is a man ·of wide experience and has been engaged in farm- ing and business affairs for over forty years.

He was born in Crawford County, Ohio, Decem- ber 7, 1854, son of George and Catherine (Young) Cook and grandson of George Cook, Sr., a native of Germany who came to America when a young man and located on a farm in Pennsylvania. George Cook, Jr., a native of Pennsylvania, moved to Craw- ford County, Ohio, in the early fifties and spent the rest of his life there as a farmer. His wife, Catherine Young, died in 1855, the mother of ten children : David, George, Mary, Sarah and Andrew, both of whom died young, Samuel, Frederick, Rachel, Elizabeth and William A.

William A. Cook was only seven months old when his mother died. His father later married Mrs. Rebecca Ronk. William A. Cook grew up in the home of his stepmother and has for her memory only praise and gratitude, since she was in every respect a good and kind mother to him. He attended school in Crawford County, did some farming in Whetstone Township of that county, and in early manhood married Lottie Beck, daughter of Adam and Sarah Beck. About four years after his mar- riage he moved to Williams County, Ohio, and con- tinued farming there for a number of years. He then engaged in business, and coming to Hamilton, Indiana, he and his son-in-law, Charles E. Lingle, bought the general hardware business which has since been conducted and has prospered under their management.

Mr. and Mrs. Cook have one child, Iola, wife of Charles E. Lingle.

CHARLES E. LINGLE is one of the enterprising young merchants of Steuben County, and active head of the leading hardware business at Hamilton. He spent most of his life over the Ohio state line in Williams County and was born there at Evansport, February 12, 1880, a son of Benjamin and Fannie (Eagle) Lingle, both natives of Williams County. His father was a farmer. Charles E. Lingle was one of twin brothers, William and Charles. He attended public school in his native county, and at the beginning of his independent career went to Flint, Michigan, and spent four years in the Durant and Dort carriage factory, which has since become an important auxiliary of the great automobile in- dustry at Flint. He then returned to his native county, locating at Edon, and in 1905 bought the hardware business at Hamilton, Indiana, and has

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

conducted a flourishing enterprise there. His busi- ness associate and partner is his father-in-law, William A. Cook.

Mr. Lingle married in November, 1903, Iola Cook, daughter of W. A. and Lottie Cook. They have two children, Raymond and Isabel. Mr. and Mrs. Lingle are members of the Methodist Church.

PETER J. MILLER is a hard working, industrious and upright citizen of Clear Spring Township in LaGrange County, diligently working his home farm in section 10, in the same community where he was born and reared.

Mr. Miller was born March 10, 1872, a son of Jacob J. and ' Mattie (Nisley) Miller, the former a native of Holmes County, Ohio. The grandfather, Joni Miller, was born in Pennsylvania, from there came to Ohio, later came to Indiana, and died in LaGrange County. Joni Miller had sixteen chil- dren, named Jacob J., Christ, Jeremiah, Joni, Joseph, Emanuel, Samuel, John, Mattie, Anne, Lizzie and five others that died in infancy. In the family of Jacob J. Miller were eleven children, ten of whom are living today, named, John, Anna, Joni, Peter J., Susie, Lydia, Fannie, Eli, Noah and Jacob.

Peter J. Miller spent his boyhood on a farm in the same section as that in which his present home is located. He attended the district schools, and when not in school worked on the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age. December 3, 1892, he married Elizabeth Miller, who was born on the farm where she now resides. Mr. and Mrs. Miller attended the same school. Since their marriage they have lived in Clear Spring and Newbury townships and have occupied their present well situated and valuable farm of 120 acres since February 19, 1901.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller have four children : Emanuel, who married Lizzie Yoder and lives in Clear Spring Township; Lydia, who is the wife of V. V. Lam- bright; and Amandus and Joni, unmarried and at home. The family are members of the Amish Mennonite Church.

FRANK B. PHILLIPS. The membership of the Phil- lips family in Steuben County comprises a number of very successful farmers, good citizens and people of all around worth and ability. One of them is Frank B. Phillips, who was born in that county, and is successfully identified with the ownership and management of a good farm in Salem Township.

He was born in Jackson Township January 31, 1864, a son of Addison and Elizabeth (Wade) Phil- lips. His mother was a native of Canada, a daugh- ter of Robert and Jane (Giles) Wade, a family that came in early times to LaGrange County, Indiana. Addison Phillips was born in New York State Oc- tober 21, 1821, and as a young man worked on the Erie Canal. In early manhood he came to Steuben County, and arrived here practically penniless and worked out by the month on a farm. Later his par- ents came on and settled at Hamilton, where both of them now rest in the cemetery. Addison Phillips eventually settled in Jackson Township, where he acquired 103 acres of new land. A log cabin stood on the ground, but otherwise there were few im- provements worthy of the name. He kept up the work diligently for many years, and before his death had good buildings and a farm thoroughly productive. His wife died on the old farm Decem- ber 29, 1887, and he died there in 1899. He was very independent in politics, voting as a republican, also as a greenbacker, and was a supporter of Bryan during his first presidential campaign. Addison Phillips and wife had a large family of children, namely : Rollin, born December 16, 1854; Rebecca,

born March 19, 1856, deceased; Ellen, born Sep- tember 24, 1857; Ida Isabel, born August 14, 1859; Otis E, born September 20, 1861, deceased; Frank; Charles, born January 29, 1866; Adelbert, born De- cember 28, 1868; Mary Elizabeth, born September 20, 1871; Anna Lorene, born October 15, 1873, de- ceased; and Jay W., born March 14, 1877, who died in infancy.

Frank B. Phillips grew up on his father's home- stead and after getting his education worked at what has been the chief business of his life. For three years he rented and then in 1890 bought eighty acres in Jackson Township. That was his home until 1901. He sold his place in February of that year and on April 3, 1901, bought his present home farm in Salem Township. He has done much to in- crease the value of his 160 acres, erecting good buildings, and otherwise keeping his place in per- fect order and in a high degree of productiveness. Mr. Phillips is a democrat in politics, is a member of the Lodge and Encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Salem Center, and is also affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his wife have their church affiliations with the Latter Day Saints.

On January 27, 1887, he married Louetta Cham- berlain. She was born in Tippecanoe County, In- diana, in 1864, daughter of Sherman and Mary (Jones) Chamberlain. Her father was born at Hud- son in Summit County, Ohio, and her mother in the State of New York. Her father died in Noble County, Indiana, in 1877, at the age of fifty-four and her mother in 1905, aged seventy-four.

CHARLES ALFRED PHILLIPS, a well known Steuben County farmer, whose home is just across the road from his brother Frank, was born in Jackson Town- ship January 29, 1866.

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History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 17

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