History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 2

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 2
USA > Indiana > Noble County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 2
USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 2
USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 2

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).

Mr. Brouse married Miss Jennie Tyler, also a native of Allen Township, and they grew up in the same community. Mr. and Mrs. Brouse have one son, of whom they are justly proud. This son, Don Brouse, born August 19, 1895, is a graduate of the Kendallville High School and had two years in Purdue University. He is now with the American Army in France, as second lieutenant in Company H of the 335th Infantry, Eighty-Fourth Division.

WILLIAM F. BAUGHMAN has been an enterprising factor in the commercial life of Ashley for a number of years and is proprietor of a general store and of a large business with that community.

He was born in Smithfield Township, DeKalb County, May 17, 1871, a son of B. R. and Margaret (DeVore) Baughman, both natives of Holmes County, 'Ohio. His father was born July 16, 1842, and is still living. As a youth he served in the Civil war, and has long been an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a democrat. He and his wife were married in Ohio and came to Indiana in 1865, locating in DeKalb County. The mother died here April 6, 1880. She had four chil- dren, three of whom reached mature years, W. F., D. I., of Steuben County, and J. A., of Holmes County, Ohio.

William F. Baughman grew up on a farm south of Ashley, and besides the advantages of the district schools attended the Tri-State College at Angola. He has followed several different occupations and for a time was an employe of the Wabash Railroad. Later he engaged in the hardware business, also was a druggist, and today has a stock of general mer- chandise.

Mr. Baughman married Elba Lyle, formerly a resident of Iowa and a native of New York State. He is affiliated with Ashley Lodge No. 614, Free and Accepted Masons, with Ashley Chapter No. 152, Royal Arch Masons, and is a member of the Scot- tish Rite Consistory at Fort Wayne. He has served as worshipful master and high priest in the Masonic Order and is a past chancellor of Ashley Lodge, Knights of Pythias. Politically he is independent.

JOHN W. PRIEST. A business man of thirty years experience, John W. Priest has become the central

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

figure in several of the important businesses lo- cated at Topeka, where he is proprietor of the lum- ber yards and vice president of the Farmers State Bank.

He was born in Williams County, Ohio, June 20, 1868, a son of Joel and Catherine (Schwartz) Priest. His father, who was born in Holmes County, Ohio, in 1837, at the age of nineteen moved to Bryan, Ohio, where for several years he was active in the saw mill and lumber business. About 1886 he bought a farm in Williams County, and later sold that and moved to Topeka, Indiana. He finally went to Michigan. He is a member of the Methodist Church and is a past grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and a democrat in politics. His wife died in 1916. They were the parents of eleven children, three of whom are still living: John W .; George, of Camden, Michigan ; and James, of Reading, Michigan.

John W. Priest grew up on his father's farm. He acquired a good education, the advantages of the district schools being supplemented by work in the Tri-State Normal College at Angola. For three years he taught school and since then has been en- gaged in the lumber business.

He married Miss Gertrude Grose. Their son, Leroy, is a graduate of high school, spent some time in college, and is now associated with his father in business. John W. Priest is a thirty- second degree Scottish Rite Mason, also a member of the Chapter and Council in the York Rite.

MAJOR GUY J. SHAUGHNISS, assistant postmaster at Angola, was one of the local citizens of Northeast Indiana whose qualifications and abilities as a soldier were brought ont and developed with the stress of the great war recently brought to a successful conclusion.

Major Shaughniss was born in Otsego Township of Steuben County July 13, 1874, grew up on a farm, attended district schools, also the high school at Angola, and in 1900 graduated from Hillsdale College in Michigan. He has since been a well known and prominent young citizen of Angola. He has filled the office of assistant postmaster since 1900.

Major Shanghniss became interested in military affairs in 1902 when he enlisted in the National Guard. He was promoted to second lieutenant in 1905, to captain in 1907, and in 1915 to major. He saw six months of duty on the Mexican border and on August 5, 1917, was mustered into the Federal service of the National army, becoming major of the First Battalion of the Third Indiana. On Octo- ber 1, 1917, he was transferred to the One Hundred and Thirty-Seventh Field Artillery.

Major Shaughniss is a republican in politics, and is affiliated with the Masonic Order and Independent Order of Odd Fellows lodges at Angola. He was united in marriage to Lydia Jane Pence December 18, 1918.

He is a son of William and Eliza (Clark) Shaughniss, the former born near Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the mother in Otsego, Steuben County, New York. Her father, James Clark, and his wife, Elizabeth Johnson, came to Steuben County, Indiana, in 1840, settling on a farm in Otsego Township. Later James Clark moved to Branch County, Michigan, and spent his last days there.

William Shaughniss came to Steuben County, was married there, and spent his active life as a farmer. He was a democrat and a member of the Masonic Order.

Besides Major Shaughniss, who was his youngest

child, there were three other sons, Wilson J., James A. and John. John died in infancy.

James A. Shaughniss, who was born August 5, 1867, attended public schools, the high school at Quincy, Michigan, and Hillsdale College, and for twenty-two years has been engaged in the carriage business at Angola. A republican, he was elected county auditor in 1908 and gave a very successful administration of the office for four years. He has also been a member of the City Council, and is affiliated with the Masons and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. December 24, 1018, he married Mrs. Laura (Deller) Deal, of Angola.

CHARLES L. SMITH has been a factor in business and local affairs at Albion for over forty years, and out of his work, good management and judg- ment acquired the competence which enables him to spend his declining years in comfort and peace.

He was born at Tiffin, Ohio, April 30, 1847, and has now passed the age of three score and ten. His parents, Lewis C. A. and Anna M. (Reif) Smith, were both natives of Germany, his father born April 29, 1816, and his mother December II, 1820. They grew up in their native country, but were married after they came to Tiffin, Ohio, July 7, 1846. Lewis Smith was a gunsmith and locksmith and followed that occupation in Tiffin until 1859. He then located on a farm a mile and a half south of Tiffin, but about 1872 retired to the town and died at Tiffin in 1907. His wife passed away in the same city January 15, 1908. They were members of the German Lutheran Church, and the father was very active and liberal in its support. As an Amer- ican citizen he voted the republican ticket. There were seven children, and five are still living : Charles L .; Mary, wife of Jacob Marquart; Amelia, wife of John Wisher; Emma, wife of Fred Bender; and Albert, who lives at Tiffin.

Charles L. Smith grew up in Tiffin or on the farm nearby, and acquired his education in both the district and the city schools. He lived at home till the age of twenty-two. He was in the butcher business at Tiffin until 1876, when he removed to Albion and started his shop. Four year later, in 1880, he bought ont his partner, and continued active in that business, supplying many of the best people of the town and surrounding country with good meats until 1900. It was through steady application to this business that he made his competence. In 1878 a fire destroyed his shop, but in a few years he had recovered all his lost ground. Mr. Smith has invested in real estate, and now owns two good farms, one of 230 acres and another of a 113 acres.

December 18, 1877, he married Miss Melissa Beck. She was horn at Albion November 4, 1856, and her father, Michael Beck, a pioneer of Noble County, is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have three daughters. Leona, a graduate of high school, is the wife of Edwin Hicks, of Auburn, Indiana; Kate, also a high school gradnate, married Ray C. Dilgard; May, a high school graduate, married Walter Bonham. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he votes as a republican. He has never sought official honors and has been content to perform his community service as a business man. He is a director in the Farmers Bank at Albion.

J. E. JELLISON is the man chiefly responsible for giving Auburn one of its thriving industries, the Auburn Broom Company, of which he is one of the proprietors. Mr. Jellison is a broom maker of wide

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

experience, and is a man of affairs generally. He is well known as a public speaker, having gained his early reputation as a schoolboy orator, and is frequently heard in democratic party campaigns, his services in that line being much in demand.

Mr. Jellison was born in Randolph County, Indi- ana, May 17, 1879, a son of Joseph and Mary (Cullen) Jellison. His father was also a native of Randolph County, and when eight years old ran away from home to join the army in the Civil war. While he was much too young for active service the company managed to keep him as a sort of mascot until the close of the war. His wife, Mary Cullen, was born on Kelly's Island near Sandusky, Ohio, and came to Indiana when nineteen years of age, her father being a man of wealth at Union City, Indiana. After the war Joseph Jellison entered the railroad service, helped grade the Panhandle Railroad, was a brakeman for some years and later a conductor of the Big Four. He was a Catholic and a democrat. There were five children in the family: Florence, deceased; J. E .; Alice, wife of O. C. Mclaughlin, of Dayton, Ohio; Leo, who is married and lives at Dayton; and Marie, unmarried and living at Portland, Indiana. The father of these children died March 7, 1907.

J. E. Jellison spent three years of his early life at Indianapolis, but secured his education chiefly at Portland and Union City, graduating from the Portland High School in 1898. While in high school he represented the Town of Portland in an oratorical contest held at Richmond and was awarded third honors. For a time he was a drug clerk, was with the Adair Brothers in the drug business from 1899 to 1901, and in the latter year became a broommaker at Ridgeville, Indiana. After three years he returned to Portland and bought a drug store, which he con- ducted for two years. He resumed the broom making business at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he re- mained three years, was similarly engaged at Rich- mond, Virginia, for two years, and then returned to Ridgeville and was secretary of a broom company there and later its sales manager. Mr. Jellison came to Auburn in 1916 and has built up the plant and industry of the Auburn Broom Company and made it one of the flourishing concerns of DeKalb County.

In April, 1901, he married Miss Blanche Burke, of Jay County, Indiana. She is also a graduate of the Portland High School. They have three children : Guinevere, born in November, 1903; Gareth, born in May, 1905; and Francis, born in January, 1908. Mrs. Jellison is a member of the Presbyterian Church, while he was reared a Catholic.

WARREN H. THROOP. Through three generations and for over eighty years the Throop family have maintained a vigorous and influential position in Clear Lake Township of Steuben County. Several of the first settlers bore the name of Throop, and the confidence the family still enjoys in that com- munity is well testified to by the fact that the pres- ent township trustee is Warren H. Throop, a grand- son of one of the pioneers of the '30S.

Warren H. Throop was born in the same town- ship September 3, 1864. His grandfather, Hiram Throop, was born in Canandaigua, New York, in 1799. He married a Miss Sanford. The first re- corded settlers in Clear Lake Township entered land in 1836. Among them were Charles and Clark Throop, while in 1840 Hiram Throop came to the township. The name frequently appears in the early as well as the later annals of the township. Hiram Throop's home was in section 28, and he lived in the township until his death in 1872. His

children were Roxie, Mary, Estella, Samuel, Allen and Albert.

Allen Throop was born June 14, 1832, and on April 12, 1857, married Cloa Dickinson, She was born in Chenango County, New York, in 1833, a daughter of James and Maria (Atwood) Dickinson. Allen Throop acquired his education largely in the district schools of Clear Lake Township, also at- tended school at Hillsdale, Michigan, and as a young man began farming in his home township and spent the rest of his life there. At the time of his death he owned 200 acres, all of it paid for. He died three weeks before his father, in 1872. His widow has survived him for over forty-five years, and has proved a capable business manager and has increased the homestead by the purchase of sixty acres. She was the mother of seven children: Frank; Louisa, who became the wife of Frank Gowthrop; Elva, who married Fred Wigent; Clara, who died in child- hood; Warren; Nellie, who became the wife of George Gowthrop; and Carrie, who died in child- hood.

Warren H. Throop attended district school in Clear Lake Township and acquired his early knowl- edge and experience of farming on the homestead. For eight years he farmed in Scott Township, but with that exception has always lived on the place where he was born. Today he owns 200 acres in section 28, known as Clear Lake Jersey Farm. He does general farming, but for several years has spe- cialized in the breeding of high grade Jersey cattle.

Mr. Throop's public record includes ten years of service as township assessor. In January, 1919, he entered upon his duties as township trustee.

He married Marilla Kellog, daughter of Josiah and Emelie (Swager) Kellog. To their marriage were born six children: Walter, who married Ida Chandler; Ray, who married Clela Elgekrout; Harry, whose wife was Lela Becker, by whom he has children, Robert and Victor; Guy who married Mabel Brouse and has two children, Mildred and Cleon; Carl, who entered the National Army and died while in the Great Lakes Training Camp at Chicago; and Lawrence.

HERBERT H. WILDMAN has spent all his life in the village of Wolcottville, began his career there as a merchant but for ever thirty-five years has been identified with banking, and is now president and principal owner of the Wildman State Bank.

He was born at Wolcottville, April 5, 1860, son of Levi L. and Louisa M. (Taylor) Wildman. His father was a native of Massachusetts. Herbert H. Wildman attended the common and high schools of Wolcottville, and his first business venture was as restaurant proprietor. Later he was in the general merchandise business at Wolcottville until he and his father started a private bank. In 1884 they re- organized, with his father as president and Herbert H. as cashier. Levi Wildman died in 1893, and was succeeded in the presidency of the bank by Herbert Wildman. In 1917 the bank was organized under a state charter as the Wildman State Bank, with Herbert H. Wildman, president, Lee S. Jennings, vice president, and G. H. Weaver, cashier. The only change in officers at the present time is that George C. Morgan is cashier. The other directors are Harry E. Roy, V. D. Weaver and Clyde A. Walb.

Mr. Wildman married at the age of eighteen, Minnie C. Parks. They had four children: Viola W. is a high school graduate, finished her education in the Fort Wayne College, and is the widow of Charles S. Smith. Vida, a graduate of high school, is the wife of Clyde A. Walb of LaGrange. Leon L. after leaving high school took the full course at

Warren H Throat Billa Throw

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

Wabash College and two years in Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore, and is now credit man for the Bowser Company at Toronto, Canada. The fourth child, Wilman, is deceased.

Mr. Wildman is a member of the Baptist Church, served a number of years as its chorister, and all his children are musicians. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with the Lodge and Chapter of Masons at LaGrange, and in politics is a republican.

OLIVER P. BROWN has been a fixture in the com- mercial life and service of the Village of Hamilton for thirty-six years. In fact he is regarded as the town's oldest resident, and the place is important to him also as his birthplace.

He was born there August 17, 1857, a son of John and Susan (Mann) Brown. His father was born in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1821, and his mother in the same state in 1834. John Brown came to Steuben County, Indiana, in the early '50s, and was a school teacher in DeKalb County, where he mar- ried. After he settled at Hamilton he became a merchant and followed business there for many years, until his death in 1884. His widow survived him until 1911. John Brown was a democrat and held the office of justice of the peace. He and his wife had the following children : Oliver P., Jane W., Lawson, Charles M., Eda, Mary E. and Kate.

Oliver P. Brown grew up in his native village, attended the public schools there, and for over a third of a century has kept a confectionery store and barber shop. He owns the building in which he does business and has other property there. Mr. Brown is a stanch democrat, and is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Masons and attends the Methodist Episcopal Church.

In 1883 he married Miss Elva J. Fifer. She was born in Salem Township of Steuben County April 23, 1866, daughter of Lewis and Martha Fifer. Her father came to Steuben County in 1861, and was a farmer and a resident of the county for over forty- five years. He died July 25, 1906, and his wife passed away July 15, 1911. In the Fifer family were the following children : Elva, Margaret Laura, John Adam, Orlando and Jessie Alvada. Mrs. Brown's mother had for her first husband Sylvanua George, and there is one child by that union, Edward Melvin George.

Mr. and Mrs. Brown have two sons. Grover Cleveland, the older, was born January 10, 1884, had a high school education, and is a barber by trade. He married Mary Crane, and their children are named Oliver Perry, Mildred Ann, Jessie Al- vada, Leander Timothy and James Kenneth. The second son, Cleland Kenneth, born July 15, 1880, was educated in the Hamilton grammar and high schools, and is now a successful young farmer in Franklin Township of DeKalb County. He mar- ried Audra Chilchote.

EDWARD E. PRAY. In LaGrange, Noble and Steu- ben counties the name Pray for at least half a century has been prominently identified with numerous business affairs. It is characteristic of the family to promote new activities and keep busi- ness lively wherever they are. Edward E. Pray represents the third generation of the family since they came to Northeast Indiana. He has figured conspicuously as a merchant, public official and farmer in the Helmer community of Steuben County, where he resides.

He was born in Milford Township of LaGrange County November 10, 1868, son of Daniel and Sarah (Rhoads) Pray, his mother a native of Delaware

County, Ohio, and a daughter of John Rhoads. His grandparents were John Williams and Charlotte Pray. John William Pray was born on the Susque- hanna River near Horseshoe Bend in Pennsylvania, moved from there to Sunbury, Ohio, later located near Kendallville in Noble County, Indiana, and spent the rest of his life on a farm. He and his wife had six children, named Daniel, Charles, David, Rhoda, Mary and Eunice.

Daniel Pray, who was born at Sunbury, Ohio, in early youth, learned the trade of shoemaker. He was not satisfied with what he could turn out by his individual skill and established a business at Middletown, Ohio, and prospered until he had to meet the competition of machinery in making shoes. At one time he employed seven men in this shop. From Ohio he came to Milford Township of LaGrange County, Indiana, bought eighty-five acres of land, and after a few years established a brick yard near Kendallville, looking after the manage- ment of this business while his wife and family remained on the farm. After a few years he re- turned to the farm in Milford Township, and for several years his chief occupation was making brick there. He also made brick at Angola. In 1898 he moved to Helmer, taking charge of the grain ele- vator, which he operated for eight years. At the same time he was in partnership with his son in a general store at Helmer under the firm name of D. Pray & Son. Before moving to Helmer he con- ducted a general store at Turkey Creek. He has been retired from business affairs since 1905, and is now living in Milford Township of LaGrange County. He and his wife had a family of six children : Carrie B., Emma A., William, Edward E., Alice F (who died young), and Grace V.

Edward E. Pray has spent almost as busy a life as his father. He acquired his early education in the district schools of Milford Township, finished the eighth grade at Kendallville and for two years was a student in Angola. He helped work the home farm, also assisted in running the store on the farm, and in the fall of 1889 became a partner with his father in a general store at Turkey Creek. This business was moved to Helmer in 1897, and the partnership between father and son was continued until 1905, after which Mr. Pray operated the store alone until September, 1915. He then sold his busi- ness. For twelve years he was postmaster of Helmer, keeping the office in his store. Mr. Pray owns a good farm of 107 acres in section 34 of Salem Township, and since selling his store has continued to make his home in Helmer and from that point supervises his farm. He has held a com- mission as notary public for fifteen years. He was for many years affiliated with Helmer Lodge No. 424 of the Knights of Pythias, until the lodge lost its charter. Mr. Pray in 1900 married Clara Metz, a daughter of Emanuel Metz.

IRVEN O. BUCHTEL, M. D. A physician and sur- geon of the homeopathic school whose skill and abili- ties are widely appreciated over DeKalb County, Doctor Buchtel has practiced at Auburn many years and is a native of Northeast Indiana.

He was born at Ligonier August 6, 1862, a son of Charles C. and Sarah E. (Simmons) Buchtel. His parents were both natives of Stark County, Ohio, were married in that state, and coming to Indiana located in Ligonier, where they spent the rest of their lives. The father was a carpenter and con- tractor, was active in local affairs, serving as con- stable and member of the regulators, and was a democrat in politics, while his wife was a member of the Christian Church. Doctor Buchtel is one of

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

six children and he has two brothers still living: S. E., a merchant at Knightstown, Indiana, and C. W., in business at Cleveland, Ohio.

Doctor Buchtel grew up at Ligonier, graduated from the high school there, and attended Buchtel College, now Akron University, in Ohio, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree and took his medical work in the Hahnemann Medical College in Chicago. He also had three years experience and training in New York City and one year in Chicago. Doctor Buchtel is a member of the State Institute of Homeopathy and the American Association of Orifi- cial Surgeons. He is treasurer of the Auburn School Board, a democrat in politics, is a member of the Masonic lodge, the Commercial Club and a stock- holder in the City National Bank of Auburn. April 28, 1889, Doctor Buchtel married Nettie E. Dowell. They have a daughter, Lucile, who has graduated from the Auburn High School and is at home.

JOHN GASSER. The Gasser family has been identified with Steuben County for over three quar- ters of a century. As good substantial farmers and equally substantial citizens they have contributed their share to the development and progress of this locality, and their name is one justly respected and esteemed.

The father of Mr. John Gasser, now a retired resident of Angola, was the late Benedict Gasser, who lived in Steuben County over sixty years. He was born in Berne, Switzerland, August 9, 1817, son of John and Anna Gasser, who in 1833 brought their family of nine children to the United States and settled in Sandusky County, Ohio, where the mother died the same year and the father the next year. This left the children unprovided for, and they were cared for by different parties. Benedict was a young man when his parents came to this country, and he did his part in providing for his own living and helping his brothers and sisters. In Sandusky County, Ohio, in 1840 he married Caroline Albert. She was born in Hesse Germany, November 18, 1819. It was two years after their marriage that Benedict Gasser and wife came to Steuben County and located in section 20 of Scott Township. He bought forty acres of wild land, built his log cabin in the woods, and worked steadily until he had most of it under cultivation. Later he increased his farm to 120 acres, and two years before his death moved to Angola, where he died in 1905, at the age of eighty-seven. His good wife passed away in 1893, aged seventy-five. Bene- dict Gasser was a democrat and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He and his wife had nine children: Sanford and Margaret, deceased ; John ; Josephine; Mary, deceased ; Frederick, Addie, Eva and Ida.

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History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 2

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