History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 20

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 20
USA > Indiana > Noble County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 20
USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 20
USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 20

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. Moughler was born in Wayne County, Ohio, February 9, 1850, a son of Jacob and Hannah (Bordner) Moughler, the former a native of Lucas County, Ohio, and the latter of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. They grew up in Wayne County, Ohio, were married there and in the fall of 1852 came to DeKalb County, settling a mile and a half south of Butler in Wilmington Township. They spent the rest of their lives on that farm and the father cleared up and put in cultivation most of the land. The mother was a member of the

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

Christian Church. Jacob Moughler was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Butler and was a democrat in politics. In the fam- ily were seven children: Amanda, deceased; John; Mary, who became the wife of Orlando Bratton; Emma, deceased; Daniel, of Butler; Amos, de- ceased, and Charles, who died when two years old. John Monghler grew up on the homestead south of Butler and attended the common schools. One of the schools he attended was kept in a log house. He played an industrious part helping his father clear and cultivate the farm, and lived at home to the age of thirty-one.

September 23, 1880, he married Alice Hendershot. She was born March 6, 1857, a daughter of B. F. and Susanna (Miller) Hendershot, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ashland County, Ohio. The parents were married in Will- iams County, Ohio, and began housekeeping in De- fiance County, and spent the rest of their lives there.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Moughler rented the old Yoey Farm not far from his father's home. Two years later they moved to another farm in Wilmington Township and from there came to Troy Township. A distinctive feature of Mr. Moughler's career as a farmer is that for twenty- two years he lived on and rented one farm. This farm during this time had three different owners. He reared his family there and eventually put away enough to enable him to buy his present place of forty acres in the southwest corner of Troy Town- ship. He keeps good grades of livestock, and is still busy with farming. Mr. Moughler is a demo- crat in politics.

He and his wife have two sons, Burl and Glenn. Burl is one of the leading young farmers of Troy Township, while Glenn has an eighty-acre farm six miles east of Auburn.

L. A. KINTNER is one of the most progressive of the modern farmers of Steuben County. He has worked hard, has made several changes, each one for the better, has adapted himself and his methods to changing conditions, and his place in Richland Township reflects well ordered prosperity at every turn.

He has lived most of his life in this county, but was born at Edon in Williams County, Ohio, Febru- ary 10, 1868. His father was George Kintner, who was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, September 24, 1830. When a young man he moved to Williams County and located in a rather wild and primitive district southwest of Edon, where he improved a tract of land bought direct from the Government. He had previously operated a sawmill at Edon. About 1872 he sold his Ohio property and came to Steuben County, buying ninety-three and a fraction acres in Richland Township. This is the land now owned and occupied by his son L. A., and it has been under cultivation by members of the Kintner fam- ily nearly fifty years. In 1880 George Kintner built the large brick house which is still in a good state of repair and furnished an excellent home for the son and family. George Kintner retired and rented his farm in 1890, and lived in Angola until his death in 1007. He married Almira Garwood, who was born in Williams County, Ohio, January 30, 1840. She died in 1915, the mother of three children, H. P., L. A. and E. M. Kintner.

L. A. Kintner attended public school at Metz and took commercial courses in the Tri-State Nor- mal College at Angola. All the time he was also acquiring practical experience as a farmer. One winter term he was teacher of a district school, and for three years or so worked out at monthly wages.

January 30, 1895, was an important date in his career, marking his marriage to Miss Permilie M. Bockey, daughter of Sylvester Bockey. The fol- lowing eight years he rented his father's farm. Mov- ing to Fremont, he became a partner in the Fre- mont Lumber & Coal Company, but in January, 1906, left town to resume farming on the old Aleck McClue place south of Fremont, where he lived about a year and a half. In February, 1907, he made a formal purchase of the old Kintner homestead. His ownership has brought him prosperity and has resulted in many notable improvements, the building of good barns and other facilities, and everything is now well arranged and equipped for the general purpose farm. He feeds a number of stock every season.

Mr. Kintner is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge and Chapter at Angola and with the Knights of Pythias. He and his wife have two children and one grandchild. Mildred A., the daughter, is the wife of Peter Dick, and their son is named Robert. The son is Maurice G. Kintner.

SETH DUNHAM. If any man has a thorough and authoritative knowledge of changing conditions in Otsego Township from pioneer times to the present it is Seth Dunham, a farmer there for over sixty years, and a witness of passing events and circum- stances for fully three quarters of a century.

Mr. Dunham, who is still living on his farm at the venerable age of eighty-seven, was born in the City of Buffalo, Erie County, New York, August 7, 1832, a son of Samuel and Sophia (Wilber) Dun- ham. His mother was born in New York State and died there at the age of thirty-two. The father was born in Delaware County, New York. Samuel Dunham brought his children to Indiana in 1844, traveling overland with wagons and two yoke of oxen. After a journey of four weeks he reached Steuben County and settled in Otsego Township. He bought 160 acres of land from his brother, Charles Dun- ham, a previous settler, and during the next ten years did a great deal to make his land productive and a part of the growing community of homes and farms. He died at Hamilton April 28, 1856, at the age of fifty-two. He was a whig in politics and he died about the time the republican party was or- ganized. He and his wife had eight children, Pan- ama, Seth, Mary, Oliver and Oliva, twins, Harriet, Sophia and Ella.

Of this large family Seth Dunham is the only survivor. He was in his twelfth year when brought to Steuben County. Prior to that time he had at- tended public schools in New York State, and he also went to school some in the backwoods schools of Otsego Township. He adapted himself to the pioneer conditions, and became a good hunter as well as a good farmer. As late as 1852 Mr. Dun- ham killed fifteen deer in Otsego Township besides a large number of wild turkeys. At the time of his marriage he bought eighty acres of land where he lives today, and his increasing resources enabled him to improve his possessions until today he owns 280 acres. Along with good crops he has for many years handled livestock, not only raising cattle and hogs but buying and selling and feeding. Mr. Dunham has lived an interesting though not a conspicuous life, has done his duty quietly by his family and his neighbors, but has never sought the distinction of public office. He is a republican, having been identified with that party from the time of its organization, and his wife is a member of the Christian Church.

Mr. and Mrs. Dunham are one of the oldest married couples in Steuben County. The date of

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

their marriage was November 10, 1859. Her maiden name was Mary Ann McEntarfer. She was born in Stark County, Ohio, August 2, 1837, and was an infant when her parents, Daniel and Elizabeth (Getel) MfcEntarfer, accomplished a pioneer over- land journey with ox team and conveyance to In- diana in 1838. They settled in Franklin Township of DeKalb County, where her father died in 1860, at the age of sixty. Her mother spent her last days at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Dunham and passed away in 1872. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dunham. Caroline, the oldest, is the wife of Clark Tingler and had three children, Guy, Lloyd and Mabel. Ellen is the wife of Free- man Cary, and her family consists of Irina, Seth and Irvin. The son Seth inarried Zelma Teegardin, daughter of Thomas Teegardin. Viola Dunham is the wife of Edward Hand, and has six children, named Dorris, Kenneth, Dunham, Artis, Theodore and Donald.

ALEXANDER THOMPSON came to Steuben County during the Civil war, enlisted shortly afterward in an Indiana regiment, and at the close of the war returned and resumed his civic status as a farmer. He gave nearly half a century to the management of his business affairs, and is now retired.

Mr. Thompson was born in Crawford County, Ohio, September 27, 1846, a son of William Cannon and Harriet (Ferguson) Thompson. William Cannon Thompson was born in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, April 2, 1807, a son of Hugh S. Thompson. He married April 16, 1844, Harriet Fer- guson, who was born in Richland County, near Mansfield, Ohio, April 10, 1819. After their mar- riage in Richland County they settled in Crawford County, and in 1864 moved to Steuben County, locating on the farm which their son Alexander now owns in Clear Lake Township. William C. Thompson died there May 31, 1890, and his widow at the home of her daughter Harriet in Hillsdale County, Michigan, in December, 1899. William C. Thompson was a republican, and he and his wife were United Presbyterians. Their children were: Hugh F., who was killed by a horse in Crawford County, Ohio, at the age of six years; Alexander ; Mary Elizabeth; Harriet F .; John Franklin; and Effie, who was killed by a horse in Steuben County at the age of eight years.

Alexander Thompson lived in Crawford County until he was seventeen years of age, and acquired his education there. When he came to Steuben County in 1864 he rode horseback, and in the fol- lowing February he enlisted at Fremont in the One Hundred and Fifty-Second Indiana Infantry, in Company C. He was with that regiment in serv- ice until the close of hostilities. On returning to Steuben County he bought sixty acres in Clear Lake Towhship. He farmed for many years, owned con- siderable property in Ray, where he had his home for twenty years, and he also owns the old home- stead of eighty-five acres. Mr. Thompson is affil- iated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic. For a time he lived in Branch County, Michigan, and while there served as deputy sheriff of Branch County under William H. Herendeen.

In 1875 Mr. Thompson married Alice Ellis, of Branch County, a daughter of Daniel Ellis, now deceased. Mrs. Thompson died in 1901. She was the mother of six children, and a number of grand- children now survive her. The oldest was Effie, who died when six years old. Madge is the wife of Dr. Lee H. Dugand, of Ludington, Michigan, and they have two children, named Muriel Margaret and George. Irene Thompson married C. S.

Stephens, of Portland, Oregon, and has a son, Ken- neth. Ross A. is a railroad agent at Rose Lawn in Newton County, Indiana. He married Rose Swartzel. John Rollo Thompson is a well known citizen of Fremont and has a son, John R., Jr. The youngest of the family, Kenneth, died when six years old.

FRANCIS LEASON. In the early days of DeKalb County a substantial English family was established in Troy Township by the name Leason. A number of its representatives are still found in that vicinity, one of them being Mr. Francis Leason, who still goes about his daily vocation as a farmer on the east half of the northwest quarter of section 8.

He was born in Erie County, Ohio, February 2, 1854, a son of Joseph and Mary (Sharp) Leason. His father was born in England December 2, 1810, a son of Francis Leason, while the mother was born March 2, 1819, in the same country. The father grew up in Derbyshire and the mother in Notting- ham, and they were married in June, 1848. The following week they set out for the United States and at once located in Erie County, Ohio. Joseph Leason rented a farm there a short time, then re- turned to England for two years, after which he again became an Erie County farmer and in 1856 made his second return to England. In 1862 he was again in Erie County, Ohio, and continued farming there until 1867, when he removed to Indiana and bought sixty acres in section 8 of Troy Township. He lived there until his death in 1879 his wife having passed away in 1872. He was one of the leading members of the United Brethren Church in the community. He never took out his papers to become an American citizen.

Francis Leason was the only child of his parents and since he was thirteen years of age has lived in Troy Township. He acquired his education in the common schools and on December 5, 1879, married Mary E. Stearns. She was born in Troy Town- ship July 20, 1859, a daughter of John and Nancy (Ward) Stearns. Her father was born in Morrow County, Ohio, December 3, 1829, and her mother April II, 1833, in Ashtabula County of the same state. They were married July 13, 1856, and Mrs. Leason is their only daughter.

. Mr. and Mrs. Leason have three children: John, Charles, born February 17, 1883, married and living at Monroe, Michigan; and Carrie, born February 6, 1887. still at home with her parents. The latter are active members of the Zion United Brethren Church, and Mr. Leason is a republican. He and his wife have six grandchildren.

John Leason, son of Francis and Mary (Stearns) Leason, is a member of the third generation of this family and has a valuable farm in section 8 of Troy Township. He was born May 6, 1881, on a farm adjoining his present home, and he grew up and received his education in that locality. June 8, 1904, he married Mildred C. Hammond. She was born in Franklin Township of DeKalb County October 29, 1885, a daughter of George and Caro- line Hammond. She was reared in her native township and received a common school education. After their marriage John Leason and wife lived on the home farm for about five years and then came to their present place, where they have eighty acres devoted to general farming and stock raising. They are active members of the West Zion United Brethren Church, Mr. Leason being on the official boards and finance committee. He is a republican in politics .. To their marriage have been born five children, Violet, Martin, Mildred and Dorothea and Doris, twins.

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

WILLIAM GORSUCH has the reputation of being the wealthiest citizen of Sparta Township in Noble County. He is a very extensive land owner, and during his long life has used his industry and energy to such good advantage that accumulations have followed as a matter of course. An interesting fact and one that is significant is that he had only $30 when he came to this county more than fifty-six years ago.

He was born in Delaware County, Ohio, Novem- ber 25, 1842, son of Thomas and Anna (Crager) Gorsuch. His parents spent all their lives in Dela- ware County. Of their six children only three are now living: Noah and John E., of Licking County, Ohio, and William.

William Gorsuch grew up in his native county and had little opportunity to attend school. He came to Noble County in 1863 to look after a tract of 240 acres of land in Sparta Township. He has made that county his permanent home. April 1, 1866, he mar- ried Mary E. Smith. She was born in Scotland County, Missouri, and came to Noble County with her parents during the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. Gorsuch had three children, and the two still living are Thomas A. and John F., both farmers in Sparta Township. Mrs. Gorsuch, who was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, died April 16, 1915.

Mr. Gorsuch at the present time owns 458 acres of land in Sparta Township, and for many years has been a successful trader in land and other property. He has been a director in the Cromwell State Bank since it was organized, also a stockholder in the Kimmell State Bank, and in politics is a democrat.

GEORGE B. MAXTON has lived in Steuben County since he was about four years old. He has led a quiet, unostentations, but exceedingly busy and use- ful life, mainly on one farm in Otsego Township, and is raising crops today on the same land that his father cultivated half a century ago.

Mr. Maxton was born in Richland County, Ohio, August 30, 1856, a son of John and Christina (Rals- ton) Maxton. His parents were both born in Penn- sylvania, his father October 22, 1822, and his mother December 19, 1826. His grandparents, John and Anna (Clark) Maxton, spent most of their lives in Green County, Ohio. They were the parents of ten children. All these children were living and at- tended the funeral of their father, and at that time their combined ages were 709 years. John and Christina Maxton brought their family to Otsego Township, April 1, 1860, and settled on a farm of 14134 acres. John Maxton cleared much of this land, put up some good buildings, saw his efforts prosper, his children grow to useful manhood and womanhood, and in these peaceful surroundings he died January 2, 1900, his wife passing away October 20, 1902. He was a democrat in politics and in religious views adopted a liberal attitude. The children were: Mrs. Jane Burch; Mrs. Lydia Gil- bert, deceased; Mrs. Martha Beebe; George B .; Mrs. Mary Tasker; Joseph, who died in infancy; and Mrs. Anna Sheffler.

George B. Maxton grew up on the home farm, acquired a common school education and as a boy assisted his father in clearing more land for fields and tending the fields already in cultivation. He has always lived on the same place and is now proprietor of a farm with splendid improvements and of great productiveness. Mr. Maxton is a democrat, is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias at Angola and is a member of the Hamilton Co-operative Ship- pers Association.

In 1880 he married Miss Cassie Tingler. She was born in Hancock County, Ohio, May 25, 1858, and was about four years old when her parents, Michael and Nellie (Opp) Tingler, came to Steuben County and settled in Otsego Township. Her par- ents lived here upwards of half a century. Her mother died in 1906 and her father in 1910. Mrs. Maxton has one sister, Mrs. Phoebe Badger. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Maxton, Hugh and Nellie. Hugh, born May 16, 1881, was edu- cated in the common schools and in recent years has assumed many of the responsibilities of man- aging his father's farm. He married Miss Georgia Boyles, and their four children are Carroll, Denver, Lewis and Ruth. The daughter Nellie, who was born June 29, 1883, is the wife of Roy Orewiler, a son of Adam Orewiler, of Steuben County. Two sons comprise the family of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Orewiler, named Russell and Keith.

ADOLPH E. LAMBRIGHT, member of an old family of LaGrange County, has in his own right and in his own career achieved a dignified success as a farmer and good citizen, and while he has never been in politics has exercised a good influence in the community where he lives. His farm is in Johnson Township, three and a half miles north and one half mile west of Wolcottville.

He was born in Clear Spring Township of the same county January 2, 1866, son of Michael and Augusta (Snitzer) Lambright. His father was born in Germany March 9, 1839, and came to the United States with his father in 1847, being one of eight children, all of whom grew up in Holmes County, Ohio. Holmes County was the birthplace of Augusta Snitzer, who was born October 18, 1839. She and Michael Lambright were married in August, 1860, and in 1865 brought their family to Indiana and settled in Clear Spring Township, two and a half miles southwest of LaGrange. In 1871 he moved to Johnson Township and spent the rest of his active years as a farmer there, but late in life moved to Wolcottville and died there. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Church. Of their eight children six are still living : William J., of Wolcottville; Adolph E .; Ella, wife of William Rowe; Miles, of Elkhart, Indiana; Carrie, wife of Frank Eddy; and Alvin E., of John- son Township.

Adolph E. has spent all his life in LaGrange County. He supplemented the advantages of the common schools by work in the Normal School at LaGrange and for twelve years was a teacher, and his former pupils credit him with being one of the best teachers of Johnson Township. While teaching he also engaged in farming. In April, 1898, after his marriage, he bought the farm where he now resides, consisting of 140 acres. Mr. Łam- bright is well known locally as a breeder of Duroc hogs. He and his family are members of the Methodist Church, and in politics he is a democrat.

Mr. Lambright was married April 21, 1891, to Emma Shuman, and they have six children. Agnes is a graduate of the LaGrange High School and a graduate dietitian of the Battle Creek Sani- tarium and is now the wife of Edgar Vasser. Mildred is a graduate of high school, and had a two-year college course. Harold graduated from high school and is now a student of electrical en- gineering in Purdue University. Clyde finished his high school course and was also a student of the Fort Wayne Business College. Lois is now in the high school at Wolcottville, while Julia is in the grade school.

MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM GORSUCH

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

ROY A. VAN FOSSEN, though identified with Steuben County only a few years, is a member of a family which has been related with the com- munities of Northeast Indiana and across the state line in Williams County, Olio, since pioneer times.

Mr. Van Fossen, whose farm is in Millgrove Township, was born in Williams County, Ohio, July 12, 1874, a son of John W. and Eliza J. (Gillis) Van Fossen. His paternal grandparents were Wil- liam and Mary (Sloss) Van Fossen. More than eighty years ago they removed from Ohio to Dear- bornville, Michigan, and in 1838 returned to Ohio and settled in Williams County. Williams County at that time was practically a wilderness. William Van Fossen took up Government land in Florence Township. He was identified with the clearing and improvement of that land the rest of his life. He and his wife had six children, named Elizabeth, Rachel, William, Margaret, Jane and Thomas.

John W. Van Fossen, who was born at Newark, Ohio, February II, 1834, grew up from the age of four years in Williams County, acquired his education in public schools, and after attending the Northeastern Indiana Institute at Orland went west to Iowa and was one of the early teachers in that state. Returning to Williams County about the beginning of the Civil war, he enlisted October 31, 1862, in the Fifth Independent Company of Ohio Sharpshooters. After that until the close of hos- tilities he was with the Army of the Cumberland and was never absent a single day from duty. He participated in many engagements and after the battle of Chickamauga he was detailed for duty for six weeks in gathering up and burying the dead. The war over he returned to Williams County, and on February 22, 1866, married Eliza Jane Gillis. Her parents were William and Jane (McLaren) Gillis, the latter a native of Ireland. Mary Sloss, noted above as the wife of William Van Fossen, was also born in Ireland. William Gillis and wife were early settlers in Morrow County, Ohio, and in 1845 moved to Williams County, spending the rest of their days in Florence Township, where their in- dustry cleared up a homestead.

After his marriage John W. Van Fossen bought a farm in Florence Township, then moved to an- other place in Northwest Township in the same county, and in 1891 came to Northeast Indiana, set- tling in LaGrange County, on the Dr. Thomas B. Sloss farm. He made his last move in 1900, when he came to Orland, where he died November 2, 1912. His widow survived him until November 27, 1918. The late Mr. Van Fossen was a republican and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and he and his wife were Presbyterians, though in LaGrange County they worshipped in the Con- gregational Church at Orland. He was at one time ruling elder of the West Eagle Creek Church in Williams County. Their children were seven in number: Arthur A., deceased; Harvey G .; Floy; Roy A .; Dr. William S., of Columbus, Ohio; Jeanette; and Ella.

Roy A. Van Fossen attended the public schools of Northwest Township in Williams County until he was sixteen years of age, when he came with his parents to LaGrange County. He subsequently graduated from the Orland High School. Since leaving school the burden of his activities has been as an agriculturist. He bought a farm of eighty acres in Millgrove Township in I911, and for the past eight years has done much to give that place modern improvements, and he has it well stocked and equipped for general farming purposes. He has a number of pure bred Duroc Jersey hogs. Mr. Van Fossen is a republican and attends the Con- gregational Church.

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History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 20

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