History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 23

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 23
USA > Indiana > Noble County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 23
USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 23
USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 23

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).

GEORGE F. OTT is a well known farmer of Green Township, Noble County, lives on and has the active management of the Jesse Lock Farm, and is also an aggressive business man and especially active in the field of insurance.

Mr. Ott was born in Preble County, twelve miles north of Eaton, Ohio, June 1, 1870, son of John A. and Susanna (Gangler) Ott, both of whom were born and reared in Preble County, Ohio. The grandfather, John Ott, though he spent most of his active life in Preble County, came to Noble County, Indiana, at an early day and invested heavily in the new lands of that district. Mrs. John A. Ott died in 1874 in Noble County and her husband afterward spent his last years in Noble County, Indiana. He was an active member of the Lutheran Church. John A. Ott by his first marriage had three children: Matilda, who died at the age of fourteen; George F .; and Minnie, born December 29, 1873, is the wife of Carlous Lock, of Ligonier, Indiana.

George F. Ott was eight years old when brought to Noble County and received his education here in the public school. On December 13, 1890, he married Corilla Locke. Mrs. Ott was born on the farm where she now resides August 31, 1873, a daughter

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

of Jesse A. and Sarah A. (Moore) Locke. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ott lived in Preble County, Ohio, during 1894-95, and then returned to Green Township and have since had their home on the Locke farm. Mr. Ott in addition to farming is solicitor in Green Township for the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company. He is a democrat, is present township assessor, and is a member of the Christian Chapel. His sons Willard and Carl are both active members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Mr. and Mrs. Ott had six children, five of whom are still living: Carl, who is now serving in the United States Navy; Willard, unmarried and liv- ing in Illinois; Lulu, wife of Alfred H. Rider, of Whitley County, Indiana; Jessie and Harley, both at home.

ORLANDO FIFER. The agricultural interests of Steuben County are many and varied, and the farmers of this and other counties in northeastern Indiana are justly numbered among the most repre- sentative citizens of the state. One of these de- serving of special mention is Orlando Fifer of Otsego Township, who was born in Pleasant Town- ship, this county, March 14, 1873, a son of Lewis Fifer and grandson of Adam Fifer. The birth of Adam Fifer occurred in Pennsylvania in 1817, and his wife, Elizabeth, was born in Germany February 15, 1821. She was brought to the United States by her parents, who located in Ohio in 1826. The marriage of Adam and Elizabeth Fifer occurred in Ohio, and on March 28, 1861, they came to Steuben County, Indiana, locating in Steuben Township, where he died November 2, 1883. He and his wife had the following children: Elizabeth, Lewis, Margaret, Lydia, Mary J., Justinna, William, Hattie, Addison, Loretta, Franklin and one who died in infancy.

Lewis Fifer was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, October 13, 1842. On March 22, 1865, he was married to Mrs. Martha (Harpman) George, and they had five children, as follows: Elva Jane, Margaret Leonora, John Adam, Orlando and Jessie A. Lewis Fifer became a landowner of Otsego Township when he bought 100 acres in section 18, in 1873, and on it he erected good buildings and made other substantial improvements. He and his wife were consistent members of the United Berth- ren Church, and active in its good work. His political views made him subscribe to the policies and support the candidates of the republican party. A man of the utmost probity, Lewis Fifer carried on all of his business operations with scrupulous uprightness, and was known far and wide as a man of his word.

Orlando Fifer grew up on his father's farm, mak- ing himself useful from boyhood, and at the same time he attended the local schools. When he attained to sufficient years he began farming for his father, and in March, 1904, he bought his father's farm and owns 100 acres of fertile land, on which are excellent buildings. Here he carries on general farming and stock raising, and is noted for the efficient manner in which he carries on his work.

On March 1, 1904, Mr. Fifer was married to Minnie Swift, born in Otsego Township, a daugh- ter of David and Anna (Strubble) Swift. Mr. and Mrs. Fifer have the following children: Lewis D., Grace A. and Leona L. Mr. Fifer belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the order of Moose and the Gleaners. Always interested in public matters, he has rendered valuable aid in securing improvements in his township, and holds the confidence and esteem of his neighbors.

WALTER J. NEEDHAM is one of the older residents of Noble County, having come here when a boy, and is a prosperous farmer with a home on Maple Street, two miles east of the Sanitarium, in section II of Orange Township.

Mr. Needham was born in Chicago, Illinois, No- vember 2, 1869, son of Walter and Martha (Clews) Needham. His parents were both born in Eng- land and were married there. After their mar- riage they emigrated to Australia and lived there several years, where the father followed his trade as a butcher. He then went back to England, and soon afterward sought a new home in Canada, going from there to Chicago, and not long after- ward coming to Noble County, Indiana. The fa- ther died in Noble County, and his widow is still living at Wolcottville. Of their thirteen children seven are still living: William B., who was born in Australia and is now living in Kendallville; Emma, wife of Carson Marker; Jennie, wife of Allen Hassinger; Anna, wife of George Holsinger; A. L. Needham; Walter J .; and Fannie, wife of Armel Gault.

Walter J. Needham was brought to Noble County when a boy and grew up on a farm and attended district schools. He helped farm the home place, and afterward bought the 160 acres contained therein.

November 1, 1892, he married Miss Julia B. Dye. Mrs. Needham was born in Orange Township, a mile east of Brimfield, and is a graduate of the Rome City High School. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Needham lived for five years in Rome City, where he was a railroad man, being a brakeman on the Lake Shore. He then moved to the farm where he now lives, and has his large place well cultivated, improved and managed as a valuable farm property.

Mr. and Mrs. Needham have two sons. Basil E. is a graduate of the Rome City High School and married Inez Rimmel and lives near his father's home. Bruce B. was born August 15, 1909. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Rome City and Mr. Needham is a re- publican. Mrs. Needham is affiliated with the Eastern Star Chapter at Rome City.

CHARLES S. SHUTTS, a former assessor and trus- tee of Jamestown Township, was born in that local- ity of Steuben County, and has been successfully identified with farming there for the past thirty years.

Mr. Shutts was born in Jamestown Township August 24, 1866, a son of Herman C. and Mary (Collins) Shutts. His mother was born Novem- ber 28, 1844, a daughter of Samuel and Betsie (Bush) Collins. Herman C. Shutts was born in Sandusky County, Ohio, June 6, 1839, a son of Charles S. and Susanna ( Richey) Shutts. Charles S. Shutts was born July 6, 1809, died November 30, 1859, and was married January 19, 1832. Susanna Richey was born in 1808. They spent most of their lives in Sandusky County, Ohio, and their children were Mary Jane, Eliza, Herman C., Almira and Lucy S. Herman C. Shutts, only son of his parents, moved from Sandusky County, Ohio, to Jamestown Township in 1860, buying a farm in sections 19 and 18. All the improvements on that land were put there by his hands or at his direction, and he made a good farm out of the 120 acres, and resided there until his death. His children were: Charles S .; Lucy M., wife of Charles Turner; Jennie, wife of Horace Davis; and Erva L., who was married to Frank Mallory. .

Vol. 11-6

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

Charles S. Shutts attended public school in James- town Township, and was a little past twenty-two years of age when on March 12, 1889, he married Libbie M. Rubley. She is a graduate of the Collins District School, also attended the Tri-State College at Angola, and afterward taught school. She is a daughter of John and Mary (Frick) Rubley, her father, born in Richland County, Ohio, September 8, 1837. John Rubley came with his parents, J. J. and, Margaret Rubley, to Jamestown Township of Steuben County in 1848, and during his mature life was known as one of the prosperous farmers of this section. He died September 27, 19II, at the age of seventy-four. John Rubley and wife had two children : John H. and Libbie M.

Soon after his marriage Mr Shutts removed to his present farm in section 29 of Steuben Township. He owns 120 acres, devoted to general farming and stockraising, and has made most of the improve- ments which give the land value, including a set of substantial buildings. His public record includes his four-year term of service as assessor from 1900 to 1904, while from 1904 to 1908 he was trustee of the township. Mr. and Mrs. Shutts have two children, Harry C. and Helen E.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN GRIFFITH, an honored veteran of the Civil war, was for upwards of half a century successfully engaged in farming in Otsego Township, Steuben County, and is now a retired resi- dent of Hamilton.

He was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, May 16, 1846, a son of John and Jemima (Gossage) Griffith. Further reference to his parents and their pioneer efforts at home-making in Northeast In- diana are made on other pages. The family came to Indiana in 1850, when Benjamin Franklin was four years old. He lived in their pioneer home in De- Kalb County until 1857, when his parents moved to Otsego Township in Steuben County. In these localities he acquired his education in the common schools, and in February, 1864, at the age of eighteen, enlisted in Company K of the One Hundred and Fifty-Second Indiana Infantry. He saw some hard service during the last year of the war, most of the time in the Shenandoah Valley. He returned from the army to take charge of the homestead and cared for his widowed mother until her death in 1884. He bought a part of the old farm, 128 acres, and had a busy life as an agriculturist until I911, when he moved to Hamilton, where he owns a comfortable home. Mr. Griffith is a republican, has been stanch in his party affiliations for over half a century, and at one time was trustee of Otsego Township. For a number of years he was affiliated with the Odd Fellows Lodge at Angola and is a member of the Grand Army Post.

December 25, 1868, he married Miss Julia Car- penter. She was born in Huron County, Ohio, April 28, 1850, and was a small child when her parents, Harlow J. and Fanny (Merry) Carpenter, moved to Indiana in the fall of 1851 and settled in the woods of Otsego Township, just across from the old Seth Dunham place. Her father did much to improve his land there and died in 1883, at the age of sixty-eight. Her mother passed away in 1893, at the age of seventy-six. Mr. Carpenter was a republican, though in early life he had voted as democrat. In the Carpenter family were six children : Jesse, former auditor of Steuben County; Sarah, wife of Robert Humphreys; George; Betsey, widow of Lewis Griffith, of Hamilton; Julia A .; and Caroline, wife of Levi Brown.

Mr. and Mrs. Griffith have had the following children: Eugene, died in 1894. Harlow, a resident

of Hamilton, married Samantha McClish, and they have four children, named Walter, Eugene, Isabel and Don. Walter was a soldier in the World war, spending most of his time at Fort Bliss, Texas, and Fort Jackson in North Carolina. He was in the service from May, 1918, until February, 1919. Maud the third child of Mr. and Mrs. Griffith, is the wife of Owen Garver, of Montana, and has two children, Valti and Fred. Lee is a resident of Tipton, In- diana. He married Nellie Knouse and has one son, Frank.

FERDINAND KNAPPE, who has passed the age of fourscore and has been a resident of Noble County for over sixty years, has been one of the most active as well as one of the most useful citizens of his community. He has built a solid structure of community esteem by his work and influence, and no one has more sturdily upheld the elements of Christianity, education and morality than this octo- genarian citizen.

Mr. Knappe, who is still living on his farm in Washington Township, six miles south of Kimmell, was born in Pike County, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1838, a son of August and Anna M. (Wetzel) Knappe. His father was born in Prussian Poland and his mother in Baden, Germany. Both came by diverse routes to America about 1830, landed in New York City, and there became acquainted and married. They remained there about seven years, where August followed his trade as a cabinet maker. Later he followed the same occupation in Pennsyl- vania, then moved to New Jersey and lived in Sussex County until 1850, when he pioneered into the western country and located in Washington Township of Noble County, Indiana. Here he acquired eighty acres, and his first home was a cabin in the midst of the woods. He spent the rest of his life as a practical farmer, and acquired con- siderable land in that section. He was a man of distinctive leadership in his community. Both he and his wife for many years were active members of the Christian Church, though August was reared a Lutheran and his wife a Catholic. He was also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and began voting as an American citizen with the whig party, later becoming a republican. In a family of nine children five are still living: Ferdi- nand; Joseph E., of Washington Township; Amelia, wife of Aaron King; Cecelia, twin sister of Amelia, wife of Jasper Gerken; and William, a farmer on the old homestead.

Ferdinand Knappe was about twelve years old when brought to Indiana. He grew up here, and since boyhood has sustained a career of active use- fulness. In 1862 he married Eliza A. Long, and they had a long married companionship of more than fifty years, broken by the death of Mrs. Knappe on July 7, 1918. To their marriage were born two children. Joseph A., the older, died at the age of six years. Sarah, the only surviving child, was born October 25, 1864, and is the wife of George W. Stults. Mr. and Mrs. Stults have five children, namely: Nellie M., wife of Lester Sechrist; Ernest R., who is the present assessor of Washington Township; Flosse, wife of James Sparrow; Nona, wife of Glen Bailey; and Florence, unmarried.

Mr. Knappe has been a member of the Christian Broadway Church since 1863, as was also his wife, and he has been one of its most active leaders. He began teaching in the Sunday school when only fourteen years old, in 1852, and steadily served as teacher and superintendent and at one time was president of the Christian Sunday School Associa- tion of the Eel River Conference. Mr. Knappe owns a good farm of a hundred acres and still

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

gives this his active superintendence. He is re- membered as one of the veteran school teachers of the pioneer days of Noble County. He began teaching in 1858, and did his last work in the schoolroom in 1880. At one time his wages were $16 a month, and he boarded around among the families of his pupils. His highest wages as a teacher was $30 a month. His terms of school were usually three or four months. He was elected and served as justice of the peace for a number of years and for two terms he was trustee of his township, from 1884 to 1888. Mr. Knappe is a republican in politics.

OWEN L. IDDINGS is one of the prosperous and successful farmers of Orange Township, Noble County, and has one of the most interesting homes in that locality. His farm is on the Fort Wayne road, five miles northwest of Kendallville, and com- prises 100 acres. It is known as the Seldom Rest Farm. The farm has much local history connected with it. In the early days it was the haunt of a gang of counterfeiters and thieves, who made it their headquarters, from which they conducted raids upon the surrounding country, stealing horses and disposing of the spurious coin which they manufactured. All traces of these early uses have long since disappeared, and under Mr. Iddings' proprietorship it is a peaceful and productive land- scape, the farm being devoted to general crops and livestock.

Mr. Iddings was born in Green Township of Noble County January 10, 1851, son of Jackson and Barbara (Dingman) Iddings. His people were pioneers and helped found the City of Kendall- ville and County of Noble. His father was born near Cleveland, Ohio, January 13, 1813. His mother was born near Dayton, Ohio, and was a member of the prominent Dingman-Forker family, who for a number of years has held family reunions and makes up one of the largest family relationships in this section of Indiana. The Dingman family came to Noble County in 1833, and bought eighty acres of land in section 33 of Wayne Township, now within the city limits of Kendallville. The first frame residence within the city limits was built by that family. Jackson Iddings arrived at Kendallville September 10, 1836, with his father, Henry Iddings. Henry Iddings entered a tract of land on which a part of Kendallville has since been built, and he developed it as a farm and lived there the rest of his life. All his children are now de- ceased.

Jackson Iddings after his marriage bought eighty acres two miles south of Kendallville, and after living there two or three years and making a num- ber of improvements lost the land by reason of a defective title. He then removed to Green Town- ship, buying 160 acres near Green Center, and cleared up that land and made it his home until 1853. He then moved a mile and a half northeast of Albion in Jefferson Township, where he ac- quired eighty acres, but after nine years sold that and bought a place two and a half miles west of Kendallville in Wayne Township. It was on that farm that Jackson Iddings spent his last days. He was a democrat and served as a justice of the peace in Green Township. His wife was a devout Baptist. In their family were thirteen children, six sons and seven daughters, and the four still living are: Asa, a farmer in Missouri; Owen L .; Ruth, wife of Willis Eckles; and Ida, widow of Fred Strater.

Owen L. Iddings lived at home with his parents until he was abont thirty-five years of age. He

acquired a district school education and was well versed in farming before he made it his independ- ent vocation.

December 30, 1886, he married Miss Ida Johnson. She was born in LaGrange County, Indiana, Feb- ruary 19, 1861, and was educated in the common schools of that county. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Iddings rented his father's farm and later bought it, and it has been under his proprietor- ship for the past eighteen years. Mrs. Iddings is an active member of the United Brethren Church.

Four children were born. to their marriage: Scott is manager for the Indiana Oil Company at Ken- dallville, and married Gladys Newman. Bessie is a graduate of the common schools and is the wife of Holly Leemaster, of Wayne Township. Nellie, the third child, died at the age of two years and twenty-one days. Russell is a graduate of the Rome City High School and is now handling most of the responsibilities of the home farm. Mr. Id- dings is a democrat in politics.

GEORGE M. ROWLEY has figured not only as pro- prietor of one of the fine farms of Millgrove Town- ship in Steuben County, but also for his usefulness in public affairs. He has been township trustee and is present township assessor, and is proprietor of one of the finest farms around Lake Gage.

Mr. Rowley was born in Oneida County, New York, November 15, 1850, but has spent most of his life in Steuben County. He is a son of Francis A. and Almira A. (Rockwell) Rowley, both natives of New York State, and a grandson of Abner Rowley, who in the early days entered a tract of land in Steuben County but never came here to make his permanent home. The land which he took up was a tract of timber around Lake Gage. Its develop- ment was left to his son, Francis A. Rowley, who reached Millgrove Township in May, 1856. He made the first opening among the trees on the north side of Lake Gage, put up a frame house, gradually cleared land for cultivation, and he and his wife lived there the rest of their days. His first farm comprised ninety-six acres, and the property grew under his management until he owned an adjoining 160 acres. Frances A. Rowley and wife had three children: Charles J., who married Alice Birce and has four children, named Frank B., James, Lee and Servetus. George M. is second in age. Cora B. is unmarried and lives at Los Angeles, California.

George M. Rowley acquired his early education in the schools of Millgrove Township, where he has lived since he was six years old. He also at- tended the Orland Academy and for one term was a teacher. His youthful strength was given to farm- ing his father's place, and in 1872 he married Ella M. Hastings, a daughter of John and Lydia (Sher- wood) Hastings.

After his marriage he bought a farm adjoining the old homestead near Lake Gage, and his land has been wonderfully improved under his ownership of forty-five years. Practically all the buildings have been put there by him. His original farm comprised sixty-nine acres. He inherited ninety-eight acres of the old homestead, and has the complete tract of 165 acres devoted to general farming purposes.

Mr. and Mrs: Rowley have four children: Iva M. is the wife of Ralph Sperry, lives in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and has one daughter, Ruth; Matie is unmarried and lives in Detroit; Ned married Ella Haskins, and his family consists of Harold, Helen and James; Nellie is the wife of Frank Gay, of Angola.

For twenty years or more Mr. Rowley has given part of his time to public affairs in public office. From 1895 to 1901 he was assessor of Millgrove

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

Township. From the duties of that office he gave his time to the trusteeship of Millgrove Township from 1901 to 1905. In 1914 he was again honored with election as assessor, and was re-elected in 1918.

BENJAMIN SMITH GROGG. The traveler through Richland Township whose attention is caught by the name "Progressive Farm" on substantial, well kept buildings, is not surprised to find in the owner of this property an unusually intelligent, well edu- cated, thoughtful man whose farming enterprises are successful and profitable. Benjamin Smith Grogg, owner and proprietor of Progressive Farm, was born November 1, 1848, in Stark County, Ohio, and was brought to DeKalb County a babe in his mother's arms in 1849. His parents were Peter and Eliza (Smith) Grogg, whose other children were as follows: Amy Ann, who died in early woman- hood; Lucinda, who is the wife of David Feagler ; Jacob W., who married Mary Fair; James H., who married Ida Showers; Mary, who is the wife of J. A. Whittington; Daniel S., who is deceased, married Elizabeth Imler; Ellen, who is the wife of George Rakestrow; and Elmer E., who is de- ceased, married Ida Smith. The family of the last named live where Peter Grogg located when he first came to Indiana.

While there is a combination of French, Scotch, Irish and German blood in the Grogg ancestry, the history of the family in the United States centers in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. Peter Grogg, father of Benjamin S., was born March 2, 1821, in Stark County, Ohio, and was the seventh son born to Solomon and Mary (Snyder) Grogg, and his brothers were: John, Abraham, Solomon, George, Jacob and Daniel, and he had a sister, Catherine. On September 2, 1846, he was married to Eliza Smith, who was the fifth in a family of nine chil- dren born to Benjamin and Rachel (Bender) Smith, whose other children were as follows: Aaron B., Lucinda, Harriet, Susan, Caroline, Ephraim, Hiram and Catherine. Two children were born to Peter and Eliza Grogg before they took up their residence in DeKalb County. When Mr. Grogg located on his first quarter section of land there were only two acres cleared, and it was through his industrial efforts that the wild land was changed into one of the most productive farms in this county.

The parents of Benjamin S. Grogg belonged to the English Reformed Church at Tamarack, near their home, but they contributed to the building of churches at Waterloo and Fairfield Center, but later, under changed conditions, they united with the Lutheran, known to all as Sixteen Church, in Richland Township, a present day old landmark of the county. The old family burying place was in Union Cemetery, the younger members of the family owning crypts in the mausoleum in Wood- lawn Cemetery.

As indicated above, Benjamin Smith Grogg is a man of progressive ideas, many of which he has introduced in the management of his farm. He merely · superintends, however, having a capable tenant, for Mr. Grogg has not been an agriculturist all his life, in fact has been something of a traveler and perhaps has seen more of the western part of the United States than the majority of his neigh- bors. He has been in every state west of the Missis- sippi River and has traveled the whole length of Canada from Detroit to Vancouver, spending time in both mining and logging camps. He made the round trip from DeKalb County to the Pacific Coast four times while his parents were living. In these years of travel he has met with accident and adventure. At one time he was confined in a hos-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 23

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