History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 26

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 26
USA > Indiana > Noble County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 26
USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 26
USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 26

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).

Otis G. Gates attended the public schools when a boy, learned farming under his father, and is now proprietor of 170 acres, devoted to good crops and good livestock. Mr. Gates is a republican and attends the Methodist Episcopal Church.

August 22, 1886, he married Miss Sarah Den- man. She was born near Rome City in Noble County, a daughter of Smith and Nancy Denman, early settlers in that section of Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Gates have two children, Blanche and Glenn. Blanche is the wife of Blaine Willoughby, living on the Gates farm, and their children are Celeta, Gaylor and Ivan. Glenn, who is also on the farm with his father, married Gladys Burkhart, of Wil- liams County. Ohio, and their two children are Otto and Max.

HARVEY C. KNIGHT. While not the wealthiest man in Steuben County, Harvey C. Knight enjoys the ownership of a good farm, has paid for it out of his own efforts, and his record proves that he has been thoroughly able to fight his own battles and take care of himself and those dependent upon him. What he has he has earned, and beginning as a farm laborer he has steadily progressed toward the goal of independence.

Mr. Knight was born in Steuben Township of Steuben County March 8, 1867, a son of Austin and Mary Ann (Dahoff) Knight. His mother was a daughter of Peter Dahoff. Austin Knight was born in Stark County, Ohio, and came to Steuben County about 1858. For several years he was employed grubbing stumps and splitting rails. He then fol- lowed the carpenter's trade until 1872, and since then has been a busy blacksmith, being proprietor of a well patronized shop at Pleasant Lake. He and his

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

wife had six children: Ella, who died in child- hood; Harvey; Emma; Elizabeth; Herman, who died when about five years old; and Charles, who died at the age of six months.

Harvey C. Knight acquired his early education in the public schools of Pleasant Lake and was a boy helper to his father in the blacksmith shop, though he never took up that as a regular trade or occu- pation. For about twelve years he worked for farmers and other employers at monthly wages, and his next advancement was to renting farms, and in November, 1891, he bought his first property in Pleasant Lake. Five years later he bought sixteen and two-thirds acres in Steuben Township. This land had no improvements or buildings. He built a barn there in 1898 and about the same time ac- quired another forty acres. He had several other deals in real estate and in 1906 sold his property in Steuben Township and bought his present place of 120 acres in Millgrove Township. He and his fam- ily lived there since 1907, and he has used his land for general farming and stockraising purposes. His farm is in sections 27 and 28 of Millgrove Town- ship.

Mr. Knight married in 1901 Rosa Webb, a daugh- ter of Arthur and Rosa (Case) Webb. Her father was born in England and came to Steuben County about 1845. Some further reference to the Webb family will be found on other pages. Mrs. Knight is a member of the Methodist Church. She was the mother of five children: Bertice, who died at the age of four months; Walter, Vira, Myrlen, and Albert.

ALBERT S. HILL. No man in Noble County stands higher in general esteem than Albert S. Hill, a sub- stantial farmer of Wayne Township and with many interests that identify him with the life and affairs of that community. Mr. Hill's farm is in section 13 of Wayne Township.

He was born in Noble County November 16, 1865, son of Nicholas and Mary (Kinney) Hill. Nich- olas Hill was born in Germany in 1824 and was six- teen years of age when his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Simon Hill immigrated to America and established their home in the wilderness of Noble County, In- diana. Nicholas Hill grew up there and spent his life as a successful farmer. He died April 5, 1902. He and his wife had the following children: Mary, unmarried; Lawrence, deceased; Arvilla, wife of William Wright, of Kendallville; Orange L., a farmer on the old homestead; Wilbur H .; Charles R., of Richmond, Indiana; Albert S .; Rilla, who died in 1918, the wife of Gottlieb Snyder. The father married for a second wife Frances Zim- merman, but her only child is deceased.

Albert S. Hill grew up on the old farm which was entered by his grandfather from the Govern- ment. He was educated in the district schools and was at home until after his marriage. September 30, 1886, he married Miss Emma C. Hovarter. She was born in DeKalb County, Indiana, November II, 1866, daughter of Jacob and Mary Hovarter, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Germany, but brought to the United States when only eight years old.

Mr. and Mrs. Hill realized their ambitions after much denial and struggle and hard work. For seven years they were farm renters and moved to their present well kept farm in 1904. Mr. Hill owns 180 acres, and all of it represents what he and his wife have gained since their marriage. They have two children: Verne R., born October 22, 1889, is a graduate of the common schools, is a farmer in Noble County, but by his marriage to Cora M. Uhl has two children, Ruth May and Don A. Rus-

sell J., the second child, is a graduate of the com- mon schools and married September 11, 1918, Leone Lasho.

Mrs. Hill is a member of the Methodist Church at Wayne Center. Mr. Hill is affiliated with the Knights of the Maccabees Tent No. 52. Politically he has always been a steadfast republican. He uses his farm as a means of extensive operations in cattle buying and feeding. He buys carloads of sheep and cattle, feeds them for market on his farm, and thus does a larger stock business than the size of his farm would justify if he handled his animals through every stage of growth and development. He is also a stockholder in the Kendallville Fair Association.

JOSEPH M. SHEW was one of the citizens of Noble County whose memory deserve to be cherished long among his former associates and in the permanent records of the county. He was a man of great enterprise and usefulness, though physically a crip- ple, and did a great service as a teacher, an occupa- tion he followed many years, and also at one time held the office of county treasurer.

He was born in Ohio May 21, 1841, and came with his parents to Noble County, Indiana, when a boy. The family located in York Township, three miles north of Albion, and in that locality he grew up, attending the common schools and also the college at Wolcottville. He had a well trained mind, and used it as a teacher in the public schools of this county for twenty-eight terms. All the time he was teaching he lived on the farm. In 1889 he was elected county treasurer, and filled that office with signal ability for four years. He was always active as a republican and was a member of the Knights of Pythias and Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Albion.

He married for his first wife Melissa A. Niles, who died at the age of twenty-six. She was the mother of two children: Clarence W., cashier in Campbell & Felters Bank at Kendallville, and Bertha, wife of Clyde Bowman, a resident of Chi- cago. Mr. Shew married for his second wife Mrs. Almeda (Deater) Spencer, widow of Clifford Spencer. Mrs. Shew, who is still living in Washing- ton Township, on the farm of 110 acres, which is cultivated by renters, was born at Albion, Indiana, in 1860. By her first husband, Clifford Spencer, she had one son, who died at the age of fourteen months. Mrs. Shew is the mother of three children: Paul N., a mechanic at Warsaw, Indiana; Leila, wife of Floyd Fetters, of Noble County; and William B., who lives with his mother. Mrs. Shew is a member of the Baptist Church and is affiliated with the Rebekah Lodge.

JORDEN PRIEST, owner of a good farm in section 17 of Washington Township in Noble County, was thrown upon his own resources at an early age, has fought the battles of life for himself ever since, and has earned material success and at the same time the substantial esteem of a large community.

He was born in Licking County, Ohio, June II, 1855, son of George and Mary (Smith) Priest. His parents were also natives of Licking County, and George Priest spent all his life in Ohio as a farmer. After his death his widow married Mat- thew Wright, and they came to Noble County, Indiana, where she died. She was an active member of the United Brethren Church. George Priest and wife had nine children, five of whom are de- ceased, and the four living are: Allen, a farmer in Sparta Township of Noble County; George, a retired farmer at Kimmell; Jorden; and Olive, wife of Lewis Schlabach.

JOSEPH M. SHEW

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

Jorden Priest had opportunities to attend school in Ohio until he was about thirteen years old. At that age, in 1868, he left home and coming to Indiana accepted any opportunity for honorable employment that would give him a livelihood. He worked out on farms and continued in that way until past thirty years of age.

On November 28, 1889, he married Luella Pren- tice. She was born in Sparta Township of Noble County December 16. 1860, daughter of Nathaniel and Catherine (Rice) Prentice. Her father was born in New York State July 8, 1808, and her mother in Pennsylvania in 1822. Both the Rice and Prentice families were early settlers in Noble County, and Nathaniel and Catherine after their marriage settled on a farm in Sparta Township and spent the rest of their days there. Both were active church members and Nathaniel Prentice for many years dispensed local justice as a justice of the peace. He was a democrat in politics.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Priest settled on their present farm of eighty acres, and have since achieved independence and prosperity. They have one daughter, Mary C., who is a graduate of the common schools and of the Cromwell High School. She is now the wife of Oscar Correll, of Washington Township. Mr. and Mrs. Priest have one grandchild, Charles Edward. The family are members of the United Brethren Church and Mr. Priest is a steward, while his wife has been super- intendent of the Sunday school for nearly thirty years. Politically he votes as a democrat, but never interests himself in politics beyond that.

TOBIAS V. YODER. At one time Tobias V. Yoder was known as a diligent and ambitious young farm hand, but long since he raised himself above that status into that of an independent farm owner and today he is regarded as one of the largest land owners and most extensive farmers and stock men in LaGrange County. His home place is in section 2 of Eden Township, known as the General Grain Farm, a place of 231 acres. That, however, is only part of his extensive holdings.

He was born in Eden Township April 9, 1870, a son of Valentine T. and Catherine (Schrock) Yoder. His parents were both born at Johnstown, Penn- sylvania. his father September 23, 1842, and his mother in March, 1843. His father died April 10, 1913, and his mother July 23, 1918. Both the Yoder and Schrock families came to Indiana in early days, the former settling in Newbury Township and the latter in Eden Township of LaGrange County. Valentine Yoder after his marriage set- tled in section 4 of Eden Township, and spent the rest of his life there. He and his family were members of the Amish Mennonite Church. Of nine children eight are still living: John H., a farmer in Clear Spring Township; Tobias V .; Daniel V., a farmer in Clay Township; Joseph E., of Eden Township; Moses V. and Levi L., both of New- bury Township; Henry H., of Eden Township; and Gertie, wife of Joseph Hooley, of Newbury Township.

Tobias V. Yoder grew up on the home farm and attended the district schools to the age of fifteen. The following six years he worked as a hand for his father, and at the age of twenty-one had a team and some other property, which he used to run his father's farm for seven years. He then bought, rented, and for many years has lived at his present location. He began his land accumula- tions with 184 acres, and now owns 805 acres in LaGrange County, besides 160 acres in Kansas and 240 acres in Oklahoma. Through all the years he

has made much of his income by livestock. Mr. Yoder is a democrat and he and his family are active in the Amish Mennonite Church.

To him and his wife were born ten children, and the eight now living are: Lydia A., wife of David Christner; Lizzie, wife of Emanuel P. Mil- ler ; Rosa, widow of Brice Elliott ; Rufus T., Valen- tine T., Mina E., Milo T. and Amsey T., all of whom are at home.

GEORGE W. LOGAN. The record of George W. Logan, of Clear Lake township, Steuben County, is that of a successful farmer, a man who has made his own way in the world, and out of his industry and good management has achieved material circum- stances and civic esteem worthy of his many years of well directed efforts.

Mr. Logan was born in Clear Lake Township October 26, 1870, a son of Robert and Caroline (Ovenhouse) Logan. His father was born in Wil- liams County, Ohio, in 1827, and his mother in Seneca County, Ohio, in 1838. They were married in that state and in 1869 came to Clear Lake Town- ship, where they established a home on fifty acres of land. The father died there in the midst of his labors in 1877, and his wife in 1874. He was a democrat in politics. Their children were Lizzie, Samuel, Maggie (deceased), Thomas, Lettie, George W., and Clyde.

George W. Logan was only four years old when his mother died and seven when his father passed away. After that he grew up in the home of his sister Maggie, wife of Frank McElhenie., From the McElhenie home he attended the neighboring dis- trict schools and was early schooled in habits of industry and thrift. For a number of years he earned monthly wages. In 1894 he went out to Nebraska, worked there for three years and then bought 160 acres and rented other land. He was in Nebraska about seven years, and on returning to Steuben County in 1901 bought forty acres. He has since added another forty and has his farm well improved with good buildings and is doing a prosperous business.

Mr. Logan is a republican, and while living in Nebraska was affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. On October 26, 1893, he married Miss Alma Court. She was born in Salem Township of Steuben County in February, 1870, a daughter of Orrin and Mary (Brinker) Court. Her parents came to Steuben County from Marion County, Ohio, during the '6os. They settled in Salem Township and in 1873 moved to York Township, where her father died in 1887, at the age of fifty-four. Mrs. Logan's mother is still living and is now eighty-one years of age. In the Court family were ten chil- dren, named Fannie, Emma, John, Mary, Martha, Alma, George, William, Isora and Curtis. Mr. and Mrs. Logan have one son, Robert Q., born May 4, 1907

GREELY M. ZIMMERMAN. Probably no one name has been longer or more continuously associated with the mercantile enterprise of Ligonier than that of Zimmerman. Sixty years ago one of the leading stores of the village, it was conducted by Jacob C. Zimmerman, and until recently one of the largest establishments patronized by the general public had as one of the proprietors Greely M. Zimmerman. In this enterprise he was associated with his brother and sister. In September, 1918, they closed out the business and are now engaged in real estate opera- tions and looking after various properties they own. In many other ways he has been actively identified with the social and civic affairs of his home city, and is one of the most popular citizens.

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

He was born in Albion, Indiana, October 23, 1855, a son of Jacob C. and Sarah J. (Brown) Zimmer- man. His father was born in Switzerland in 1827, and was brought to the United States when four years old, growing up in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. He first came to Indiana and located in Elkhart Township in 1849, and was married in this county. His wife was a native of Ohio. For about five years Jacob Zimmerman was clerk in a store at Albion, Indiana, and in 1857 moved to Ligonier, where he engaged in business for himself. He was a merchant almost half a century, until his death in 1903. In politics a republican, at one time he represented the counties of Elkhart and Noble in the State Legislature .. He is the type of citizen who is frequently selected for places of trust and responsibility. He served eight years as trustee of Perry Township, and was also a member of the town council. He was a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. Jacob Zimmerman and wife had seven children, four of whom died in infancy. The three still living are: Greely M .; Frank W .; and Venona J., wife of S. C. Sackett.

Greely M. Zimmerman was two years old when his parents moved to Ligonier, and he grew up in that city, acquiring his education in the public schools. At the age of fifteen he took his place in his father's store, and had an uninterrupted career of business activity for nearly fifty years. He owns one-third of all the Zimmerman estate properties, also has other real estate, and has two farms aggre- gating 346 acres in Noble County. Like his father he has always affiliated with the republican party. He served sixteen years as treasurer of the City of Ligonier. He is prominent in Masonry, being affiliated with the lodge, Royal Arch Chapter, Coun- cil and Commandery, and also the Scottish Rite Con- sistory. He is a past illustrious master of Ligonier Council, Royal and Select Masters, No. 59, and for the past twenty-six years has been treasurer of his lodge, council and chapter. He is also affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Mr. Zimmerman has two children by his first mar- riage : Beulah Z., a graduate of high school and wife of Henry D. Stone, living in Los Angeles, California; and Bonnie, wife of Capt. Charles A. Green, of Tampa, Florida. In 1909 Mr. Zimmer- man married for his present wife Mrs. Sarah A. Baker Ward, a daughter of William H. Baker, of Goshen, Indiana.

CHARLES E. PIPER. For over thirty years Charles E. Piper has been working his way steadily toward prosperity and improved conditions for himself and family, and is noted as one of the leading farmers in Washington Township of Noble County. He owns a fine farm in section II of that township, his acreage comprising eighty-eight and twelve-one hundredths, devoted to the staple crops and live- stock.

Mr. Piper was born in the same township October 3, 1862, son of George and Samantha (Shelpman) Piper. His father was born in Springfield, Ohio, in 1828, and his mother in Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1839. Her parents died when she was a small girl, and her uncle, Doctor Jones, brought her to Noble Township and gave her all the advantages of his home, sending her to school, and she re- mained with the Jones family until her marriage. George Piper and wife settled on a farm, and remained identified with agriculture until his death on September 14, 1907. His widow is still living. George Piper was at one time one of the largest farmers in Noble County, his operations being con-

ducted on 600 acres. He was especially a stock farmer. He finally divided his land among his children. He was active in every moral and religious cause, served for a number of years as a trustee of Washington Township, and one term as a mem- ber of the Board of County Commissioners, and during that term the present courthouse was con- structed. He was also prominent in republican politics. He and his wife had eight children, six of whom are still living: Charles E .; William H., of Washington Township; Addie, wife of Harry Miller; George P., of Whitley County, Indiana; Dora, wife of Clarence Shew; and Della, wife of Harry Beasley.

Charles E. Piper grew up in the atmosphere of his father's large farm and early became acquainted with farm management and stock raising on an extensive scale. He contented himself with a com- mon school education, and on January 10, 1885, established a home of his own by his marriage to Viola Breninger. She was a daughter of Daniel and Sarah Breninger, who died when she was a small girl, and she lived in the home of her sister until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Piper after their marriage lived on a place south of their present home, and since the fall of 1885 have had their home associations in one spot, and from that home and farm have radiated many influences and efforts that have been of benefit to the community. Mr. Piper is a stockholder in the Sparta State Bank, in the Kimmell State Bank and in the Ligonier Farmers and Merchants Trust Company. He is a republican, is serving as township assessor, and is a member of the Township Advisory Board. Mrs. Piper is a member of Stringtown Christian Church. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias Lodge at Wolf Lake and with Cromwell Lodge of Masons.

They have two children. Ray, a graduate of the common schools, married Ethel Humes and lives on the farm with his father. Jennie is the wife of Samuel H. Galloway, of Sparta Township.

ANDREW J. RABER is one of the quiet, unassuming citizens but thoroughly successful farmer in Noble County. He has acquired by dint of much exertion and long continued years of good management one of the good farms of Orange Township, located south of Rome City.

He was born in Portage County, Ohio, in June, 1849, son of Daniel and Mary (Dice) Raber. Both parents were born in Ohio, the mother in Trum- bull County. After their marriage in that state they came to Indiana in 1854 and identified them- selves with the new community of Orange Town- ship in Noble County. Here the father after ten years of hard work in making a farm passed away in 1864 at the age of fifty. His widow survived him many years and died in Minnesota at the age of ninety-two. They had four children: Joel D., of California; Andrew J .; Saloma, widow of Carl Risch; and Amos O., of California.

Andrew J. Raber was five years old when brought to Noble County, and his memories of Orange Township go back fully fifty years. He attended the district schools of those days, and also com- pleted a course in the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio. For a time he was a teacher, doing his first work in that line in LaGrange County and later for four terms conducted a school in Noble County. With that exception his career has been that of a practical and progressive farmer. March 29, 1877, Mr. Raber married Miss Clara M. Dyer. After their marriage they rented for several years in Orange Township, and by hard

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

work and careful saving then negotiated the pur- chase of sixty acres. Later they traded this for the farm where they now live and which contains eighty acres of well cultivated land.

Mr. and Mrs. Raber have five living children: Schuyler M., a graduate of the Huntington Business College in Indiana and now a traveling salesman with headquarters at Grand Rapids, Michigan; Henry F. is also a graduate of the Huntington Busi- ness College and is now manager of a business college at Huntington; Leona is a graduate of high school, was formerly a teacher, and is now the wife of Grant Burkett, of Rome City; Nellie and Ronald E. are both unmarried. Ronald is a graduate of high school, and served during the war in the United States Navy. He was discharged in June, 1919. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Rome City. Mr. Raber is a republican.

CHARLES MOTSOLF. In a period of about fifty-five years a tract of land in Salem Township has under- gone great transformation and improvement under the ownership of the Motsolf family. Charles Mot- solf was only an infant when his father moved there, and under his ownership he has carried for- ward the work which his father begun, and is now one of the prosperons and well circumstanced citi- zens of his locality.

Charles Motsolf was born at Ontario in LaGrange County, Indiana, September 12, 1862, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Noll) Motsolf. His mother was a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of George and Nancy (Hall) Noll. George Noll was born in Pennsylvania in 1796 and came to Steuben County in 1839, living on a farm in section II of Salem Township until his death in 1862. The Nolls there- fore are one of the pioneer families of Stenben County. Jacob Motsolf was born in Germany and left that country when a young man in 1844. He was a cooper by trade and found employment in a brewery at Cincinnati. Later he moved to Steuben County and after his marriage went to Ontario. His wife died there in 1864, leaving seven children : Mary, Debold, Eva Jane, Peter, Charles, George and Lennie. Of these only two are now living, Mary and Charles.

In the year of his wife's death Jacob Motsolf brought his children to Steuben County and bought the farm where his' son Charles now lives. At the time of his death he owned sixty-seven and a half acres. He had begun with a log house, and had cleared up and put in cultivation a considerable part of the land.

In that locality Charles Motsolf grew to manhood and after his education went to work helping his father and eventually succeeding to the ownership of the homestead. His father a short time before his death had built the good home which now adorns the farm, and Mr. Motsolf himself has added a substantial barn to the improvements. Politically he is independent and a member of the Reformed Luth- cran Church, the same faith which his father prac- ticed.

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History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 26

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