History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 3

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 3
USA > Indiana > Noble County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 3
USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 3
USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 3

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).

John Gasser was born in Steuben County Febru- ary 8, 1848, and spent his early life on the old home place, acquiring his education in the public schools. After reaching manhood he acquired the other interests in the old farm, and 'not only handled it successfully but added to its area by fifty acres, giving him a fine place of 170 acres in Scott Township. Not long ago he sold this farm for $137.50 an acre, and the sale set a record for high prices paid for land in large farms in Steuben County. On February 21, 1918, Mr. Gasser moved to Angola, and has one of the good homes in the town, with a large lot running from one street to another and a vacant lot, where he keeps himself busy in the summer time gardening. He also em- ploys his spare time as a fur buyer, and has been

buying furs for about thirty years and is an author- ity on that branch of commerce.

In politics Mr. Gasser is independent and strongly favors prohibition. He has never aspired to political office and he and his wife are members of the Christian Church. In 1893 he married Miss Ella Moss, of Steuben County. She died in 1906. In October, 1909, Miss Sarah L. Crawford, of Williams County, Ohio, a cousin of his first wife, became his bride.

SAMUEL H. GALLOWAY has long been a citizen of prominence and usefulness in Sparta Township, where he is the present trustee and also a success- ful farmer, has been identified with school work as a practical school man and teacher, and altogether has filled his rather brief life with intense activities.

Mr. Galloway, whose home is on his farm in sec- tion 33 of Sparta Township, was born in the same locality September 20, 1886, a son of John F. and Eliza (Brown) Galloway, the former a native of Sparta Township and the latter of Kosciusko Coun- ty, Indiana. His father was a farmer in Noble County for many years. He was twice married, his second wife being Ellen Burns. By the first marriage there were four children: Samuel H .; Rosa A., a gradu- ate of the common schools and wife of Ernest Wilk- inson ; Sarah E., wife of Ray Prentiss; and Mary E., who is unmarried and lives at home.

Samuel H. Galloway grew up on his father's farm, and was liberally educated. He is a graduate of the Cromwell High School, attended the Tri-State Nor- mal School at Angola, and also was a student in Valparaiso University. His work as a school man has covered a period of about thirteen years. He owns a well kept and well managed farm of forty- three acres, and has about seventy acres in farming use. He is also a stockholder in the Sparta State Bank at Cromwell.

October 12, 1912, Mr. Galloway married Jennie Piper, daughter of Charles and Viola Piper. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Cromwell and Mr. Galloway is also superintendent of the Sunday School of the Broadway Christian Church. He is affiliated with the Masonic and Knights of Pythias lodges at Cromwell and in politics is a republican.

CHARLES O. JONES has been a member of the farming community of Millgrove Township for over thirty years, and his own work and interests have supplemented the record of a family that through its different branches have been a part of Steuben County history since earliest times.

Mr. Jones was born in Franklin Township of DeKalb County, Indiana, September 21, 1861, and has lived in Steuben County since early childhood. His father, Hiram S. Jones, was born in Vermont in January, 1834, a son of Samuel and Jerusha Jones. In 1843 the Jones family came to DeKalb County, Indiana. Samuel Jones spent the rest of his life there as a farmer. His children, included Julius, Sidney, Henry, Miller, William, Sarah, Hattie and two that died in infancy.

Hiram S. Jones had an eventful experience in California during six years of his early manhood. October 21, 1860, he married Nancy J. Clark, who was born at Lockport, New York, in 1836, a daugh- ter of Isaac and Jane M. Clark, natives of New York, who moved to Fulton County, Ohio, in 1857, in 1860 to DeKalb County, Indiana, and two years later to Kalamazoo, Michigan. Isaac Clark also spent some time in Steuben County. His children were named Nancy, William, Alice, Mary and James.

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

· Hiram S. Jones farmed for a number of years in DeKalb County, also lived on the Clark farm in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, and in 1872 bought back his old homestead in Jackson Township of Steuben County. He died while attending the County Fair on October 18, 1877. He and his wife had five children: Charles O., Frank B., Fred A., and Lillie and Leila, twins. The mother of these children was married in 1884 to Almon W. Thorpe.

Charles O. Jones acquired most of his education at Orland, also attended school at Flint, and in 1889 began farming his present place in Millgrove Town- ship. He has specialized in thoroughbred stock, breeding Poland China hogs of the big type and also Shropshire sheep. His farm comprises seventy acres situated in sections 33 and 28. Mr. Jones is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Orland.

November 27, 1883, he married Myrtia Turner, a daughter of William and Susan Turner. Her father was born in Connecticut in 1831 and her mother in Steuben County in 1839. Her mother was a Salisbury. Both the Turner and Salisbury fami- lies figure prominently in the history of Steuben County, as noted on other pages. Mr. and Mrs. Jones had four children: Murl, wife of Joseph Moffett and the mother of Helen and Florence; Urban, who married Vera Waters and has a daugh- ter, Martha; Bruce, who married May Nash; and Beulah, who was a trained nurse and died in a Chicago hospital.

CHARLES CARTER. The coming years loom large with economic problems, but of them all, none are as important as the production of foodstuffs in sufficient quantities to supply not only the constantly increas- ing domestic demand, but that of European nations now partially dependent upon American farmers for the necessities of ordinary existence. Because of these conditions the status of the farmer has very materially improved and his calling is recognized as one of the most important, and those men of ex- perience in agricultural activities are urged to remain in harness during the next few years, which are to prove so potent in the world's history. One of the men of Steuben County, Indiana, who has spent his life in cultivation of the soil is Charles Carter, who owns a valuable farm in Steuben Township.

Charles Carter was born on his present farm March 18, 1854, son of Samuel and Sarah Ann (Frink) Carter, and grandson of Jonas Carter, the founder of the family in Steuben County, Indiana, and also a grandson of Selah Frink. The birth of Jonas Carter took place in Worcester County, Massachusetts, in June, 1767, but he left his native county in young manhood, going to Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and investing quite heavily in farm land there, upon which he lived for many years. After locating in that county he was married to Catherine Wheeler, born in New Jersey in 1774, who was taken to Pennsylvania by her parents after the frightful massacre of Wyoming, from which they fortunately escaped. After the birth of eight of their nine children Jonas Carter and his wife moved to Delaware County, Ohio, making the trip in November, 1815, once more entering upon the privations and hardships of pioneer life. They were among the very earliest settlers of that county, and here they improved a farm and reared their chil- dren. Animated by the same spirit which prompted Jonas Carter to migrate, his sons struck out for themselves, pushing a little farther westward, into northeastern Indiana. In October Lewis and John Carter sons of Jonas Carter, entered several hun- dreds of acres comprising portions of sections 13, 24 and 25, Steuben Township, Steuben County. They returned to Ohio in the fall, but John came back

to their claim the next year, bringing his family with him, and he crected a log cabin in July, 1836, in section 24. In July, 1837, Lewis Carter returned to Steuben County, bringing with him not only his own family but his father and his family. Jonas Carter located on a farm later owned by his son Samuel, and lived in a log cabin Samuel had erected for him, and this continued his home until his death in November, 1842. His wife died from the effects of a fall into the cellar while on a visit to lier son-in-law, Mr. Jackson, in 1853. The children of Jonas Carter and his wife were as follows : Sarah, Rufus, Lewis, Abigail, John N., Jonas, James, Sam- uel and Mary Ann.

Samuel Carter was born in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, June 27, 1814. His first trip to Steuben County, Indiana was made in June, 1835, and he located here permanently in 1836, in the latter year entering about 620 acres of land in Steuben Town- ship. He worked his father's farm until the demise of the latter, when he acquired it, and moved upon a portion of the land he had entered, but within four years moved to the homestead, where he died in August, 1873. His wife also came of a pioneer family, and was born in Madison County, New York, a daughter of Selah Frink, a soldier of the War of 1812. She died in April, 1873, having borne her husband six children, namely: Mary L .. Sarah H., Charles, Lucy J., Ellen and Celestia.

Charles Carter attended the public schools of Steu- ben Township, and was brought up on his father's homestead. After attaining his majority he began operating his father's farm, but after his marriage he went to Virginia and lived on a peanut farm for a year, returning in 1900 to the homestead and con- ducting it for two years. For the subsequent six years he was engaged in farming west of Angola in Pleasant Township, and then once more came back to his birthplace. In 1909, Mr. Carter went to DeKalb County, Indiana, and spent a year, and the next year he was in Steuben County. Going back to DeKalb County, he resumed his farming in that locality, and remained for four years, and in 1917 returned to the Carter homestead, where he has since resided. His property is one of the best farms in the township and his buildings, fences and machinery show that he understands his busi- ness and takes a pride in his premises. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and the Grange, and Mrs. Carter is a Gleaner.

In 1890 Charles Carter was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary Hanselman, widow of Charles Hanselman, and a daughter of John and Mary (Crum) Willemar. By her first marriage Mrs. Carter had three children, namely: Jennie, who married Fred Frisbie; Earl, who was the second in order of birth ; and Mabel, who married Frank Dirrim. Mr. and Mrs. Carter are numbered among the very best people of this section of the county, and their pleasant home is the gathering place for their friends upon numerous occasions, for they enjoy dispensing a generous hospitality to those to whom they are bound by ties of affection.

EMERY WHITE. The name of Emery White has been associated for a long period of years with the ownership of a good farm in Salem Township, and with the substantial financial interests of that locality.

Mr. White, who came to Steuben County forty- five years ago, was born in Richland County, Ohio, in May, 1852, a son of Henry and Susan (Breise) White. His parents were both natives of Columbia County, Pennsylvania, lived in Richland County, Ohio, for a number of years and in 1873 came to Steuben County and located in Jackson Township.

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

In 1875 they moved to Salem Township and had twenty acres at Flint and later lived on the farm now owned by their son Emery. The father died in 1907, at the age of eighty-six. There were seven children : Amanda, deceased, Emery, Mary and Matilda deceased, Francis and Nettie, twins, the former deceased, and Minta. The father was inde- pendent in politics and attended the Methodist Church and later the Church of God.

Emery White received his education in Richland County, Ohio. As a youth he learned the trade of tanner and worked in a leather store at Mansfield and Plymouth, Ohio. He came with his parents to Steuben County in 1873 and in 1875 bought a farm of eighty acres. At present he has 240 acres in his home place and thirty acres near Hudson. He still does some farming, though most of his land is rented. Several years ago a fine barn was struck by lightning, entailing a loss of $2,000, but was rebuilt with an equally good structure the same year. Mr. White for a number of years has been in business as a money lender. He has been very successful in financial matters. Mr. White is un- married and is a republican voter.

CHRISTIAN E. SLABAUGH. Many long years of hard and earnest labor have given Christian E. Sla- baugh their proper reward in a prosperity measured by large land holdings and a wealth of community esteem. Mr. Slabaugh is no longer actively identi- fied with farming pursuits, but is still living in his country home in section 10 of Perry Township, 31/2 miles northwest of Ligonier.

A native of Indiana, he was born in Clay County, September 29, 1846, son of Elias and Mary Sla- baugh, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Germany. His parents were married in Pennsylvania, and coming to Indiana settled in the western part of the state, in Clay County. That was their home for about ten years, but in 1852 they moved to Elkhart County and bought another farm. Several years later they traded for land in Perry Township of Noble County, and on that place spent the rest of their days. Elias Slabaugh was a well to do farmer and had made all his wealth through his own efforts. He was a member of the Dunkard Church and a democrat in politics. Of five children, three are still living: Nancy, wife of John Emmett, of LaGrange County; William, who lives in the State of Washington; and Christian E.

Christian E. Slabaugh was six years old when his parents moved to Elkhart County, and he has spent nearly all his life in that and in Noble counties. He had a common school education, and lived at home until the age of twenty-one. In 1870 he married Catherine Bowsher, who was born in Perry Town- ship, Noble County. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Slabaugh rented land for one year, and he then bought sixty acres, the nucleus of his steadily increasing estate, which is represented now by the ownership of nearly 900 acres here and elsewhere, including 400 acres of land in New Mexico. He also owns some real estate in Central Colorado. Mr. Slabaugh is a stockholder in the Citizens Bank at Ligonier and in the Farmers Co-operative Ele- vator of the same city. He is a democrat and has served as township supervisor.

Mr. and Mrs. Slabaugh have four children: Sid- ney, of Perry Township; Willard, of Perry Town- ship; Ollie, wife of John Larimer, of the State of Montana; and Ray, of Perry Township.

HARLEY H. WEBB is cultivating acres that were once cultivated by his father, and is living on the same farm where he was born in Millgrove Town-

ship, in section 26. Mr. Webb is one of the highly thought of citizens of that community, and his family is one of the best in Steuben County.

Mr. Webb was born April 3, 1876, a son of Arthur and Permilla (Case) Webb. His mother was born in Pleasant Township of Steuben County. Arthur Webb was born in England in 1828, son of John and Grace (Harrison) Webb, both natives of Eng- land who came with their family to America in 1830. The Webbs settled in Steuben County as pioneers in 1845, coming here from Michigan.

Arthur Webb in 1850, when a young man of twenty-two, left Steuben County and went overland by mule team to California. He lived in the gold districts of the Pacific Coast for about five years, and on returning to the States came by boat and around Cape Horn. From New York City he re- turned to Millgrove Township and spent the rest of his life in that locality, where he died in 1912. He was four times married. His first wife was a Miss Heath, and she was the mother of two dangh- ters, Eva and Amy. For his second wife Arthur Webb married Rose Case, and her children were Delmer, Jessie, Zella and Rosa. For his third wife Arthur Webb married Permilla Case, a sister of his second wife. His fourth wife was Martha Hallet, and she is still living.

Harley H. Webb, only child of his father's third marriage, acquired his education in the district schools of Millgrove Township and has been farm- ing since early youth on the place where he now lives. He owns 110 acres in section 26, and besides farming and stock raising keeps bees as a source of pleasure as well as profit. He is one of the skilled bee keepers in the county.

In 1897 Mr. Webb married Miss Alida McGrew, a daughter of Melvin McGrew. Her family, and its various connections and interests in Steuben County, is described on other pages of this publication. Mr. and Mrs. Webb have two children, Hilda and Joyce.

CHARLES LIBEY. While Mr. Libey's work and interests for many years have been identified with one farm in Salem Township of Steuben County, the record of his family in its different connections runs through two counties of Northeast Indiana, Steuben and DeKalb.

Mr. Charles Libey was born in Steuben Township of Steuben County, July 31, 1870, son of George E. and Matilda E. (Houser) Libey. The parents were both natives of Coshocton County, Ohio, his mother being a daughter of John and Mary (Gonser) Houser. John Houser was one of the early pioneers of DeKalb County, Indiana, locating in Fairfield Township in 1847 and living there until after the death of his wife in 1894, when he moved to Salem Township of Steuben County and lived at the home of his daughter Mrs. George Libey until his death also in 1894. He had the following children : Matilda, Sarah, Ella, Katie and Louisa.

William Libey grandfather of Charles Libey, came from Pennsylvania to Ohio and from the latter state to Fairfield Township in DeKalb County, Indiana, in 1847. His farm cornered on that of John Houser. He and his wife died there, leaving a family of small children, George E., the oldest, David, Mary, Jacob, Elizabeth and Margaret.

George E. Libey left DeKalb County in 1869 and located on a farm now within the corporation limits of Ashley in Steuben Township. He remained there about four years and then established his home 011 the farm in section 25, Salem Township, now oc- cupied by his son Charles. In 1901 he and his wife moved to Hudson, where he died in April, 1902, and his wife in the following December. Both were active members of the United Brethren Church at

Orlando Kinmell

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

Hudson. They had eight children : Frank, who died in 1900; Ulysses G .; Sarah E., wife of William Fink; Almon G .; Charles; John E .; Bert W., and Ora W.

Charles Libey grew up in Salem Township, at- tended the Osborne school there, and about the time he turned his majority he began farming the home place and also rented other fields near by. He bought forty acres of the old farm in 1903, and gradually has expanded his property with the increase of his means until he now owns 100 acres. He has re- modeled and added to all the buildings, and has one of the best sets of farm buildings in the town- ship, including a house of modern equipment and comfort.

Most of his time is now taken up with the busi- ness of his home place. For six years he was honored with and gave a most efficient administra- tion of the office of trustee of Salem Township.

July 8, 1897, Mr. Libey married Mis Carrie Clink, daughter of Charles and Catherine (Ritter) Clink. Her father was born in Sandusky County, Ohio, in 1838, a son of George and Catherine Clink, and at the age of twenty years he came to Steuben County, later going back to Ohio, and in the spring of 1861 returned to Steuben County and in August of the same year enlisted in Company A, of the Forty- fourth Indiana Infantry. He was with his regiment two years, then reenlisted, and served until honor- ably discharged in September, 1865, holding the rank of sergeant. He was in many of the great battles of the war, including Fort Donelson, Stone River and Chickamauga. Charles Clink in 1869 bought a farm of 120 acres in Salem Township, and besides working the farm he also followed more or less the carpenter's trade.

Mr. and Mrs. Libey have two children. Lucille is a graduate of the Hudson High School, has taken three terms in the Tri-State College at Angola, and is now a teacher in the schools of Metz. North C. is also a graduate of the high school at Hudson.

CHARLES E. WELLS is one of the older merchants of Angola, and for many years has served some of the best town and country trade as a grocer.

His people were identified with the early settle- ment of this county, and he was born here February 8, 1864, son of Friend S. and Adaline (Howard) Wells. Both parents were. also natives of Steuben County. The grandfather, L. Wells, came to Sten- ben County when it was practically a wilderness. He married Ann Soule. The father of Adaline Howard was Morris Howard. Friend S. Wells was reared and educated in Steuben County and followed the trade of carpenter until his death. He was a democrat and at one time served as trustee of Pleasant Township. He was also active in the Christian Church. His widow is still living. They were the parents of two sons, Charles E. and Archie, both of Angola.

Charles E. Wells attended the public schools of Angola, and after leaving high school took a busi- ness course in Valparaiso College. He learned merchandising by practical experience as a clerk in some of the Angola stores, and then entered busi- ness for himself. He has been a merchant for twenty-two years and now owns a well-stocked establishment at the corner of Elizabeth and Maumee streets, where he has been in business for twelve years. Mr. Wells also owns a farm in Pleasant Township. He has never cared for the honors and responsibilities of public office, is a democratic voter and is affiliated with the Knights of the Maccabees.

In December, 1886, he married Miss Hattie Mor-

row. She was born in Pleasant Township of Steuben County in 1865, daughter of Henry and Era (Tolles) Morrow. Her parents came from Hammondsport, Steuben County, New York, first settling in LaGrange County, Indiana, where they lived sixteen years and then removed to Angola, where both of them died. Mrs. Wells' mother died in 1918, at the age of ninety-one. Mrs. Wells is one of three daughters, Elizabeth, Lucy and Hattie, all of whom live at Angola. Elizabeth is the widow of John Richardson and Lucy is the widow of Joseph Beil. Mr. and Mrs. Wells have two sons. Cleon M., born in 1887, was well educated in the high school and the Tri-State College and is now with his father in business. He married Lila Brown. The second son, Leighton B., born in 1893, has earned distinction as a professional musician. He graduated from the Angola High School and studied music in the Bush Conservatory of Music at Chicago. He is now following his profession at Chicago, and married Miss Ina Brant, who came from the vicinity of Kansas City.

JOHN R. REESE has been identified with the farm- ing community of Perry Township in Noble County practically all his life, and has been an active factor therein for over a quarter of a century. He is a veteran of the threshing business, and owns a large acreage and a valuable farm which represents to a large extent his varied industry and capabilities. His home is, two miles east of Ligonier.

He was born in Perry Township, June 30, 1871, son of John and Elizabeth (Peters) Reese. His parents were born in Germany, came to the United States when young, and two years later were mar- ried at Buffalo, New York. They subsequently re- moved to Noble County, Indiana, and settled in Elkhart Township. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. John Reese after ac- quiring American citizenship voted as a democrat. They had eight children, but only two are now living, Elizabeth and John R. Elizabeth is the wife of Ernest Sorgenfrei and lives with her brother.

John R. Reese has spent his entire life in the vicinity of his present home. He acquired a com- mon school education and after reaching manhood he bought out the interests of the other heirs in the old homestead of 113 acres and has since made steady progress toward the acquisition of a large landed estate, and now has 422 acres all in Perry Township and most of it adjoining. He uses this land for the raising of general crops and livestock. As a thresherman he ran an outfit for twenty years, and became known to all the farmers in his and a number of adjoining townships. Mr. Reese is a democrat in politics, is affiliated with the Fraternal Order of Eagles and with Ligonier Lodge No. 123, Knights of Pythias.

ORLANDO KIMMELL. Of the older residents of Noble County few have, made themselves more prominently a part of the community and have en- joyed more of the well ordered prosperity that comes with long years and hard work than Orlando Kimmell, whose name is perpetuated in the Village of Kimmell, and whose home is in York Township on the Lincoln Highway, two miles southeast of the village of that name.

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History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 3

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