History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 33

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 33
USA > Indiana > Noble County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 33
USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 33
USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 33

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).

Edmon F. Smith attended the district schools of Steuben Township, and was taught to be a farmer by his experienced father. After attaining his ma- jority he began farming the homestead on his own account, and has owned it since 1893, the farm com- prising 120 acres. Here he carries on general farm- ing and breeds Shorthorn cattle, his methods of do- ing his work being such as to win for him the com- mendation of his neighbors. In 1895 he erected his present comfortable modern residence, and has re- modeled the other buildings so that his premises present a neat and attractive appearance and show that the owner understands his business.

On September 22, 1885, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Enola I. Weldin, born October 22, 1864, in Jackson Township, DeKalb County, Indiana, a daughter of Leander F. Weldin and his wife,

Rebecca J. (Moore) Weldin. Leander F. Weldin was born in Columbiana County, Ohio. When the Civil war broke out he naturally espoused the cause of the North, and in August, 1861, gave proof of this in his enlistment as a member of the Thirtieth Indiana Infantry, in which he served for four years and three months and participated in the following battles: Shiloh, Stone River, Chickamauga, Rocky Face Ridge, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Lovejoy's Station, Franklin and Nashville. After he received his honorable discharge he located in Steu- ben Township, where he continued to farm the re- mainder of his life. He and his wife had the fol- lowing children : Enola, Kimber M., Delbert G. and Arthur L. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have two children, namely : Velma E. and Waldo E. Waldo married Leafa Kohl and they have a daughter, Ruth De Vere, and a son, Warren Kohl. Like his father, Mr. Smith stands deservedly high in his community, and he and his wife entertain their friends at their comfortable home upon many occasions, for they delight in gathering about them those to whom they are bound by ties of affectionate regard.

JOSEPH S. WATSON is one of the well known and well-to-do farmer citizens of York Township, Noble. County, and has come into his present prosperity by relying entirely upon his own good sense and hard efforts since assuming life's serious responsibilities for himself. His home is four miles southwest of Albion.

Mr. Watson was born in DeKalb County, Indiana, June 19, 1866, a son of Robert and Electra (Wells) Watson. His father was born in Medina County, Ohio, and his mother in Clark County of the same state. Their respective families came to Indiana at an early day, locating in Allen County, where Robert and Electa grew up and married. They lived on farms in different counties of Indiana and for eleven years were residents of the State of Tennes- see. Robert Watson was a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was a stanch republican in politics. Of their seven children six are still living: Milton C., of Fort Wayne; Elvira E., wife of M. V. Hall; Hans A .; Theresa, wife of John App; Joseph S .; and Viola, wife of Nelson Curtis.

Joseph S. Watson grew up on a farm and at- tended the district schools. At the age of twenty- one he started out to earn his own way in the world. For one winter he was a cattle feeder, and the fifty dollars he saved from that work he invested in two head of cattle and later he bought a farm in Jasper County, Indiana, and traded that for land in Ten- nessee, where he lived for four and a half years. On returning to Indiana he acquired eighty acres in Allen County, and he was a farmer in that locality for twelve years. Since then he has extended his efforts as a farmer and business man in Noble County, and now has a well modeled farm of 160 acres. He does general farming and stock raising.

Mr. Watson married in 1893 Dora Stephenson, of Allen County, Indiana, but a native of Paulding County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Watson are the parents of six children. Goldie, who finished her education in the college at Fort Wayne, is now general clerk with the firm of Ackerman & Hardenbrook. Etha D. is a graduate of high school and of Manchester College, and also of the Indiana Business College at Fort Wayne, and is now connected with the Gen- eral Delivery Company at Fort Wayne. Alva N., Emerson, Alice and Cora May are the younger children, all at home. Mr. Watson is a republican in politics.

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

CHARLES E. NEWCOMER. In the same Townshp where he was born and reared, Franklin Township, Charles E. Newcomer has spent his active life as a tiller of the soil, has gathered many crops through the consecutive seasons, and is directing a large and valuable farm in section 8, where he has his home and where his family of children are growing up around him.

Mr. Newcomer was born in Franklin Townshp May 12, 1873, a son of George and Barbara (Van Horn) Newcomer, the former a native of Colum- biana County, Ohio, and the latter of Allen Town- ship, Noble County, Ohio. George Newcomer came to DeKalb County with his parents, grew up here and after his marriage settled in section 29 of Franklin Township. Some years ago he and his good wife retired from the farm and are now living at Waterloo. He is a democrat and is a member of the Masonic Order. Of the seven children six are still living: Charles E .; Lona, unmarried; Mary M., widow of John Brown; Arnie, who occupies the old homestead; Elmer, also of Franklin Township; and William, of that Township.

Charles E. Newcomer spent his boyhood days alter- nately attending school and working in the fields . and about the home. He married Effie Mann, a native of Franklin Township. They have a family of five children: Marion, born June 22, 1897; Harold, born January 16, 1900; Howard, born December 23, 1901; Grace, born October 25, 1903; and Gladys, born November 30, 1907. The four older children are all graduates of the common school and all are still in the home circle.

Mr. Newcomer is affiliated with Lodge No. 701, Free and Accepted Masons, Royal Arch Chapter No. 106, Council No. 83, Royal and Select Masters, and he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star Chapter. He is a past grand of the Odd Fellows and a member of the Grand Lodge and is a past chief patriarch of the Encampment. Mrs. New- comer is a past grand of the Rebekahs. Politically Mr. Newcomer affiliates with the democratic party. He is a member of the Hamilton Grange. His farm in Franklin Township comprises 200 acres and he has it well equipped and well stocked with good grades.

Mrs. Newcomer was born in Franklin Township August 8, 1876, a daughter of Jahn and Elizabeth (Curry) Mann. Her father was born in Stark County, Ohio, in 1838, and came with his parents to Franklin Township in 1839. His wife was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1840 and came to DeKalb County when a young lady. They were married March 24, 1864, then lived in Franklin Town- ship one year, spent a year in Missouri, and after that lived in Franklin Township the rest of their days. Mr. Mann was a democrat in politics. There were two children: Almeda, deceased wife of Adam Hamman, and Effie E., Mrs. Newcomer.

CLAUDE KIMMELL is a prominent representative of a numerous family of that name in Noble County, and for a number of years has been suc- cessfully engaged in general farming and stock raising on a large place in Sparta Township.

He was born in York Township of the same county June 24, 1879, son of Orlando and Jane (White) Kimmell. Claude was the youngest in a rather large family. He grew up on the old farm, attended district schools. He also for two years attended Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, Michigan, and then took a business course at Indianapolis, In- diana. He lived at home until his marriage.

In August, 1909, Miss Hannah Kiester became

his wife. Mrs. Kimmell is a woman of thorough education and culture. She is a daughter of John and Barbara (Moore) Kiester. She was born and reared in Washington Township, attended the dis- trict schools there, is a graduate of the State Normal School and holds a life certificate as a teacher. She was a teacher both in the common and high schools before her marriage. They have two children: Anna May, born December 18, 1910, and Claude A., born August 14, 1917. In this large family of Kimmells in Noble County, Claude A. happens to be the only grandson bearing the name Kimmell.

Mr. Kimmell is farming on an extensive scale, and has a total of 640 acres under his control and management. He breeds and raises all kinds of livestock. He is a stockholder in the State Bank at Kimmell, is a republican, and a member of Albion Lodge No. 97, Free and Accepted Masons.

IRA L. MYERS, proprietor of the Union Home Farm of 360 acres in Orange Township of Noble County, is a man of interesting characteristics and experience. He early trained himself for a career as a pharmacist, also studied medicine, but reasons of ill health brought him back to the farm where he was reared, and for a quarter of a century he has been one of the leading agriculturists of Noble County. Those familiar with Mr. Myers' operations say that his success is largely due to his good judg- ment and his willingness to take long chances, the same quality that makes successful business men as well as good farmers.

Mr. Myers was born in Orange Township, March 15, 1871, a son of Reuben D. and Sarah (Kiefer) Myers, the former a native of Summit County, Ohio, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Reuben Myers moved to Indiana when a young man and settled in Noble County, and his wife's people also came to the same locality. After their marriage they settled on a farm in Orange Township, where the father lived until his death in 1912. The mother is still living. The family were members of the United Brethren Church at Oak Grove. The father was affiliated with the Masonic Lodge at Rome City, and in politics was a democrat. Of four children, three are still living : Melissa, wife of Emanuel Myers, of Elkhart, Indiana; Frank E., of Orange Township; and Ira I ..

Ira L. Myers spent his boyhood on the farm where he is now living, and acquired his early education at Rome City. He attended the high school there and entered the pharmacy department of North- western University of Chicago, graduating with the degree Ph. G. on February 25, 1890. In the fall of the same year he entered the medical department of Northwestern University and diligently pursued his studies for two years.

Then, as above noted, he left school and aban- doned a professional career on account of ill health, and returning home engaged in farming. For sev- eral years he rented his father's place, and later began buying until he owns 360 acres. One of his main standbys as a farmer has been wheat, and he made money on that crop long before the era of high prices and Government regulation. He also keeps his farm well stocked and it represents a large investment and is a business handled with every degree of efficiency.

November 2, 1895, Mr. Myers married Lizzie Shaeffer. She was born in Orange Township, March 23, 1875, and graduated from the Wolcottville High School in 1892. Mrs. Myers is a member of the Evangelical Church at Wolcottville. They have one son, Victor L., born January 11, 1908, and now in

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the sixth grade of the public schools. When this son was a year old the father invested for him eighteen dollars in three sheep. The sheep were kept as a nucleus of a steadily growing flock, and now at the age of nine years the son Victor has 185 sheep and has $2,800.00 to his credit in cash securities. Mr. Myers is a democrat and has served as precinct committeeman of his party.

CHARLES W. WARRING for a number of years has been an active member of the farming community of Jackson Township in Steuben County, and has lived in that county since he was a child.

He was born in Cayuga County, New York, Jan- nary 25, 1870, a son of William and Phoebe Ann (Brown) Warring. His mother was born Feb- ruary 25, 1845. William Warring was born in Ire- land, October 4, 1841, a son of William Warring, Sr. His mother died in Ireland and in 1845 William Warring, Sr., came to Canada with his son William and daughter Cassie. He died in Canada after his second marriage. William Warring, Jr., served an apprenticeship at the trade of spinner in a woolen mill and followed that trade for a number of years. He became head boss in the Hayden factory in Cayuga County, New York. He was married while living there and he and his brother-in-law, Charles Brown, bought eighty acres of land, but after a few years he sold his interest and returned to work in the woolen mills. In 1876 he came to Steuben County with his family, buying eighty acres of timbered land without fences. He cleared up the place, built a good house, and became one of the substantial farmers of Jackson Township. He also owned an acre of ground and a house in Flint. He spent his last days with his son, Charles, and died August 24, 1907. His first wife died March 30, 1884, the mother of three children, named Charles W., Robert J. and William, the last dying in infancy. Robert J. Warring was born January 4, 1878, and is a farmer in Jackson Township, where he has seventy acres and is a successful breeder of Duroc Jersey hogs. He married Geneva Ritter, and their four children are Raymond, Wayland, Wilma and Levi. William Warring married for his second wife Minna Williams, and she died in March, 1907.

Charles W. Warring grew up on the old home- stead in Steuben County from the age of six, and besides the public schools took a commercial course in the Tri-State College at Angola. Today he owns the old homestead and has added forty-nine acres of the Charles Brown place and has it all well im- proved and as a stockman devotes particular atten- tion to the Spotted Poland China hogs. He is a democrat, and his father was of the same political faith until late in life.

In 1891 Mr. Warring married Florence V. DeLong, a daughter of James DeLong. Three children were born to their marriage: Rose Anne, born January 30, 1892, is a graduate of the Flint High School and the Tri-State College and is the wife of Ellis Call, by whom she had two children, Opal and Maynard, the latter dying at the age of six months. Roscoe Curtis Warring, born July 15, 1893, was educated in . the Flint High School, took a commercial course in the Tri-State College, and as a farmer rents the John Parsell farm. He married Winifred Parsell, a daughter of George Parsell of Jackson Township, and has one son, Ralph. William Charles Warring, the youngest of the family, was born March 2, 1899, graduated from the Flint High School, attended the International Business College at Fort Wayne, and is still at home.

Mrs. Warring's father, James DeLong, was born in Ohio and married Polly Daily, a native of the same state. When a child he was taken to Allen County,

Indiana, by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George De- Long, who spent the rest of their years there and were buried in the Cedar Creek Cemetery. Polly Daily's parents, George and Julia Ann (Essig) Daily, were also early settlers in Allen County, where they spent the rest of their lives. James DeLong had a public school education, and in early life went west to Colorado and took up a claim. Part of that land is now covered by Colorado City. His wife started west and got as far as Missouri, where he returned to join her and they came back and settled in DeKalb County, Indiana. Mr. DeLong enlisted while there in the Union army and served eighteen months. After the war he returned to DeKalb County and was a successful farmer, though he never owned any land. He refused to take any pension for his services as a soldier, but after his death his widow received back pension and with it bought seventy acres in Jackson Township of Steuben County. Mrs. Warring's father died in 1877 aged forty-four. Her mother lived until 1906, when she was seventy years of age. Her children were George, Catherine (deceased), Sylvia, Curtis, William, Ira, Florence and Ada (deceased). James DeLong was a republican and he and his wife were members of the United Brethren Church.

Curtis DeLong, a brother of Mrs. Warring, was born in DeKalb County, March 3, 1862, and has been a resident of Steuben County since 1891. He owns considerable land in that county, comprising 200 acres in Jackson Township and other land else- where. He married in. 1894 Miss Mand Mercer, of Steuben County, daughter of Wesley Mercer. They have three children: Mary, born in 1896, Marie, born in 1903, and Madge Mary, born in 1908.

BURL MOUGHLER. One of the best representatives of the younger generation of farmers in DeKalb County is Burl Moughler of Troy Township. When he bought his present farm of 118 acres in 1907 he had only $525 cash. From the products of the fields and his livestock he paid for the 118 acres, and since then has bought 48 acres additional. He is a thoroughly efficient stockman and realizes the necessity of the best improvements and methods of handling land and stock.

Mr. Moughler was born in Wilmington Township, DeKalb County, a mile and a quarter south and a half mile east of Butler, August 16, 1881, a son of John and Alice (Hendershot) Moughler. His father was born in Wayne County, Ohio, February 9, 1850, and his mother in Defiance County, Ohio, March 6, 1857. Both are residents of Troy Township, where they located when their son Burl was three years old. The mother is a member of the United Breth- ren Church. The father is a democrat. They have two sons, Burl and Glenn, the latter a farmer in Wilmington Township.

Burl Moughler acquired his education in the dis- trict schools and as a young man he rented a baleing outfit and for three years traveled about the different farms haling hay. On December 19, 1903, he married Della C. Riser, who was born in Troy Township August 5, 1885. For three years after their marriage they rented land in Stafford Township, and then with the limited capital above noted bought their present home. The additional forty acres was ac- quired in 1918. Mr. Moughler breeds good grades of livestock, and for several years has fed hogs and cattle on an extensive scale. His two sons are en- thusiastic members of the Boys Pig Clubs, and were contestants in the pig feeding contest for the dis- tricts of Stafford, Troy, Wilmington and Franklin townships and were awarded the first prize of $20 in gold.

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Mougler are: Olis L., born October 21, 1904; Ora Dale, born August 12, 1906; Roy J., born December 23, 1912; and Helen, born February 27, 1915. The family are members of the United Brethren Church and Mr. Moughler is trustee of the parsonage and formerly superin- tendent of the Sunday school and active in all de- partments of the church. He is affiliated with Lodge No. 157 of the Knights of Pythias at Butler and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Edgerton, Ohio. Politically he is a republican.

LEWIS T. BAKER has for thirty years or more been identified with the farming activities of Noble County, and is owner of eighty acres in Washington Township. Mr. Baker has followed general farming but has also specialized to some extent as a breeder of Shorthorn cattle and of O. I. C. hogs.

He was born at Cromwell, Indiana, November 14, 1861. His parents, Jacob and Mary A. (Smith) Baker, were both natives of Ohio and came to Noble County, Indiana, with their respective fami- lies. They grew up here, were married, and then located on a farm near Cromwell and subsequently moved to Sparta Township, where Jacob Baker lived as a practical agriculturist until he moved to Washington Township, where he died on the farm. His widow is still living. Both have been active members of the Methodist Church, and as a re- publican he gave three terms of excellent service as trustee of Sparta Township. Of the children five are still living: G. W. Baker, of Kosciusko County; H. E. Baker, of Denver, Colorado; Lewis T .; Julia, wife of Rev. W. H. Brightmire, of In- dianapolis ; and Sherman C., of Washington Town- ship.

Lewis T. Baker spent his boyhood days and acquired his education at Cromwell, but has been a resident of Washington Township since he was sixteen years old. In September, 1885, he married Frances Palmer. She was born in Whitley County and was educated in the common schools. Mr. Baker had the misfortune to lose his wife bý death in May, 1913. There were no children. He is affiliated with the Lodge of Odd Fellows at Etna and is a past master of that lodge and a member of the grand lodge. In politics he is a republican.

FRANK T. KNISELY. Nearly seventy years ago the late John B. Knisely came to Steuben County and began the development of a farm in York Township which is now the property of Frank T. Knisely. The latter, long regarded as one of the most substan- tial citizens of Steuben County, is an adopted son of John B. Knisely. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, June 21, 1874, and at the age of two months was adopted by the Knisely family.

The late John B. Knisely, who died November 26, 1912, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, No- vember 27, 1830, a son of David and Sarah Knisely. David Knisely entered land in section 6 of York Township, Steuben County, when the land was first put on the market. John B. Knisely at the age of twenty-one came to Indiana to improve this land, and his prosperity eventually was measured by the ownership of 360 acres. David Knisely died in Ohio in 1877.

May 22, 1853, John B. Knisely married Emma S. Johnston. She was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, May 22, 1836, a daughter of Silas and Aseneth Johnston. John Knisely and wife had five children, including their adopted son Frank. The three to reach mature years were Letta E., wife of George Osfall, a farmer and merchant of York Township, and the mother of one child, Emma L .; Frank T .;

and Nellie C., who married Charles Hershmiller and died in Massachusetts, October 31, 1909.

Frank T. Knisely, who continues the Knisely name, acquired his education in the public schools of York Township and as a boy and young man worked on his father's place. For three or four years he lived on a nearby farm, but with that exception his labors have been devoted to the old Knisely homestead. He owns 395 acres in sections 6 and 7, and by his industry, good judgment and public spirit has proved worthy of his inheritance. With the exception of the house he has put practically all the buildings and other improvements on the land. Mr. Knisely is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows.

In 1896 he married Kate McElroy, daughter of Robert and Alzina (Brooks) McElroy. The Mc- Elroys and Brooks are old families of Steuben County, and special reference to them is made on other pages. Mr. and Mrs. Knisely have had six children, Vera, Burl, Neva, Orlo, Arlene and Dorothy, but Dorothy died in infancy.

MINARD F. ROSE. A resident of Steuben County over three-quarters of a century, Minard F. Rose has some interesting recollections of the journey which brought the family to this county from North- ern Ohio. He has concerned himself during his active years with farming in York Township, long since acquired a competency from his efforts, and in his declining years has the satisfaction of seeing his own children and some of his grandchildren started and established in life on a self-respecting plane.

Mr. Rose was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, December 9, 1841, a son of Jacob O. and Mary A. (Comstock) Rose. His father was born in Rens- selaer County, New York, May 18, 1814, a son of Elias and Eva (Overrocker) Rose, natives of New York and of Dutch ancestry. The Rose family moved from New York and settled near Cleveland in 1835. On April 12, 1837, Jacob O. Rose married Mary A. Comstock, and she was born July 3, 1817, a daughter of Stephen and Charlotte (Fitch) Com- stock, natives of Connecticut.

It was in 1845 that Jacob O. Rose and family moved to Steuben County, settling in York Town- ship. They made the journey by wagon and team. Minard F. Rose was then four years old, but recalls some of the incidents of the journey. He remem- bers that his father brought five head of Devonshire cows and a Chester White hog, arid he recalls the difficulties of crossing the Swanee River. Just about that time Mr. Rose had his experience of the whooping cough. The family settled a mile and a half east of where Minard Rose now lives, on eighty acres of wild land. Jacob Rose eventually ac- quired 240 acres there, but after ten years sold and bought what is now the Robinson farm. He lived there another period of ten years and then went to Big Rapids, Michigan, where he died October 24, 1883. His widow then returned to Steuben County and lived with her son, Minard, until her death. They had three children: Elias Overrocker, Char- lotte, who died in infancy, and Minard F.

Minard F. Rose grew up in York Township, and has lived there since he was four years old. He acquired a good education, attending the public schools and was also a student at Hillsdale College under President Fairfield. In his early life he also taught school in Williams County, Ohio, two miles east of Columbia. For two years he rented the old homestead and in the fall of 1863 moved to his present place, where he has 140 acres. The im- provements when he moved there consisted of a

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History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 33

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