History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 37

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 37
USA > Indiana > Noble County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 37
USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 37
USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 37

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).

AMOS E. LONGNECKER, who has spent all the years since early childhood on one farm in Milford Township of LaGrange County, is regarded as a man of exceptional ability in general farming and stock raising. From his farm he has sent many carloads of choice stock to market, and he knows that branch of agriculture probably as well as any other man in LaGrange County.

He was born in Seneca County, Ohio, February 18, 1870, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Hampshire) Longnecker. His father was born in Seneca County

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in November, 1844, and he and his wife were married October 1, 1863. They came to Indiana in 1871, locating in Milford Township. Late in life Jacob Longnecker moved to South Milford, where he died February 7, 1903. His wife was born in Fostoria, Ohio. November 18, 1841, and died January 5, 1905. Both were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while the father was affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and was a republican. There were two children in the family, Jessie M. and Amos E. Jessie is the wife of George Nifer, and they live in Milford Township.

Amos E. Longnecker was one year old when his parents came to Indiana and four years old when they established their home on the farm where he now lives. Besides the district schools he at- tended the Tri-State Normal at Angola, but the greater part of his life's efforts have been confined to farming.

May 31, 1892, he married Mabel C. Teal. She was born in Clear Spring Township December II, 1873, and was educated in the district schools. Since their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Longnecker have occupied the home farm. They have two children, Ota E., born February 23, 1894, a graduate of high school and the wife of Harry L. Reed; and Jacob A., born December 19, 1897, who after finish- ing his high school course attended Purdue Uni- versity and for about six months was in the air service of the army in France.

Mr. Longnecker is prominent in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is a past noble grand of the lodge at South Milford, a past patriarch of the Encampment, while he and his wife are both past grands of the Rebekahs. Politically he is a republican. Mr. Longnecker's farm comprises 191 acres, and for a number of years he has used it largely as a feeding ground for livestock. He is president of the South Milford Shippers' Associa- tion and its manager.

Mrs. Longnecker is a daughter of Ashbury and Ellen (Myers) Teal. Her father was born in Wayne County, Ohio, March 14, 1837, and her mother in DeKalb County, Indiana, March 20, 1846. Ashbury Teal came to Northeast Indiana when a youth, was married October II, 1861, and died at Montpelier, Ohio, May 1, 1911. He was a democrat in politics. In the Teal family were five children, all living, named Edward E., Mabel C., Eleanor, John A., and Charles V.

THOMAS M. OTT. Clover Leaf Farm in Noble Township of Noble County is one of the high class places where the agricultural art is seen at its best, and the management and appearance of the farm stamps its owner, Thomas M. Ott, as one of the leading agriculturists of the county. The farm com- prises 200 acres, and Mr. Ott also owns another place of eighty acres in the same locality.

Clover Leaf Farm represents to him not only a business and his present home but also the associa- tions of early childhood. He was born there De- cember 15, 1853, a son of Abraham and Sarah (Mor- gan) Ott. His mother was a native of England and was a small child when brought to the United States by her parents. His father was born in Maryland. Both families subsequently settled in Preble County, Ohio, where Abraham Ott and wife were married. In 1840 they came to Noble County, Indiana, locating on land which he had pre-empted in 1838, being the original owner direct from the Government. Abraham Ott was a man of many fine qualities which constituted him a leader in the com- munity, and he was active in politics as a republican and as a member of the Christian Church. Of nine children four are still living; Julia A. Winebremer,

widow of David S. Winebremer; George W., a farmer in Allen County, Indiana ; Almina, widow of John R. Young ; and Thomas Ott.

Thomas Ott has seldom for any great length of time been away from the farm home where he was born. He attended the common schools, and re- mained with his father and finally succeeded to the ownership of the place.

December 11, 1879, he married Alta A. Seymoure. She was born in Noble Township, and she and her husband grew up in the same locality. They have five children : Charles A., a graduate of Wolf Lake High School, is married and lives in Noble County; Lura, a graduate of the common schools, still at home; Frank J., a graduate of high school, is married and lives on a farm in Noble Township; Harvey, a graduate of high school, and Elmina, who has also finished a high school course.

Mr. Ott and family are members of the Chris- tian Church, and he and his wife and daughters are members of the Pythian Sisters. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias Lodge at Wolf Lake and is past chancellor and a member of the Grand Lodge. In politics he is a republican, has served as a member of the Advisory Board and every worthy movement in his community is certain of his support and co-operation. He is one of the stockholders in the Farmers State Bank at Wolf Lake, is a director in the Albion National Bank and a stockholder in the Albion Grist Mill.

GLENN BROWN. Some of the most important in- terests of agriculture and stock industry in Steuben County are concentrated in the Brown family. Glenn Brown, a son of the well known Steuben County land owner, Frank M. Brown, of Fremont, whose career and family connections are reviewed on other pages, is personally directing many of the family interests and is one of the leading farmers of the county.

Mr. Brown was born in Jamestown Township . January 6, 1883, acquired a good education in the district schools, the high school at Jamestown, also the high school at Fremont, and was a student in the Tri-State Normal College at Angola. He has been farming on his own responsibility since 1909, and handles more than 300 acres of his father's land in Jamestown Township. The field crops under his management seldom figure as sources of direct income. The principal business is cattle and hogs. Mr. Brown feeds about four carloads of cattle for the market every year, and in the spring of 1919 he put 265 hogs on the way to market condition, at a time when the price of hogs was the highest in history.

In 1908 Mr. Brown married Pearl Legg, daughter of G. D. and Adaline (Fulmer) Legg. They have two young sons, Roscoe E. and Russell L.

JONATHAN WILHELM. A highly esteemed and widely known resident of DeKalb County, who has made his home here for sixty-eight years and has witnessed and taken part in the development of this section of Indiana, is Jonathan Wilhelm, who lives practically retired in his comfortable home at Water- loo. He was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, January 18, 1843, and was eight years old when he accompanied his parents, David and Christina (Shanmbacher) Wilhelm, to DeKalb County.

David Wilhelm was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, of German parents. He was reared to farm pursuits and when he reached manhood married Christina Shaumbacher, who was born in Wurtem- berg, Germany, came from there as an immigrant to Ohio, and in that state supported herself until

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her marriage. Six children were born in Columbiana County and two more were added to the family after settlement was made in Indiana. Of these children but two survive: Jonathan and Caroline.

Jonathan Wilhelm grew up on a farm and gave his father assistance, as was the duty of a good son. He well remembers the old days when forests covered a large amount of the present richly culti- vated farm acreage and when the main highways were little more than Indian trails. In his boyhood a village called Uniontown stood on the site of the present busy City of Waterloo. His father had to haul all family supplies from Fort Wayne. With the coming of such sturdy settlers as the Wilhelms, however, improvement began and constant develop- ment has followed. After embarking in business for himself Mr. Wilhelm for many years engaged in farming and bought and shipped livestock, his main market being Buffalo, although demands from Cleve- land were also attended to, and he has additionally done shipping to Chicago. He still owns 326 acres in four different farms or tracts of land in Smith- field Township, over which he maintains oversight. Jonathan Wilhelm was united in marriage to Mary E. Geeting, who had accompanied her mother, Mrs. Sophronia Geeting, from Canton, Ohio, to DeKalb County. Mr. and Mrs. Wilhelm became the parents of four daughters: Lizzie, Sophronia, Gertrude and Mary. Lizzie who is deceased was the wife of P. A. Bohler and the mother of four children namely: Ralph, Elmer, Ione and Floyd. During the World war Ralph went to France in an engineer corps with the American Expeditionary Forces. Elmer was also in service, attached to the Coast Defense Corps on the coast of Florida. Both were at home at the time of their mother's death. Sophronia and Gertrude reside with their father at Waterloo, look- ing after his comfort since the death of their mother. Mary, the youngest daughter, is the wife of R. C. Thompson, and Mr. Wilhelm's only sister is a mem- ber of the Thompson household. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have two children, Lavon and Roger.

Mr. Wilhelm has never been active in a political sense but has always been a helpful and conscientious citizen, practical in business and honest and upright in every relation of life.

CAPT .. LEWIS W. GRIFFITH. In the death of Capt. Lewis W. Griffith on January 25, 1919, there passed away a brave and gallant soldier and a citizen of Steuben County whose life was a long exemplifica- tion of civic virtue and fidelity to duty.

Captain Griffith was born in Tuscarawus County, Ohio, June 17, 1838, a son of John and Jemima (Gossage) Griffith, the story of whose lives is told on other pages. Captain Griffith was twelve years old when his parents moved to DeKalb County, In- diana, and when abont nineteen he accompanied them to Otsego Township in Steuben County. He was educated in the public schools and on July 25, 1861, enlisted in Company A of the Forty-Fourth Indiana Infantry. He was in the siege and capture of Fort Donelson, was wounded at Pittsburg Land- ing, and for gallant conduct at the battle of Stone River was promoted from sergeant to first lieuten- ant, and later was with the Forty-Fourth when it was almost annihilated at the battle of Chickamanga, where he was again wounded and received a cap- tain's commission. He and his surviving compan- ions of the regiment were afterward put on post duty. Captain Griffith veteranized and remained in the army until October 22, 1865. Captain Griffith was at one time commander of Steuben Post of the Grand Army of the Republic.

After the war he returned home and engaged in

farming and buying and shipping livestock. His

army service caused a permanent disability.

He was a stanch republican. In 1868 he was elected assessor of Otsego Township, and later was county assessor and deputy county auditor, and had a long official record of about twenty-five years. He was a stanch republican and was affiliated with the Masonic Lodge and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Hamilton.

On September 1, 1861, after he had enlisted and before he was called to duty, he married Betsy Carpenter, who is still living. Her parents were Harlow J. and Fanny (Merry) Carpenter. Harlow J. Carpenter was born in Vermont in 1813, went to Ohio in early manhood, and was married there in 1836, his wife being a native of Ohio, born in the same year as her husband. In 1849 Harlow Car- penter moved to Steuben County, buying land in Otsego Township. For many years he was one of the leading members and local preachers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was widely known as Elder Carpenter. He died April 30, 1883, and after his death the church in Otsego Center was rededicated under the name Carpenter's Chapel.

Captain and Mrs. Griffith had ten children. Emma, who became the wife of Roscoe Harpster lives in Kansas and their son Claud was in the famous Thirty-fifth Division as a corporal, and was a participant in the battle of the Argonne Forest. Jessie is the widow of John Hammond, who left four children, Harry, Harold, Joyce and Ruth. Of these Harold was in the Thirty-Second Division in France and Harry was with the navy at the Great Lakes Training Station. Edna, the third child, is the wife of John Zimmerman, living in the State of Washington. Sarah married William Healey and has three children, Charles, Pauline and Griffith. Nellie died at the age of twenty years. George married Lillian Isenhour, and during the Spanish- American war he was a member of the One Hundred and Fifty-Seventh Indiana Volunteers. Shirley married Pearl Curl, and their children are Edna. Bertha, Lewis, Bettie, Yovona and Thomas. Ford died at the age of eight years. Bert was in the army during the World war. Vella is the wife of Merle Mortorff, and their three children are Helen, John and Alda.

ELIAS W. OLINGHOUSE, who is now concentrating his energies upon his farm in section 31 of Clear Spring Township in LaGrange County, became widely known over this section of Northeast In- diana as a veteran thresherman, a business he fol- lowed forty years.

He was born in Eden Township a half mile west of Topeka, Indiana, December II, 1853, a son of Jonathan and Mary (Collet) Olinghouse. His par- ents were both natives of Ohio and grew up and were married in Indiana, in LaGrange County, near Topeka. They settled on a farm a half mile east of Topeka, where Jonathan Olinghouse conducted a blacksmith shop in addition to clearing up and de- veloping his land. In 1878 he moved to another farm four miles southeast of LaGrange, and spent his last days there. His first wife died in Clear Spring Township. They were active members of the Methodist Church. Jonathan Olinghouse had fourteen children by his two marriages. His first wife was the mother of four sons and three daugh- ters, six of whom are still living: Elias W .; Charles, of Ligonier; Theo, deceased; Burther, who lives six miles east of LaGrange; Ada, wife of Harvey Babb; Etta, wife of O. C. Harsh; Mary, wife of C. E. Babb.

Elias W. Olinghouse grew up on the home farm and had a common school education. At the age of nineteen he began working out for his living, and

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in 1874 bought a threshing outfit, which he operated successfully every season for forty years. He owns 187 acres in his home farm in LaGrange County and also has forty acres in Oklahoma. He is a stock- holder in the State Bank of Topeka.

Mr. Olinghouse married Miss Catherine Medlaum. Their children are Russell, Ray and Roy, twins, and Martha, wife of Frank Dovel. Mr. Olinghouse is a member of Hawpatch Lodge No. 760, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is a past noble grand. and is a member of the Encampment No. 133. He has sat in the Grand Lodge of that order. Politically he is a republican.

JOSEPH ROHRABAUGH lived a life of extreme in- dustry and to good purpose, started out in young manhood without resources beyond the experience he had acquired working for others, was a farm hand, a renter, and eventually acquired a good place of his own.

He was born in DeKalb County, Indiana, February 5, 1861, the only child of Joseph and Mary Ann (Frick) Rohrabaugh, early settlers of DeKalb County. Joseph was a small child when his father died. His father was well educated, taught school in early life and was also a stone and brick mason by trade. The widowed mother married John Rubley, and by that marriage had two children, John H. and Elizabeth.

Joseph Rohrabaugh at the age of eight years moved with his mother to Steuben County, and from that time made his home in Jamestown Town- ship. He assisted his stepfather in clearing up the farm. Later he worked out by the month, spend- ing eighteen summers in that way. For nine years he was a renter and in 1901 bought eighty acres of land in Jamestown Township. He made the land pay for itself and give him a good living be- sides, and he improved it with a substantial barn and had much to show for his efforts. In politics he was a democrat, and his wife was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

April 2, 1892, Mr. Rohrabaugh married Abbie U. Latta. She was born in Branch County, Michigan, in 1874, a daughter of Moses and Jane (West) Latta. Her mother was a native of Steuben County, daugh- ter of George and Sarah (Sams) West. Moses Latta came to Steuben County when a young man, and after his marriage settled in Pleasant Township and later in Jamestown Township, where he died in 1906, at the age of seventy-four. His wife died in 1904, at the age of sixty. They were the parents of three children: Abbie, Jennie and Moses. Mrs. Rohrabaugh's mother married for her first husband Robert Sillabaugh, and by that union had two chil- dren, Milo J. and Robert Morton, both now de- ceased.

Both the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Rohra- baugh died early in infancy. Mary, born in 1894, lived nine months, while Christian, born in 1897, died eleven days later. .

RICHARD L. COOK. There have been representa- tives of four generations of the Cook family to spend part of their mature years in LaGrange County, and their activities have been particularly manifested in the agricultural community of Van Buren Town- ship.

A fine farm in that locality managed for many years by Richard L. Cook was the scene of his birth on July 29, 1879. He is a son of Adelbert and Orlinda Bell ( Parker) Cook and a grandson of William and Catherine (Fowler) Cook, while his great-grandparents were John and Mary Cook. William Cook was born in England and came with his parents to America early in the last century.

The Cook family settled in LaGrange County in 1831 and John Cook died the same year of his set- tlement here. John and Mary Cook had four chil- dren: William, Elizabeth, George and Jane. Will- iam Cook was married in LaGrange County, and his children were Samuel, Marie, Charles and Adel- bert. William Cook bought 180 acres in Van Buren Township, and lived there until his death in 1904, at the advanced age of ninety-two.

Adelbert Cook was born in Van Buren Township September 26, 1847, grew up on the old Cook Farm, was educated in common schools, and has spent his active life as a farmer. He owns 183 acres, and this is the farm where his son Richard was born and where the latter has been in full charge as manager for many years. Adelbert Cook is a democrat, and that was also the politics of his father, William. His wife was born September 2, 1857.

Richard L. Cook grew up on the old homestead, attended the local schools and for about twenty-five years has had an increasing share of responsibilities in connection with running the old homestead. He is a democrat like his father and grandfather and is affiliated with Lodge No. 698 of the Masons at Howe.

In I911 he married Esther L. Firestone. She was born in Elkhart County February 2, 1890, a daughter of Jacob and Nancy Firestone. Her mother is still living. Richard L. Cook and wife have one daughter, Kathryn Virginia, born April 7, 1917.

CLARENCE HANSELMAN. A farm in Otsego Town- ship that has been improved by the labors of two generations of the well-known Hanselman family is in section 5, comprising 140 acres, and now owned and cultivated by Clarence Hanselman. Mr. Han- selman is one of the most successful representatives of his family and has proved his worth both as a practical farmer and as a public-spirited citizen.

He was born on the homestead where he still lives, October 19, 1875, a son of John Quincy and Margaret (Kankamp) Hanselman and a grandson of Aaron Hanselman. A more detailed record of this family will be found on other pages of this publication. Clarence Hanselman grew up on the home farm. After acquiring a public school educa- tion he took up farming as his serious career, and in course of years acquired the old homestead of 140 acres. He has remodeled the barn, and installed many other improvements, including a furnace in his home. He is a breeder of pure bred Shorthorn cattle and also keeps the best grades of . Duroc Jersey hogs. Politically Mr. Hanselman is a re- publican.

October 30, 1907, he married Miss Lela Dora Sut- ton, member of an old and prominent family of Steuben County. She was born in Scott Township, March 7, 1882, a daughter of Roswell and Emma J. (Waller) Sutton. Her parents were both natives of Steuben County, her father born April 27, 1852, and her mother on January 1, 1859. Roswell Sutton was a son of Roswell and Nancy (McMinn) Sutton, both pioneers of Northeast Indiana. Roswell, Sr., was the first, or one of the first, teachers in Steuben County. Emma J. (Waller) Sutton, who died March 3, 1912, was a daughter of Jacob and Rhoda (Trobridge) Waller, likewise pioneers of Steuben County. Mrs. Hanselman's father is still living in Scott Township. He had four children, named, Delevan, Robert, Lela Dora and Orville. Mr. and Mrs. Hanselman have a son and daughter, Russell Clarence, born October 3, 1908, and Helen Ruth, born August I, IQII.

ROY PERKINS, cashier of the Farmers State Bank of Stroh, has been identified with that institution two

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

years, and is one of the leading business men of LaGrange County.

He represents a family well known for their en- terprise and good citizenship in Northeast Indiana. He was born on a farm in Milford Township, August 26, 1881, a son of Sammel and Emma (Mains) Perkins. Some additional facts regarding his father and the early history of the family will be found on other pages. Samuel Perkins and wife, who spent their last years on a farm in section 23 of Milford Township, were active in the Methodist Church, and he was a republican. They were the parents of five sons and the four still living are J. D., of Milford; M. S., of Milford; Clyde, of Milford; and Roy. The Perkins brothers have a number of individual interests and are also associates in the ownership of the Stroh Grain Company, and for five years were engaged in drainage contracting.

Roy Perkins grew up on the home farm in Mil- ford Township and graduated from the South Mil- ford High School and spent three years in the State Normal. He is well known for his splendid work as a teacher. For thirteen years he was engaged in schoolroom work, and during that time was super- intendent of the South Milford school five years and principal of the Stroh school four years.

The Farmers State Bank of Stroh was organized November 16, 1915. Its officers are: H. B. Lewis, president ; S. A. Stout, vice president ; Roy Perkins, cashier, while the Board of Directors consist of H. B. Lewis, S. A. Stout, Roy Perkins, M. S. Perkins, J. D. Perkins, J. B. Hayward, R. O. Conklin, F. N. Wilson and E. E. Goodsell. The bank is capitalized at $25,000.

November 28, 1905, Mr. Perkins married Opal Lovett. She is a graduate of the South Milford High School. They have four children, named Mar- jorie, Katherine, Dale and George. Mr. Perkins is a past master and charter member of Philo Lodge No. 672, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is also a past grand of the Odd Fellows. His wife is both a Rebekah and a member of the Eastern Star. Politically he is affiliated with the republican party.

CHARLES B. OURY is a resident of Jackson Town- ship, Steuben County. Farming has constituted his work, and he has been a busy and successful agri- culturist for the past twenty years. In that time he has acquired a good farm of his own, and his prosperity is very much in evidence.

Mr. Oury, who is connected with several leading families of Steuben County, was born in Seneca County, Ohio, October 21, 1871, but has lived in Steuben County since early childhood. He is a son of William and Rachel (Bowerman) Oury, the former born in Knox County, Ohio, in 1849, and the latter in Seneca County, a daughter of Simon and Lydia (Spangle) Bowerman. William Oury, who died in 1901, came to Steuben County about 1874, and after 1876 had a farm in sections 16 and 21 of Jackson Township.

Charles D. Oury was the oldest of six children. He attended district school No. 4 in Jackson Town- ship, and went to work as a young man at farming. In 1899 he moved to Pleasant Township, and in 1901 moved to another farm in Springfield Town- ship of LaGrange County, where he directed the operations of 290 acres for ten years. He bought his present place in section 4 of Jackson Township in 1911. He has a farm of 120 acres, well improved and increasing in valne every year under his man- agement. Mr. Oury is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge at Flint.

May 29, 1897, he married Miss Emma Dudley, a daughter of Grove H. and Mary (Closson) Dudley. Reference to her father is made on other pages of

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History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 37

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