USA > Indiana > LaGrange County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 39
USA > Indiana > Noble County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 39
USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 39
USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 39
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James C. DeVinney, who is popularly known as Mont DeVinney, was left an orphan when about five years of age, and he and his brother and sister were reared by their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Dibble. He attended public school in Newbury and Van Buren townships, also the Normal School at LaGrange, and taught seven terms of school. For over two years he clerked in a store at Howe, Indi- ana, and then took up his work as a traveling sales- man, which he followed for seven years. From 1892 to 1907 he was in the general merchandise business at Howe. He sold out in 1907 and spent the follow- ing two years repairing and working the home farm. Since 1909 he has had a general agency for the well known Kalamazoo tile and wood silos. He sup- ervises the sale of these silos in fifteen counties in Northern Illinois.
Mr. De Vinney owns the fine 175-acre farm in Van Buren Township where his widowed sister and her family reside. When he is not looking after his business affairs in Illinois he makes his home with his sister on the farm. Mr. DeVinney is un- married.
He served as trustee of Lima Township four years and for three years was manager of the Lima Creamery. Mr. DeVinney is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias Lodge at Howe and with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at LaGrange, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church at Howe.
RAYMOND J. LUSE. There are a number of illus- trations of men who have gone from the farm into commercial and professional careers. The cases are not so numerous where young professional men have given up their chosen work to devote them- selves to agriculture. A case in point is that of Raymond J. Luse, who enjoyed high standing as a physician and surgeon in Steuben County and a few years ago surrendered his practice and has made unequivocal success at dairy farming.
Doctor Luse was born at Niles, Ohio, March 13, 1880, son of Jesse B. and Frances (Sanderson) Luse, the former a native of Niles and the latter of Youngstown, Ohio. His father is still engaged in farming near the industrial city of Niles.
Dr. Raymond J. Luse grew up on his father's farm and in early life acquired some of the experi- ence and training which has fitted him for success
since he entered dairying. He was educated in the common and high schools of Niles, and first came to Northeastern Indiana as a student in the Normal College of Angola. He graduated in 1900 and in 1902 entered the school of medicine of Drake Uni- versity of Des Moines, Iowa, graduating in the year 1906. He at once returned to Angola, and took up the practice of medicine, which he continued suc- cessfully for seven years. Mr. Luse left his profes- sion in 1913, and then moved to his farm one mile west of Angola. He has acquired a splendid herd of blooded Holsteins, noted for their milk produc- tion, and keeps twenty cows for his splendid busi- ness of dairy farming. Doctor Luse married in 1907 Clela Powers, daughter of Judge Powers, of Angola. They have two children: Raymond Powers and Anna. Doctor and Mrs. Luse are members of the Christian Church.
CHARLES W. DANCER, M. D., who has practiced medicine and surgery at Stroh for the past eighteen years, comes of a well known family of professional and business men in LaGrange County.
He is a son of Dr. John and Isabelle (Hodges) Dancer and was born at South Milford, November 20, 1871. His father became well known all over Northeast Indiana. He was a native of Stark Coun- ty, Ohio, and spent most of his boyhood in DeKalb County, Indiana. He graduated from Rush Medical College in Chicago and for nearly half a century practiced his profession at South Milford, in an ever growing circle of esteem. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Chapter and Commandery, at Ken- dallville, and a democrat in politics. He served two or three terms as trustee of Milford Township. Doctor Dancer and wife had ten children, six of. whom are still living: Maggie, wife of Ephraim Frandt; Katie J., widow of Dr. H. M. Newman, of South Milford; Dr. Charles W .; Edna, wife of Dallas West, a chemist with the Wabash Portland Cement Company at Stroh ; George W., a dentist at Dayton, Ohio; and Jesse E., an interurban railway conductor with home at Fort Wayne.
Dr. Charles W. Dancer grew up in South Milford, attended the public schools there, and in 1893 gradu- ated from St. Mary's College at Dayton, Ohio. From 1805 to 1898 he was a student in Rush Medical College, his father's alma mater, and took his degree in medicine from the Tennessee Medical College in 1899. The following year he located at Stroh, and has since had a busy town and country practice. He is a member in good standing of the County and State Medical societies, is a democrat and has served as county chairman of LaGrange County four years. He has also been a trustee of Milford Township and a few years ago was nominated for the State Senate on the democratic ticket. In a district normally republican by 2,500 he was defeated by only 800 votes. Dr. Dancer is a charter member and was the first master of Philo Lodge No. 672, Ancient Free and Accepted Mason, and is affiliated with the Royal Arch Chapter and Knight Templar Com- mandery at Kendallville. He has also passed the chairs in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Improved Order of Red Men. Doctor Dancer married Elizabeth Weingart in 1908.
GEORGE M. MANAHAN has lived a life of unusual experience and has had his home and work in a number of different environments. In early life he was thrown upon his own responsibilities, had to work for himself and others, too, but in the course of thirty years has accumulated a generous pros- perity and is now one of the leading farmers and farm owners in Jackson Township of Steuben County.
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He was born in Ottawa County, Ohio, December 26, 1865. His parents were Ira and Nancy (Weatherwax) Manahan. His paternal grandfather, Samuel Manahan, was a farmer in Ottawa County, Ohio, and had a family of children named Rebecca, Elizabeth, James, William, Samuel, Ira, Jefferson, Thomas and Joseph.
Ira Manahan was also born in Ottawa County, Ohio, October 9, 1836, and on March 1, 1863, married Nancy Weatherwax. She was born August 28, 1842, daughter of Lawrence and Nancy Maria a (Weatherwax) Weatherwax. Lawrence was born October 3, 1813, and Nancy Maria, March 1, 1821. In the Weatherwax family were six children : Elizabeth, born June 13, 1838; Lydia, born April 2, 1840; Nancy, born August 28, 1842; John, who died in infancy; Maria Jane, born July 18, 1855; and Martha, born July 23, 1859.
Ira Manahan during his active life was a farmer in Ottawa County, Ohio. He died there October 16, 1872, when his son George was only seven years old. After his death his wife and children continned to live on the home farm some eight or ten years, and the family then came to Pleasant Township of Steuben County. Mrs. Manahan bought a farm of fifty acres about two miles west of Angola, and lived on that place until 1892. She then went west to Adams County, Nebraska, and kept house for her two sons, Charles and Bert, and remained there until the marriage of her son Charles, since which time she has resumed her residence in Steuben County and now lives at Angola. She was the mother of a family of five: Samuel L., born July 10, 1864; George M., whose birth has above been noted; Minnie Jane, born October 30, 1867, wife of Edward Baker; Charles W., born October 24, 1869; and Bert I., born September 22, 1871.
George M. Manahan acquired most of his edu- cation in his native county of Ohio, but also at- tended district schools in Pleasant Township. He was only thirteen years old when he became a wage earner, working out at $10 a month. His career as an independent farmer was begun in 1888 in Pleasant Township on a rented farm. After a year and a half he moved to Jackson Township, continued farming there until 1894, and then spent a year as a farmer in Nebraska. After returning to Steuben County he located in Pleasant Town- ship and for fifteen years lived on various places and made a number of moves, though most of the time he was a farmer. He has owned several dif- ferent farms and has been a permanent resident of Jackson Township since 1911, when he bought his present place. The prosperity gained by years of effort is represented in the ownership of 265 acres, with building improvements of exceptional value.
Mr. Manahan married Nellie R. Moore, a daugh- ter of Robert and Rachel A. Moore. They have two children: Glenn L., who married Hilda Leese; and Esther C.
GEORGE F. PRAUL. One of the most complete and modern farms in DeKalb County is the Maple Lawn Farm, a mile and a half north of Butler in Franklin Township. Its proprietor is George F. Praul, and on the land which he cultivates today he was born November 19, 1869.
He is a son of Edwin A. and Sarah A. (Firestone) Praul, both of whom were also natives of Franklin Township, the father born December 15, 1848, and the mother September 13, 1851. The paternal grand- parents were Edward and Lucy (Thompson) Praul, the former a native of Pennsylvania while the latter was born in Greene County, New York, March 16, 1817. They were married in New York, moved from
there to Pennsylvania and then to Indiana in 1845, locating in Wilmington Township and later in Frank- lin Township, where they spent the rest of their lives. Lucy Praul died March 13, 1885, while he died July 4, 1863, his death being the result of a rattle- snake bite. Of their twelve children five are still living, named Lucinda, wife of Nick Bucher, of Cincinnati; Nancy, widow of Benjamin Walton, of Garrett; Hattie, wife of Charles Thompson; Min- nie, widow of Watson Halabaugh; and Rachel, widow of Henry Workman.
Edwin Praul grew up in DeKalb County in a lo- cality and under circumstances which prevented him from getting a good education. On July 3, 1868, he married Sarah A. Firestone, who was one of thir- teen children, five of whom are still living.
George F. Praul was the only child of his parents and he has spent practically all his life on the home farm. As a boy there he attended the common schools. On December 27, 1893, he married Mar- garet A. McClintock. She was born in Troy Town- ship, DeKalb County, February 18, 1873, a daughter of Jeremiah and Mary (Scott) Mcclintock. Her father was a native of Perry County, Pennsylvania, and her mother of Crawford County, Ohio. They were married in Ohio and in 1867 came to Indiana. Jeremiah McClintock was a Union soldier, having served three years in Company K of the Ninth Ohio Cavalry. In later years he was active in the Grand Army of the Republic and was an influential mem- her of the republican party. In the McClintock fam- ily were four children, three of whom are still living : Elias, of Auburn; Margaret and Mattie, wife of Vernon L. Kepler, of Troy Township. Mrs. Pranl received her education in the common schools of Troy Township.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Pranl lived on a rented farm two and a half years, then spent six years at Butler, and with that exception they have lived on the old homestead. Mr. Praul has sixty acres of good farm land and he is also one of the directors of the Butler Farmers Elevator Company and a stockholder in the Arctic Cooperative Livestock Association. He has been active in the republican party and he and his wife are members of the Wilmington Grange. Both are affiliated with the Pythian Sisters, Mrs. Praul being past chief and a member of the Grand Lodge. His membership is with Butler Lodge No. 158, Knights of Pythias. Mrs. Praul is a Methodist.
They have three children: Sherley E. is a grad- uate of high school, also took advanced training at Winona and Angola, and for three years was a teacher. She is now the wife of Clarence T. Car- son, and lives in Chicago. Bessie G. is a high school graduate, wife of D. A. Baker, of Butler. Russell E., the youngest, is still at home and attending school.
ORLA L. FAST. Bcaring a name that has long been honored in the citizenship of Steuben County, Orla L. Fast has added credit to the name and is now holding one of the responsible offices of the county, as trustee of Pleasant Township. Mr. Fast has lived at Angola since he left his farm about ten years ago.
He was born in Pleasant Township, Steuben Countv. Tuly 17, 1867. a son of Christian and Rhoda M. (Wells) Fast. His grandparents were Martin and Catherine (Blosser) Fast, of Pennsylvania. In 1816 they moved to Ashland County, Ohio, the total population of which then consisted of nine families. Catherine Fast for three months never saw the face of a white woman. The county settled rapidly after they came, and Martin and Catherine spent their last years with every comfort of civilization. They
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reared a family of seven children, named John, Anna, Eli, Mary, Jacob, Christian and Elijah.
Christian Fast was born in Fayette County, Penn- sylvania, February 12, 1814, and from the age of two years lived in the pioneer surroundings of Ash- land County, where he farmed for several years. In 1852 he brought his family to Steuben County, and secured 160 acres in Pleasant Township. Only four acres had been cleared. Twenty acres he re- served as a timber lot, but all the rest gradually came under cultivation, and he earned an abundant prosperity. He died December 13, 1898. In 1839 he married Henrietta Sowle, who was born in Oneida County, New York, in 1820, daughter of Joseph and Rachel (Allen) Sowle. She died in December, 1859, mother of the following children: Joseph J .; Rosanna, who married Alonzo Burlin- game; Mary, whose husband was Orville Goodale; Francis Allen; Eli; Rachel, who became the wife of Melville McGrew; John A., who died young; and Henrietta. Christian Fast married for his sec- ond wife Rhoda M. Wells, who was born in Wayne County, Ohio, December 12, 1837, daughter of Loton and Anna M. (Sowle) Wells. To the second mar- riage were born: Elmer, who died in infancy; Ira C .; Orla L .; and Laura, who died aged nine years, Christian Fast was a justice of the peace many years, and was a member of the Christian Church.
Orla L. Fast, after getting his education in the district schools of Pleasant Township, took charge of his father's farm, and from the age of twenty- one handled it independently and planted and har- vested crops there every season until 1910, when he left the farm and moved to Angola. In the county seat he was for two years engaged in the draying business. He was elected trustee of Pleasant Town- ship in 1914, and in 1918 the citizens set the seal of their approval upon his capable administration by returning him for a second term of four years. He is a popular member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges, and is a member of the Christian Church.
Mr. Fast married Miss Catherine Penner, daugh- ter of Martin and Elizabeth Penner. Their family consists of five children, named Paul A., Mildred A., Arline, Hershel and Henrietta.
MILO R. JONES has been a prominent citizen of Orange Township, Noble County, for many years, is a native of that township, and his family were established in this section of Indiana at a pioneer date. Mr. Jones is prominent in local affairs and is the present assessor of his township.
He was born January 30, 1854, son of George R. and Hannah E. (Hunter) Jones. His father was a native of New York State and his mother of Champaign County, Ohio. His grandfather, Milo Jones, came to LaGrange County, Indiana, as early as 1843, and a few years later moved to Noble County and settled in Orange Township. He lived to the age of eighty-five. The family were mem- bers of the Free Will Baptist Church, and the grandfather was a Mason and a republican and was active in politics, serving four years as trustee of Orange Township.
Milo R. Jones was one of five children, one of whom died in infancy. He is the oldest of the four still living. His brother William O. is a re- tired farmer in Orange Township. Ichabod also lives in Orange Township and Lucy A. is the wife of John Taylor.
Milo R. Jones grew up in Orange Township and lived with his grandfather to the age of twenty- one. He received a common school education. After reaching his majority he farmed the old homestead.
June 4, 1876, he married Sallie A. Eddy. She died leaving two children: Grace, now the wife of Benjamin F. King, of Elkhart Township, and Enos M., who married Mildred Conklin. For his second wife Mr. Jones married Ella Kesler. She died in 1900, without children. For his third wife he mar- ried Mrs. Ada E. Kesler, widow of Albert Kesler and daughter of Samuel Wolf. Mrs. Jones by her first husband has two children: Grover, who mar- ried Maude Hanes and lives in Noble County; and Edith, a graduate of the Rome City High School and a graduate nurse of the Fletcher Sanitarium at Indianapolis.
Mr. Jones is an active republican. He has served ten years in the office of township assessor and was reelected to that office November 5, 1918, for an- other term of four years. As a farmer he cultivates eighty acres of the rich and productive soil of Orange Township, his home being in section 9.
GUY K. FRIEND. Though born over the state line in Branch County, Michigan, Guy K. Friend has spent most of his life in Steuben County, grew up on a farm, and has found in farming a congenial and profitable vocation through which he has expressed his best service to himself and the world.
Mr. Friend, who is owner of one of the good farms of Millgrove Township, was born in Noble Township of Branch County July 30, 1870, a son of Jefferson L. and Nancy (Kidder) Friend. Jef- ferson L. Friend was a native of Stark County, Ohio, grew up in Williams County, Ohio, served as a soldier in the Union Army, and a few years after the war bought a farm in Millgrove Town- ship which had been originally settled and cleared by his wife's father, Alanson Kidder, a pioneer of 1836 in Steuben County and a member of the orig- inal Vermont colony at Orland.
Guy K. Friend acquired his education in Orland, including his high school course, and for several years was associated with his brother Morton in running his home farm. In 1901 he bought a place in section 29 of Millgrove Township a half mile south of Orland, but after four years sold out and bought his present farm of 224 acres in section 16. Since then he has improved the place with build- ings and other facilities, and his surroundings indi- cate every degree of prosperity.
December 25, 1892, Mr. Friend married Emma B. Barber, a daughter of William and Sidney (Slay- baugh) Barber, and a sister of W. S. Barber. Mr. and Mrs. Friend are members of the Congrega- tional Church at Orland.
GEORGE A. WAGNER for a number of years has been identified in a progressive and enterprising way with the agricultural affairs of Franklin Township, De- Kalb County, is a native of that township, but for a considerable period of his lifetime lived in the West and laid the basis of his fortune as a farmer there.
He was born in Franklin Township September 7, 1867, a son of Fred and Maria (Healy) Wagner. His father was born in Germany February 14, 1834, was educated there, and at the age of twenty came to the United States and settled in Ohio and later moved to DeKalb County. He married in DeKalb County and then settled on a farm in Franklin Town- ship, where he lived out his industrious career until his death on August 2, 1902. His widow survived him until February 8, 1914. He was a Dunkard in religion and a democrat in politics. There were six children : Lena, wife of J. E. Firestone; Ada, wife of John Rohrbaugh; George A .; Cora, wife of Ora Hiner; Essie, wife of Luther Bryan; and Jesse, of Butler.
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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA
George A. Wagner grew up in Franklin Township. He was educated in the district schools and at the age of nineteen left home and went out to the states of Nebraska and Kansas, where he spent altogether thirteen years. He acquired a quarter section home- stead and after developing and improving that bought 160 acres more. After selling his lands in the West he returned to DeKalb County and bought the forty acre farm where he lives today.
In 1904 Mr. Wagner married Kate Chambers. She was born in Wisconsin May 10, 1864, but came to Indiana with her parents at the age of six years and was reared in Steuben County, attending school at Fremont. She was one of the nine children, seven of whom are still living, of Nicholas and Mary J. (Noyes) Chambers.
Mr. Wagner is a past grand of Butler Lodge No. 282 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is also a member of the Encampment, and he and his wife are affiliated with the Rebekah Lodge at Butler. They are also members of the Wilmington Grange, of which he is a past master. For some years he has been prominent in the democratic party in De- Kalb County, has served as a member of the election board and has also been a township supervisor. He is a trustee of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Butler.
ALFRED PENDILL for many years has been actively identified with the farming interests of Steuben County, where he was reared and educated, and has one of the well-improved places of Pleasant Town- ship. As a farmer he depends not only upon hard work but good judgment in handling his crops and marketing the products of the farm, and has every reason to be satisfied with the prosperity he has achieved.
His father is Hiram J. Pendill, living on the same farm in Pleasant Township. Hiram J. Pendill was born in Union Township of Branch County, Michi- gan, August 21, 1837, son of James and Eliza (Wilder) Pendill, the former a native of Palmyra, New York, and the latter also a native of that state. James Pendill was one of the first settlers in Branch County, Michigan. It was a country of woods and prairies, and for a number of years he used his axe as diligently as he did his plow. He helped clear up that county and spent the rest of his life there as a farmer. His children by his first wife were Mary, Elijah, Hiram and Melvin. He married for his second wife Melvina Rice, and she had three children, Samuel, Louisa and James. James Pendill married for his third wife Mrs. Eliza Barnes.
Hiram J. Pendill attended school in Branch County and when a young man was initiated into the business of farming. In February, 1861, he came to Mill Grove Township of Steuben County, and after five or six years working for others he engaged in farming for himself, and that continued his occupation for practically half a century. In 1905 he moved to the farm of his son Alfred and has since lived there.
Hiram Pendill married Sarah Hyzer. They had four children, Eva, Alfred, Ortensa and Frank.
Alfred Pendill acquired his early education in the public schools of Millgrove Township. He learned farming under his father, was associated with the elder Pendill for a number of years, and since 1905 has occupied his present home and farm in Pleasant Township. Alfred Pendill married Miss Ella Brown, now deceased. She was a daughter of Jerry and Margaret (Arnold) Brown. Mr. Pendill is the father of four children: Eva M., wife of Asa Johnson; Earl, who married Nora Harter; Robert R., who married Mina Sowle; and William, whose wife was Elsie Stuttler.
DALLAS WERT is a member of an old and well known . family of Milford Township, LaGrange County, and his own career has been partly busi- ness and partly professional. He is now head chemist of the Wabash Portland Cement Company of Stroh.
He was born on the old Wert farm in Milford Township, June 9, 1870, a son of Daniel and Eliza M. (Miller) Wert. Some of the important facts concerning his family are published on other pages. Dallas Wert, youngest of his father's children, grew up on a farm, attended the Center brick school in Milford Township, and took his college work in St. Mary's College at Dayton, Ohio, where he graduated with the degree Bachelor of Science. Later he was student in Purdue University, and at one time was a prescription drug clerk at Mil- ford. For four and a half years he was engaged in the furniture business, but in 1903 went with the Wabash Portland Cement Company as a chemist. In 1907 he was promoted to head chemist in charge of the laboratory, and has had supervision of the technical processes of manufacture in the plant at Stroh.
March 18, 1897, Mr. Wert married Dee Edna Dancer, member of another well known family of LaGrange County. She was born at South Mil- ford and besides her education in the local schools she attended the Conservatory of Music, being also a vocal student of Hillsdale College of Michigan. They have three children: Bernard N., born Feb- ruary 5, 1898, was in the Students' Army Training Corps at the University of Michigan and is now a student at St. Mary's College at Dayton, Ohio. The two younger children are Octa H. and Norma E., the former a student in the Kendallville High School and the latter in the grade schools at Stroh. Mr. Wert is affiliated with Philo Lodge No. 672, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is a dem- ocrat in politics.
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