History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 43

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 43
USA > Indiana > Noble County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 43
USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 43
USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 43

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).

Joni M. Borntrager spent his boyhood days on a farm just across the road from his present place. He attended the district schools. For many years he has found himself pleasantly and profitably en- gaged in farming and is owner of 1981/2 acres, a goodly property, most of which is to be credited to his industrious efforts. He keeps good grades of livestock. Mr. Borntrager and family are members of the Amish Mennonite Church, known as the West Honeyville District, and he is a deacon in the church.

January 10, 1889, he married Anna Borntrager, who died September 9, 1807. She was the mother of three children: Levi, who married Sarah Thom- as; Gideon, who married Rosa Bender, and she is now deceased; and Lydia, wife of Ervin Stutsman, living in Iowa. January . 4, 1900, Mr. Borntrager married Amanda J. Gingerich. Six children were born to their union, Emma, Barbara, Manassas, Amelia, Amanda (deceased), and Susie.

RICHARD E. TARLTON has made an honorable rec- ord in the most ancient and honorable of profes- sions, agriculture, and is well known as a farmer in DeKalb County. His home is on his farm in section 29 of Keyser Township, and comprises the southwest quarter of that section.

He was born in section 30 of the same township December 23, 1873, a son of Joseph E. and Elizabeth (Fountain) Tarlton. His father, who was born in Mansfield, Ohio, January 30, 1848, is now living at Avilla in Noble County, Indiana. Elizabeth (Foun- tain) Tarlton, died March 19, 1898, the mother of three children, Richard E., William J. and Sadie J.

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Richard is the only one now living. Joseph Tarlton married for his second wife Amanda R. Davis.

Richard E. Tarlton grew up at the old Fountain farm in Keyser Township. He attended the district schools from the age of seven to twenty-one, and on December 25, 1897, married Milia L. Truelove. She was born in Noble County, Indiana, was edu- cated in the common schools, and died May 18, 1915. She was the mother of two children, Myrtle M. and William R.

Mr. Tarlton after his marriage lived in Keyser Township, for thirteen years was a resident of Allen Township in Noble County, also lived one year in section I of Swan Township, and has since been located at his present home, where he has ninety- two well cultivated acres. He also owns thirty-eight acres in section 33, near Altona, and has eighty acres in section I of Swan Township, Noble County. Mr. Tarlton is a member of the Evangelical Church and is a republican.

WILLIAM FOUNTAIN was a DeKalb County pioneer, developed a home out of the woods and acquired a modest fortune in lands and many riches of com- munity esteem on account of his honorable life and character.

He was born in Lincolnshire, England, December 25, 18II, a son of Simon and Rebecca Fountain. He was only three days old when his parents died and he grew up under the care of his older sisters. In June, 1848, after his marriage, he came to the United States, his wife being a native of the same county in England. After a brief stay in Ohio they came to DeKalb County in the same year and William Fountain bought eighty acres in the midst of the heavy woods. A little cabin home had already been prepared and there he and his wife began their humble task of housekeeping. William Fountain was a man of prodigious industry and before his death had accumulated a tract of 400 acres. He died June II, 1889, and his wife survived him until July 4, 1909. Both were active members of the Methodist Church and he gave liberally to its support and various causes. He was a republican in politics, and his home was constantly the scene of a liberal hos- pitality. William Fountain and wife had three chil- dren: Sarah A., born December 3, 1850; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Joseph Tarlton and died March 19, 1898; and William R.

William R. Fountain was born February 3, 1855, had a common school education and since the death of his parents he and his sister have lived on the old home farm. They jointly own 260 acres of the old Fountain homestead and he also owns a business building on Randolph Street in Garrett and three dwelling houses there. Both he and his sister are members of the Methodist Church at Garrett. Wil- liam R. is a republican.

LEROY ISENHOWER, proprietor of the leading ga- rage and automobile agency at Fremont, is one of the younger business men of Steuben County, and has been a factor in keeping up the business enter- prise of Fremont since early manhood.

He was born at Fremont, March 1, 1884, a son of Amos and Caroline (Geedy) Isenhower. His grand- parents were Peter and Sarah (Wade) Isenhower, who came to Fremont Township in Steuben County in 1859. Peter Isenhower died on the farm which he bought when he came to this county, and was well known to all the early settlers. He and his wife had the following children: Benjamin, Jacob, Catherine, Mary, John and Amos.

Amos Isenhower was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, February 5, 1852, and was seven

years old when brought to Steuben County. He married in 1870 Caroline Geedy, also a native of Pennsylvania and daughter of William and Mary (Taylor) Geedy, the former a native of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and the latter born in Eng- land. William Geedy settled in Fremont Township in 1865, but enjoyed the use and cultivation of his farm of eighty acres less than a year. He died in 1866. His children were: Enos, Caroline, Erman- da, Simon, David, Mary, Martha Ann and Emma.

Amos Isenhower farmed for several years and then engaged in the livery business in Fremont and for a few years also conducted the local hotel. He was active in business until his death on December 22, 1905. He and his wife had the following chil- dren: Bert; May, wife of Homer Gripman; Eva, wife of James Noggle; Frank; Lilly, wife of George Griffith ; Delvin, who died in childhood; and LeRoy.

LeRoy Isenhower acquired a public school educa- tion at Fremont and took a business course at De- troit, and at the age of twenty-two bought a half interest in his father's livery. After about a year he went into the bakery business, following that for two years, and then for three and a half years was a retail meat dealer. In December, 1914, Mr. Isenhower established his garage and automobile sales agency, and his business has been a landmark to motorists for five years. He has the local agency for the Overland, Buick and Oakland cars.

Mr. Isenhower married May 22, 1906, Blanch Fay Grim, daughter of Elmer and Ida Grim. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Church and he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias Lodge.

H. E. CRAIG spent the greater part of his active business career as a traveling salesman, but in re- cent years has been identified with the management of one of the fine farms in LaGrange County. This farm is in section 15 of Clear Spring Township.

Mr. Craig was born in LaGrange County, in Eden Township, June 2, 1857, son of William and Mar- garet (Thompson) Craig. His father was born in Ireland in 1825, the son of an Irish linen weaver. William Craig was a cooper and farmer. He came to the United States about 1835, and eventually worked at his trade in Warren, Ohio. After his marriage to Margaret Thompson he came to In- diana about 1854 and located on a farm in Eden Township. The last eight years of his life were spent in Topeka, where he died in 1908. His widow died in the same village in 1912. William Craig was a democrat in politics. He was the father of eight children, seven of whom are still living. Ada, wife of Dr. J. W. Nihart, of Petoskey, Michi- gan; H. E. Craig; Celia, wife of Clinton Stage, in Noble County, Indiana: Clara, widow of Andrew Cooper, of Ligonier, Indiana; Marion, who lives in the State of Washington; Eden, a dairy farmer in New York State; and Ethel, who is a graduate of dietetics and is head nurse at Howe School Hos- pital.

H. E. Craig grew up on his father's farm in Eden Township, and besides the district schools attended commercial courses in Valparaiso University. He taught both before and after attending the Valpa- raiso school, putting in altogether four years in school work. In 1880 he married Miss Carrie Cun- ningham. They lived in Minnesota three years, and his wife and their two children died there.

Mr. Craig took an active part in democratic poli- tics in Minnesota and was elected to represent the twenty-eighth district in the State Legislature, serving one term. Mr. Craig spent twenty years with the E. H. Andrews Company of Chicago, man- ufacturers and dealers in school and bank fur- niture. He left that firm temporarily to enlist in the

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United States navy at the time of the Spanish- American war, and was discharged at the close of hostilities. From that time until 1913 he represented the E. H. Andrews Company as a private salesman.

Mr. Craig returned to LaGrange County, and on March 16, 1916, married Estella V. Parks, widow of Dr. J. L. Miller. Mr. Craig was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Minnesota and is affiliated with Grand Prairie Lodge No. 54, In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, at Brookston, Indiana.

Mrs. Craig is a daughter of William T. and Lydia A. (Fought) Parks. She was born on the farm where she is now living March 8, 1857. Her father was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, April 1, 1827, and her mother in Columbiana County, Ohio, December 22, 1828. William T. Parks came with his parents to LaGrange County in 1835. This was one of the early families to settle in this county. After he reached manhood he bought eighty acres in Eden Township, and lived there until he bought the eighty acres where Mr. and Mrs. Craig now live. From a portion of this land he cut away the timber to build his home, and he remained there until his death on April 14, 1905. Mrs. Craig's mother is still living, and is an active member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Parks was a steadfast republican until 1884. when he became a democrat. At one time he owned 300 acres in LaGrange County. In the Parks family were four children : Roherles M., who died at the age of two; Zidana M., who is the wife of F. P. Smith; Calvares M., who died at Victor, Colorado, at the age of forty-one; and Estella V., who was educated in the district schools and for eight terms was a successful teacher, six terms in LaGrange and two in Noble County. Decem- ber 5, 1887, she became the wife of Dr. J. L. Mil- ler, who died in January, 1915.

JOHN E. PANCAKE. For a period of over forty years John E. Pancake has been one of the lead- ing citizens of Elkhart Township in Noble County. He has been useful to himself, to his family, to his friends and, in fact, to the entire community. An evidence of the high esteem in which he is held was afforded at a recent election when he was can- didate for county commissioner of Noble County. The county went republican by a majority of 600, but Mr. Pancake was defeated by only ninety-nine votes. While he is not a member of any church, he has been one of the most active and liberal sup- porters of the Baptist Church of his community, was a member of its building committee and one of the largest contributors when the edifice was constructed. He is at present a member of the County Central Committee of the democratic party.

Mr. Pancake is also a charter member of the Topeka State Bank, and served as its vice president fourteen years and is still on the board of directors. He is a stockholder in the Farmers State Bank at Wawaka, a stockholder in the National Bank at Albion, and a stockholder in the Noble Motor Truck Company of Kendallville. For many years his time and energies have been well bestowed on his farm of 400 acres in Elkhart Township, where he special- ized in Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs.

His father was Joseph Pancake, who was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, May 22, 1822, and was reared and educated in that locality. He married Ruann Halstead, who was born in the same county and died at the early age of twenty-three. John E. was their only child. Joseph Pancake died in Ottawa, Kansas, January 8, 1871.

John E. Pancake was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, July 22, 1848, and acquired a good education in the local schools of Ohio. Later he graduated

with high honors from the Union Christian Col- lege at Merom in Sullivan County, Indiana. After finishing his education he returned to his native county in Ohio and taught three terms of district school. In the summer of 1870 he went to Franklin County, Kansas, worked on a farm there one year, and then homesteaded a claim of his own in Wil- son County, Kansas. He had the usual experiences of a Kansas pioneer. After 1872 he sold out and coming to Noble County, Indiana, entered the serv- ice of his uncle, John Pancake. He worked on the Pancake farm and also spent six terms as a teacher in the district schools. He then took entire charge of his uncle's farm and later administered the John Pancake estate.

On January 1I, 1916, Mr. Pancake married Mrs. Barbara A. Swank. She was born in Illinois Sep- tember 8, 1865, and lived in that state to the age of nineteen, when she married Richard Swank. They came to Indiana and located in LaGrange County, beginning housekeeping in Topeka. Mrs. Pancake has one daughter by her former marriage, Dora, now the wife of W. G. Waynright, of Marshall, Michi- gan. Mr. and Mrs. Waynright have one daughter, Edith, now seven years old. Mrs. Pancake is a member of the Lutheran Church in Elkhart Town- ship.

JOSEPH E. YODER. Every rule has its exception, but it would be difficult to find a Yoder in La- Grange County who is not financially sound and without land, stock and other improvements of value as evidence of the honest toil and good man- agement displayed in the passing years. These evi- dences of thrift and prosperity in the case of Joseph E. Yoder are found at his farm on rural route No. I out of Topeka, in Eden Township.

He is one of the seven sons of Valentine T. and Catherine (Schrock) Yoder and was born on the farm where he lives today July 20, 1875. He grew up on that farm, and with the exception of two winters attended district schools until he was twenty years of age. On November 19, 1896, he married Miss Katie Miller. She was born in Elkhart County, Indiana, September 12, 1877, a daughter of Isaac and Mary (Hostetler) Miller. She acquired her educa- tion in the common schools. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Yoder lived two years in Elkhart County near Forest Grove and then returned to LaGrange County and occupied a farm of his father adjoining the homestead. They lived there six years as renters, and then rented the old homestead and in a year or two bought 160 acres. In 1913 Mr. Yoder increased his holdings by the purchase of eighty acres adjoining. He has forty acres at an- other locality in Eden Township and 222 in Elkhart County, so that his landed possessions foot up to 500 acres. Most of this represents the steady ac- cumulation of years of good management and good farming. He is a successful stock man, being a breeder of Belgian horses, the Polled Durham cat- tle, the Hampshire sheep and the Spotted Poland hogs. Another side line, handled largely by Mrs. Yoder, is White Wyandotte chickens. The Yoder family are active members of the Amish Mennonite Church.

Mr. and Mrs. Yoder have four living children : Oscar, born February 15, 1909; Arie, born December 30, 1912; Orpha, born May 27, 1916; and Henry, born January 4, 1919.

JOHN ALLEN MCCLELLAN, owner of one of the good farms in section 2 of Jackson Township, De- Kalb County, is a man who has surmounted many difficulties in his career, and remembering the hard- ships of his early life has endeavored to smooth

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out as far as possible the pathway of his own chil- dren.

Mr. McClellan was born in DeKalb County August 7, 1859, a son of Harvey and Eliza (George) Mc- Clellan. His father was a native of Wayne County, Ohio, and his mother of DeKalb County, Indiana. Harvey McClellan was married in DeKalb County and then settled in Richland Township. Not long afterward he enlisted as a Union soldier in the Civil war and died while in the army. He left two young children: Laura, wife of William Dorson, of Co- runna; and John Allen.

John A. McClellan hardly remembers his father, and he grew up in the home of hs grandfather George. He had only a common school educaton and at the age of seventeen he went to work to earn his living as a railroad man. For three years he was employed as a locomotive fireman by the Balti- more & Ohio road. He then married Viola Shull and for three years lived on the Shull farm and then bought eighty acres where he resides today. His grandfather George spent his last years and was tenderly cared for in the home of Mr. and Mrs. McClellan. Mr. McClellan does general farming and stock raising.

He has two children. John is a graduate of the State University of Indiana, is a successful teacher in Chicago, and is married and has one child. Emma L. is a graduate of the common schools and the wife of Howard Hootmier.

GEORGE ICKES. Many of the most substantial farmers of Steuben County have been born within its confines and today own land they acquired from their fathers, so that their interest in their com- munities is deep seated and sincere. No man can fail to be inspired with a love for the region his own ancestors helped to wrest from the wilderness, and this is the basic principle back of so much of the loyalty shown in Northeastern Indiana. One of the men who is not only a native son of Steuben County but who is now living on the farm which gave him birth is George Ickes, whose natal day was March 6, 1859. He is a son of Adam and Mary (Campbell) Ickes, and grandson of George and Nancy Ickes. George Ickes was born in Pennsyl- vania, but later went to Sandusky County, Ohio, where he became a prosperous farmer.

Adam Ickes was born in Sandusky County, Ohio, where his wife was also born, she being a daughter of James Campbell. At a very early day in its his- tory Adam Ickes came to Steuben County and ac- quired eighty acres in Steuben Township. At that time the utmost pioneer conditions prevailed, and he and his family endured many hardships. In order to get a space big enough to put up a little house Adam Ickes had to grub out the stumps, and once he had his family housed he began the long and laborious task of clearing off his land so as to put in the crops. During the years that followed he labored long and hard, and when he died he had the satisfaction of knowing that he had a nice property, and that he had also accomplished a good deal work- ing at his trade of carpenter. He and his wife had the following children: Nancy, Margaret, Barbara, George, James, Cynthia, Adam, Mary and Sophia, of whom James is now deceased.

George Ickes was reared on the homestead and shared in the hard work. During his boyhood he at- tended the Henderson School in Steuben Township. After attaining his majority he began farming the homestead, and has continued in that line ever since, carrying on general farming and stock raising, and becoming very prosperous. He owns 118 acres of as fine land as can be found in Steuben County. His

buildings and fences are kept in first class condition, and his entire premises show that he is a. good manager and takes a pride in his place.

In 1905 Mr. Ickes was married to Sarah F. Fish, a daughter of Warren and Louisa (Gardner) Fish. Mr. and Mrs. Ickes have two children, namely: Roscoe W., who was born May 9, 1906, and Jesse, who was born January 4, 1912. Recognizing the importance of understanidng and adopting new methods, Mr. Ickes has joined the Gleaners, and finds that organization of benefit to him. He is thoroughly abreast of the time, and oftentimes his advice is asked by those less progressive, for he is recognized as one who knows what he is about. Hav- ing devoted himself so closely to his farm in years past, Mr. Ickes has not become deeply interested in public life, but he has always been willing to give his aid in forwarding those measures promulgated for the welfare of his community, and has justly won his right to be numbered among the representa- tive agriculturalists of Steuben County.

ORA P. NEWNAM, whose home is five miles north of South Milford and seven miles east and two miles south of LaGrange, is the possessor of a goodly heritage, and by his own work and actions has well justified his ownership, and as a practical farmer and stock man is rendering a valuable productive service to his community and his coun- try. Mr. Newnam is owner of 179 acres, and alto- gether farms 279 acres.

He was born on this farm August 6, 1873, only son and child of F. A. and Eunice (Kellogg) New- nam. His father was born in Springfield Town- ship of the same county, and his mother was born in Maryland, but was brought here when young. They were married in LaGrange County, then located in Springfield Township and later removed to Milford Township, where F. A. Newnam spent the rest of his life and died in 1906. The widowed mother is still living and is an active member of the Methodist Church in South Milford. The father was never a formal member of the church but a liberal supporter and trustee of the Brushy Chapel. He was affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a past grand of the latter and a member of the Encampment. Politically he was a republican.

Ora P. Newnam grew up on the home farm and attended the district schools and finished his edu- cation in St. Mary's College at Dayton, Ohio. He then returned to the farm, and in its manage- ment has found sufficient occupation for all his talents.

September 6, 1899, he married Clara Goodsell. She is a daughter of Marshall and Catherine (Stoehr) Goodsell, and was educated in the com- mon schools. They had two children: Francis M., deceased, and Walter, born May 3, 1913. Mrs. Newnam is a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Newnam is a republican and is a member of the board of the County Council.

SCUDDER E. SHUTT is the present trustee of Key- ser Township, DeKalb County. He is well known to the people of that locality, and by his record as a successful farmer is entitled to the esteem and confidence manifested through the office of which he is incumbent.

Mr. Shutt, whose home is 11/2 miles south and a mile east of Garrett, was born in Allen County, Indiana, November 28, 1876, a son of Jackson and Lanora (Bowman) Shutt. His parents were born in Ashland County, Ohio, and were married in De- Kalb County, Indiana, after which they settled on a farm. Three years later Jackson Shutt entered

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a medical college, and on completing his studies be- gan practice at Harlan in Allen County. He had to abandon his professional career on account of failing eyesight, and then settled on a farm in Jack- son Township, where he lived until his death. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church, and in politics he was a democrat, and prominent in local affairs, serving as trustee of Jackson Town- ship six years. In the family were ten children, eight of whom are still living.

Scudder E. Shutt grew up on his father's farm in Jackson Township, attended district schools and was at home until twenty-four years old. February 7, 1898, he married Mary Shoudel. She was born in DeKalb County, north of Waterloo in Smithford Township, February 10, 1876, a daughter of Michael and Catherine (Cline) Shoudel. Her parents were both natives of Germany, her father born in 1827 and her mother in 1839. After their marriage they came to the United States and were early settlers in DeKalb County, and spent many years of their lives in Jackson Township. Mr. and Mrs. Shutt have the following children: Alouis, who finished the common school course in 1917; Edward, who graduated in the common schools in 1919; John, Victor and Esther, the last two being twins.

Mr. Shutt is a practical farmer and owns 1171/2 acres of land in Keyser Township, and is also a stockholder in the Garrett Elevator and Livestock Association. Politically he has been quite a power in DeKalb County for a number of years as a demo- crat. He is now in his second term as township trustee, having made a most creditable record dur- ing his first four years' administration of the of- fice.

LEWIS HOWEY is the present trustee of Jackson Township in DeKalb County. He is also proprietor of the Valley Farm, containing seventy acres sit- uated in section 2 of Jackson Township. Mr. Howey started life a fatherless boy without means and only the experience acquired by hard work in the fields. He has achieved success, and is one of the citizens of highest standing in DeKalb County.

He was born in Concord Township of that county January 31, 1866, a son of Huston and Elizabeth (Ballentine) Howey. His father was a native of Jackson Township and died in 1868. The mother was born in Concord Township and is still living, being the widow of L. R. Wasson and a resident of Au- burn.

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History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 43

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