History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 53

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 53
USA > Indiana > Noble County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 53
USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 53
USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 53

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CORNELIUS ALTLAND, a leading farmer of Van Buren Township. LaGrange County, has lived in this county since early boyhood, and his early life was one of much struggle and hard work, while his later

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

years have brought him an enviable degree of pros- perity and the highest esteem of his community.

Mr. Altland was born in York County, Pennsyl- vania, September 27, 1843, a son of Jacob and Eliza- beth (Chamberlain) Altland. His father was a na- tive of York County and his mother of Maryland. They were married in York County and in 1854 moved to White Pigeon, Michigan, buying a farm a mile east of that old town. Jacob Altland farmed there for many years and finally moved to Waterloo, Iowa, buying a farm in Blackhawk County. He died there in 1875, at the age of sixty-three. His widow subsequently returned East and died at White Pigeon in 1885, also about sixty-three years of age. Jacob Altland was a republican and a member of the Dunk- ard Church. His children were Edward, Sarah, Maria, Cornelius, Jacob, Elizabeth, William, Cath- erine, Jane, Anne and George.

Cornelius Altland received a limited education in the public schools, having attended school for about two months in Pennsylvania. When about fifteen years old he came to LaGrange County and worked for his uncle, Peter Altland. Later he was on a farm in Michigan for a year, and for over half a century has occupied his present location. This was the farm of John Dalton, and Mr. Altland leased it for twelve years, and subsequently he and his wife acquired possession. This homestead was originally 347 acres, but Mr. Altland has sold off fifteen acres. He built a fine house and other buildings and has followed general farming and has done much buy- ing and selling of livestock. His farm has always been notable for its good stock. He raised one horse that was later sold to Theodore Roosevelt as a driv- ing horse. Mr. Altland is a republican but has been a quiet citizen and without any aspirations for po- litical office. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Church.

In 1866 he married Frances Dalton. She was born on the farm where she now resides January 27, 1847, and has spent all her life in LaGrange County except for one year. Her parents were John and Anna (Hayner) Dalton, of an old and prominent family of LaGrange County. Mr. and Mrs. Altland had six children, Inez, Zelda, Walter, Anna, Mortimer and Merle. The first two died in infancy and Merle died when five years old. Walter, who was born November 3, 1874, was educated in the public schools at Scott, and married Myrtie Reed, their one dangh- ter, Verna, having been born November II, 1905. Anna, who was born October 26, 1878, was educated in the Scott schools, was a teacher for one year, and is now the wife of Samuel Rehm. Mortimer at- tended the public schools and is a resident of Kala- mazoo, Michigan, being superintendent of an enamel works in that city. He married Mary Miller.

WILSON CRAIN. No history of Steuben County would be complete without considerable mention of the Crain family, for it is one of the oldest as well as most important of those established in this part of Indiana during the pioneer period. By mar- riage the members of the Crain family are con- nected with other old families, among them being that bearing the name of Frink, and all have con- tributed much toward securing the present pros- perity of this locality. One of the best representa- tives of these two old families is Wilson Crain of Steuben Township.

Wilson Crain was born on his present farm in section 36, Steuben Township, August 14, 1875, a son of James Madison Crain and grandson of Lucius Crain and Selah Frink. Lucius Crain, born in Connecticut, was reared in New York State, where he was married to Paulina Frink, a daughter of

Selah Frink. Word of the fertility of the Indiana farming land came to the people along the Atlantic Coast, and the Crains and Frinks decided to migrate. Selah Frink came first, locating in Otsego Township, Steuben County, and in 1837 Lucius Crain followed. The latter selected land in section 36, Steuben Township, in the same county, but after he had erected a log cabin and cleared off about five acres he became discouraged on account of the prevailing ill health of his neighbors, and went back to his old home. Learning of bettering con- ditions a little later, after two and one-half years absence, he came back and lived on his farm until his death in 1849, and here he reared his five chil- dren.

James Madison Crain, father of Wilson Crain, was born in Madison County, New York, in 1830, and so spent practically all of his life in Steuben County. When his father died he took charge of the homestead, and this property has descended to his two sons and daughter, Lucius, Wilson and Arvilla. James Madison Crain was married to Margaret J. Renner, a native of Pennsylvania, a daughter of John P. Renner, and they had three children : Arvilla, Lucius and. Wilson. When James Madison Crain died in 1896 he was justly numbered among the prosperous farmers and sub- stantial men of Steuben County.

Wilson Crain was brought up in a moral atmos- phere, being watched over by careful parents, who believed in teaching their children how to become useful to themselves and their neighbors. During the formative period of his life he attended the Windfall School of District No. 7, and at the same time assisted with the work of the homestead. With his brother and sister he inherited the family property of 276 acres lying along the township line between Otsego and Steuben townships, Wilson Crain living in the last named township and his brother in the former. The brothers operate their land together and have never been separated in their business operations.

On August 16, 1918, Wilson Crain was united in marriage with Helen Renner, a daughter of Samuel and Kate Renner. Mr. and Mrs. Crain have no children. Mr. Crain belongs to the Knights of Pythias. Both he and his brother are representa- tive men, who take an interest in public affairs and the advancement of their neighborhood. They are engaged in general farming and breeding Shorthorn cattle, and their farm equipment is of the finest, they recognizing that in order to produce the best results it is necessary to have modern buildings and machinery, and their success proves that they are right.

GEORGE C. MORGAN, cashier of the Wildman State Bank at Wolcottville, has been a prominent factor in LaGrange County affairs for many years, is a former clerk of the Circuit Court, and was long identified with the newspaper business. Mr. Morgan still makes his home at LaGrange.

He was born in South Wales, November 20, 1859, 'a son of Henry and Martha ( Parry) Morgan. His parents were also natives of Wales, and on coming to the United States in 1873 settled in Pennsylvania and later moved to LaGrange, Indiana. Henry Morgan followed the business of gardening, and that was his first trade throughout his life in the United States. His wife was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church and he was a Meth- odist and a democrat .. Of six children only two are now living. Mary E. is the widow of George Shap- land and lives at LaGrange.

George C. Morgan was only thirteen years old when he came to this country and up to that time

7. L. King

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

his education had been acquired in the private and public schools of Wales. He also attended school in LaGrange, and as a boy went to work in the offices of the LaGrange Standard. He learned printing and the newspaper business with that paper and served it in various capacities. From 1900 to 1903 he was associated with Carl H. Rerick in the ownership of the Standard. Mr. Morgan in 1903 was appointed clerk of the LaGrange Circuit Court, and in 1904 was regularly elected for a four year term on the republican ticket. He gave all his time to the duties of the office until January, 1909. In October, 1910, he bought a half interest in the Saturday Call from W. D. Rheubottom, and continued with that paper until he sold out four years later to the LaGrange County Democrat. From 1914 to August, 1918, Mr. Morgan conducted a profitable general insurance business at LaGrange. At the latter date he was elected cashier of the Wildman State Bank at Wolcottville.

In 1880 he married Emma E. Speed. They have one daughter, Leda S., who is a graduate of the LaGrange High School and is the wife of Adolph Gaertner, of Toledo, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Gaertner have three children, named Morgan, Carl and Martha.

Mr. Morgan and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a past grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was financial secretary of his lodge for twenty-five years, until December 31, 1918. He is also a Ma- son and a member of the Encampment of Odd Fel- lows, being past chief patriarch and district deputy grand patriarch, and is a member of the LaGrange Rebekahs. In politics he is a republican, and served five terms as a member of the LaGrange school board, having been a member of the board for fifteen years.

CHARLES A. GRIFFITH spent several years as a railroad man, but recently resumed farming, the occupation to which he was reared and trained in youth. He operates some of the most productive land in Steuben Township, with home at Pleasant Lake.

He was born in Steuben County, December 15, 1870, son of John and Mary (Crandall) Griffith and a grandson of John Griffith, one of the pioneers of Steuben County. Grandfather John Griffith was born in Ohio in 1813 and came to Indiana in 1850, locating in DeKalb County and some years later acquired business interests that brought him to Steuben County. He died in 1860.

Charles A. Griffith grew up on the home farm and was educated in the public schools of Otsego Town- ship. In early years he began working for monthly wages, later rented a farm, and from that went into the railroad service, in the building department, as a carpenter. That was his work and employment for about seven years, at the end of which time he re- turned to farming. In the fall of 1917 Mr. Griffitli bought a farm adjoining Pleasant Lake, and in ad- dition to that he also rents a place of 157 acres a mile from Pleasant Lake. His time and energies are therefore fully taken up with the business of general farming and stock raising.

Mr. Griffith is a republican in politics and is affil- iated with the Masonic Lodge at Pleasant Lake and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Hamil- ton. He and his wife are identified with the Bap- tist Church.

July 1, 1894. he married Miss Ella King. She was born in Richland Township. September 9, 1874. a daughter of Samuel and Martha (Heller) King. Her parents came from Pennsylvania to Steuben County when children. Samuel King was a son

of Peter and Elizabeth King, the former of whom died in 1880, at the age of eighty-one, and the latter in 1884. Samuel King spent his active life as a farmer, was a republican and a member of the Lutheran Church, and died in March, 1911, at the age of seventy-four. Mrs. Griffith's mother is still living at the age of eighty. There were nine chil- dren in the King family, six of whom are still living.

Mr. and Mrs. Griffith have four children, all liv- ing. Weir Eugene was born August 18, 1895, is a graduate of the Pleasant Lake High School, and in 1913 married Lucile Matson, a daughter of James Matson and a granddaughter of Lewis Matson, of a prominent family elsewhere referred to. Weir E. Griffith and wife have three children, named Mau- rice, Naomi and Johan. Ford Lauren Griffith, the second child, was born June 24, 1897, graduated from the Pleasant Lake High School, attended the Tri-State Normal College, and at the age of seven- teen went west to Montana and has spent several years as a teacher in that state. When the war closed he was in an officers training school at Camp Taylor, Kentucky. The two younger children are Edith Lyle, born April 6, 1902, now a junior in the Pleasant Lake High School, and Gertrude Luella, born September 3, 1908.

BERNARD F. HAINES represents the thrifty and progressive element of the agricultural citizenship in Allen Township of Noble County. He has a good farm, one well tended and productive, and has made himself a factor in that rural community. His home is two miles north of Avilla.

Mr. Haines was born in Adrian, Michigan, Au- gust 28, 1890, son of Frank J. and Alice (Fowler) Haines. Frank J. Haines was born at Albany, New York, September 11, 1867, and when he was three years of age his parents moved to Adrian, Michi- gan. There he married Alice Fowler, who was born in Adrian, August 30, 1865. Both had at- tained educations in the local schools, including high school, and Alice Fowler had also attended Adrian College. After they married they located on a farm, and Frank J. Haines still cultivates 200 acres of the fine soil of Southern Michigan. His first wife died in 1902 and he then married his wife's sister. Bernard F. Haines was the only child of his father's first marriage.

He spent his hoyhood days on the farm, attended the public and high schools of Adrian, and in 1910 graduated Ph. B. from Adrian College. He re- ceived a license to teach school but never used it, and has found farming more to his liking and more profitable withal.

A fellow student with him in Adrian College was Orpha A. King. They were married September 10, 1911. Mrs. Haines was born on the farm where she now lives in Noble County, Indiana, March 9, 1888, the only child of Hiram L. and Margaret A. (Brundige) King. Further reference to her hon- ored father, one of the old timers of Noble County, is made in a later paragraph. Mrs. Haines was edu- cated in the public schools before she attended col- lege, and was a student in that institution three years. Mr. and Mrs. Haines have one child, Ruth Alice, horn August 8, 1916.

Mr. Haines is affiliated with Kendallville Lodge No. 276, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, with the Royal Arch Chapter, with the Council, Royal and Select Masters, and with the Knight Templar Com- mandery at Kendallville. Both he and his wife are members of the Chapter of the Eastern Star at Kendallville. Politically, like many young men of modern times, he votes independently. Mr. Haines has 200 acres in his farm and has discharged his

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responsibilities as a farmer and stock man with a high degree of success. He breeds Shorthorn cat- tle, and feeds a large number of cattle and sheep every year. He also has a farm in Michigan.

Hiram L. King, father of Mrs. Haines, was born in Perry Township of Geauga County, Ohio, Oc- tober 2, 1826, and was a child when his parents moved to Portage County, Ohio, and later to Car- roll County, and in May, 1837, established their pioneer home in Swan Township of Noble County, Indiana. Hiram L. King was a son of Hiram and Catherine (Lowe) King. Hiram King, Sr., was born in New York State July 13, 1799. Catherine Lowe was born in the same state May 4, 1803. Soon after their marriage they moved to Ohio and then more than eighty years ago chose a homestead in Noble County, in section 3, Swan Township, where they lived and labored and where their lives came to a close, Hiram King on April 16, 1866, and Cath- erine King December 14, 1883. Both were active members of the Presbyterian Church. In their fam- ily were six children.

Hiram L. King was eleven years of age when brought to Noble County, and he finished his edu- cation in the common and subscription schools here of the early days. He early made a hand on his father's farm of 400 acres. He was at home to the age of twenty-three and eventually bought his father's place of 400 acres and took his young bride to that as their first home. June 7, 1859, Hiram L. King married Frances A. Mumford. She died Oc- tober 9, 1864, the mother of two children: Herbert H., who died October 21, 1884, and Helen F., born June 29, 1862, and died in June, 1893. On May 9, 1886, Hiram L. King married Mrs. Margaret (Brun- dige) Craig, widow of William N. Craig. Mr. and Mrs. King had one child, Orpha A., now Mrs. B. F. Haines. Hiram L. King for many years was one of the leading citizens of Noble County, a progressive and broad-minded farmer, and equally open minded and open hearted in all his public views and actions. He was a republican in politics. He died in Noble County October 23, 1907, and his widow passed away January 4, 1914.

LEWIS FETCH started into the world empty handed so far as inheritance was concerned, had only his native industry and intelligence to rely upon, and for several years was known in LaGrange County as a farm laborer and day workman. He had de- termination, thrift and unlimited energy, and for many years there has been a steady progress in his material circumstances. He is regarded as one of the best farmers and has one of the best farms in Van Buren Township.

Mr. Fetch was born in Prussia, Germany, July 13, 1857, but has been an American since infancy. His parents were Henry and Caroline (Walter) Fetch, both natives of Germany. They came to America in the spring of 1859, locating at White Pigeon in St. Joseph County, Michigan. Henry Fetch moved to Van Buren Township in 1861, and in December of that year his first wife died. Two years later he married Carolina Enderly. Henry Fetch showed his patriotism by enlisting in the Fourteenth Michi- gan Infantry in 1864, and was with his regiment in all its engagements until the close of the Civil war. He then returned home to Van Buren Township and lived there the rest of his life, becoming the owner of a farm of sixty-eight acres. He died in 1882, at the age of fifty-two. Lewis Fetch was the only child of his first marriage. By his second wife he was the father of Lena, Henry, William, Richard, Anna and Albert.

Lewis Fetch acquired all his education at the Stone

Lake School in Van Buren Township. He was working to pay his own way in the world when only a boy and for six years he was employed by different farmers and accepted any work that would afford him an honest living. He realized his ambition to become a land owner by a very modest start, his first purchase being eleven acres. With that as a nucleus he has gradually increased his property un- til he now owns 311 acres in Van Buren Township. This land comprises three farms, with a complete set of buildings. The building improvements represent his individual investment with the exception of one house and part of another. He has this land well equipped for general farming and stock raising.

In May, 1884, Mr. Fetch married Lavada Kline, a daughter of Reuben and Mary Ann (Snook) Kline. Her father was a farmer in St. Joseph County, Michigan, and died in 1911. The children of Reuben Kline were Viola, Lavada, Fred, Curtis and Ada. Mr. and Mrs. Fetch have two sons, Homer Charles and Oliver Lewis. The former married Mary Blair and has two children, Helena Opal and LeRoy Homer. Oliver married Myrtie Dunker, and their family consists of Lewis, Lorema and Loretta May. Mr. and Mrs. Fetch were reared in the Lutheran Church.

FRED CHADWICK. The Chadwick family is one of the old-established ones in Steuben County, where its representatives have made the name synonymous with integrity and public spirit For many years there have been Chadwicks engaged in developing the fertile land of Northeastern Indiana, their ef- forts being directed toward gaining a living from tilling the soil, so that they are intimately associated with the agricultural history of this region. Other members of this family have achieved distinction along commercial and mercantile lines, and all of them are 100 per cent Americans and loyal citizens of the highest type.

One of the members of the Chadwick family liv- ing in Steuben County is Fred Chadwick, who owns eighty-seven acres of farm land in Steuben Town- ship. He was born at Angola, Indiana, August 22, 1856, and he is a brother of Frank H. Chadwick, who is on the advisory board connected with the issuance of this history.

Growing up in Steuben Township, Fred Chadwick was reared by careful parents and given the educa- tional advantages offered by the excellent rural schools of his neighborhood. His natural inclina- tions made him a farmer, and he has been engaged in this calling all of his life, his field of operation being Steuben Township with the exception of the years between 1880 and 1886, inclusively, when he was in the State of Kansas. Upon his return to Indiana Mr. Chadwick acquired his present farm of eighty-seven acres, on which he carries on gen- eral farming.

In April, 1886, Mr. Chadwick was united in mar- riage with Elnora Shaver, a daughter of Franklin and Fila Shaver. Mr. and Mrs. Chadwick have the following children: Fern, who married Charles Cook; Harry, who is one of Steuben County's sol- dier boys, is serving in the Eighth Replacement Unit. Section Five, Base Hospital Seven Hundred and Sixteen, American Expeditionary Forces; Merle, who married Roland Gramlin ; Mildred; Carl; Olga and John. Mr. Chadwick belongs to the Masons and Gleaners, and his son Harry belongs to the Knights of Pythias.

SOLOMON NICHOLS is proprietor of a particularly fine farm in Scott Township, valuable and produc- tive, and of especial interest to members of the

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Nichols family, since it has been part of the family possessions in Steuben County through three gen- erations. The land was acquired in its virgin state by Mr. Nichols' grandfather in the year 1852.

Solomon Nichols was born in Scott Township April 27, 1866, a son of Benjamin and Mary (Reek) Nichols. His grandparents were Samuel and Pa- tience (Wellington) Nichols, both natives of Ohio, the former born in 1796 and the latter in 1801. They came to Steuben County about 1840, settling in Scott Township, near Scott Center, and later on the land where Solomon Nichols lives. Samuel Nichols died there September 18, 1861, at the age of sixty-five years, six months and thirteen days. From the time of his death the farm was owned by his son Solomon until 1890, and was bought by Benjamin Nichols and he in turn passed it on to the present owner, Solomon Nichols. Samuel and Patience Nichols had the following children : Perry, Esther, Nancy, Martha, Lucinda, Solomon, Benja- min and Betsey.

Benjamin Nichols was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, in 1834, and was a small boy when brought to Steuben County. He received a public school edu- cation and became an expert mechanic, a stone mason, a painter and a carpenter, and lived at Fre- mont and worked at his trade for a number of years. After twenty-one years of residence in Fre- mont he bought in 1890 the old homestead of eighty acres, and with the aid of his son Solomon made many improvements in his buildings and gen- eral equipment and also purchased thirty-five acres of adjoining land. He left the farm in 1904, and with his wife moved to Angola, where he spent his last days and where he died September 2, 1906, at the age of seventy-two. He was a republican in politics, and he and his wife were liberal in their religious views. Benjamin Nichols was widely es- teemed as a veteran of the Civil war. He enlisted in Company C of the Twelfth Indiana Cavalry, and served during the last eighteen months of the war. He was a member of the Masonic Order at Angola.

July 31, 1865, Benjamin Nichols and Miss Mary Reek were married. Mrs. Benjamin Nichols, who is still living at Angola, was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, three miles from Mckees- port, June 26, 1843, daughter of George and Nancy Jane (Mahood) Reek. George Reek was born in Germany and his wife was born in Pennsylvania in 1827. In 1852 George Reek came to Pleasant Town- ship and bought a farm in Otsego Township of forty acres. John Mahood, maternal grandfather of Mrs. Benjamin Nichols, put up what was known as the old Davis sawmill and was a prominent pioneer miller in the county. He also ground meal in this mill on a stone burr that he made from a large native rock. He arrived in Steuben County about 1854. Mrs. Nichols' parents after selling their farm in Otsego Township bought eighty acres in Pleas- ant Township, in the midst of the woods, and later sold that and bought a farm in Scott Township, where they spent their last years. In the Reek family were the following children: Mary, Mrs. Benjamin Nichols, William, Martha Jane, Mar- garet Ann, Sarah, Emaline, George and John. Ben- jamin Nichols and wife had three children: Solo- mon, Samuel, of Fort Wayne, and Lottie, widow of Jacob Raber, also of Fort Wayne.

Solomon Nichols spent most of his youth and early manhood in Fremont, was educated in the public schools there and became a skilled carpenter and mason, trades which he followed until he began giving all his time and attention to the farm. Since his father left the farm he has kept its improve- ments going forward, and has both the land and the equipment required for his business as a farmer Vol. II-13

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History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 53

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