History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 7

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 7
USA > Indiana > Noble County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 7
USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 7
USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 7

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JOHN M. MOORE is one of the widely known citi- zens of Noble County, spent many years of his life as a practical farmer, but for the last twenty years has been in the sawmill and lumber business at Cromwell, and is now head of the M. Moore & Com- pany, dealers in lumber and building material and coal.

Mr. Moore was born three miles southwest of Cromwell in Sparta Township, November 25, 1856, son of Joseph and Mary (Airgood) Moore. His father, a native of New Jersey, came West to Noble County, Indiana, at the age of sixteen, grew up and

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

married here, and then settled in section 19 of Sparta Township. Later he acquired a farm of 162 acres in Turkey Creek Township of Kosciusko County, and lived there until the death of his wife. He afterward married a second time, and spent his last years at Cromwell. By his first wife he was the father of nine children, two of whom died young. Those still living include: Emeline, widow of John S. Shock; Maria, wife of Allen Wright, of Syra- cuse, Indiana ; Almina, wife of Charles Lowner, of Syracuse ; Etta, wife of Rev. N. J. Myer, of Denver, Colorado; and Minnie, wife of William Grider, of Sparta Township.

John M. Moore attended the schools near his father's home and had the usual training and ex- perience of an Indiana farm boy. He sought no particular interest or enterprise outside of farming until 1898, when he left the country and moved to Cromwell. Here he established and conducted a lumber yard and sawmill, and continued it as an individual business under his own name until Janu- ary, 1914, when he associated his son-in-law with him. They carry a large stock and have taken pains to be in a position to supply every demand for build- ing material and similar commodities required by their community.

Mr. Moore married Nettie Snyder. He had the misfortune to lose his wife in August, 1914. She was the mother of five children: Elvin C., a busi- ness man of Hartford City, Indiana; Ethel, wife of Calvin Seymour; Freeman C., who lives on the old farm; Hazel and Mabel, twins, the former the wife of Roy Eaton, and the latter the wife of Forest Heney, of Avilla, Indiana. On January 30, 1919, Mr. Moore married Minnie Bentz, of Turkey Creek Township, Kosciusko County. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias and Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a past grand and past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias. Politically he is a republican. Besides his chief business Mr. Moore is a stockholder in the Sparta State Bank.

ARTHUR L. PEACHEY. While Mr. Peachey's enter- prise has been directed over a good farm in Fre- mont Township for a number of years, the original seat of the family in Steuben County was Otsego Township, where he was born and where his par- ents settled at a time not far removed from the earliest occupation.

Mr. Peachey was born October 19, 1861, a son of James and Sarah (Brown) Peachey. His parents were both natives of Cambridgeshire, England. Sa- rah Brown was a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Brown) Brown. Joseph Brown, accompanied by his family, including Mr. and Mrs. James Peachey, came from England to America in 1851. He located in Medina County, Ohio, and from there to 1857 moved to Otsego Township of Steuben County, where he spent the rest of his life. He had two daughters, named Rebecca and Sarah. James Peachey also located in Otsego Township in 1857, and was one of the capable farmers of that locality until his death on January 23, 1890. His widow survived him until March, 1910. They have four children, named Walter, Mary, Margaret and Ar- thur L.

Arthur L. Peachey acquired his early education in the district schools, attended the high school at Angola, and for nearly thirty years has found his efforts directed pleasantly and profitably along lines of agriculture. In the spring of 1892 he moved from Otsego to Scott Township, farmed there ten years, in 1902 returned to Otsego and in 1910 bought his present place in section 34 of Fremont Township.

Mr. Peachey is owner of 167 acres, well improved, two of the buildings having been erected under its present ownership, and all devoted to general farm- ing and stock raising. Mr. Peachey is a breeder of blooded Shorthorn cattle. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias Lodge at Fremont.

In 1887 he married Inez McCurdy, daughter of Robert and Celinda (Mumma) McCurdy. They have two children, J. Carl and Achsa. Carl, who runs the home farm with his father, married Lena Stroh. Achsa is the wife of K. B. Mann.

J. FRANK STANLEY is a native of Green Township, Noble County, and during his long career there has concerned himself not only with the successful prosecution of his private business and affairs but also with many community enterprises. He is a former trustee of the township, and has always been active in politics. Mr. Stanley's home farm is the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of sec- tion 21.

He was born in the same township April 7, 1849, and the Stanleys are one of the oldest families of that locality. His parents were H. C. and Sophronia (Beeson) Stanley. His father was born in Preble County, Ohio, January 24, 1818. His mother was born in Wayne County, Indiana, December 22, 1824. When H. C. Stanley was three years old his parents moved to Union County, Indiana, where he grew up. He and his wife were married in Wayne County, Indiana. The Beeson family came from North Carolina. H. C. Stanley after his marriage moved into the wilderness of Green Towship, Noble County, establishing a farm in the northern part of the township. He lived there the rest of his life and was one of the really big men in the community. His material affairs prospered, including the ownership of 400 acres of good farm lands. He also served as county commissioner and three times represented his county in the Legislature. During the Civil war he lent all his influence and resources to the success- ful prosecution of the war against the rebellion. H. C. Stanley and wife had seven children to reach maturity and six are still living: J. Frank; May H., wife of Oro Barnum; M. D. Stanley, of Avilla; Alice, widow of Marshall Bonham; C. H. Stanley, of Albion; and Charles H., a farmer in Noble County.

J. Frank Stanley grew up on the home farm in the northern part of Green Township, and was well educated in the common schools and the schools of Albion. For several years he taught in his native county in addition to farming. He made his home with his parents until he was past the age of thirty.

In 1882 he established a home of his own by his marriage to Alma Prouty. She was born in Jeffer- son Township of Noble County and was educated in the common schools. She also taught. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Stanley located on their present farm, known as the Fountain Farm, comprising 200 well cultivated acres. Here Mrs. Stanley died in 1886. None of her children are now living. In 1896 Mr. Stanley married Miss Clara Applegate. She was born in Noble County. They have two living children: Aubrey, a graduate of high school and now in Purdue University, joined the students aviation corps at Purdne. Hazel is a high school student. The family are members of the United Brethren Church at Green Center. Mr. Stanley is a stanch democrat. He served three times by election and twice by appointment as trustee of Green Township. He is a stockholder in the Farmers State Bank at Albion.

MERLE C. NISONGER. One of the younger men of the agricultural community of Scott Township,

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

Steuben County, Merle C. Nisonger has the progressive spirit of youth and has identified him- self with the best interests of the community and with those organizations which represent the modern uplift in country life and agricultural enterprise.

He was born on the old Nisonger homestead in Scott Township June 7, 1885, a son of Jackson and Sarah Jane (Dygert) Nisonger. Jackson Nisonger was a native of Kosciusko County, Indiana, and his parents settled in early days in Scott Township, trading their Kosciusko County lands for 107 acres in Steuben County. Jackson Nisonger grew up on the farm, spent his life as an agriculturalist, and since his death his widow has become the wife of James E. Gifford, mentioned on other pages of this publication.

Merle C. Nisonger grew up on his father's farm, attended the district schools, and for two years was a student in the Angola High School. After leaving school he spent a year and a half traveling in Colorado, Oregon and California and other points in the West. With a new outlook and knowl- edge he returned to Steuben County and has since been busily engaged in farming. He bought eighty acres of the Cyrus Cole estate as the principal part of his farm, and has since added another twenty acres, giving him 100 acres for cultivation and man- agement. He keeps a number of grade Holstein cattle and follows modern feeding methods, employ- ing a silo, his silo being 10x40 feet. Since January I, 1918, Mr. Nisonger has been secretary of the Angola Cooperative Shippers Association. He is a democrat, is affiliated with Angola Lodge No. 236, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and also the Odd Fellows Lodge at Angola.

February 16, 1910, he married Miss Dessa Mor- rison, of Angola, daughter of Irvin and Myrtle Morrison. To their marriage were born three chil- dren : Jackson M., Lyle T. and Lorin M.

ABRAM H. WEMPLE is one of the oldest and best known citizens of Noble County, and continuously for over half a century has lived on and worked out his prosperity on one farm. This farm home, which has so many associations for him and his family, is located in section 23 of Perry Township, a half mile north and three-quarters of a mile east of Ligonier.

He was born in Schenectady County, New York, October 8, 1841, son of John A. and Elizabeth (Strang) Wemple, both natives of New York State. His mother was born in New York City. After their marriage they came to Indiana in 1855, locating in Clear Spring Township of LaGrange County. They were farmers in that community, and were active members of the Reformed Church, of which John A. Wemple was a deacon and otherwise active. He was a democrat in political affiliations. Of ten children five are living: Abram H .; Angelica, widow of Bartlet Smith; James V., a farmer in Michigan; Elias C., who lives on a farm at Valen- tine in LaGrange County; and Elijah P., of Topeka, Indiana.

Abram H. Wemple was fourteen years old when his parents first came to LaGrange County. The following year his father returned to New York State, and it was not until the fall of 1859 that the family settled permanently in LaGrange County. Abraham therefore acquired his education partly in the public schools in LaGrange County. He lived at home until the age of twenty-four.

On December 28, 1865, he married Lavina Nelson. She was born in New York State, October 13, 1845, and was brought to Indiana at the age of two years,

her people being neighbors to the Wemples in La- Grange County. Mr. and Mrs. Wemple lived for one year with her parents, but in 1867 came to the farm where they have had their home for over half a century. Mr. Wemple has not only kept up his own land and improvements but has witnessed a remarkable transformation in many ways that en- hance the value and attractiveness of country life. He has a good farm of 120 acres, is a stockholder in the Farmers and Merchants Trust Company and the . Co-operative Elevator in Ligonier, and is still man- aging his various business interests.

Mr. and Mrs. Wemple had four children: Charles N., who was educated in the common and high schools, is married and lives in Perry Township; Clarence E. finished his education in high school and lives in Ligonier ; Cora L. was a student in the Ligonier High School and is the wife of Delano Oliver and has one daughter, Mildred, who is a graduate of high school; and Arvilla, who finished her education in the Ligonier High School and is the wife of Charles Straub, of Goshen. Mr. Wemple has three grandchildren. He and his family are members of the United Brethren Church at Ligonier, and he is one of its trustees. In politics he is a democrat.

WILLIAM F. KRUEGER. A family that has for many years enjoyed the respect and esteem of a large community in Northeastern Indiana is that repre- sented by William F. Krueger, who is one of the leading farmers in Salem Township of Steuben County, and is a son of the late Charles Henry Krueger.

Charles Henry Krueger was born in Germany April 5, 1835, and married there in 1859 Sophia Miller. She was born July 21, 1843. Immediately after their marriage they started for America, and after landing came west to Kendallville, Indiana. Charles H. Krueger had been coachman for a wealthy family in Germany, but after coming to America clerked in a drug store and later in a gro- cery store, and also operated a dray. He was al- ways very fond of horses. In 1878 he moved to Steuben County and bought eighty acres of land, and by his industry cleared most of it and erected very substantial buildings, including a barn 66 by 30 feet. He lived there until his death on January 7, 1906. His widow is still living at the old homestead with her son William. Charles H. Krueger was a democrat in politics and a member of the Lutheran Church. He and his wife had the following chil- dren: Minnie, wife of Alfred Fisher; Henry, who died when twenty-one years old; Georgina, who is the wife of John Ahrens and has three children, named Iona, Milton and Jessie; William; Gusta, wife of Theodore Richards, and they have one child, Theodore. Mrs. Charles Krueger also has an adopted daughter, Augusta, a grandchild, daughter of her son Harmon. Harmon Krueger first mar- ried Pauline Keibel and Augusta is the only child of their union. For his second wife he married Bertha Fogus, and has two children, George and Helen.

William F. Krueger was born at Kendallville July 26, 1872, and since early childhood has lived on the home farm. He received his education in the public schools and is a high class farmer, one who takes pride in keeping improvements up to date. He is a raiser of Poland China and Berkshire hogs and Shropshire sheep. He built both the house and the barn and has made many other improvements. When the family came to this farm there was only a log house and a log barn, and much interesting transformation has gone on since Mr. Krueger

Amos Bowstier

Clara Bowsher

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

moved here. Mr. William F. Krueger is unmarried and makes his home with his mother. He is a democrat in politics and a member of the Lutheran Church.

AMOS BOWSHER, an honored veteran of the Civil war, whose two sons have done patriotic service for their country in the recent World war, is a native of Northeast Indiana, and for half a century has been actively identified with the Topeka community in LaGrange County. He was born in Perry Town- ship of Noble County September 9, 1842, son of Boston and Sophia (Kuntz) Bowsher. His father was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, and his mother in Virginia. The Bowsher and Kuntz families were among the earliest settlers of Northern Indiana, the Bowshers locating near Ligonier in Noble County while the Kuntzes established their early home in Elkhart County. Boston Bowsher and wife after their marriage settled in Perry Township of Noble County, and spent the rest of their days on the farm. He was a democrat in politics. They were the parents of fourteen children, four of whom are still living: Amos; Cephas, a resident of Colo- rado; Mary, wife of Samnel Glant, of Topeka, In- diana; and Catherine, wife of Christ Slabaugh, of Perry Township, Noble County.

Amos Bowsher grew up on his father's farm in Noble County and had such advantages as were offered by the district schools of that day. He was about nineteen when the Civil war broke out, and on January 8, 1862, he enlisted in Company I of the Forty-eighth Indiana Infantry. He was in service over three years, and received a slight wound during the Vicksburg campaign. He held the rank of sergeant. After returning home he rented his father's farm for a time, and on February 18, 1867, married Miss Clara Poyser. She was born in Eden Township of LaGrange County Angust 11, 1850. Mrs. Bowsher owns in Eden Township 420 acres, the farm where she was born, also the home of her father and maternal grandfather, Senator John Thompson.

Mr. Bowsher still owns 120 acres of good farm land, but is practically retired from managing it. He owns local real estate in Topeka. He is a re- publican in politics and is past grand of Topeka Lodge No. 760, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is also a member of the Masonic Order.

His two sons are William H. and Harley M. Wil- liam H. graduated from the State Normal at Terre Haute. He is a mechanical engineer by profession, and during the World war was in the Engineers Corps with the rank of first lientenant. He served in France six months and was wounded in action three times and gassed. He was at the Argonne For- est battle and in other engagements. He makes his home at Topeka. The other son is a graduate of high school, and is a jeweler by trade. During his army service he was assigned to duties with the Eleventh Cavalry Band at Washington, District of Columbia.

ISAAC SUTTON, a former sheriff of LaGrange County, is known all over Indiana as a horse man. On his farm and in his stables he has raised and trained some of the best road horses in the country and is an expert in every detail of staple manage- ment.

Mr. Sutton was born in Eden Township February 28, 1853, a son of David and Julia ( Miller) Sutton, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Ohio. His grandfather James Sutton was a native of England and came to the United States with six brothers, several of whom subsequently located in Indiana. David Sutton grew up in Allen County,

and after his marriage settled in Eden Township, where death overtook him in his labors at the age of thirty-nine. He and his wife had eight children, one of whom died in infancy, and the three still living are Marion, Isaac and David, all living near Topeka.

Isaac Sutton grew up on a farm which his grand- mother Catherine Miller had entered from the government. He attended the common schools and spent one year in Valparaiso University. As a boy on his father's farm he took special interest in handling the horses, and he is still in the business of breeding and training road horses. He formerly owned "Jack Dillard," with a record of 2:1114; Among his horses were "Barney M. Hart," with a record of 2:1714, "Bonnie B.," a dam of "Jack Dillard" and "Barney M." made a mark of 2:1614, and "Ed. H. Hart" 2:101/4, son of "Barney M. Hart."

Mr. Sutton served as sheriff of LaGrange County from December 3, 1900, to Jannary I, 1905. He lived in the county seat during his term of office, but since then has been on his farm of 170 acres.

In September, 1879, he married Julia Roderick, a native of Eden Township, and they grew up together as children. Mr. and Mrs. Sutton have two children; Minnie, who attended high school and is the wife of Karl Ulmer of North Manchester, Indiana; and Guy, who married Beulah Barnes and lives in Topeka.

Mr. Sutton is a Past Grand of Haw Patch Lodge No. 760 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, has been a member of the Grand Lodge, and he and his wife were formerly members of the Rebekahs. Politically he is a republican and was elected on that ticket to the office of sheriff.

RAY D. HOSACK is well known to the business community of Angola, where he is the leading musical instrument merchant. He has had a long and active experience in this line of business, and the family tastes largely run along the line of music.

He was born in Defiance County, Ohio, November 12, 1892. His grandfather was a native of New York State and when quite young moved to Ohio, owning a farm there, and was also a partner in the Matchlin Machine Works. He died in Ohio. Ray Hosack's father is a native Ohioan, was reared and educated there, studying music, and nearly all his active life has been a teacher of music. He travels much in quartet work, has done much singing to aid evangelists, and is now proprietor of a musical instrument store at Edgerton, Ohio. He also has a 100-acre farm near that town. He is a republican and a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Ray D. Hosack secured his education in the grammar and high schools of Ohio, had a normal training, and for one year attended Dana's Musical Institute. He was for several years employed as salesman of musical instruments and for one year worked in a piano factory in New York City. Mr. Hosack came to Angola in 1916 and engaged in the music business, and the following year bought the Conklin Music Store, which is one of the chief centers for the trade in musical instrument supplies in Steuben County.

April 20, 1918, Mr. Hosack married Miss Blanche Baker, a daughter of Frank W. Baker, a prominent farmer and member of an old family of Steuben County. Mrs. Hosack was born in 1895.

ANDERSON GALLOWAY, a retired farmer living at Cromwell, has had a long and notable experience during his lifetime of nearly eighty years. He is

HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

one of the oldest native sons of Noble County, hav- ing been born in Washington Township, March 14, 1840.

His parents were Joseph and Frances (Town) Galloway, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Vermont. This was his father's second marriage. His father first married in Ohio, and coming to Indiana located on Rolling Prairie and entered Noble County as a pioneer in 1837, settling in Washington Township, where he spent the rest of his life. He was always prominent in politics, first as a whig and later as a republican. He and his wife Frances had seven children, five of whom are still living: Anderson; Catherine, widow of James Reed ; Martha, widow of Abraham Hines; Scott, of Wolf Lake; and Frances, widow of Frank Eaton.

Anderson Galloway spent his boyhood days in the pioneer environment of Washington Township, and had opportunities to attend school only during the winter sessions. At the age of eighteen he started out to make his own way in the world. For a time he lived in Illinois, working at wages of $11 a month, then went to Missouri and got an advance of wages to $15 a month, and for one summer was employed on a Mississippi River steamboat. He adventured further West to the gold mines of Denver, and re- mained in those diggings for a year and a half, and was more fortunate than most prospectors, since he returned with more than he took with him.

Returning to Noble County in 1861, Mr. Galloway, after the death of his father in 1863, enlisted in Company C of the Thirtieth Indiana Infantry. He saw much of the hard fighting of the war during the time he was in the army. He participated in the Atlanta campaign under Sherman, and after the fall of that Confederate stronghold he went back to Tennessee under General Thomas in pursuit of General Hood to Nashville. He received his final discharge in Texas.

After his return home on February 8, 1866, he married Harriet Miller. She was born in Sparta Township of Noble County and has lived in that locality all her life. After their marriage they moved to a farm in the southern part of the town- ship and lived there until 1901, when they retired to Cromwell. Mr. Galloway still owns 274 acres of land in Noble County. He became affiliated with the Masonic Lodge at Ligonier in 1863, and upon the organization of Cromwell Lodge No. 705, became a charter member. He has always been active as a republican, and he was one of the Township Advis- ory Board for Sparta from the time the law was passed establishing that board for sixteen consecu- tive years. Mrs. Galloway is a member of the Lutheran Church.

They have six living children: Gross, a farmer in Sparta Township; Clara, wife of Theodore Wright, of Sparta; Etta, wife of William R. Wright, of Cromwell; Orda, a dentist at Angola; Ora, wife of William Hinman, of Cromwell; and Oakley, of Detroit.

EUGENE F. WEICHT has accumulated a great deal of experience since boyhood, and largely dependent upon his own resources and abilities has achieved a prosperity as a farmer which classes him with the very first and best of that profession in Salem Township of Steuben County.

He was born in that township April 15, 1857, a son of Fred and Susan (McEntarfer) Weicht. His father was born in Germany in 1818 and his mother in Pennsylvania in 1839. Fred Weicht came to America with his parents at the age of twelve years. They were a pioneer family in Salem Township of Steuben County. Fred was the oldest of seven chil-

dren, the others being William, Leopold, Charles, Ernest (who died in infancy), Christiana and Louisa. Grandfather Weicht acquired 120 acres of government land in Steuben county, and the same tract, greatly improved, was afterward owned by Fred Weicht. Fred Weicht died in 1865, and his widow survived him until 1910. Fred Weicht was a physician by profession and gave much of his time to practice in the early days. He and his wife had five children: Julius, Elizabeth, Adaline, Eugene and Ida.

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History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 7

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