History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 73

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 73
USA > Indiana > Noble County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 73
USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 73
USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 73

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

1846, and died March 16, 1859, and Peter F., who was born September 24, 1848.

Peter F. Weaver married March 30, 1873, Clara E. Fox. She was born July 27, 1854, a daughter of Jacob K. and Susannah (Michael) Fox. In the year of his marriage Mr. Weaver began farming on a place near the old home, but in 1889 he returned to the homestead and built the house in which he now lives in comfort. He has lived there for thirty years, and still looks after the farm. His wife died April 9, 1908. She was the mother of four children: Villa and Lillie, twins, born Janu- ary 10, 1875, the former dying September 28, 1875; Bertha May, born December 1, 1881 ; and Rolland J.

Rolland J. Weaver, who was born February 26, 1894, is exemplifying the fighting blood of his Schaeffer ancestors, and is now in France with the Three Hundred and Ninth Supply Company of the Quartermaster's Corps. He went to France June 6, 1918, landing at Brest on the eighteenth of the same month, and was still with the army of occupation in April, 1919.

ARTHUR G. SMITH, assessor of Johnson Town- ship, LaGrange County, has spent all his life on one farm in that locality, his place being located in Woodruff.

Nearly fifty years ago at one corner of that farm stood an old tavern by the wayside and in that house Arthur G. Smith was born October 1, 1870. His parents were Michael and Sarah (Bower) Smith. His father was born in Alsace-Lorraine, a French subject, on May 24, 1837. The mother was born in Ohio, February 28, 1841. He died March 10, 1890, and she passed away August 17, 1903. Michael Smith came to the United States when a boy, the family locating in LaGrange County, where he grew up and learned the trade of blacksmith from his father. He worked as a blacksmith all the rest of his life and conducted a shop on the farm where Arthur G. Smith now lives. He was the father of eight children, five of whom are still living : Charles F., of Salt Lake City, Utah; Byron, a captain in the National army, and still in the overseas service in France in April, 1919; Arthur G .; Engene, who lives in Detroit, Michigan, and is foreman in the interlocking and signal department of the Pere Marquette Railroad; and Mayme, wife of Melvin Rowe, of Great Falls, Montana.

Arthur G. Smith has spent his entire life in LaGrange County and is now cultivating land that has produced perhaps fifty successive crops for the Smith family. His farm comprises sixty-two and a half acres. He received his early education in the local schools and lived at home until he was twenty- one. On November 18, 1897, he married Cora M. Preston. She was born near LaGrange August 17, 1876, a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Preston, and received her education in the public schools of LaGrange and was a successful teacher before her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have three children : Hazel M., who is attending the high school at Wol- cottville; and Carl F. and Glenn E., both in the common schools. Mr. Smith is a republican in poli- tics and was elected on that ticket to the office of assessor.

JACOB RHEINHEIMER. The record of this well known citizen of Newbury Township introduces a prominent family of LaGrange County, one that has been a live and progressive factor in the county history for more than half a century.

Jacob Rheinheimer was born in Newbury Town- ship February 27, 1870, a son of John and Anna (Miller) Rheinheimer. His mother was born in 1845, a daughter of Christian Miller, who was one

of the early settlers in LaGrange County and died in Eden Township. Christian Miller married a Miss Hostetler. John Rheinheimer was born in Ger- many in 1840 and in 1861, at the age of twenty-one, settled in Holmes County, Ohio. Two years later, in 1863, he moved to LaGrange County, Indiana, was married here, and out of his careful savings bought a farm of eighty acres. In 1879 he sold that place and went to Oregon, where he remained from August to the following April. He then returned to LaGrange County and settled in Newbury Township, where he owns 138 acres. He died February 12, 1906, and his wife in 1886. Their children were Polly, Christian, Mary, Carrie, Jacob, John (de- ceased), Lizzie and Minnie.

Jacob Rheinheimer grew up on a farm, had a pub- lic school education, and in 1899, twenty years ago, bought forty acres of his present home farm. Later he bought fifty acres more and also has another place of sixty-five acres in Newbury Township. He has acquired these properties through his long continued industry and good management and they represent practically financial independence. Mr. Rheinheimer is a breeder of Belgian horses. He and his family are members of the Mennonite Church.

In 1891 he married Rachel Sunthimer, a daughter of Fred Sunthimer, while her maternal grandfather was Joseph Miller, an early settler in LaGrange County. Reference to the Sunthimer family is made on other pages of this publication. Mrs. Rheinheimer died in 1895, the mother of three children, Uriah Ed- ward, John Frederick and Ira J. In 1898 Mr. Rhein- heimer married a sister of his first wife, Mary Ann, who at that time was the widow of Jacob J. Johns. By her first marriage she had two children, Addie and Hettie, both now deceased. Hettie married Eli Plank, and at her death left a daughter, Mary Cath- erine, who now lives with Mr. and Mrs. Rheinheimer.

H. S. PLATNER is proprietor of the old Platner farm seven miles east of Auburn in Wilmington Township, and has 118 acres under a perfect state of cultivation and efficient management.

Mr. Platner was born on this farm February 23, 1869, and has assisted in its cultivation for nearly thirty years. He is a son of Samuel and Sofia (Rey- nolds) Platner, both natives of Pennsylvania. The father was born in Lancaster County March 14, 1814. They were married in Marion County, Ohio, farmed there for two years and in 1847 moved to DeKalb County, Indiana, first settling in Concord Township and later moving to Wilmington Township on the farm now owned by their son. The mother died there in 1893 and the father on March 26, 1895. He was a democrat and an active member of the Ma- sonic Lodge at Newville .. Of the nine children three are now living: Laura, widow of Willam Stroh, of Auburn; J. E. Platner, who lives near St. Peters- burg, Florida; and H. S. Platner.

H. S. Platner grew up on the home farm and had a district school education, supplemented by several terms in the Angola Tri-State College. He spent two years as a locomotive fireman on a western railroad, and on returning to DeKalb County he married Bertha Rose on May 4, 1891. She has lived in De- Kalb County since early girlhood.

Mr. and Mrs. Platner have two children: Joy, wife of Rolland Muhn, a contractor and carpenter of Auburn; and Jessie Platner. They also have two grandchildren. Mr. Platner is affiliated with St. Joe Lodge No. 602, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a democrat in politics.

FRANK MCKINLEY. For several years before his marriage Frank Mckinley was working as an in-

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

dustrial farm hand in LaGrange County, and about thirty-five years ago he settled on a farm in Spring- field Township and has been giving a good ac- count of himself as a local agriculturist ever since. For the past few years he has been a factor in the Mongo community, where he owns a small farm adjoining the village.

He was born in Ashland County, Ohio, Septem- ber 9. 1855, a son of William and Sarah (Romine) Mckinley. His paternal grandparents were Samuel and Mary (Starky) Mckinley, the former a na- tive of Ireland. He married and lived for several years in Pennsylvania and moved to Ashland County, Ohio, when his son William was about four- teen years old. Samuel and Mary Mckinley both died and are buried at Hayesville, Ohio.

William Mckinley, father of Frank, was edu- cated in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and during the early forties moved to Greenfield Township of LaGrange County, where for one year he rented a farm. That was before the old Plank Road to Fort Wayne was built. This road is mentioned because his business in early days was freighting and teaming to Fort Wayne. Later he returned to Ohio, and in 1862 settled in Jackson Township of DeKalb County, Indiana, where he cleared up a tract of land and lived the life of a farmer until his death. He and his wife are buried in the Cedar Creek Cemetery. He held several local offices. William McKinley was twice married. He was the father of fourteen children by his two wives. His first wife was Mary Sheneman, and her children were Belle, Benjamin and Adam. For his second wife he married Sarah Romine, who was born at Woodruff, Indiana, a daughter of Ross Romine, who married a Miss Oliver. Ross Romine and wife were married at Woodruff in LaGrange Coun- ty, and lived there and also in Ohio. Six of the Romine sons were Union soldiers and two of them were killed in battle. The children of William Mckinley and Sarah Romine were Ross, James, Samuel, Frank, William, Stephen, Alexander, Al- mida and Arminda, twins, Jane and Louisa. Of these Samuel, Alexander and Almida are deceased.

Frank Mckinley spent most of his early life in DeKalb County. The home in which he was reared was one of strict Presbyterian influence, both par- ents being stanch members of that church. At the age of twenty he came to Springfield Township, LaGrange County, and worked on the farm of John Booth until his marriage. He then located on the farm where his son Clyde now lives, and developed that place of eighty acres, putting up all the buildings and clearing part of the land. In 1916 he moved to his present home at the edge of Mongo, where he built a fine residence and has a farm of thirty acres well diversified, one of his specialties being the breeding of Duroc hogs.

In 1883 Mr. Mckinley married Miss Flora Cus- ter. She was born in Ohio and was two or three years old when her parents, Daniel and Elizabeth (Roush) Custer, came to LaGrange County. Mr. and Mrs. McKinley had five children : Bessie, Mrs. Herman Haskins, of LaGrange; Clyde C., on the old farm; Clifford, in a lumber yard at Jones, Michi- gan; Evert, cashier of the State Bank at Hicks- ville, Ohio; and Mildred, at home. Mr. McKin- ley has for many years been affiliated with Mongo Lodge of Knights of Pythias.

Daniel Custer, father of Mrs. Mckinley, was born in Stark County, Ohio, August 29, 1832, a son of Isaac and Rebecca (Machen) Custer. Isaac Custer was born either in Scotland or of Scotch parents, while his wife was of Irish ancestry. Daniel Custer was one of a family of eight children, was

reared and educated in Stark County, and married there Elizabeth Roush. She was a native of Tus- carawas County, Ohio, and a daughter, of Frederick and Christina (Roush) Roush, who died in Tus- carawas County. James Custer, a brother of Daniel, was a Union soldier during the Civil war. Daniel Custer brought his family to LaGrange County tn 1866, and after a brief residence at LaGrange lo- cated on a farm in Springfield Township, where he cleared the land and made a good home. His farm contained 120 acres, and both he and his wife died there. They were members of the Lutheran Church. In the Custer family were six children : Margaret, Mrs. Alonzo Wilson; Amanda, wife of John Fair; Jefferson; William; Flora, Mrs. Frank Mckinley; and Ella, deceased wife of Ralph Fair.

SANFORD MCELHENIE is an intelligent and pros- perous young farmer of Steuben County, and in the twenty years since he attained manhood has made a great deal of progress in bettering his own circumstances and has at the same time been a factor in the welfare of several communities where he has lived and worked.

Mr. McElhenie was born in Camden Township of Hillsdale County, Michigan, January 11, 1878, a son of Sanfrancisco and Margaret (Logan) Mc- Elhenie. His mother was born in Williams County, Ohio, a daughter of Robert and Caroline (Oven- house) Logan. Robert Logan moved from Williams County to Clear Lake Township of Steuben County in 1871, and spent the rest of his life on a farm south of Clear Lake. He was the father of seven children, named Elizabeth, Margaret, Samuel, Thomas J., Lettie, George W. and Clyde.

James E. McElhenie, grandfather of Sanford, was born in Pennsylvania and married Priscilla Teeters, a native of Sandusky County, Ohio. From Ohio this family moved to Steuben County about 1853 and were among the early settlers of Clear Lake Township. James McElhenie spent the rest of his years in that township and died in August, 1894. He and his first wife had four children : Edgar M., Sanfrancisco, Elisha M. and Mary. After the death of his first wife James E. McElhenie married Lucinda Wallace, of Williams County, Ohio, and by that union there were six children, named Clara, Sadie, Cora, Della, Linnie and Ada.

Sanfrancisco McElhenie, generally known as Frank, was born in Sandusky County, Ohio, came to manhood in Clear Lake Township of Steuben County, and during his active career was a pros- perous farmer there, owning 120 acres in that town- ship and also fifty acres in Fremont Township. He retired from the heavier responsibilities of the farm in March, 1915, and has since lived in the Village of Fremont. Mrs. McElhenie died there June 9, 1918. They had one son and two daughters: San- ford. Jennie, wife of Earl Cope, and Hattie, wife of Ira Thomas.

Sanford McElhenic, though a native of Michigan, has spent practically all his life in Steuben County. He acquired his early education in the district schools of Clear Lake Township, attended the Tri- State Normal College, and for several terms was a successful teacher. His home was with his par- ents until he was twenty-five years of age. In 1903 he began farming on eighty acres which he had bought in York township, and for fifteen years was one of the substantial agriculturists of that locality. In March, 1918, he moved to his present place in Fremont Township, where he has 120 acres in sec- tions 22 and 27 devoted to general farming and stock raising.

Mr. McElhenie on June 24, 1903, married Laura

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

Dean, a daughter of John and Rachel (Parr) Dean, of Litchfield, Michigan. To their marriage were born four children: John S., Rowena, who died March 5, 1919, Franklin S., who died May 1, 1914, at the age of six months, and Linnie Lucile. Mr. McElhenie is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America.

SAMUEL P. HOSTETLER. The best Americans today are those whose energies are devoted to the produc- tive processes by which the world is fed and clothed. Measured by this standard, Samuel P. Hostetler, of Clay Township, in LaGrange County, has an enviable record. He has been a practical farmer all his life and has sought no honors beyond those connected with good honest toil and kindly relations with his community.

He was born in Eden Township, September 27, 1871, and is of a family whose long connections with this part of Northeast Indiana have been surveyed on different pages of this publication. His grand- father was Moses J. Hostetler, who was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, June 9, 1812. He married Elizabeth Mast, who was born May 1, 1822. They were early settlers in LaGrange County, and Moses died April 17, 1894, and his wife August 9, 1889. Their children were John M., Elizabeth J., Elias M., Moses M., Eva, Paul J., Lizzie, Polly, Jacob J., David J., Andrew J., Uriah J. and Henry J.

Paul J. Hostetler, father of Samuel P., was born November 25, 1847, in Holmes County, Ohio. Nov- ember 16, 1869, he married Esther Miller, who was born October 16, 1851, a daughter of Samuel D. and Fannie (Baumgardner) Miller, both natives of Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Samuel D. Miller moved from Somerset County to Newbury Town- ship of LaGrange County about 1843, and spent the rest of his life as an honored and diligent worker. He established his home in the midst of the heavy woods, built a log house and eventually cleared up and developed a good farm of 160 acres. The Millers were all members of the old order of the Amish Mennonite Church. In the Miller family were nine children: Sarah, who died in childhood, Joseph, Daniel, Mary, Elizabeth, Barbara, Esther, Samuel and Yost.

Paul J. Hostetler began farming in Eden Town- ship soon after his marriage. He remained there about six years and spent the rest of his career in Newbury Township. His widow is still living on the old farm. Its buildings and improvements rep- resented his management and labor. He and his wife were also of the old order of the Mennonite Church. Paul Hostetler did a successful business as a farmer and stock raiser, and at one time owned about 8co acres of land. The children born to him and his wife were Samuel, Moses, Emma, who died December 4, 1876, Elmer, Perry, who died February 1, 1888; Paul Almon; Andrew Omer; and Early P.

Samuel P. Hostetler acquired his education in the district schools of Eden Township, farmed in that locality, but about twelve years ago moved to his present place in Clay Township, where he owns 160 acres. He and his wife are members of the Men- nonite Church. March 11, 1893, he married Eliza- beth Yoder, and they have two children, Orley O. and Wilma. Orley married Bessie Nelson and has a daughter, Susannah.

Mrs. Hostetler is a daughter of Jacob J. and Barbara (Miller) Yoder, the former born in Somer- set County, Pennsylvania, December 11, 1851, and the latter on October 22, 1853. Jacob J. Yoder, who died in 1913, spent many years of his life as a farmer in Clay Township. His children were:

George A., Lydia, deceased, Jacob J., William M., Samuel J., Fannie, Elizabeth, Andrew, deceased, and Susan.

JOHN CRAMPTON. Just as the young men of to- day have rallied to the defense of the country did the "boys of the '6os" respond to the call for troops, and not only did the latter stay in the serv- ice as long as they were needed, but when they re- turned home they developed into fine citizens, as- sisting their government in times of peace as well as in those of war. The experiences of these old soldiers and the success attained by so many of them in the days after the war must prove encourag- ing to the veterans of the great war who face prac- tically the same problems. One of these honored veterans of the Civil war, who for many years was a leading agriculturist of Steuben County, is John Crampton of Steuben Township.

John Crampton was born in Lincolnshire, Eng- land, September 24, 1841, a son of William and Mary (Oatfield) Crampton, the former of whom was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1817. In 1849 William Crampton came to the United States, leaving his family behind him until he could make a home for them, and the journey across consumed six weeks. In the fall of that year he located land in Steuben Township, Steuben County, Indiana, and in 1850 sent for his family. Mrs. Crampton came to join him, bringing the five children with her, and it took her thirty-one days to cross the ocean. They were poor and had to work hard, and before they died were very prosperous, owning one of the finest farms in the township. The five children born in England were as follows: Henry, John, William, Herbert and Tom, and after they were settled in Steuben County, three others, Martha, George and Jesse, were born to them.

John Crampton was brought up to make himself useful at home, and when he began working for others, as he did when old enough, his services were of value. Although not born in this country, John Crampton is a loyal American and proved it very conclusively when he enlisted for service during the Civil war, on October 24, 1864, in Company A, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry. He received his honorable discharge September 14, 1865.

Returning home, the gallant young soldier was united in marriage on November 28, 1865, to Amelia A. Shaver, a daughter of Franklin and Fila Shaver. The following December Mr. and Mrs. Crampton moved to DeKalb County, Indiana, where they were engaged in farming for 21/2 years, and then re- turned to Steuben Township and bought land. In 1883 they built the brick residence they still occupy, and they have erected all the other buildings on the farm,as well as made many other improvements. The farm comprises 317 acres of very fertile land, and it is exceedingly valuable. During the earlier days Mr. Crampton was a contractor for digging ditches, and during that period conducted his farm with hired help.

Mrs. Crampton is a most remarkable lady, being now in excellent health and holding the record for not requiring medical attention, for she has not called upon a physician for professional aid for fifty-three years with the exception of having had a broken bone set in her wrist. Mr. and Mrs. Cramp- ton have never had any children. They are known all over Steuben County, and few people are so popular. Mr. Crampton has always advocated im- provements in the public schools and of the public highways, and can always be relied upon to give his assistance to whatever measures are on foot to bring about a betterment of existing conditions.

Abra Amelia A Crampons 1

John Brampton

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HISTORY .OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

EDWARD A. WOLFE. Of all the lines of business that engage the attention of men and firms in the United States today, none equal in importance those connected with the production and handling of food stuffs, particularly grain, the food of the world. The carrying on of this business in an honorable way, to assure justice both to themselves and the public, is a matter of grave consideration with such firms as Wolfe & Bevington, owners and operators of two grain elevators at Shipshewana, and additionally in- terested along assimilated lines. The members of the above firm are men of sterling character and of con- siderable business experience, and both personally and as a firm they enjoy the confidence of the public.

Edward A. Wolfe was born in Van Buren Town- ship, LaGrange County, Indiana, January 25, 1890, and is a son of Christian and Rosanna (Schwartz) Wolfe. Both were born in 1850, in Wurtemberg, Germany, and grew up and were married there. When they came to the United States they settled first in Ohio, coming from there to LaGrange County, Indiana, in 1880. The father bought forty acres of land in Van Buren Township and engaged in farming there for some years, then moved to St. Joseph County, Michigan, and there his death occurred in 1896 from a stroke of lightning. The mother of Mr. Wolfe still lives in Michigan. They had the following children: Rosa, Lucy, Frank, William, Ernest and Edward A., all of whom are living.

Edward A. Wolfe attended the public schools and was graduated from the Brighton High School. In 1913, in association with his brother William Wolfe, he bought a grain elevator at Shipshewana, after farming for himself for a year. Then Frank Bev- ington bought a half interest in the elevator, and the firm of Wolfe & Bevington has become one of large importance here, owning and operating two elevators at present, buying wool and handling all kinds of farm products. In addition to carefully attending to the business of the firm Mr. Wolfe is a justice of the peace, to which office he was elected on the republican ticket.

On November 30, 1913, Mr. Wolfe was united in marriage to Miss Norma Bevington, who then lived at Sturgis, Michigan, but was born in Ohio, Sep- tember 20, 1894. She is a daughter of Frank and Martha (Robeck) Bevington, now of Shipshewana. Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His political support has been given the republican party ever since he reached manhood.

During the World war Mr. Wolfe proved true and loyal. On September 3, 1918, he enlisted for service in the Motor Transport Corps, going first to Lafayette, Indiana, and from there was trans- ferred to Fort Sheridan, Illinois, later to Camp Merritt, New Jersey, and from there to Camp Mills, Long Island. While at Fort Sheridan he was made truckmaster. His training was thorough, but be- fore his unit took passage for overseas the armistice was signed with the enemy, and soon after he was released from the obligations he had himself as- sumed when he felt such to be his duty.

Frank Bevington, father of Mrs. Wolfe, and Mr. Wolfe's business partner, was horn in Van Wert County, Ohio, September 20, 1869, a son of James H. and Malinda (Hooks) Bevington, the former of whom was born in 1837 in Van Wert County, and the latter in 1838 in Mercer County, Ohio. James H. Bevington was a farmer before he enlisted for service in the Civil war, in which he served two years in a heavy artillery regiment. Of his six children Frank was the third in order of birth. He was reared in Van Wert County and attended the public schools and took a course in the Ohio North-

ern University at Ada. For sixteen years he occu- pied himself in farming during the summers and taught school in the winters. In 1909 he removed to St. Joseph County, Michigan, where he bought a farm of 120 acres, and after selling that property became manager of the Sturgis Grain Company at Sturgis, and two years later bought a grain elevator at Atkins, Michigan, which he operated until 1915, when he came to Shipshewana, Indiana, bought a half interest in his son-in-law's business, and since then has been one of the city's active business men.

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History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 73

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