History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 74

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 74
USA > Indiana > Noble County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 74
USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 74
USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 74

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).

In 1890 Mr. Bevington was united in marriage to Miss Martha Robeck, of Mercer County, Ohio, and they have had children as follows: Lillie, who be- came the wife of Alonzo B. Smith, of Van Wert County, Ohio, has two sons, Gordon and Gale; Norma A., who is the wife of Edward A. Wolfe; Henry Guy, who was the first man to enter the World war from Newbury Township, LaGrange County, enlisting in August, 1917, and sailing for France in November following, and is yet in Europe; and Malinda C., who is a student in the high school at Shipshewana. Mr. Bevington has always given his political support to the republican party, but has never felt inclined to accept any public office. He was reared and has in turn reared his own family in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For many years he has been identified with the order of Odd Fellows and prizes his membership in the lodge at Ohio City, Ohio.

VERNON L. KEPLER, whose farm interests are lo- cated a half mile north of the village of Arctic in Troy Township of DeKalb County, is president of the Arctic Co-operative Shipping Association, one of the most successful marketing organizations of the farmers in that section of Northeast Indiana. The manager of the association is C. H. Fetter; P. S. Farnham is secretary and treasurer, and the other directors are Charles Lehman, M. S. Enterline, Charles Ridge, Lewis Miller, George Harmon and Fred Kimple.

Vernon L. Kepler was born in Franklin Town- ship of DeKalb County January 17, 1874, a son of Samuel and Malinda (Rosenbury) Kepler. His father was a native of Stark County, Ohio. The parents were married in Indiana, and then settled on a farm in FrankIn Township, where they lived until the death of the mother. They were active members of the United Brethren Church and the father was a democrat. The children were: Nealia, wife of Henry Oberlin ; Alta, wife of William Lewis; Mertie, wife of Jink Houlton; Vernon L .; and Jen- nie, wife of Ward Fisher.

Vernon L. Kepler grew up on the home farm in Franklin Township and had a district school edu- cation. He remained at home with his father until he was twenty-five years of age. April 15, 1901, he married Mattie McClintock, who was born in Troy Township. They have four sons, Arthur, Chester, Ferm and Roscoe. Arthur completed the work of the common schools at the age of fifteen and is now in high school.

Mr. Kepler is affiliated with Butler Lodge No. 158 of the Knights of Pythias and is past chancellor of the lodge. He is a republican, is present supervisor of his township and a member of the Township Committee. For a number of years he has been successfully identified with farming, and has a well improved place of 140 acres.

HARLOW J. HERN is one of the citizens of long- est residence and most honorable standing in La- Grange County. In fact he is one of the oldest living native sons. He was born near Plato in

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Bloomfield Township, December 22, 1834 or 1835. One part of his life record that commends him especially to the present generation was his service as a Union soldier during the Civil war.

His parents were William and Sarah (Good- neau) Hern, both natives of the State of New York. The paternal grandfather, William Hern, followed his son William to Indiana, and spent his last days with him. The maternal grandfather also came to LaGrange County, but suffered so much from the ague, then prevalent here, that he re- turned east. William and Sarah (Goodneau) Hern came to LaGrange County from New York in 1837. That was a day when there were no railroads in the Middle West, and they made the journey by team and wagon. Their first home was near Plato in Bloomfield Township, where they were partic- ipants in the historic Association Farm near where Brighton now is. Part of the land now owned by Harlow J. Hern was included in his parents' possessions. Later William Hern owned the very farm where Harlow lived for so many years, a little west of Brighton, a portion including some of the old Association Farm. William Hern had about 180 acres, and cleared much of it and im- proved it with good buildings. He and his wife had three children: William, deceased; Susan E., deceased wife of Samuel Bradford; and Harlow J.

Harlow J. Hern grew up in a pioneer community, attended the schools that were maintained near his home, and also was a student in a school at Salem, Ohio. In 1862 he enlisted in Company C of the One Hundredth Indiana Infantry. He enlisted as a private, later was made corporal, and by special ability was assigned to scouting duty. While in command of a detachment of scouts and carrying dispatches to Knoxville he was accidentally wounded. His revolver was in his boot and as he jumped off his horse the trigger was caught in the bridle reins and the discharge caused a severe wound in his leg.

After the war Mr. Hern lived on the old farm, and was actively identified with agriculture and stock raising there until his residence burned in February, 1917. Since then he has made his home at Brighton, where he has bought a residence. His farm until recently was the same size as that of his father's. This farm is now occupied by his son-in-law, and a new home has been erected to replace the old one. Mr. Hern in former years raised fine cattle and standard bred horses. He has been a factor in community affairs, serving three years as township trustee.

About 1856, in Ohio, he married Miss Martha Mix, a native of that state and a daughter of James and Naomi Mix. She died the mother of four children: Willis, Charles and Harlie, and Arthur died in infancy. Charles is now deceased. September 28, 1881, at Burr Oak, Michigan, Mr. Hern married Miss Mary A. Mohler, daughter of William. and Esther Mohler, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. The Moh- ler family came to Indiana about 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Hern had four children: Mary, Grace, Ross and Maude. Grace is deceased.

E. L. KIESTER. One of the most progressive farmers and stockraisers of this part of Indiana is E. L. Kiester of Pleasant Township, Steuben County, who is known far and wide as a breeder of the large type of blooded registered Poland- China hogs. He was born in Noble County, In- diana, March 1, 1866, a son of Levi and Catherine (Cromley) Kiester. Levi Kiester was born in Alle- gheny County, Pennsylvania, and his wife was born in the same county. In 1842 Levi Kiester came to

Indiana from his native state, locating on a farm in Noble County. At that time there were still Indians in that section of the state, and the most rigid pioneer conditions prevailed, so that the family suffered many privations, but lived through them and became well-to-do and active in local affairs. He owned and conducted a farm of 200 acres in Washington Township, Noble County, remaining there until his death in 1901. Levi Kiester and his wife had the following children: John, Mary, Emily, George, Charles, E. L. and Ambrose (who is deceased), and five others who died when very young. For a number of years Levi Kiester was well known as a Mason.

The children of this generation would feel that they were very much abused if they had to attend a school like the one which housed E. L. Kiester and his schoolmates in Washington Township, Noble County, Indiana, and yet he and they there learned the fundamental principles to which they later added knowledge through experience and observation of men and events. There Mr. Kiester grew to manhood and began farming on the home- stead, but later went into a merchandise business at Defiance, Ohio, and conducted it for eight years, when he sold it, and in November, 1915, came to his present 180-acre farm in Pleasant Township, Steuben County, Indiana, renting it until he moved on it, after he bought it in 1912. He has made practically all of the improvements on the place, including the erection of the buildings, and he has also increased the fertility of the soil, the farm having been very much run down when he bought it, but through the application of scientific knowl- edge it has been completely reclaimed and is now one of the best rural properties in this part of the township. Experiment having taught him of the desirability of raising the large type blooded Poland China hogs, all registered, he has specialized along this line for some years and now has some of the best swine in Northern Indiana. His success in farming and stock raising proves conclusively that it does pay to cultivate the land according to modern methods, and that time and money invested in this way makes large returns.

Mr. Kiester married Nevada Harper, of Ligonier, Indiana, who died in early life, leaving him an infant daughter. In 1904 Mr. Kiester married Mary D. Hoyles, of Garrett, Indiana, who was born at Avilla, Noble County, Indiana, a daughter of Simon and Ellamanda Beeber, early settlers of Noble County. Mr. and Mrs. Kiester have one son, Edwin Lee Kiester, at home. Mr. Kiester's daughter, Beulah, who married John Brown, lives in Canada. Mr. Kiester also has one step-son, Harry Hoyles, who lives in Decatur, Illinois.

JAMES H. MILLS. The Mills home, known as the Drake farm, is in section 5 of Johnson Township, LaGrange County, in the same locality where Mrs. Mills has spent practically all her life. The farm comprises eighty acres. Mr. Mills started out when he left home as a farm worker at monthly wages, and is one of the men who has achieved independ- ence in farming though starting with very limited capital.

He was born in Johnson Township, August 10, 1870, a son of Charles H. and Hopey A. (Gardner) Mills. His father, a native of New York State, came to Indiana when a boy, grew up here and lived out his life as a farmer in Johnson Township. In politics he was a republican, and he and his wife were very devout members of the Methodist Church at Valentine and gave liberally to all church causes. Of their family of six children four are living :

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James H .; Clara, wife of Arthur Huff; Laura, wife of Milton Bellman; and Vera, wife of Raven Drew.

James H. Mills received a common school edu- cation and attended the high school one year. He was nineteen years old when he left home and be- came a wage earner by working for neighboring farmers, and he continued in that way until he had the experience and the meager capital which en- couraged him to start life independently. On August 17, 1890, he married Nina E. Drake, daughter of Joseph A. and Severnia E. (Turner) Drake. Her father was born in Wood County, Ohio, and her mother in Ashtabula County, Ohio, and after their marriage they came to Indiana about 1870, stopping at Waterloo and then settling in Johnson Township of LaGrange County, where they spent the rest of their years. Joseph A. Drake served three years as a Union soldier in the Civil war, and was a member of the Masonic order. Mr. and Mrs. Drake had two daughters: Elminda, born May 3, 1869, was married in 1888 to L. J. Baldwin and is now deceased. Nina E. was born September 9, 1873, and had a common school education. Mr. and Mrs. Mills have four children: Ethel E. is a graduate of the common schools and had three years in high school. She is now the wife of William H. Baker. Hazel, a graduate of the common schools, married Delbert Carney. Ilo is the wife of Herman H. Baker. Jasper D. is a graduate of the common schools and is now a student in the Wolcottville high school. The family are members of the Methodist Church and Mr. Mills is one of the trustees, while Mrs. Mills is secretary of the Ladies' Aid Society and treasurer of the Missionary Society at Valentine. Both are members of the Gleaners.

SILAS H. NUGEN. Probably every farm owner and farmer in DeKalb County claims acquaintance with Silas H. Nugen, who for many years has been a leader in the agricultural community and the pro- gressive affairs of farmers. Mr. Nugen's career has been one of self help, and progress from limited circumstances to a position of one of the leading farmers and land owners of the county.

He was born in Jackson Township of DeKalb County February 2, 1857, a son of John and Rebecca (Hughes) Nugen. His father was a native of Ire- land, came to the United States when a young man, lived in Ohio until after his marriage, and then came to DeKalb County and secured 160 acres in Jackson Township. His first home was a log cabin, and when that was replaced by a frame house a fire de- stroyed the building and he had to build over again. He was reared a Catholic but later became affiliated with the Methodist Church. He was a democrat in politics. John Nugen died about 1865, and was the father of six children.

Silas H. Nugen, the only one of these children now living, grew up on the home farm in Jackson Township and was a small boy when his father died. At the age of fifteen he took upon himself the re- sponsibilities of earning his way and worked out at monthly wages and also attended winter terms of school whenever possible. For three years he was employed by John Sheffer and then for about three years was with William Carr. Being thrifty and in- dustrious he accumulated about $700, and with that capital he rented the Carr farm. He also bought an interest in a threshing outfit and operated it for two years. Mr. Nugen paid $1,300 for eighty acres covered with heavy timber, and as he cleared the land he sold the timber and put the cleared spaces into crops.

September 1, 1885, he married Emma Bartels. At that time he moved to his present farm. Mrs. Nugen was born in Noble County, Indiana, but was living

in Jackson Township at the time of her marriage. In connection with farming and clearing his land Mr. Nugen bought a threshing outfit and conducted it for thirteen years, rendering an important service to the grain growers of the county. Later he bought another eighty acres, and at the present time has 428 acres in DeKalb County.

Along with the building up and management of his farming interests Mr. Nugen has again and again been called upon for public duties. He was elected and served five years as township assessor and later filled the office of township trustee six years. He was one of the organizers of the Grange in Jackson Township and was its master. He is now manager of the Farmers Shipping Association at Auburn and is treasurer of the DeKalb County Federation of Farmers. He is affiliated with Auburn Lodge of the Knights of Pythias and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. and Mrs. Nugen have seven children: Roy, Dorsey, John, Frank, Harold, Lelah and Hayes.

HENRY W. KLINE is a well known farmer and onion grower in Troy Township of DeKalb County. Mr. Kline is a young man, but has much to show for the energetic years of his active career. He had only $250 of capital when he bought his present farm of seventy-one acres, and he has handled his land and its resources and his business affairs with such efficiency as to be considered one of the inde- pendent and substantial men of his community.

He was born in Williams County, Ohio, October 17, 1882, a son of John and Christina (Kaiser) Kline, the former a native of New York State and the latter of Ohio. His parents were married in Williams County, and settled on a farm close to the Indiana line. They are members of the German Lutheran Church and the father is a democrat. There were twelve children, and those to grow up are: Henry W .; Louise, wife of Daniel Erney; Clara, wife of William Linn; Clarence, of Elkhart, In- diana; Fred, of Williams County, Ohio; Charles, also of Williams County; Ida, Hettie, Wayne and Ernest, all at home.

Henry W. Kline attended the district schools of his home community until he was sixteen years of age and lived at home with his parents until he was twenty-seven. On August. II, 1910, he married Lou A. Wise. She was a graduate of the Butler High School and for many years was a successful teacher. Mr. and Mrs. Kline are members of the United Brethren Church, the Zion Church, and he is superin- tendent of the Sunday school. He is also affiliated with Eden Lodge No. 644, Knights of Pythias, and in politics is a republican. Mr. Kline is a stock- holder in the Arctic Co-operative Association.

DANIEL GARLETS. One of the improved farms in Springfield Township of LaGrange County is that owned by Daniel Garlets, much of the prop- erty having been in the possession of the family for nearly half a century. Mr. Garlets has been one of the busy and substantial men of his com- munity for many years.

He was born near New Philadelphia or Canal Dover in the Tuscarawas County, Ohio, February 5, 1857, a son of Peter and Maria (Fair) Garlets. His father died April 7, 1014, after having resided in LaGrange County for forty-seven years to the day. The mother died in 1889. Daniel Garlet grew up on the home farm from early childhood, at- tended the public schools of Indiana, and since early manhood has been a farmer. He owns 157 acres and for a number of years was one of the farmer specialists, growing vegetables and other

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truck. Besides the old home property he has other lands. Mr. Garlets is a republican and is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

In 1878 he married Miss Mary Faust, of Branch County, Michigan. Mr. Garlets has children, grand- children and great-grandchildren. His first wife's two children were Willie and Pearl. Willie, who lives at Bronson, Michigan, married Eliza Jennings, a daughter of Edgar Jennings, of Springfield Town- ship, LaGrange County. Their two children are Clarice and Marie. Clarice is the wife of Joy Q. Dennis and is the mother of two children, Robert and Legeru. Marie is the wife of Don Harris. The daughter Pearl married Carl Bartholomew and her five children are Claude, Kenneth, Oscar, Leon and Berneta, deceased. Mrs. Garlets died in 1900, and in 1901 he married Mary A. Campbell, who was born in Decatur County, Indiana, in 1877. To their marriage have been born five children, Goldie, Peter, Lucile, Eunice and Paul. Paul died at, the age of two years.

DAVID B. KUHNS is known as a man who has achieved a worthy success, having started in life with little save the skill and strength of his hands, and is now proprietor of the Lakeside Farm, situated on the banks of Long Lake in Noble and York townships of Noble County. He has 238 acres and is one of the enviable men who are now well estab- lished in American agriculture.

Mr. Kuhns was born in Noble Township of Noble County January 20, 1862, son of Samuel and Martha (James) Kuhns. His father was born in Lancaster County, Ohio, and his mother in the same state. Samuel Kuhns came to Indiana as early as 1832, locating in the southern part of Noble Township, where he entered a fractional eighty acres. His wife's people were also early settlers in York Town- ship and cleared up a farm there. After their marriage Samuel Kuhns and wife moved to Noble Township, where they spent the rest of their lives as industrions farmers. He was a republican in politics. In their family were four children: James M., deceased; Phoebe, wife of Thomas Collier, of Pierceton, Indiana; John, deceased; and David B.

David B. Kuhns spent his early life on a farm adjoining the Lakeside Farm which he now owns. He attended the district schools and was fourteen years old when his mother died. Two years later he started out to earn his own living. He worked in brickyards, on railroads and at other employment, and at the age of twenty-one found himself possessed of a wife and one horse. He then rented land from his father, and has made such good use of his opportunities and energies that he now owns not only his father's old farm but also the farm of his wife's father, altogether constituting one of the best landed estates in Noble County.

December 25, 1882, Mr. Kuhns married Miss Catherine Taggart. She was born in Noble Town- ship of Noble County, December 25, 1864, daughter of John and Sarah (Mayfield) Taggart. Her father was born on the Isle of Man January 12, 1819, and came to America on a sailing vessel, being nine weeks on the ocean. Landing in' New York, he came on west to Indiana and located near Ligonier. His first wife, Catherine Clark, whom he married on the Isle of Man, died soon after coming to the United States, leaving four children, Thomas R., John J., William C. and Eliza. He then married Sarah Mayfield, who had been previously married and had one child, Elizabeth Fair. They became the parents of eleven children. Ten of them are still living, as follows: Edward; Lafayette; Martha ;

Sadie and Catherine, twins; Sherman; Sophronia; Frank; Charles; and Amos. Catherine Taggart was reared in Noble Township, and attended the dis- trict schools near her home.

Mr. and Mrs. Kuhns have four children: Dorris is a graduate of the common schools and was trained as a stenographer, and is now the wife of Hilbert Walters of South Bend. Samuel, after graduating from the high school and the Tri-State College at Angola, became a teacher and is now owner of the Albion Garage. He married Oma Shoe. The two youngest children of Mr. and Mrs. Kuhns are Dale and Glenn, both at home.

Mr. Kuhns is affiliated with Albion Lodge No. 97, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, is a past chan- cellor of the Knights of Pythias, and in politics is a republican.

GEORGE OLIVER HARDING, of Clay Township, rep- resents one of the oldest families to settle in La- Grange County. The Hardings have been here for more than eighty years and their record is one of industrious and good citizenship and undoubted patriotism.

George Oliver Harding, whose father died while a Union soldier, was born in Clear Spring Town- ship of LaGrange County, September 22, 1862. His grandfather, Oliver Harding, was a native of New York State and married Almina Leonard. In 1835 they brought their family from New York to Clear Spring Township, LaGrange County, entered 160 acres of land, and made some of the first clearings in the wilderness of this county. Oliver Harding did not live long to develop his holdings, since he died April 12, 1837, his wife passing away in October . of the same year. They have four children: Leon- ard, born November 12, 1831; Levi, born August 26, 1833; Demick, born March 15, 1835; and Elisha, born April 22, 1837.

Elisha Harding, who was born in Clear Spring Township, was one of the first white children born in that locality. He grew up there in pioneer days and in 1861 married Elizabeth Bain, daughter of Peter and Sarah J. (Schermerhorn) Bain. Elisha Harding soon left his young wife to go into the army, enlisting in the 129th Indiana Infantry. After he had been in service for a couple of years or more he returned home on a furlough, and immediately on rejoining his command was sent to the hospital with erysipelas. Later he developed smallpox and died January 24, 1864. His widow survived him with one child, George Oliver, and after the death of the husband a daughter was born, Sarah Jane. Mrs. Elisha Harding after the death of her husband moved to Lima Township, and died March 25, 1905.

George Oliver Harding attended district schools in Lima and Clay townships and has made the best of his opportunities through his industrious life. In 1883 he bought his home farm, comprising eighty acres in section 20 of Clay Township.

In 1892 Mr. Harding married Martha E. Chrystler, a daughter of William and Van Lula (Latta) Chrystler. Mrs. Harding died February 1I, 1909. The children, eight in number, most of them at home with their father, are Sarah Jane, Julia Catherine, Laura L., Esther Van Lula, Ruth A., Amy Viola, William Oliver and Gladys E.

RAYMOND U. BOWSER came to Spencerville from Allen County, Indiana, less than twenty years ago, and he and his wife had as cash assets not more than six dollars. He began farming, but his natural bent for salesmanship and business has been turned to advantage and he has built up an extensive busi- ness at Spencerville, dealing in livestock, and han- dles a large amount of goods used both in town and

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country, including fireproof safes, sheet metal for all purposes in buildings, pumps, plumbing supplies, windmills and gasoline engines.

Mr. Bowser was born in Perry Township of Allen County, Indiana, September 17, 1878, a son of Theo and Celia A. (Gloyd) Bowser. His father was also born in Perry Township, and is still living on a farm in that county. The mother is deceased. Both were active members of the United Brethren Church, and Theo Bowser has been a republican. There were three children: Raymond U .; Ivan, of Fort Wayne; and Homer, a farmer in Perry Township.

Raymond U. Bowser grew up on the homestead farm, attended public schools and at the age of eighteen entered the Bowser factory at Fort Wayne, where he thoroughly learned a trade as a mechanic and machinist. He spent about five years there, and in 1900 came to DeKalb County and located on a farm west of Spencerville. Beginning almost in poverty, he has made such good use of his time and opportunities that he owns today the most modern and best home in Spencerville and is also stockholder in the Farmers and Merchants Bank and is one of the busiest men in the community.

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History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 74

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