History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 76

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 76
USA > Indiana > Noble County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 76
USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 76
USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 76

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November 30, 1899, he married Miss Anna Fair. She was born in Springfield Township, October I, 1873, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Strome) Fair, and a granddaughter of John Fair, one of the early pioneers of LaGrange County. Mr. and Mrs. Notestine had eight children, named Carl Gerald, Pauline Augusta, Harriet May, Harold Ora. Isabel Pearl, Charles Franklin, Marie Elizabeth, and Paul Gaylord. But the youngest died in infancy.

HARRY K. BRANDEBERRY. It is remarkable how many of the farmers of Steuben County are the sons of farmers, this region giving to the state some of the best agriculturalists because they have been trained in their line of work from boyhood, and have always been interested in it. One of the men who comes under this classification is Harry K. Brandeberry, whose father was one of the early settlers of Steuben County and a farmer of Rich- land Township, where the son now resides. Harry K. Brandeberry was born in Richland Township July 6, 1877, a son of Isaac and Thressa (Thomp- son) Brandeberry. The father was born in Carroll County, Ohio, July 20, 1833. He was married in Williams County, Ohio, his wife having been born there February 12, 1840, although in the meanwhile he had come to Steuben County in 1854, securing land in the woods in Richland Township. On this he built a log cabin and cleared off his land. Al- though he had left home and become self-supporting when only thirteen years old, he prospered and became a man of considerable means, at his death, September 14, 1909, owning two farms of 140 acres

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of land and property in Angola. In addition to farming he bought and sold considerable farm land, but in his later years lived in retirement at Angola. His wife died many years before him, passing away April 16. 1885. They had the following children : Olive, who is the widow of Bruce Garwood; W. C., who is a farmer of Richland Township; Edna, who is the wife of S. C. Hammond, a son of Dr. A. Hammond; and Harry K., whose name heads this review. M-s. Brandeberry was an earnest member of the Christian Church.

Harry K. Brandeberry attended the public and high schools at Angola, being graduated from the latter May 28, 1892, and he later was a student for several terms at the Tri-State College at Angola. In 1002 Mr. Brandeberry moved on his present farm in Richland Township, since which time he has erected a comfortable residence, and here he is carrying on general farming and stock raising. He also owns another farm of fifty acres in Richland Township. In politics he is a republican. His fraternal connections are with Metz Lodge, Knights of Pythias, the third largest of this order in the county, which has a fine hall of its own.

On March 1, 1902, Mr. Brandeberry was married in Richland Township to Miss Ina Gasser, who was born in Scott Township November 20, 1881, a daugh- ter of Frederick and Charlotte (Tuttle) Gasser, and granddaughter of Benedict Gasser, whose biography appears elsewhere in this work. Frederick Gasser and his wife are now living in comfortable retire- ment at Angola, but were formerly farming people of considerable prominence in Scott Township. They had two children, namely: Lena, who is the wife of John Carson, of Angola; and Ina, who is Mrs. Brandeberry. Mr. and Mrs. Brandeberry have one son, Harold Kelley, who was born October 11, 1903, is now attending the Metz High School. He and his mother belong to the Christian Church. Mr. Brandeberry is a man of sterling worth and stands well in public esteem. His family is an old and honored one in the county, as is that of Mrs. Brandeberry, and their connections are many in this part of the state.

MYRON ATWATER has been a citizen of Clay Township, LaGrange County for over half a cen- tury, and is one of the staid and prosperous farmers and land owners of that community, still enjoying good health, a reasonable degree of prosperity, and the fullness of esteem on the part of his neighbors and friends.

Mr. Atwater was born in Luzerne County, Penn- sylvania, October 27, 1841, a son of Thomas S. and Hannah (Enos) Atwater and a grandson of Luther Atwater. His parents were both natives of New York State. Thomas S. Atwater came to LaGrange County, Indiana, in 1855, and from that time until his death in 1872 lived in Lima Township, about a mile northwest of the village of Lima. He had married for his first wife a Miss Conner, and had one daughter, Margaret. His second wife, Hannah Enos, who died in 1875, was the mother of four children named Myron, Charles L., John and Monroe.

Myron Atwater as a young man worked on his father's farm. He was fourteen years old when brought to LaGrange County, had a common school education, and in April, 1865, came to the farm in Clay Township where he lives today and where it is a matter of satisfaction to him to survey the many improvements that have grown up under his hands and management. All the good buildings on the farm have been put there during his ownership. His farm comprises 160 acres.

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Mr. Atwater served one term as trustee of Clay Township, and his son, Walter, is now filling the same office. February 11, 1867, he married Ann Brinley, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Guy- singer) Brinley. Mrs. Atwater died in 1908, the mother of eight children: Nellic, wife of Albert H. Yoder; Thomas, a farmer in Haskell County, Kansas; Mary, wife of Elmo Neely; Walter, the present township trustee; Jessie, wife of Norman Zimmerman; Grover, on the farm with his father; and two children that died in infancy. After the death of his first wife Mr. Atwater married Mrs. Laura (Cripe) Schrock. By her first husband she had three children, named Mabel, Carl and Lettie Schrock.

WALLACE ABEL. The present representative on the Board of County Commissioners of DeKalb County from the southeastern district is Wallace Abel, member of one of the oldest and best known families of that part of the county, and his own record as a farmer, business man and public-spirited citizen has given him every title to the confidence expressed in his incumbency of his present office.

Mr. Abel, who is also a trustee of Newville Town- ship, where he resides, was born in Concord Town- ship November 4, 1851, a son of George and Ann (Milliman) Abel. His mother was a daughter of John and Mary (Warren) Milliman, both natives of New York State. Mary Warren was related to General Warren, one of the first American officers to lose his life in the Revolutionary war. George Abel was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, and his wife in New York State. Later both families came to Indiana and settled in DeKalb County in pioneer times. George Abel and wife after their marriage began farming in Concord Township, and he lived there until his death. His widow is still a resident of St. Joe, aged eighty-six years, and is a member of the Christian Church. George Abel died in 1862. He was the father of five children, and the. three now living are Wallace, Charles, a carpenter in Michigan, and Fremont, whose home is at St. Joe.

Wallace Abel grew up on the farm in Concord Township, had a limited common school education, and was eleven years old when his father died. After that he helped on the farm and lived with his mother until he was twenty-one.

In 1876 he married Antoinette Coburn. She was born in Newville Township August 10, 1858, a daugh- ter of William and Lovesta Coburn, and had the advantages. of the common schools. Mr. and Mrs. Abel have four children : Roy, born May 15, 1877, Bessie, born September 24, 1879, Blanche, born March 19, 1882, and Gladys, born July 24, 1895. The son is a graduate of the St. Joe High School and is identified with farming on the home place. The daughters were all well educated, Gladys graduating from the Butler High School and was formerly a teacher. The daughters are all married. Mrs. Abel is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Abel is treasurer of William Hacker Lodge No. 326, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Politically he has been active in the democratic party for a number of years. He served four years as trustee of Newville Town- ship and was elected to the Board of County Com- missioners and entered upon his duties January I, 1915. In 1917 he was elected for a second term. He follows general farming and stock raising and has eighty-seven acres in Newville Township.

AMBROSE L. LOGUE is a native of Iowa but has spent most of his life in LaGrange County and is known among his neighbors of Milford Township as a suc- cessful general farmer and stockraiser. His home is in section 22 of that township. He has interests in

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several business concerns and his career has been one of steady progress towards prosperity and the full usefulness of manhood.

Mr. Logue was born at Winfield, Iowa, September 28, 1864, a son of Emanuel and Julia A. (Adams) Logue. His father, a native of Maryland, was edu- cated as a minister of the Church of God, and as a missionary he built and organized the first Church of God west of the Mississippi River. That was in 1857, and he labored in Iowa until his death in 1867. The widowed mother is still living, with home at Morning Sun, Iowa.

Ambrose L. Logue was three years old when his, father died, and he was afterward adopted by David and Sarah Bixler, with whom he came to Indiana. He grew up in the home of his foster parents and attended the Kendallville High School. In 1885 Mr. Logue married Ida Foster. They have a son, Clar- ence, who was educated in the common and high schools and lives in Chicago.

Mr. Logue owns 128 acres and is still actively engaged in farming. He is a past grand of South Milford Lodge No. 619 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is a past chief patriarch of the en- campment and has served as district deputy grand master. Politically he is a democrat.

DANIEL DAGUE has been a respected resident and industrious farmer of Greenfield Township in La- Grange County for forty years. His early life be- fore coming to this county was spent in Ohio and Michigan, where his parents resided.

He was born in Wayne County, Ohio, April 14, 1849, a son of Levi and Harriet (Flackinger ) Dague. His father was born in Wayne County in 1824 and his mother in Pennsylvania, August 7, 1822. They were married August 7, 1845, and about 1867 they moved to Branch County, Michigan, where Mrs. Levi Dague died in 1872. She was the mother of five children: Mary Ann, born Sep- tember 20, 1846, in Ohio; Daniel; Susan, born September 19, 1850; Jonas, born October 26, 1852; and Catherine Margaret, born May 22, 1859. After the death of the mother in Branch County the father moved to Mason County, Michigan, and bought forty acres and lived on it ten years. He married for his second wife Leah Hoffmyer, After selling his Mason County land he came to LaGrange County and died in Greenfield Township.

Daniel Dague acquired his early education in the schools of Ohio and was about eighteen years of age when he went to Michigan with his parents. He lived at home until he was twenty-seven and then married Catherine Libey. Her father, John Libey, was an early settler in LaGrange County and died at the advanced age of ninety-seven years. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Dague came to LaGrange County in 1879 and bought 120 acres in Greenfield Township. Mr. Dague has improved the land, erected good buildings, has a farm well adapted for crops and livestock. For twenty years he fed sheep on a rather extensive scale. He is a republican in politics and with his family is identi- fied with the Dunkard Church.

He and his wife had three daughters. Wilma is the oldest. Alice Adella is the wife of D. Swi- hart, and her four sons are named Donald, May- nard, Stewart and Ledger. The youngest, Elsie is the wife of Arlis Depew and the mother of two children.

SAMUEL SCHIEBER, one of the progressive farmers of Richland Township, while not long a resident of Steuben County is thoroughly identified with its best interests. He was born in Bucyrus, Craw-

ford County, Ohio, July 31, 1853, a son of John C. and Leah (Hershberger) Schieber, and grandson of Gotlieb and Magdalena (Brosy) Schieber, natives of Germany, who in 1832 with their children and seventeen other families came to the United States, landing at New York, from whence they came west to Buffalo, New York, on the canal, and then traveled by lake to Sandusky, Ohio. From there Gotlieb Schieber came to Crawford County, Ohio, and secured heavily timbered land, which he cleared and developed into a farm, and on which he lived until his death in 1868, his widow surviving him until 1890. Their children were as follows: Chris- topher, Gotlieb, Christian, Catherine, John C., Jacob and Mary, all of whom are now deceased.

John C .. Schieber was born in Germany in 1828, and his wife was born in Lancaster County, Penn- sylvania. Only a child when his parents came to Crawford County, Ohio, he attended its schools while growing up, and after he became a man he bought eighty acres of timber land, which he cleared, becoming a successful farmer. He died on his farm in 1904 and his wife in 1909. Their children were as follows: Samuel, Amanda, Mary, Jacob, Joseph, Lizzie, Tillie, Charley and Ida, of whom Mary is deceased.

Samuel Schieber, like his father, was reared on a Crawford County farm, and went to the schools of his neighborhood. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-five years old and then bought forty acres of land in Crawford County, living on it until 1900, when he went to Oklahoma, but in 1905 came to Steuben County, renting land until 1911, and then bought his present farm of forty- seven acres. He repaired the barn, did some ditch- ing and made other improvements and now has a fine property, on which he is carrying on general farming and breeding registered hogs. He is a republican, but does not aspire to office. The Metho- dist Episcopal Church holds his membership and receives his generous support.

On October 15, 1881, Mr. Schieber was united in marriage with Miss Susie Nagel, born at Sandusky, Ohio, February 19, 1862, a daughter of John and Margaret (Ulrich) Nagel, both of whom were born and married in Germany. Upon coming to the United. States they first stopped in Sandusky, Ohio, later settling in Crawford County, where he died in 1899, at the age of seventy-six years, his widow surviving him until 1907, when she passed away at Bucyrus, Ohio, aged eighty-two years. Their chil- dren were as follows: John, Sarah, Amelia, Sussie (who is Mrs. Schieber), and Louisa. Mr. and Mrs. Schieber have the following children: Clarence, who married Bertha Klink, and has two children, Esther and Victor; Blanche, who is the wife of Lloyd Daley of South Bend, Indiana, and has one son, Fred; Milo, who married Lillian Stemly, and has one daughter, Marian; and Leonard Arthur, Earl and Lula, all of whom are at home. Mr. Schieber is an excellent farmer and good citizen, and he has brought up his children to be industrious and frugal.

RASCELUS GUSHWA. A resident of LaGrange County for fifty years, Rascelus Gushwa has for the most part been devoted to the quiet duties of agri- culture, but his name has at different times ap- peared prominently in connection with public affairs, especially as a successful administrator of institu- tions for the poor and unfortunate. He is now superintendent of the Rogers Orphans Home in Clear Spring Township.

He was born in Hancock County, Ohio, December 19, 1854, a son of Frederick and Eliza J. (Solomon)

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Cushwa, both of whom were natives of Holmes County, Ohio, where they were reared and married. From Holmes they moved to Hancock County and in 1864 came to LaGrange County, Indiana. The father was drafted for army service in. 1864 and died three months later. That left his widow with the taxing burden of caring for the children, a duty she faithfully performed and thereby earned their lasting gratitude. She died in 1911. Of the seven children five are living: John, of LaGrange County ; Amanda, wife of John Holsinger, of Valentine, Indiana; Joseph, of Ligonier; Cynthia, wife of Levi Fair, of Sturgis, Michigan; and Rascelus.

Rascelus Gushwa grew up on a farm in Johnson Township of LaGrange County and attended the common schools. He lived at home with his mother to the .age of twenty-one. He married Ellen Wells, of DeKalb County, daughter of J. C. and Hannah Wells. Mrs. Gushwa was born and reared in De- Kalb County and had a common school education.

For about four months after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Gnshwa lived at Cassopolis, Michigan, and then returned to LaGrange County. With limited capital, they had to accept the best possible means of making a living and for twenty years were rent- ers, thereby earning the capital which enabled them to buy a farm of sixty acres in Clay Township. About that time Mr. Gushwa was appointed super- intendent of the County Infirmary, in 1895, and filled that office to the satisfaction of all concerned six and a half years. He then returned to his own farm, and in 1906 was appointed superintendent of the Rodgers Orphans Home. He remained there five years, went back to his farm, and in March, 1919, was again called to the duties of superintend- ent, which he had so carefuly performed in a pre- vious term.

Mr. Gushwa and wife have five children: E. A., a merchant at Shipshewana; Carrie, wife of Sher- man Hart, of St. Joseph County, Michigan; Mertie, wife of Clarence Wagoner, of Sturgis, Michigan ; Charles, who lives on a rented farm in Newbury Township of LaGrange County; and Mabel, wife of Arthur Conway. The family are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Gushwa is a past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 144, and has been a member of the Grand Lodge. His wife is active in the Pythian Sisters, being past chief and past record keeper. Politically Mr. Gusliwa is a republican, and several years ago was a candidate for county sheriff. During the war both he and his wife were leaders in war auxiliary movements, especially the Red Cross. He was superintendent of the Red Cross sale, and put the county over the top on that drive. Mrs. Gushwa has been treasurer of the Red Cross of Clay Township.

GEORGE H. FAIRBANKS. For three score and ten years George H. Fairbanks has been a resident of Allen Township of Noble County. During that time he has had the experience of the normal lifetime, has worked industriously, has accumulated a com- petence for his future needs, has reared a family and is a man properly looked up to in his com- munity.

Mr. Fairbanks is a distant relative of the late vice president Charles W. Fairbanks. He was born in Geauga County, Ohio, January 21, 1846, a son of Samuel C. and Margaret (Armstrong) Fairbanks. Samuel C. was a son of James and Margery (Potter) Fairbanks. James in turn was a son of Nahum Fairbanks. The Fairbanks family came from Eng- land to the American colonies about 1633, the im- migrant being Jonathan Fairbanks.

In the same year that he was born George H.

Fairbanks was taken by his parents to Noble County, Indiana, and they located in Allen Township, where he grew up and where he attended such schools as were maintained in his day. He also studied in college, but on leaving school he took up the voca- tion of an agriculturist and has followed it without important interruption ever since. The home of Mr. Fairbanks, which comprises 511/2 acres is two miles north of Avilla and just 100 rods east of the geographical center of Allen Township.

On November 23, 1875, he married Miss Clara J. Baughman, who was born at Lisbon in Allen town- ship of Noble. County, January 22, 1855, daughter of G. D. Baughman. Mr. Baughman was one of the trustees of Allen Township, as was also tlie father of Mr. Fairbanks. Mrs. Fairbanks was edu- cated in the common schools and for one term taught in Whitley County. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Fairbanks settled on their home farm. He is a democrat in politics and has served in township offices. He is affiliated with Kendallville Lodge No. 76, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and with Chapter No. 64, Royal Arch Masons.

Mr. and Mrs. Fairbanks have four daughters: Edna E., a graduate of the Avilla High School, is the wife of David Shanline, of Avilla; Agnes A., a graduate of the same school, was a teacher and is now the wife of R. A. Whitford; Bessie B., also a high school graduate, is still at home, as is her sister, Lucile M., who likewise completed the course in the high school.

CLARENCE RICHARDSON, a native of Northeast In- diana, has spent his life profitably and usefully as a farmer in Steuben County and is directing the business of one of the good farms in Pleasant Town- ship.

He was born in the same township July 12, 1875, a son of Henry and Sarah (Sowle) Richardson. His parents were both born in Ohio and were brought to Steuben County when children, grew up there and married. The paternal grandfather was William Richardson, an early settler in Pleasant Township, where he located in the '40s. The maternal grand- father was Joseph Sowle, member of the prominent family of that name who had much to do with the early development of Pleasant Township. Henry Richardson served eighteen months as a soldier in the Civil war. He died in July, 1896, at the age of fifty-four, and his widow passed away in 1906, at the age of sixty-two. He was a member of the Grand Army Post, a republican, and his wife was a Methodist. He had six children : Cora, Mary, Clar- ence, Austin, Harry (who is deceased), and Dora.

Clarence Richardson grew upon the home farm of his father, attended the public schools, and since early manhood has been identified with the agricul- tural industry. He has a lease on the old Palda farm and is one of the most successful tenant farm- ers in the township. He is a republican and his family attend the United Brethren Church.

In 1895 he married Miss Laura Farley, of Steuben County. Five children were born to them: Sylvia, Lewella, Mabel, Joseph and Walter C. Sylvia ac- quired a splendid education in the Angola High School and Tri-State Normal and is the wife of Hugh Campbell. They have three children, named Donald Irwin, Mabel Louise and Robert Hugh. The daughter Lewella is the wife of Paul Moore and has one daughter, Virginia Maxine.

CARL U. BARTHOLOMEW is in the midst of a very busy and successful career as a farmer in Spring- field Township, LaGrange County. At the age of forty he has accomplished many of those things

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that an ambitious man desires to do, and undoubt- edly there are many years of usefulness and honor still before him.

Mr. Bartholomew, who is related to many inter- esting and prominent families of LaGrange County, was born in Springfield Township, August 28, 1879, a son of Horace Oscar and Edna (Shepardson) Bartholomew. His paternal grandfather, Horace Bartholomew, was a soldier in the Fifteenth United States. Infantry in the Mexican war of 1846-47. He died while on the victorious march under Gen- eral Scott from Vera Cruz to Mexico City. He left his widow, whose maiden name was Salena Gates, with two children, Horace Oscar and Mary. Mary afterward married Miles Squire. When Horace Bartholomew entered the army he and his family were living in St. Joseph County, Michi- gan, where his son Horace Oscar was born May 13, 1845. The widowed mother brought her chil- dren to LaGrange County about 1850, and in 1851 she became the wife of Hugh Caldwell, a well known pioneer character. Hugh Caldwell located at Brighton and for many years was a blacksmith there. He finally bought the farm where Carl U. Batholomew now lives, and died in 1877, his widow surviving him until 1887.

Horace Oscar Bartholomew was reared at Brighton, was educated in public schools and the Orland High School, and for many years was a successful farmer of the county. He owned 240 acres, and died on the homestead January 28, 1919. His widow still lives among her children. Horace O. Bartholomew was a republican and served as a member of the first advisory board in Spring- field Township. He was affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. His wife, Edna Shepardson, was born in Springfield Township, September 20, 1852, dauglı- ter of Edmond and Catherine (Wilson) Shepard- son. Edmond was a son of Otis Shepardson, who came to LaGrange County in 1835 and entered a large tract of land near Mongo, building a house near the present schoolhouse. He died May 7, 1843, and was buried in the Shepardson family graveyard. His wife was Susan Gibbs, who was born at Stratton, Vermont, October 13, 1796. The children of Otis Shepardson and wife were: Otis, Edmond, Elijah, Lorenzo Dow, Pliny, Samuel, and Susan, who became the wife of Frank Freileigh.

Edmond Shepardson was born November 15, 1822, and came to LaGrange County with his par- ents in 1835. For many years he was a merchant at Mongo, and died August II, 1882. He was a man of varied capabilities, a blacksmith by trade, also a farmer, and while running his farm estab- lished a stock of merchandise at Mongo. He was also a buyer of wool and other farm produce. It was through him that the name of the community was changed to Mongo while he was postmaster there. He was a republican and was one of the first school trustees. One of his brothers, Elijah Shepardson, was a soldier in the Confederate army during the Civil war. The wife of Edmond Shep- ardson died June 10, 1902. Their family consisted of Emma, Edna, Sarah Elizabeth, Augusta, Dow Fremont, Susan Sophia, Clara Elizabeth, and John Everett.

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History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 76

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