History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 77

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 77
USA > Indiana > Noble County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 77
USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 77
USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 77

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Horace O. Bartholomew and wife had just two sons, Carl U. and Don C. Don C. has had an in- teresting military career. He was educated in the Lima High School, the Tri-State College, formerly was a teacher at Mongo and Brushy Prairie and also in Michigan, and in 1916 graduated from the Detroit School of Medicine. In June of that year he went into the regular army with the Reserve Medical Corps, was stationed at Washington for a

time and in July, 1918, went overseas to France. He was assigned to work with the Eighty-fifth Di- vision with the rank of first lieutenant. He re- turned to the United States in April, 1919, an in- valid, and recuperated at Base Hospital No. 25 at Fort Benjamin Harrison. Since his recovery he has been assigned a place on the hospital staff at that fort. He married Amy Huss, daughter of Nel- son Huss, of Springfield Township.

Carl U. Bartholomew grew up on the home farm, had a good education in the public schools, the Mongo High School and the Tri-State College and since school days has been busily engaged as a farmer. He lives on the old homestead. He is a republican and is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias.

In 1901 he married Miss Hattie Pearl Garlets, a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Fanst) Garlets, of an old and well known family of Springfield Town- ship. To their marriage were born five children: Claud H., Kenneth B., Benita, who died in infancy, Oscar D. and Leon B.

F. A. ZEIGLER, who has spent his life in Northeast Indiana, was for over a quarter of a century an industrious and skillful harnessmaker, but in later years has been identified with farming in Salem Township of Steuben County.

He was born in DeKalb County December 2, 1861, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Melton) Zeigler, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of DeKalb County, Indiana. Samuel Zeigler when a young man moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio, and later to DeKalb County, Indiana, where he spent practically all the rest of his life as a farmer. He was a member of the Lutheran Church. His children, six in number, were J. B., Frank, F. A., Barbara Ann, Mary Josephine, and Elmer. Of these Frank and Elmer are now deceased.

F. A. Zeigler acquired his early education in the district schools of DeKalb County. When not in school he was working on a farm and soon after reaching his majority he left the farm to learn the harnessmaker's trade. That was his business for twenty-seven years.

Mr. Zeigler married Neoma Langley, a daughter of Samuel Langley. She died in 1904. In De- cember, 1007, Mr. Zeigler married Mrs. Cora (Zel- ler) Ransburg, widow of Dr. Martin V. Ransburg. Since his second marriage Mr. Zeigler has lived on his wife's farm of eighty acres in Salem Town- ship and has proved his adaptability to farming, looking after his present interests with as much skill as he formerly did in his mechanical trade. The farm is in section 14. Mr. Zeigler is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Salem, with his wife is a member of the Rebekahs, and his church is the Methodist.

Mrs. Zeigler is a daughter of Henry Zeller. By her first husband she has one child, Dawson Ransburg.

CHARLES E. CHRYSTLER, the present assessor of Clay Township, is a member of an old and well known family of that section of LaGrange County. His own career has been spent largely in farming and his efforts have been directed to such good purpose that he owns one of the best farms in the township.

He was born in Clay Township, February 17, 1876, a son of William and Lula (Latta) Chrystler, the former a native of New York State. `A more complete record of his father's family is found on other pages. Mr. Chrystler as a boy attended a dis- trict school near his old home, and was also a pupil

SUEFEL'S DEPARTMENT STORE

STILIUS

'S MESIC STORE

PROMINENT BUSINESS BLOCK AND HOME OF I. O. O. F. LA GRANGE

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

in the schools of Flint in Jackson Township, Steuben County. He had barely reached his majority when he started as an independent farmer in Clay Town- ship, and has been a hard and constant worker ever since. His first farm consisted of forty acres, and in February, 1917, he moved to his present farm in section 12, where he had a hundred acres, most of it under cultivation and with good improvements. He is a breeder of good livestock. Mr. Chrystler entered upon his duties as township assessor in January, 1919. He is a member of Lodge No. 144 of the Knights of Pythias at LaGrange.

In 1899 he married Ethel L. Richner, a daughter of John D. and Viola (Davis) Richner. They have three children, Leo, Iva and Wayne.

LEOPOLD C. STIEFEL. The year 1919 rounded out a half century of growth and service for a mercantile establishment at Angola, known far and wide all over Steuben and adjoining counties. Today it is a monumental department store, and the business as a whole exemplifies and represents the genius of the Stiefel family as merchants. The present pro- prietor, Leopold C. Stiefel, has been connected with the store since his twenty-first birthday and had as associates several of his brothers. The business was founded fifty years ago by his father, the late Joseph Stiefel.

Joseph Stiefel was a native of Germany, as was his wife, Caroline Heilbronner. Joseph came to America about 1845, reaching New York City with nothing to commend him to the favor of the new world except a willingness to work and learn. Af- ter one year in New York he went to Fort Wayne, and a short time afterward to Auburn, Indiana. There he began a small mercantile business in part- nership with Aaron Wolf. These two men were partners for a number of years, and after dissolv- ing their relations Joseph Stiefel returned to New York City after the Rebellion and engaged in the wholesale clothing business. He had a partner named Strauss. His own enterprise and experience might have insured the success of the business even in the keen competition of the metropolis, but through mismanagement on the part of his partner the firm became bankrupt, and Mr. Stiefel was left to shoul- der the heavy debts of the firm. He sacrificed nearly everything he had to satisfy his creditors, the ven- ture entailing him a loss of nearly $100,000. He had only $1,000 left to start life over again.

In the fall of 1869, with the moral and financial support and credit offered by eastern manufacturers and wholesalers who had a keen sense of gratitude toward the stalwart character of the man, Joseph Stiefel came to Angola and opened up a modest stock of clothing. He had a small place, and the store at first was known simply as J. Stiefel. Af- ter three years he took in as his partner his oldest son, Moses, and the name was changed to J. Stiefel & Son, clothing and dry goods. Fifteen years later another son, Louis, came into the firm, entailing an- other change, as J. Stiefel & Sons. It was about five years later that Leopold C. Stiefel acquired an interest in the partnership, and at that time the father retired. The new title was J. Stiefel's Sons. After two years Moses Stiefel withdrew to go into business in New York City, and Louis and Leopold remained together about seven years. Leopold then bought the interest of his brother Louis and con- tinued the name as J. Stiefel's Son.

Many notable changes have occurred in half a century, and the most marked of them all is the sole ownership of Mr. Leopold Stiefel. In the early years the firm did a business hardly exceed- ing $20,000. In 1918 the aggregate of sales was $150,000, and from the showing made in the early

months of 1919 the volume of business will prob- ably exceed $200,000 for that year. Mr. Stiefel has inaugurated many modern methods, including a one price system, and has further expanded the business to include everything found in a modern depart- ment store. The business employs from twenty- five to thirty-five people, and the stock is housed in a modern business block 66 by 170 feet, with steam plant and electricity for lighting generated in the building. Mr. Leopold Stiefel is vice president of the Indiana Retail Dry Goods Association.

Leopold Stiefel was born at Auburn, Indiana, March 24, 1863. June 6, 1892, he married Edith Kahn, of Indianapolis, a daughter of Samuel Kahn, of that city. They have two daughters, Charlotte K. and Elsie R. Mr. Stiefel is widely known as a merchant over the State of Indiana. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Masons at Angola.

DEXTER E. WILDER. The Wilders, originally from New England, were among the substantial settlers from that point of origin who established the first homes and institutions in Millgrove Township of Steuben County. Dexter E. Wilder represents the third generation of the family here and has spent all of his own life of over sixty years in the same township and county.

He was born in Millgrove Township, December 7, 1856, a son of Charles H. and Betsey (Smith, Wilder and a grandson of William and Mary (Breed) Wilder. William Wilder was a native of Massachusetts and his wife of New Hampshire. William Wilder was a pioneer in three states. In early manhood he pioneered into Otsego County, New York, and had much to do with the early de- velopment of that section. In 1835 he moved with his family to Portage County, Ohio, and in February, 1836, came to Steuben County, settling on land en- tered by him the year before. William Wilder entered 240 acres, and the family eventually had over 500 acres in the same locality. This old Wilder farm is the place where Howard Barnes now lives. William Wilder set out a long row of maple trees, some of which are still standing. He died about 1863, and his wife died in 1852.

Charles H. Wilder was born in New York State and was a small boy when brought to Steuben County. He grew up in Millgrove Township, at- tended the public schools, and served over three years in the Union army as a member of the One Hundredth Indiana Infantry. After the war he owned a farm of forty acres in Branch County, Michigan. He died in 1882. Charles H. Wilder married Betsey Smith, a native of Steuben County and daughter of Hezekiah and Mary (Calkins) Smith. Hezekiah Smith was born in Connecticut in 1801 and came to Steuben County in 1844. Betsey Smith was Charles H. Wilder's first wife and Dex- ter E. Wilder was the only child from this mar- riage. This was before the commencement of the Civil war, and after Mr. Wilder's return home he subsequently married Jennie Casper, and to this union Mary Wilder was born, and she married Fred Kimball.

Dexter E. Wilder was the only child of his mother. He was educated in public schools and the Orland Academy, learned the jeweler's trade, though most of his life has been spent as a farmer. He has much mechanical skill and has used it to good purpose on his farm. Mr. Wilder has a life lease on III acres belonging to his uncle Orlando Wilder. He also owns 33 1-3 acres adjoining his home place. In politics he is a republican.

In 1886 Mr. Wilder married Lucinda Kreider, of Elkhart County. She is a daughter of Tobias and

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Eliza (Myers) Kreider, who came from Ohio to Elkhart County and later moved to Branch County, Michigan, where Mrs. Wilder's mother died in 1868, at the age of forty-two. Her father subsequently returned to Ohio and died in 1896, at the age of seventy-eight.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilder have four children and sev- eral grandchildren. The oldest is Bessie, a graduate of the Orland High School and wife of Burton Kugler. Jessie, also a graduate of the Orland High School, married Louis Webb and their children are Lyle Raymond, Lois Caryl, Wanda May and Weir Charles. Charles H. Wilder, the third child, grad- uated from the Orland High School and was em- ployed in the Liberty Motor Works at Detroit. He married Grace Adams and has three children, John Kendrick, Patricia Jane and Nance Lucinda. The youngest child, William Roland, who completed the common school course and then took a course in automobile engineering with the American School of Correspondence, served seven months overseas as a member of the Seventieth Artillery. He re- ceived his honorable discharge in March, 1919, and is now employed with the Cadillac Company at Davenport, Iowa.

WILTON E. PURDY. Of a family whose lives of in- tegrity and industry have identified them perma- nently with the best interests of Steuben County, one deserving special mention is that of Wilton E. Purdy, whose years have been spent profitably in the county since earliest childhood, and is today owner of a fine farm in Millgrove Township.

Mr. Purdy was born in Canada November 4, 1859, a son of Robert and Eliza S. (Benschoten) Purdy. The more important data of the earlier family his- tory is given on other pages. Wilton E. Purdy came to Steuben County with his parents in March, 1861, when he was not yet two years old. He grew up at Orland, attended the public schools there through the grades, and as a youth took up the trade of wagon maker. He worked at it four years and afterward as a carpenter. He was the carpenter for the construction of his own residence and other buildings on his farm. About 1882 he engaged in . farming, and has eighty acres in his home in Mill- grove Township and thirty-eight acres in Jackson Township. He follows diversified farming. Mr. Purdy is a democrat, and he and his wife are mem- bers of the Grange.

March 25, 1881, he married Miss Hattie Robinson. She was born in Jackson . Township March 25, 1861, a daughter of Albert B. and Lovina S. (Sprague) Robinson. Her parents settled in Jackson Town- ship in 1854. Her father at one time owned 283 acres there. The first home of the Robinsons was a log house, and much of the land was cleared dur- ing the lifetime of Albert Robinson, who died No- vember 20, 1891, at the age of seventy-three. His wife died at Orland May 7, 1881, aged fifty-five. In the Robinson family were the following children: Chauncey, who was born December 28, 1842, owned a large ranch of 500 acres in Kansas, and died in 1918; Hannah, who was born November 30, 1844, and died in 1865; Fowler Elias, born April 7, 1847, and died in July, 1848; Frank Lee, born December 12, 1859, died February 2, 1860; Hattie R., Mrs. Purdy; and Albert Fremont, born January 6, 1864, a wholesale commissioner dealer at Fort Wayne.

Mrs. Purdy's father was a prominent man in Steu- ben County, was a good farmer, was a physician by profession and also a teacher and minister. Mrs. Purdy was educated in the Orland Academy.

Mr. and Mrs. Purdy have one son, Clyde, born April 12, 1883. He attended the Orland High School

and is now a salesman of motor trucks and lives at Lafayette, Indiana. He has also been interested in lands, having owned 160 acres in Oklahoma, also 200 acres in Kentucky, which he sold, and had another farm in Missouri. Clyde married Bertha Van Wag- ner, daughter of Melvin J. and Mary (Laughrey) Van Wagner, of Steuben County. They have six children: Vera, born January 9, 1905; Elton J., born May 12, 1906; Robert N., born October 21, 1907; Alice Bernice, born April 10, 1909; Paul Wil- son, born November 7, 1913; and Byron D., born August 20, 1917. Mr. and Mrs. Purdy also have an adopted daughter, Irene, born October 3, 1909, and still in school.

JOHN W. MCKENZIE, proprietor of one of the largest and finest farms and containing one of the best country homes in Greenfield Township, La- Grange County, has spent all his life in that lo- cality and was born there October 22, 1865. His present home is only a half mile from his birth- place.

He was the youngest of the four children of his parents, John and Julia (Klinghaman) Mckenzie, and was born in LaGrange County. His father was born in 1822 and his mother in 1825, both in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, where they mar- ried and where all their older children were born. These children were Josiah, Nelson, Simon, Ellen and John. The Mckenzie family came to La- Grange County in June, 1865, and settled in Spring- field Township. The father rented a farm one year, and then bought 110 acres southwest of Brighton, where he spent the rest of his life and died in Feb- ruary, 1894, his wife passing away in 1880. John McKenzie, Sr., was a democrat and his wife was a member of the Lutheran Church.

John W. Mckenzie has found his opportunities within a very small radius from the home of his childhood. He attended public schools, also the high schools at Mongo and Howe, and has had fully thirty years of practical experience as a farmer and stockman. In 1904 he and his wife located on an eighty acre place originally acquired direct from the Government by Mrs. Mckenzie's grand- father, Benjamin Reed. Benjamin Reed after se- lecting his land walked to the land office at Fort Wayne to enter it. Mr. Mckenzie is a democrat in politics.

October 23, 1890, he married Libbie Reed. She was born in Springfield Township, October 27, 1861, daughter of Nathan and Julia (Elya) Reed. Nathan Reed was born in a log cabin in Green- field Township, on the land where his only child and daughter, Mrs. Mckenzie now lives. His birth occurred in July, 1836. His wife was a native of New York State. The grandfather, Benjamin Reed, married Nancy Barr, a daughter of Amos Barr. Benjamin Reed was born in Delaware and his wife in Ohio. When the nineteenth century was still young Benjamin Reed came west, and in South- western Michigan took up a tract of land, but be- coming dissatisfied sold his rights for fifty dollars. That land is now the site of the City of Niles. On leaving Michigan he came to LaGrange County and acquired the eighty acres mentioned above. ' Later he added sixty acres to this, and all told accumu- lated about 400 acres in LaGrange County. He died in Greenfield Township, May 4, 1890, at the age of eighty-four, while his widow survived him until June, 1904, and was then eighty-nine years of age. Their children were Nathan, Amos and Sarah Jane. Amos died in the Civil war, while Sarah became the wife of John Whitlock.

Nathan Reed grew up in pioneer surroundings,

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and though his education was confined to the com- mon schools he became widely informed through his habit of diligent and attentive reading. For many years he was accounted the best speller in Greenfield Township. His interest in such mat- ters did not prevent him from achieving success in practical business. He owned 240 acres of well improved land in Springfield Township, and 140 acres of this is now contained in the farm of Mr. and Mrs. Mckenzie. His last days were spent at . the Mckenzie home, where he died in February, 1905. Nathan Reed was a republican and served as trustee of Springfield Township.

At the present time Mr. and Mrs. Mckenzie have 480 acres. He built a fine barn 40 by 70 feet in 1909, and the following year put up what is re- garded as one of the best residences in Greenfield Township. Mr. Mckenzie is an expert stockman, and for a number of years has raised hogs on a large scale.

To his marriage were born three children: Alnie, the oldest, is a graduate of the Brighton High School and the LaGrange High School, and is still at home; Anddra is also a graduate of the Brighton and LaGrange High schools, attended the Tri-State College and was a teacher until her marriage to Vern Elliott, son of James Elliott, of Bloomfield Town- ship. Nathan Reed Mckenzie, the only son, was educated in the Brighton High School and is a farmer at home. He married Marion Troxel, a daughter of Charles Troxel, of Greenfield Town- ship, and they have a daughter, Halcyon Mae.

LESTER J. HUGHES during the greater part of his active career covering thirty years has been a suc- cessful farmer in Salem Township of Steuben County, and has also been active in politics and public affairs.

He was born in Salem Township, July 3, 1868, son of John and Martha (Meek) Hughes. His grandfather, David Hughes, was a pioneer in Salem Township and one of the earliest merchants, and he also served as a justice of the peace. John Hughes spent his active career in Salem Township as a sawmiller and farmer, and died in 1893.

Lester J. Hughes is a brother of Frank D. Hughes, a former clerk of the Circuit Court of Steuben County. Lester was reared and educated in his native township, attending the common schools, and in early life started out to make his living as a farm hand. In 1880 he married Susan Haines, a daughter of John and Maria Haines. She died in 1903, the mother of one son, Dean, who is now associated with his father in managing the home farm. Dean married Grace Ensley and has one child, Phillys.

March 30, 1908, Mr. Hughes married Bell Wark, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Wark. They have two children, Roena and Lois.

Mr. Hughes began farming on his brother Frank's place in 1900, living there near Salem for two years, then spent some time in the Village of Salem, and in 1906 bought his present farm of 120 acres in section 14. He has made the building improvements and has supplied the farm with a generous equip- ment of everything necessary for its successful operation.

Mr. Hughes served six years, from 1908 to 1914, as assessor of Salem Township. He is at present deputy assessor and is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America.

SAMUEL R. YODER, whose place in LaGrange County is that of a prosperous farmer and stockman

in Clay Township, has accomplished those things in life that the people of LaGrange County in general have come to expect of members of the Yoder family.

This particular branch of the family was estab- lished here in pioneer times by Reuben Yoder, who was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, Jan- uary 9, 1831. He was a son of Christian C. and Catherine (Miller) Yoder, both natives of Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Reuben Yoder married Har- riet Riehl, a native of Somerset County and daugh- ter of John and Mary Riehl. John Riehl was a cabinet maker by trade. Reuben Yoder moved from Pennsylvania to Newbury Township, of LaGrange County, about 1851. He lived in that locality the rest of his life and died after a long and active career in 1912. His wife passed away in 1908. They had a family of children whose names were: Elizabeth, Samuel R., Daniel R., Mary, Menno S., Moses A., Peter, Abraham (who died when four months old), and Levi R.

Samuel R. Yoder attended district school in New- bury Township, where he was born March 9, 1856, and made his first independent efforts as a farmer in that township. In 1891 he bought his first place, of eighty acres in section 9, Clay Township, and has worked there steadily for over a quarter of a cen- tury. He has rebuilt the buildings and made many substantial improvements. He served one term as assessor of Newbury Township, and he and his wife are both members of the Dunkard Church.

May 16, 1880, he married Emma Lupold, daughter of Samuel and Shirley Lupold. They have a family of four children. Orpha Pearl is the wife of Wil- liam Mast, and is the mother of Lucile, Doris and Woodrow. Nellie Opal married James Limeric. Roy and Ray are twins. The former married Beulah Evans. Ray married Lettie Dillon and has two children, named Otha and Raymond.

A. I. SHAEFFER. It is a recognized fact that busi- ness is the very life blood of national health and prosperity, and no branch of it is more important than that represented by the farmers of this coun- try, who through their industry and knowledge of their work are producing crops never before equalled, upon which the future of the world is depending. Indiana has always been noted for its fertile farm lands, and at present under the directing hands of men of experience in agricultural matters it is holding its place among its associate states. One of these representative farmers of Steuben County is A. I. Shaeffer, who owns and operates a valuable farm in Scott Township. He was born in Fremont Township, two miles west of Freemont, August 27, 1857, a son of Samuel Shaeffer, born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, in 1816.

. The first of the Schaeffer family to locate in Penn- sylvania was John Nicholas Shaeffer, and he sailed from Rotterdam, Holland, on the sailing vessel Dragon, George Spencer, master, arriving at Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, September 6, 1749. Settling in Berks County, Pennsylvania, he soon became prominent in local affairs and was commissioned captain of the First Battalion of Berks County Militia, January 20, 1777, which saw extensive serv- ice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York during the American Revolution. John Nicholas Shaeffer was a large landowner and one of the most influential men of his community.

John Nicholas Shaeffer was married to Juliana Margaretta Michael, whose parents also sailed from Rotterdam, Holland, for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where they arrived September 15, 1749, on the sail- ing vessel Phoenix, John Mason, master. The children born of this marriage were as follows:

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History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 77

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