History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 79

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 79
USA > Indiana > Noble County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 79
USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 79
USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 79

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Mr. Miller was born in Ohio January 28, 1844, son of an Ohio farmer who lived near Edgerton. Jacob Miller had a good rearing and training in early youth, especially in habits of industry and thrift, and he became a resident of Steuben County in 1874, moving from DeKalb County. At that time he bought 215 acres in Salem Township, and during the next quarter of a century he was busily engaged in cultivating his fields, making improvements in every direction, putting up all the buildings which still adorn and give value to the place, and left his work well done when he obeyed the last sum- mons on April 23, 1900.

January 5, 1869, five years before coming to Steuben County, Mr. Miller married Miss Sarah E. Slayman. She was born in Fairfield Township of DeKalb County June 21, 1851, a daughter of George and Barbara (Bales) Slayman. Her father, who was born in 1824, was a pioneer in Fairfield Town- ship, DeKalb County, and lived as a farmer there until his death in 1881. His children were Rebecca, Sarah E., Jennie, Ida Bell, who died in infancy, Ella, a son that died in infancy, and Arwilda.

Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Miller had three children, Henry and Mina, twins, and Cora Elizabeth, who died when two years old. Mina is the wife of John Holbrook, a farmer of Salem Township.

Henry Miller was born September 11, 1869, and has lived since earliest childhood on the home farm in Salem Township. He attended the Turkey Creek School there and began making himself useful to his father when a small boy. Since his father's death in 1900 he has been farming the place on his own responsibility and raises a great deal of live- stock. The farm now comprises 380 acres, owned by the Miller estate.

Henry Miller married Nettie Frederick, daughter of Joseph Frederick. They have three sons, Ray Owen, Clyde William and Russell Ellsworth.

ALVIN E. LAMBRIGHT. An unusual example of a progressive and successful farmer of Northeast In- diana is afforded in the person of Alvin E. Lam- bright, whose home is in section 19 of Johnson Township, six miles south of LaGrange. Mr. Lam- bright is not yet forty years of age, and in a dozen years has achieved a degree of material success which counts him among the large farmers and land owners of Northeast Indiana.

He was born at the old Lambright farm where he still resides November 2, 1881, a son of Michael M. and Agusta (Schintzer) Lambright. His father, born in Germany March 9, 1837, came to the United States with his father in 1845 and in 1850 the family moved from Ohio, their first place of settlement, to LaGrange County, Indiana. Michael Lambright grew up in Indiana, and was married in Ohio, where his wife was born. He then settled in Johnson

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Township of LaGrange County, on section 19, and lived there forty years or more, until 1902, when he retired to Wolcottville. He died September 12, 1907, and his wife, March 22, 1918. Of their nine children one died in infancy and six are still living : William J., a retired farmer at Wolcottville; Adolph, of Johnson Township; Etta, wife of William Rowe of Wolcottville; Lewis M., an engineer with the New York Central Railroad, living at Elkhart; Carrie, wife of Frank Eddy of Moorcroft, Wyoming; and Alvin E.

Alvin E. Lambright grew up on his father's farm and had a common school education. For three years of his early life he worked out by the month, and he started with limited capital. He inherited part of the old Lambright farm, and from that as a beginning has built up a farm of 300 acres under his individual ownership, and is one of the lead- ing producers of crops and live stock in LaGrange County. He raises large numbers of cattle and hogs and has made it a rule, a profitable one, to raise his own feed, a policy with him, as with many others, which has proved very profitable. . Mr. Lam- bright also owns a three-fourths interest in the Lambright Block at Wolcottville. Perhaps his chief hobby is good roads, and he was instrumental in constructing a mile and a half of gravel road along his own farm. Politically he is a democrat.

Mr. Lambright married Martha A. Moore of Clear Spring Township, LaGrange County. They have four children: Dorothy, Ruth A. and Ruby W., twins, and Alvin E., Jr.

HARRY C. MARQUISS made a successful record as an Illinois farmer and then brought the proceeds of his experience to Noble County, and now owns one of the valuable farms of York Township, located 21/2 miles northeast of Albion.

Mr. Marquiss was born in Piatt County, in the corn belt of Illinois, December 9, 1862, a son of Henry and Mary J. (Corn) Marquiss. His parents were both natives of Ohio, and their respective families moved to Illinois at an early day. They married in that state, became farmers, and the father was also interested in a grist and sawmill. He died when Harry C. Marquiss was a small child. The mother never married again, and managed to keep her family together. She had eight children, and the three sons still living are: Oliver A., a farmer in Piatt County, Illinois; James E., superintendent of waterworks and street superintendent at Monti- cello, Illinois; and Harry C.

Harry C. Marquiss grew up in Piatt County, Illi- nois, attended the country schools, and lived at home until he was about twenty-four years of age. He married Anna C. Duvall in 1886. Mrs. Marquiss was born in Piatt County May 13, 1866, and was educated in the common schools.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Marquiss lo- cated on her mother's farm and pushed their affairs in Illinois to successful ends for a number of years. In 1910 they came to Indiana, and Mr. Marquis now owns 240 acres in Noble County.

He and his wife became the parents of ten chil- dren, including: Charles H., who entered the Great Lakes Training Station as a machinist in the avia- tion section, and later was appointed an instructor in that branch; Mary, a graduate of a high school in Illinois, is the wife of Clarence Baldwin, of Noble County; Emma is unmarried and at home; Loren, who saw active services with the American Expedi- tionary Forces in France; Carl; Wilber, a graduate of the Albion High School; Albert; Otis, also a high school graduate; and Lora A., who died in October, 1918, aged twenty-six years. She was the wife of Herman Parrott.

Mr. Marquiss has for many years been an active Odd Fellow and in his home lodge at Deland, Illi- nois, served as noble grand, and also as chief pa- triarch of the Encampment at Monticello, Illinois, and represented both branches in the Grand Lodge. He and his wife are active members of the Rebekahs of Albion. He is also affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he has been a vig- orous republican, and while living in Illinois served as assessor and as a justice of the peace for eight years.

EUGENE DICKINSON. Of the men whose ability, industry and forethought have added to the charac- ter, wealth and progress of LaGrange County, none deserves better mention than Eugene Dickinson of Johnson Township. Mr. Dickinson grew up in La- Grange County, learned farming by practical ex- perience and has proved one of the progressive agriculturists of the county. He is well known as a breeder of Jersey cattle. His farm two and a half miles north of Wolcottville has about fifty head of these beautiful animals, his herd being headed by a grandson of "Hood Farm Torona." Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson have about 240 acres of land in Johnson Township.

He was born in Orange Township of Noble County, Indiana, August 31, 1853, a son of Barrett W. and Sarah J. (Rowe) Dickinson. His father was born in Genesee County, New York. His grandfather, William Dickinson, came to LaGrange County in pioneer days, in 1836, and bought a sec- tion of land in Johnson and Orange townships of Noble County. He spent the rest of his life in Johnson Township and was one of the prominent citizens of early days. It is said that he brought the first carriage to this part of Indiana. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity. William Dick- inson had four children: Barrett W., Almon, Eu- gene and Emily Hurlbert, all of whom are now deceased.

Barrett W. Dickinson after his marriage lived on a farm in Orange Township of Noble County and died there when his only child, Eugene, was eleven months old. His widow then married Almon Dick- inson, brother of her first husband, and they soon afterward came to LaGrange County and located on the farm where Eugene Dickinson now lives. To their marriage were born three children.

Eugene Dickinson has lived practically all his life at his present home. He was educated in the dis- trict schools and afterward was graduated from Indiana University with the degree A. B. He also attended the Divinity School of the old Chicago University and was awarded the degree Bachelor of Divinity, and in the same year the Master of Arts degree by Indiana University. He was ordained a Baptist minister and is widely known over this sec- tion of Indiana for his unusually able efforts in the ministry. He was pastor of churches at La- Grange and Kendallville, and continued his chosen profession from 1886 to 1906. Since retiring from the ministry he has given all his time to farming and stockraising.

June 18, 1879, he married Angie G. Wildman, a sister of H. H. Wildman, the Wolcottville banker. One of their two children died at the age of nine. The only survivor is Lena W., who graduated from the Baptist College at Kalamazoo, Michigan, and took her A. B. degree from the University of Chi- cago. She was a teacher in the high school at Montagne, Michigan, and at Litchfield, Illinois, until her marriage to Professor R. G. Rapp at Hammond, Indiana. Mr. Dickinson in politics is a republican.

CHARLES JORDAN was one of the enterprising mer-

HARRY C. MARQUISS AND FAMILY

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

chants of Steuben County, and in a brief life achieved a large measure of success and the respect of the entire community in which he lived and labored.

He was born in Steuben County July 26, 1852, son of David and Alvina (Wier) Jordan. The par- ents came from New York State in 1851 and settled in Fremont Township of Steuben County, later moved from their farm to Angola, and lived there until the death of David about five years later. His widow survived him about twenty years. He was a republican and a Methodist. David Jordan and wife had six children: Henry, Andrew, Harriet, Loretta, Charles and Ella.

Charles Jordan grew up on the homestead farm and had a public school education. He engaged in business as a meat dealer and rendered a good serv- ice and made friends of all his patrons. He was engaged in that line until his death on July 25, 1886, just a day before his thirty-fourth birthday. He was a republican in politics.

In November, 1874, Charles Jordan married Nancy Spangle, member of one of the older families of Steuben County. She was born in that county No- vember 3, 1856, daughter of Simon and Harriet (Bennett) Spangle, the former a native of Pennsyl- vania and the latter of Seneca County, Ohio. They were married in Seneca County and came from there to Steuben County, Indiana, settling in Jack- son Township and later moving three miles north of Angola. Simon Spangle died in 1885, at the age of sixty-two and his wife on October 20, 1898, aged seventy-four. Their children were: Susan, wife of George Johnson, of Brooklyn, New York; Mary, wife of Hiram Baker; Elizabeth, wife of S. L. Crandall; Edwin, Ephraim, Jane, Nancy and Etta. The three living are Mrs. Jordan, Edward and Ephraim.

Mrs. Nancy Jordan is still living in Angola and is the mother of one son, David Charles Jordan, who was educated in the public schools, includ- ing the high school at Angola, took a business course in the Tri-State College and attended Notre Dame University one year. He is a graduate from the pharmacy department of Purdue University, and for several years was in the drug business at Alex- andria, Indiana, and has since been a traveling rep- resentative for the great paint manufacturers, Sher- win-Williams Company. David Charles married in 1917, Cora Fulton, who was born at Lockport, New York.

WILL'AM CHRYSTLER. Very many of the early settlers of Indiana were natives of New York, and when they journeyed into what was then a frontier region they bore with them the habits, thoughts and customs of a sturdy civilization that has its influ- ence yet, as is evidenced by the good citizenship that prevails throughout Indiana. To have been born in the Empire State and to live in Indiana has many times been helpful in opening the door of both soc'al and business opportunity. This has been the fortunate experience of William Chrystler, one of the highly respected and substantial men of LaGrange County, Indiana, whose fine farm is situated in Clay Township.

William Chrystler was born in Cattaraugus County, New York, August 7, 1852. His parents were Abraham and Martha (Bowers) Chrystler, both of whom were born in New York and were married in that state. In 1858 they moved to In- diana, urged perhaps by the needs of a growing family, and for some years lived in different sec- tions before settling in Jackson Township, Steuben

County, in the early '6os. Later the family home was near Nevada Mills. Both parents died in Steuben County. They had nine children, namely : Wesley, Henry, Martha, George, William, Helen, Amanda, Emma and Eugene. The father was an industrious man although he never accumulated a fortune. The mother taught her children to be honest and frugal and ever set them the best of examples. While never active to any extent in poli- tics, the father was a well informed man and gave his political support to the republican party because he believed in its principles.

William Chrystler was about seven years old when he had a chance to start to school in Steu- ben County, and was thirteen years old when he began work for George Twitchell. He continued to work on farms in Steuben and afterward in LaGrange County, to which he came in 1870. Here he bought land and now owns 120 acres of valu- able farming land, which lies in Clay Township. For a number of years after his marriage he con- tinued to farm and raise stock, but later, when another business opportunity was presented, he turned the management of his farm over to one of his sons. It is not so many years ago that scien- tists discovered the process of preserving green fodder for the use of stock, the building of silos being a comparatively new departure in many of the otherwise well managed farming districts. Mr. Chrystler, as an intelligent and progressive agri- culturist, has gone into the business of selling silos, and is meeting with the success so important an enterprise deserves.

On October 11, 1871, William Chrystler was mar- ried to Miss Hannah Latta, who is a daughter of Silas Latta, extended mention of whom will be found on another page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Chrystler have had ten children, as follows : Charles, whose sketch appears in this work; Wil- liam Albert, who is a farmer in Clay Township, married Clara Myers and they have two children; Mattie, who was the wife of Oliver Harding, left nine children at time of death; Samuel, who at his death left a widow, May Van Darsen; Fred, de- ceased, married Celia Paigh; Lewis, who married Eunice Baer; Julia, who is the wife of Lewis Myers; Myrtle, who is the wife of Stephen Eddy ; Cecil, who married Grace Swinehart, is living in LaGrange; and Edith, who died when five months old. Of the above family, Lewis Chrystler rents the homestead farm. In politics Mr. Chrystler and his sons are republicans, but for the last twenty years he has been active in the prohibition move- ment. Few men in this section of Indiana are bet- ter known.

ICHABOD PARSELL is the present trustee of Steuben Township, Steuben County. One of the most im- portant offices in the county government, the people of Salem Township chose Mr. Parsell for that re- sponsibility by reason of his long residence, his successful record as a farmer, and his ability and trustworthiness in every relationship of life.

M -. Parsell was born in Jackson Township of Steuben County March 4, 1864, and is a son of Ahijah D. Parsell and grandson of Moses Parsell. Moses Parsell was born February 12, 1797, and in 1838 brought his family to Steuben County, Indiana, and settled among the pioneers of Jackson Town- ship. On December 17, 1817, he married Mary Campbell, who was born September 10, 1795. She died in 1824, and in 1825 he married Hannah Crilley, who died in 1846.

Abijah D. Parsell was born in New Jersey Octo- ber 25, 1827, a child of his father's second marriage,

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and was eleven years old when the family came to Steuben County. He finished his education here in the district schools, and in 1851 married Jane T. Alcott. She was born in Ohio September 24, 1829, a daughter of Samuel and Nancy Alcott. After his marriage Abijah Parsell bought a farm in section 35 of Jackson Township, and spent over twenty years as a practical farmer. In 1872 he engaged in the produce business at Angola, remained there a year, and in 1878 resumed his connection with the mercantile interests of Angola and continued it until his death on November II, 1882. His wife passed away in 1888. Of their seven children three reached mature years : Austin M., born November I, 1855; Ichabod; and Michael A., born January 18, 1870.

Ichabod Parsell acquired part of his early educa- tion in the district schools of Jackson Township and also attended the public schools of Angola. He started life as a farmer in Salem Township, and has owned his farm in section 2 of that township for many years. He continued the active super- vision of his 130 acres until 1915, since which date he has lived in the Village of Salem. He also owns forty acres in section 35 of Jackson Township.

December 3, 1891, Mr. Parsell married Estella D. (Brown) Woodford, daughter of Samuel W. and Elizabeth (Wilson) Brown. Her first husband was Ira Woodford, and by that union she has a daugh- ter, Ruth, now the wife of Wallace D. Kinsey. Mr. and Mrs. Parsell have one son, Samuel A., who is now running his father's farm in Salem Township. Samuel married Muriel Spears and has two children, Barbara Ruth and Bettie Muriel.

Mr. Parsell was accorded the responsibilities of the office of township trustee in 1914, and after one term of four years was re-elected on his record in 1918. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church at Salem.

ELIAS C. WEMPLE has lived since early infancy in LaGrange County, grew up on a farm, adopted agriculture as his mainstay in life, and is now pro- prietor of a good farm in Johnson Township. He has fared equally well in the esteem of his com- munity, and made a splendid record during the time he served as township trustee.

Mr. Wemple was born in Schenectady, New York, December 28, 1857, son of John A. and Elizabeth (Strang) Wemple. His parents were natives of New York, and after their marriage came to In- diana in 1855. A year later they went back to their native state, and in 1859 came to Indiana, and from that time until their death lived in Clear Spring Township of LaGrange County. Five of their chil- dren are still living: Abraham, of Perry Township, Noble County ; Angelica, widow of Hiram B. Smith ; James, of Wexford County, Michigan ; Elijah P., of Topeka, Indiana; and Elias C.

Elias C. Wemple was eighteen months old when his parents came to LaGrange County, and he grew up here and was educated in the common schools. He lived at home with his parents until he was twenty-eight years old. In 1886 he married Mattie E. Baugher. She is a native of LaGrange County and made good use of her early advantages in the common schools and the Ontario Normal and for seventeen years was a successful and popular teacher. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Wem- ple began farming north of Valentine, and in 1890 moved to their present place a half mile west of that village. Mr. Wemple has 721/2 acres devoted to general farming and stockraising.

He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias Lodge and also with the Knights of the Maccabees. He

is a past chancellor and member of the Grand Lodge, and Mrs. Wemple is a past chief of the Pythian Sisters. Mr. Wemple was elected to the office of township trustee on the democratic ticket.

AARON YODER. Farming is the oldest industry, and it is one of the most important, attracting to it some of the exceptional men of the country, who recognize the fact that in it they can develop from comparative poverty to affluence provided they are willing to exert themselves and save their money. One of the leading agriculturalists of LaGrange County, who has placed himself in the front ranks of his calling through his own efforts, is Aaron Yoder, of Newbury Township. He was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, November 26, 1862, a son of Daniel and Barbara (Kauffman) Yoder,

both natives of Pennsylvania, where he died in 1886, aged sixty-one years. His widow survives him and is now eighty-one years old. Their chil- dren were as follows: Aaron, whose name heads this review; Noah, who was taken away by death in 1887; Levi, who was third in the family; Stephen; and Nathaniel. The father was a widower when he married the mother of Aaron Yoder, having been previously married to Miss Catherine Hos- tetter, and their children were as follows: Cynthia; Moses, who died at the age of twenty-six years; Josiah, who died in 1887; Daniel; and Barbara.

Growing up in his native state, Aaron Yoder at- tended its public schools, and remained at home assisting his father until he attained his majority. At that time he commenced working for the neigh- boring farmers for a year, when he moved to La- Grange County. During the two years that followed his advent in the neighborhood he worked for others, and then rented a farm for nine years, moving from it to another rented place for a year. In 1898 he bought sixty acres of land in Newbury Township, later adding forty acres to it and now has 100 acres of finely cultivated land. He has two sets of modern buildings on the place, and his farm is well improved in every way.

In 1887 Mr. Yoder was united in marriage with Amanda Hostetter, born in Pennsylvania in 1861, but brought to LaGrange County by her parents, Samuel and Sarah (Miller) Hostetter, in 1866. Mr. Hostetter is now deceased, but his widow survives and makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Yoder. Childless themselves, Mr. and Mrs. Yoder adopted a boy when he was only six weeks old and reared him. He was born November 1I, 1894, and after taking the grammar and high school courses of his neighborhood attended Goshen College, and for three winters was engaged in teaching. During the World war he was called into the service March 20, 1918, and after the preliminary training at Camp Taylor was sent to France, and was at the front when the armistice was signed. He was returned to the United States in May, 1910, and after his honorable discharge returned to the farm, where he is now engaged in assisting his father. Mr. and Mrs. Yoder are consistent members of the Men- nonite faith.

JOHN H. GEORGE. Among the men known in Stu- ben to be good, practical farmers and representative citizens is John H. George of Otsego Township. He was born in Crawford County, Ohio, February 16, 1869, a son of Robert and Anna (Smith) George, he born in Morrow County, Ohio, November 12, 1842, and she in Crawford County, Ohio, in 1848. For a time after their marriage they lived in Craw- ford County, Ohio, but in 1878 came to Steuben County, Indiana, buying forty acres near Fox Lake

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in Pleasant Township, but later went to Scott Town- ship, on eighty acres which they bought. After seHing this farm they went on the Russell farm in Steuben Township, but after four years went on another farm in the same township and conducted it for seven years. Once more they went on the Russell farm, and there Mrs. George died July 24, 1912. Robert George died in a hospital at Ann Arbor, Michigan, October 6, 1917. In politics he was a democrat, but did not aspire to office. The United Brethren Church held his membership. A level-headed man, he worked hard and did his duty as he saw it, and no man in his neighborhood was held in higher esteem. He and his wife had chil- dren as follows: Alice, who died at the age of three years; John H., whose name heads this review; W., who lives at Pleasant Lake; Dora, who is the wife of Eugene Van Auken; an unnamed infant; Elsa; Frank; two unnamed infants; and Robert.

John H. George was reared as any farmer's son of his time and locality, and received the benefits of a public school education. In February, 1909, he bought eighty acres of land in Richland Town- ship, and in 1912 made another purchase, investing in twenty acres in Otsego Township on which he now lives. In 1918 he added forty acres to his orig- inal eighty acres in Richland Township. All of the improvements on his property have been made by him and the land is very valuable, and he is a man of considerable means. In national affairs he is a democrat, but in local elections reserves the right to cast his vote for the man he deems best fitted for the office in question. Mr. George joined the Odd Fellows at Angola, later transferring to the lodge at Metz, and now belongs to Mount Pleasant Lodge No. 239, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Metz Lodge No. 2111, Knights of Pythias.

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History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 79

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