History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 80

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 80
USA > Indiana > Noble County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 80
USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 80
USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 80

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).

Having spent his life in Steuben County, Mr. George naturally is deeply interested in it and all that pertains to its welfare, being willing and ready to lend his aid to further public improvements. His family is an old and honored one in this part of the state, and its members are desirable additions to any community in which they have located, for they are upright and law abiding and thoroughly Ameri- can in every respect.

HENRY MORELAND WADE. While he owns the farm on which he lives in comfort and plenty in Springfield Township of LaGrange County, Mr. « Wade since 1905 has relieved himself largely of the responsibilities and labors of its management and is enjoying a well merited leisure during his declining years.

His family had very early and pioneer associa- tions in Northeast Indiana. However, Mr. Wade himself was born in Canada, June 23, 1844. He was five years of age when his parents returned to LaGrange County in 1849. His father, Robert Wade, was born in England and in 1829 came to America with his brothers John and Richard, lo- cating in the region around White Pigeon, Michi- gan. In 1830 Robert Wade wrote a very detailed letter back to his parents in England, giving a de- scription of the country of Southern Michigan and Northern Indiana, then practically an uninhabited wilderness. Probably through the influence of this letter his parents, Robert Wade, Sr., and wife, also came to America and spent their last years in LaGrange County. In. 1833 Robert Wade married Jane Giles. She came from England to Detroit, Michigan, with her parents in 1830, but the entire family went back to England the same year. Soon afterward they returned to the United States and settled on English Prairie in Greenfield Township,

LaGrange County. John Giles, her father, as one of the pioneers on English Prairie, made a device from stones by which he was able to grind wheat, and that was probably the first instance of flour manufacture in that community. John Giles and his wife Jane, are both buried at Old Lexington, now Brighton, in Greenfield Township.

In 1837 Robert Wade and wife removed to Can- ada and, as noted above, lived there until 1849, when they returned to LaGrange County and set- tled in Springfield Township. In 1853 Robert Wade went west to California and a few years later met his death as a passenger on the Central America, a ship which went down off the coast of Lower California. He had served as a volunteer soldier at the time of the Blackhawk Indian war in 1832. His wife died June 20, 1885, aged seventy-seven years, five months and four days. She was an active member of the Methodist Church. Robert Wade and wife had a family of eight children : Elizabeth, deceased wife of Addison Phillips; Mary Ann, deceased wife of Ahram Ackerman; John and Charles, both deceased; Ellen, who married Henry Deal; Henry M .; Sarah Jane, who was the wife of Headly Deal; and Walter, who died in in- fancy.

Henry Moreland Wade was educated in the pub- lic schools of Springfield Township, and in early youth he and his brother Charles bought out the interests of the other heirs in the old homestead. Later Henry sold his share to his brother Charles and then bought eighty acres where he is now liv- ing. His farm at the present time comprises ninety acres, forty acres in LaGrange and fifty acres in Steuben County. His farm has modern buildings and for years Mr. Wade conducted it as a high class general farm. Mr. Wade is a republican and served four years as trustee of Springfield Town- ship. He is widely known for his musical gifts and was a teacher of music for many years and was a member and for thirty years was chorister at the Springfield Church.

December 16, 1870, Mr. Wade married Mrs. Chris- tina Schreder. She was born December 28, 1837, and died April 5, 1911, aged seventy-three years, three months and .eleven days. Her first husband was George Schreder, and her two children by that union were Thomas Herbert and Mary Ma- tilda, the latter the wife of James Spero. Mrs. Schreder's maiden name was Lupton. Her father, Thomas Lupton, was a Methodist minister and also owned a farm in Lenawee County, Michigan, where he died. Rev. Mr. Lupton married a Miss Cooper.

Mr. and Mrs. Wade had two children, Effie Janet and Dr. Robert L. of Fremont, Indiana. Concern- ing this son special mention is made elsewhere. The daughter, Effie, was born September 9, 1873, on the farm where she now lives. She was edu- cated in the public schools and also studied music at Hillsdale College under Professor Chase and in Detroit under Professor Neff. On February 27, 1907, she became the wife of Henry Spears.

Mr. Spears was born January 5, 1877. He is a successful farmer, owns eighty acres of good land and also handles the Wade farm of ninety acres and lives at the Wade homestead. He is a republi- can in politics. Mr. Spears is a son of John K. and Emma (Helmer) Spears, of an interesting fam- ily of LaGrange County. John K. Spears was born in Springfield Township while his wife was a na- tive of New York. His grandparents were Tunis and Mary Spears, who came to LaGrange County in 1836. Tunis was a native of New Jersey and his wife of Connecticut. They came to LaGrange County from Ohio and took up eighty acres of government land a little north of Applemanburg.

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

This land was all under timber and Tunis Spears was busily engaged in clearing and developing it as a farm. He died in 1850 and his widow subse- quently married a Mr. Sears and died at the pres- ent site of the Village of Helmer, owning the land on which that town is built. The wife of John K. Spears was a daughter of Peter and Esther Helmer, who came from New York State about 1848 and acquired land in Milford Township, mak- ing a home in the woods, where they spent their last years. John K. Spears acquired his early edu- cation in LaGrange County and was left to shift for himself when about thirteen. He worked out for monthly wages, subsequently acquired a farm south of Milford and later lived on and owned a farm in Jackson Township of Steuben County. In 1897 he moved to the farm now owned by his son in Springfield Township and had eighty-five acres there. He was affiliated with the Knights of Pythias at Salem Center. John K. Spears and wife had eight children: Etta, Mrs. John Weber, of Salem Center; Eliza, wife of F. T. Miller, of DeKalb County ; Dora, Mrs. R. Butler, near Wol- cottville in Noble County; John Alva; Fred, of Salem Center; Clara, Mrs. Bijah Emerson, de- ceased; Henry Spears; and Harley, present county surveyor of LaGrange County.

John Alva Spears, who lives on the old Spears farm, grew up in Steuben County, later was in the meat business in Livingston County, Illinois, for three years had a market at Millersburg, Indiana, and in 1901 came to the home farm of eighty-five acres. He was one of the organizers of the Stroh Shippers Association. He is unmarried.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Spears have two children : Lillian Matilda, born April 10, 1909, and John Wade, born November 17, 1914.

NATHAN METZ, member of a very well known family of Steuben County, was born there soon after the family located in Indiana, and since early manhood has been an industrious and successful farmer, and besides making comfortable provisions for himself and family through his efforts has been honored twice with the office of trustee of Richland Township. He is still the incumbent of that office.

Mr. Metz was born in Otsego Township Septem- ber 2, 1863. His father, Christopher Metz, was born in Baden, Germany. He married in February, 1842, Eva Katherine Gretchman. She was born in Baden April 2, 1822, daughter of Carl and Marguerite Gretchman. Christopher Metz brought his family to America in 1855. They were 103 days on the ocean. One of their sons died in Germany, they buried a daughter at sea, and another daughter was buried in New York. When they embarked on the ship they carried with them supplies of clothing and other goods, but all these possessions were lost in New York. The family went on to Ohio, and about 1860 came to Otsego Township of Steuben County, where with the exception of two years Christopher Metz spent the rest of his life. His children besides those above mentioned were: Catherine and Joshua, who were born in Germany; J. H. Metz; William, Martha, and Nathan.

Nathan Metz attended district schools and fin- ished his education in the Tri-State College at Angola, graduating in the commercial department. On January 14, 1896, he married Mrs. Eugenia Morley, widow of Robert G. Morley and daughter of G. C. and Cordelia (Purvis) Cary. Her first husband, to whom she was married October 3, 1875, was Robert G. Morley, who was born in Richland Township in 1855, only son of Albert and Ruth (Dally) Morley. Albert Morley was born in New

York in 1832, of New England parentage, and his father. Ebenezer Morley, settled in Richland Town- ship of Steuben County in 1842, among the pioneers. Robert G. Morley was for several terms county surveyor of Steuben County and died July 22, 1886, when his career was especially full of promise. Mrs. Metz by her first marriage had three children : Leo R., who married Lelia Dewire; Nellie C., who is the wife of Shirley Teegardin; and Ruth Dea, who died August 22, 1889, at the age of five years.

Mrs. Metz finished her education in the Angola Academy and for about six years was a successful teacher in Steuben County. After his marriage Mr. Metz began farming on the present place in Rich- land Township, and has done much to improve and increase the value of his farm, comprising eighty- five acres in section 20. He has remodeled the barn and carries on an extensive business as a crop raiser and raiser of good livestock. Mr. Metz served about fourteen years on the Advisory Board of Richland Township, and from that position was advanced to the office of trustee of the township in 1914. He gave such good service in handling the schools and other matters entrusted to his official jurisdiction that he was re-elected in 1918. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Church and he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias at Hamilton.

G. C. Cary, father of Mrs. Metz, was born in New Jersey and in 1849 came to Richland Township and acquired some land in section 20, eventually owning a well improved farm of ninety-six acres. He was one of the early school teachers in Richland Township. He died in January, 1900, and his wife in 1909. Their children, five in number, were Lewis; Eugenia; Milton, who died at the age of twenty- three: Lizzie, who married Elmer Lees and residing in Edon, Ohio; Lutie, who married George Scott and also lives at Edon, Ohio.

JACOB J. LAMBRIGHT. To the credit of the many hard working years of Jacob J. Lambright is a farm accounted one of the best in LaGrange County, known as the Grain and Meadow Farm, comprising 190 acres in Eden Township. This beautiful country estate is five miles north and a mile and a quarter west of Topeka, and part of the land was in the old Lambright homestead where Jacob was born December 28, 1879.

He is a son of Jacob J. and Sarah (Yoder) Lam- bright. His father, a native of Germany, was brought to the United States as a boy and was bound out to a family in Ohio. After coming to Indiana he married and settled in Newbury Town- ship, but about two years later sold that place and moved to the farm where his son now lives and where he died. He had a family of four sons and four daughters, six of whom are still living: Amos and Michael, of Newbury Township; Jacob J .; Lizzie, wife of Samuel Miller; Laura, wife of David Hostettler ; and Tillie, wife of Calvin Troyer.

Jacob J. Lambright grew up on the old farm and acquired a common school education. He began working for others when about fourteen years old, and while he inherited some money, most of his property has been acquired through the intelligent effort by which he has accepted his opportunities and managed his resources.

He married Fannie Yeder, a native of LaGrange County. After their marriage they rented land one vear and then bought ninety-six acres of the old homestead. Mr. Lambright now owns altogether 3251/2 acres, having eighty acres two miles south of the homestead and 5572 acres just east. He is a republican in politics, and he and his family are members of the Amish Mennonite Church.

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

He and his wife have nine children: Jeremiah, Tobias, Ammon, Edward, Clara A., Milton, Zilma, Elsie, and Freeman.

CARMAN J. CLOSSON. There is no other line of activity which exacts such exhausting service if success is attained than that of farming, but on the other hand it richly rewards those who are willing to labor early and late for some years, enabling them to retire at an age when they are still young enough to take pleasure in other pur- suits, and give intelligent attention to civic mat- ters. Steuben County has a number of these sub- stantial men who, having accomplished their aims, are now living in enjoyment of what they earned, leaving the active operation of their lands to others. One of these retired farmers is Carman J. Closson, of Steuben Township, owner of 160 acres of very valuable farm land.

. Carman J. Closson was born in Delaware County, Ohio, September 14, 1850, a son of George W., and grandson of John Closson and his wife, Esther. George W. Closson was born in Genoa Township, Delaware County, Ohio, January 8, 1816, and was there reared and educated, and there he was mar- ried to Bertha Weeks, born in 1819. In 1852 George W. Closson and his father, John Closson, came to Steuben County, Indiana, the latter locating in Ot- sego Township, and the former in Steuben Town- ship. George W. Closson bought 160 acres of land in Steuben Township and spent the remainder of his useful life upon it. In addition he owned forty acres of land in Otsego Township, and was a man of considerable influence in his community. He and his wife had the following children: Adalaide, Mary, Edgar, Carman J., and Bertha, all of whom were carefully reared by their watchful parents, and given the advantages offered by the public schools of Steuben Township. They were taught habits of industry and thrift, and became valuable members of whatever communities they settled in.

Carman J. Closson is a farmer by inheritance and inclination, for he has always liked the work and believes that there is no other equal to it. After he grew up he assisted his father, and in 1875 began farming the homestead on his own account. In time he became its owner, and has made many im- provements upon the place, which is one of the best in the township. Here he carried on general farm- ing and stockraising and was unusually successful. He still retains his farm, although in 1911 he re- tired from the active management of it, his son-in- law, Coy Myers, attending to that for him.

On November 17, 1877, Carman J. Closson was united in marriage with Eugenia Carter, a daughter of James and Mary (Staley) Carter. Mr. and Mrs. Closson became the parents of the following chil- dren: Ruth, who is deceased, was the wife of Bart Scoville; Carrie, who married Blaine Huff- man, has two children, Esther and Russell; Lois, who died in childhood; Isabel, who married Coy Myers, has two children, Ellen and Ned; and Dorothy, who is at home. Mrs. Closson died March 18, 1914, having been a most devoted wife and mother, and she was deeply mourned by the entire neighborhood for her many noble characteristics and gentle charities. Mr. Closson has spent his entire life upon his present farm, and is proud of the fact that it has descended to him from his father. He believes in keeping these landed properties in the family, feeling that a community benefits when people keep on living in it from one generation to another. When too frequent removals are made a feeling of indifference arises, and it is difficult to maintain proper civic pride.

HON, C. H. GRUBE, former representative of De- Kalb County in the Indiana Legislature, is a farmer by occupation but has many broad interests and connections that made him truly a representative of his home locality.

He was born in Stafford Township January 6, 1888, a son of William Henry and Mary (Haas) Grube. His grandfather, Peter Grube, was born in Bavaria, Germany, December 26, 1804, and in 1835 married Elizabeth May, who was born in Bavaria in 1811. They came to the United States in 1836, in 1838 settled in Ohio and in 1843 moved to DeKalb County. Peter Grube arrived in this coun- try with only $11 in cash, and after many years of hard work had more than 200 acres of farming land. It is said that when he bought his first eighty acres he could pay only $50 in cash. He was cele- brated among the old timers for his great endurance and powers as a pedestrian. He was the father of five children: William H., Elizabeth, Peter, Kate and Jacob, all of whom are deceased with the ex- ception of William Henry.

William Henry Grube was born at Massillon, Ohio, November 25, 1842, and from the age of one year was reared in DeKalb County. He was a thresher- man for a number of years, and developed two fine farms, one of 110 acres and another of 160 acres in Stafford Township. He is also a director in the First National Bank of Butler, and has many other financial interests. He is a democrat in poli- tics and is affiliated with Forest Lodge No. 239, Free and Accepted Masons, Butler Chapter No. 106, Royal Arch Masons, Butler Council No. 83, Royal and Se- lect Masters, Apollo Commandery, No. 19, Knights Templar, and the Mystic Shrine at Fort Wayne. He has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Butler for fifty years and was instrumental in the building of the new Independent Order of Odd Fellows Building of Butler. In 1880 William Henry Grube married Mary Haas, a Cana- dian girl who came with her parents to the United States about 1870. Their oldest child, Charles, was killed in 1903 while in his junior year at Pur- due University and while on his way to Indianapolis to play football with Purdue against Indiana Uni- versity. The second is C. H. Grube. Andrew P. is a graduate of the Butler High School and now runs the old homestead.

C. H. Grube grew up on the farm, is a graduate of the Butler High School and since early man- hood has been a practical and progressive farmer. He has 102 acres of land in Stafford Township. He is also a member of the Wilmington Grange at Butler, and is president of the board of directors of the Farmers Elevator Company. He was one of the first members of the Farmers' Mutual Rod- ded Fire Insurance Company, which takes in the counties of DeKalb and Steuben. This company was organized five years ago and they now have nearly $2,000,000 of insurance. Mr. Grube has been actuary for this company for four years. He was elected to the Legislature on the democratic ticket in 1916. Mr. Grube is past master of his Masonic Lodge past high priest of the Chapter, and a mem- ber of the Council, of Royal and Select Masters, and past patron of the Eastern Star, of which Mrs. Grube is past matron. She is also a member of the Methodist Church.

In 1913 he married Garnet Brink, daughter of Frank A. Brink, a well known attorney of Butler. She was a teacher before her marriage. They have one daughter Mary M., born September 22, 1914.

Vol. II-19

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

JAMES K. DUFF, D. D. S., who has enjoyed un- usual success in his professional labors as a den- tist at LaGrange during the past ten years, is a member of an old and well known LaGrange Coun- ty family, son of William H. and Harriet (Keith) Duff. Concerning his parents and other members of the family further mention is made in other pages of this publication.

Doctor Duff was born at old Lima, now Howe, November 29, 1882. He attended the public schools of Howe to the age of nine, and then lived with his parents at LaGrange. He graduated from the LaGrange High School in 1901. For three years Doctor Duff was a rural mail carrier out of La- Grange. In 1906 he entered the Indiana Dental College at Indianapolis, and was graduated after the full course in 1909. He at once began prac- tice at LaGrange, and in his professional and through various manifestations of public spirit has closely identificd himself with his community. He is a member of the town board of LaGrange. Dur- ing the World war he was active in the Prepared- ness League of American Dentists, and served as dental member of the medical advisory board. He is a member of the American, state and local den- tal societies and the Isaac Knapp Dental Coterie of Fort Wayne. He also belongs to the Interstate Association of Anesthetists. He is a member of Sigma Delta dental fraternity. Politically Doctor Duff is a republican.

In 1909, the same year he began his professional work, he married Bess L. Gilbert, daughter of Charles A. and Vira (Hackett) Gilbert. Reference to her parents is made on other pages. Doctor and Mrs. Duff have one daughter, Gladys Betty, born July II, IQII. -

JAMES B. WATKINS. It is but seldom that a man is elected to public office unless he possesses the confidence of his fellow citizens and has proven by his life among them that he is worthy of such distinction. Thus it is that occupancy of office is usually taken as a proof of high character and ability, and when this is combined with years of successful endeavor along any one line it furnishes incontestable evidence of desirable citizenship. James B. Watkins, a native son of Steuben County, spent his life in the county, was one of the pros- perous farmers of Otsego Township, and upon sev- eral occasions was chosen by his fellow citizens for. important offices of the township and county, so that, judged by the above standards, he measured up exceedingly well among the best element of this part of the state. His death occurred on the 25th of April, 1919. .

James B. Watkins was born in Richland Town- ship, Steuben County, Indiana, February 23, 1853, a son of Simpson Watkins and grandson of Simp- son Watkins, the latter having been an extensive shipper of merchandise and produce out of New Haven, Connecticut. His children were as follows : Greenleaf, who was a pioneer of Illinois, lived to be over 108 years of age; Alonson, Oliver and Simpson.

Simpson Watkins, the younger, father of James B. Watkins, was born in New York State, where he was later married to Adelia Thompson, a daugh- ter of James and Mary (Mahetibal) Thompson. About 1836, desiring to secure Government land, Simpson Watkins came as far west as Steuben County and entered a tract in Richland Township, after which he rejoined his family in the East. In 1840 he once more made the trip to Indiana, this time bringing with him his wife and their two little daughters, coming from New York to Detroit,

Michigan, and thence the remainder of the way with teams. At Adrian it was impossible to secure horses, so oxen were hitched to the wagons, and the little party arrived in safety at the new home. There residence was maintained until about 1870, when he moved into Otsego Township and lived there for eleven years. For the subsequent ten years he was in Michigan, but then returned to Otsego Township, where he died December 23, 1901. The children born to Simpson Watkins, the younger, and his wife were as follows: Rosman; Hulda, who married Joseph Hall; Oliver; Lucretia, who died in infancy; Elonson; Victor; James B .; Homer; Willard; and Emory.

James B. Watkins attended the schools of Rich- land Township and Angola, and learned farming in all of its details from his father, and after he attained his majority he began conducting the homestead. After he had been married about four years Mr. Watkins moved on his present farm, where he afterward resided with the exception of four years when they lived at Angola during his period of service as county auditor. This farm com- prises 147 acres, on which he carried on general farming and stock raising. The original farm con- sisted of forty acres, to which Mr. Watkins added from time to time. All of the land is in a high state of cultivation except that portion reserved for pasturage, and he erected all of the buildings, as well as made other improvements, and it is now a very valuable property.

On December 27, 1877, Mr. Watkins was united in marriage with Margaretta Cruson, born in Wood County, Ohio, a daughter of Wesley and Mary Ann (Apple) Cruson, the former of whom came to Otsego Township, Steuben County, in 1864, and was engaged here in farming the remainder of his active life. He died May 8, 1917, his wife having passed away June 4, 1898. They had two children, Mar- garetta and Harlow. Mr. and Mrs. Watkins had the following children born to them: Alta, who married Charles Ransburg, and has a daughter, Pauline; Frank, who married Olive Lewis, and has a son, James Howard; and Muriel, who married Glenn Zimmerman and has a daughter, Margaretta. Mrs. Watkins belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which Mr. Watkins gave a liberal sup- port. Some years ago Mr. Watkins was elected trustee of Otsego Township, and served two terms, and later he was elected auditor of Steuben County, and discharged the duties of both offices capably and with due regard to the community's interest.

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History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 80

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