History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 82

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 82
USA > Indiana > Noble County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 82
USA > Indiana > DeKalb County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 82
USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II > Part 82

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).

Rozaiu H. Newman attended common schools in Lima and Van Buren Townships, and finished his education in the Collegiate Institute at Ontario. When a young man he bought the land included in his father's original farm a mile west of Howe, and remained there seven years. After selling that he bought eighty acres in Clay Township, and at the present time owns 200 acres of fertile and well improved land in that township. He has placed all the building improvements on the land except the barn. He was steadily identified with productive agriculture on that farm for twenty-eight years. September 6, 1906, Mr. Newman moved to La-

Grange, and for the past thirteen years has lived retired.

Mr. Newman is a republican, though he has never sought official honors. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Church. October 8, 1865, was the date of his marriage to Almeda Laughlin. She was born in Williams County, Ohio, June 23, 1848, a daughter of James and Isabel (Libey) Laughlin. In 1853 her parents moved to LaGrange County and settled on a farm in Van Buren Township, where her father died in 1863, at the age of thirty- six, and her mother on November 11, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Laughlin had nine children: Almeda; Oscar, deceased, Margaret, Lydia Ann, Mary Emma, John D., James B., Samuel and Belle.

Mr. and Mrs. Newman have been married more than half a century. Their two children were born early in their married life. Emma, born July 19, 1867, was educated in the public schools of Clay Township and the Normal School, and is the wife of Oliver Schutt. She has two sons, named Floyd and Vern. The only son of Mr. Newman is Frank Burr, born April 28, 1870. He had a good educa- tion in the local schools and is now in the shoe business at Jackson, Michigan. Frank B. Newman married Della Kimler. To their marriage were born four children, Flora, wife of Thomas Cook, Hollis, Cecil and one that died in infancy. The son Hollis entered the aviation department in the National Army in February, 1918, and was in training at the aviation field at Lake Charles, Louisiana, and later at San Antonio, Texas, where he was honorably discharged in April, 1919. The son Cecil has had a very interesting army experience. He joined the regular army in 1917, and was on the Mexican border, participating in the expedition under General Pershing in the pursuit of Villa. Later he went to France with General Pershing as a member of Company G in the First Division. He participated in many battles, in the great conflict of the Argonne Forest. He was wounded in the left leg and the right hand and was also gassed. He received his honorable discharge in March, 1919. Cecil Newman married Beatrice Minnich, a daughter of Charles Minnich, of Ontario, Indiana.

FRANK H. CHADWICK. A veteran merchant, a citizen whose public spirit has entered into and inspired every worthy community enterprise for years, Frank H. Chadwick is one of Steuben Coun- ty's foremost men of affairs and has lived in this section of Northeast Indiana all his life.

He was born in Jamestown Township of Steuben County October 23, 1854. His grandfather, Andrew Chadwick, was a native of New York State, and was an early settler in Northern Ohio at Perrys- burg, where he died when his children were very young. He left children named John, Charles, Samuel, Rowena, who married William Maholm, Samantha, who became the wife of Hiram Wake- field, and Harriet, who married William Haynes. His widow afterward married a Mr. Pratt and be- came the mother of a daughter named Ann, who married Fred Birdick.

John Chadwick, father of the Steuben County merchant, was born in Ohio June 25, 1825, and was a small boy when his father died. He married Abigail Saxon, a native of New York State. John Chadwick was one of the men who helped clear the wilderness of Steuben County. He arrived here in 1848 and bought eighty acres of woodland in Jamestown Township at $1.25 an acre. About 1859 he moved to Clear Lake Township, on another farm of eighty acres, and in 1863 to a farm two miles north of Angola in Pleasant Township. It was on

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

that land that he built his first frame house, his previous residences having been the typical log cabin. Mrs. Abigail Chadwick died June 18, 1865, soon after removing to Pleasant Township. About 1868 John Chadwick moved to a farm two and a half miles southeast of Angola in Steuben Town- ship, and in 1874 left this county, going to Branch County, Michigan, and locating on the main road between Coldwater and Quincy. In 1880 he sold his Michigan farm and after spending one year in Missouri went to Osage County, Kansas, and about 1800 moved to a small farm near Topeka and a year later to Potawattamie County in that state. Upon the death of his second wife, Jane Owen, he re- turned to Topeka, spent two years in the home of a daughter, and then returned to Steuben County and lived with his son Frank H. the rest of his life. He died October 1, 1909. By his marriage with Abigail Saxon he had four children, namely: John, who died in infancy; Ethel R., wife of Ezra Haw- ley; Frank H .; and Fred N. He also had four children by his second marriage; Mabel, wife of Nelson McConnell, Pearl H., Lynn and Alice. John Chadwick was for a number of years affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Angola.

Frank H. Chadwick acquired a good education, attending public schools, including the high school at Angola, and after completing high school he taught one term in Jamestown Township during the winter of 1872-73. His career as a merchant began on the 23rd of March, 1873, more than forty-five years ago, when he was assigned duties as a clerk for. the well known old time firm of Scoville & Latson. He remained in their store three years and on April 12, 1876, removed to Pleasant Lake and began a general merchandise business which has grown and prospered through more than forty years of active management. The firm was originally Chadwick & Company, engaged in general mer- chandise and the produce business. The silent partner of the firm for fourteen years was Henry Linder. Afterward the business was reorganized and became Chadwick, Ransburg & Company, Mr. Linder remaining in the firm until his death in 1906, and Mr. Chadwick then bought his interests and the firm has since been Chadwick & Ransburg. This is the old reliable and largest store for gen- eral merchandise in the little city of Pleasant Lake. Mr. Chadwick has distinguished himself as a man of unusual business ability, and in all his affairs has been very systematic and efficient.

In 1914 he was one of the organizers of the First State Bank of Pleasant Lake, which was opened for business November 1, 1914. Mr. Chadwick is vice president. He has served as deacon and trus- tee of the First Baptist Church of Pleasant Lake, and from 1902 to January, 1919, was superintendent of its Sunday school. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Angola.

October 24, 1875, Mr. Chadwick married Miss Arletta S. Snyder, daughter of John and Cornelia Snyder. They became the parents of three children : Carl D., who died when about two years old, Jolin Guy and Ray D. John Guy is a resident of Pleasant Lake and is a traveling salesman for a New York wholesale honse. He married Ethel Lemon, and has three children, named Robert, Joyce and Frank D. Ray D. Chadwick married Agnes Rose, of Lexington, Kentucky, and they have two children, named Judith and Ann. Ray Chadwick is a very successful educator with some unusual experience as a school administrator, and in 1916 he was called to the Morgan Park School at Duluth, Minnesota, as its principal to organize and introduce the Gary school system there.

Mr. and Mrs. Chadwick were born on the same day and their first child was born on their birthday. Mr. Chadwick had the misfortune to lose his wife after they had been married more than forty years, on January 14, 1916. He married for his present wife Mrs. Nellie L. McElhennie, of Montpelier, Ohio.

CHARLES WOLF. The well-directed labors of Charles Wolf, one of the progressive and energetic representatives of LaGrange County, is represented in the ownership of a handsome property in John- son Township, all of which stands as a monument to his hard work and his career, which he began as a farm hand and continued as a renter until he was able to become a land owner. Mr. Wolf is classified as a general farmer, and is also a successful breeder of Belgian horses.

He was born in Orange Township of Noble County March 27, 1866, a son of Washington and Rebecca (Keefer) Wolf. His father was born in Stark County, Ohio, in 1837, and his mother in Pennsylvania in 1843. The family came to Noble County, Indiana, in early days, where Washington Wolf spent his active career as a farmer. He was a democrat, and by his first marriage was the father of four children, three of whom are still living, Charles; William, a farmer in Orange Township; and Eugene, a farmer in the same locality. By his second marirage he had two children, Harvey and Erie.

Charles Wolf grew up at the old home farm, ac- quired a district school education, and on January 27, 1887, married Lucetta Keck. She was born in Orange Township April 10, 1866.

Mr. and Mrs. Wolf had practically no capital when they were married. He supported his family hy working out at day wages for fourteen years. He then became a renter in Johnson Township, and for several years rented the farm which he now owns, comprising 147 acres. He also owns thirty- two acres in another tract.

Mr. and Mrs. Wolf are the parents of ten chil- dren : Arthur, Claude, Inez, Hilda, Ross, Mary, Lester, Russell, Hester and Paul.

EDWIN BALL. The Ball family is one of the old established ones of Steuben County, and its repre- sentatives have been connected with agricultural pur- suits since locating in Indiana. One of the present members of this family, who is well known and highly esteemed in his neighborhood, is Edwin Ball, a prosperous farmer of Pleasant Lake, Steuben Township, where he was born October 23, 1863, a son of Augustus V. Ball.

Augustus V. Ball was born in Ontario County, New York, May 24, 1818, and died May 14, 1907. He was a son of Gideon Ball, the founder of the family in Steuben County, who was born at Gran- ville, Massachusetts, December 27, 1785. When he was still a child the parents of Gideon Ball took him to Eastern New York, and located at the mouth of Catskill Creek, on the Hudson River. Still later removal was made to Ontario County. There Gideon Ball was married to Lydia Dodge, born at Wiscassit, Maine, July 6, 1794, but taken to Ontario County, New York, by her parents while yet a little girl. In 1832 Mr. Ball came west to Sandusky, Ohio, and in 1835 to Steuben County, Indiana, where he en- tered about 900 acres of wild land in Otsego, Steu- ben and Salem townships. Having thus prepared for his family, he brought them to the new home May 24, 1836. For many years after locating in Steuben County Gideon Ball was engaged in buying and selling land, and usually was successful, so when he died he was a man of considerable means.

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

At his death, in July, 1870, he was survived by eight children, all but the youngest being natives of New York. These children were as follows: Sheldon, Augustus V., Julius, Edwin, Frank, Charlotte, Demia, and Emeline.

Augustus V. Ball was eighteen years old when he came with the rest of the family to Steuben County, and until he was twenty-four years of age he assisted his father in clearing the land. In that year he spent a summer season cod fishing at Hud- son Bay. Upon his return he cleared a farm for himself and conducted it for a time, but then moved to Pleasant Lake and engaged in merchandising until 1865, and in that year moved on a farm of 164 acres in sections 23 and 14. This gave him two farms, aggregating 274 acres. Augustus V. Ball was married to Emeline Stuttler, born July 31, 1843, a daughter of William and Sarah Reber Stuttler. Mr. and Mrs. Augustus V. Ball became the parents of three children, Edwin, Theda, and Dora, but the last named died at the age of nineteen years. Mrs. Ball died August 8, 1909.

Edwin Ball attended the public schools of Pleas- ant Lake and until he attained his majority he as- sisted in the work of the homestead .. After he was twenty-one years old he began buying land for himself, now owning 266 acres, a portion of which formed his father's homestead, on which he has practically spent all of his life. Here he carries on general farming and stock-raising. For many years he has been regarded as one of the progressive agriculturalists of his township, and he has been very successful in his operations.

On February 16, 1892, Mr. Ball was united in marriage with Zora Lemon, a daughter of J. B. and Celesta (Carter) Lemon. Mr. and Mrs. Ball have one son, Wayne E. Well known as a Mason, Mr. Ball belongs to the local lodge of that order. He fully realizes the importance of his calling, espe- cially now when the raising of food occupies so much attention, and is proud of the fact that he and his have been connected with agricultural pursuits. Never caring to enter the political arena, Mr. Ball has nevertheless done his duty as a citizen and given his support to men and principles which best meas- ured up to his ideals of Americanism. Having lived in Steuben County all his life he is naturally inter- ested in everything connected with its progress, and can be counted upon to lend assistance to any move- ment which has for its object the advancement of local improvements. His excellent judgment on agricultural matters has caused him to be accepted as an authority, and his advice is oftentimes sought by those less experienced than he.

ABRAHAM OTT has had a long and prosperous career as a farmer in Noble County, and his at- tractive and valuable home is in Noble Township, where he has lived for thirty-five years.

He was born in Green Township of the same county October 24, 1856, a son of Jesse and Dica (Brown) Ott, both natives of Preble County, Ohio. His father who was born in 1822, grew up and mar- ried in Ohio, and about 1850 brought his family to Indiana and settled in Green Township of Noble County. He was one of the early settlers and was a man who well earned the rich esteem which he enjoyed in his community. He was one of the first members of the Christian Church in his neighbor- hood and for many years a trustee. Of the family of eight children seven are still living. Cornelius, a farmer in Noble Township; Amanda J., wife of William Clucus; John, a farmer in Noble Township; George W., deceased; Fred, a farmer in Green Township; Abraham; and Eli, of Whitley County.

Abraham Ott had his childhood experiences on the home farm in Green Township and was educated in the district schools there. After attaining man's es- tate he farmed the homestead two years. In May, 1882, he married Jane Harlan, a sister of Samuel F. Harlan. For two years after their marriage they lived in Whitley County, and then came to their present home of 160 acres in Noble Township. Mr. Ott conducts this farm as a general crop proposi- tion and is also a successful stock raiser. He and his family are members of Miriam Christian Chapel, of which he is one of the trustees. In politics he is a republican.

He and his wife had eight children, seven of whom are still living : Dica, wife of Raymond Reed; Agnes E .; Levi, of Columbia City; Ethel, wife of Fay Conrad; Sula and Ruth, both at home; and Harlan Zay, who attended high school one year. The deceased child is John, who died aged eighteen months.

WILLIAM C. PATTERSON, one of Angola's most prominent merchants and business men, and repre- sentative of an old family in Steuben County, was born at Angola, December 24, 1863, a son of Robert and Amanda (Mallory) Patterson. His mother, who is still living, was born in Vermont in 1828. . Robert Patterson came to Steuben County from Ashland County, Ohio, and for many years was a merchant at Angola. He built the block where Frank E. Burt now has his jewelry store. His death occurred in Angola in 1870. They had four children : Charles, who died at the age of four years, Frank, who died when twenty-four years of age, William C. and Fred R.

William C. Patterson attended the public schools of Angola and began his business career as clerk for A. H. Brokan, a grocer. Later he became asso- ciated with S. R. Latson in the dry goods trade, and was with him from 1880 to 1888. In the latter year he bought out his employer and soon afterward formed a partnership association with his brother Fred. They have kept their business growing and expanding until the Patterson department store is now one of the best and most reliable sources for high grade merchandise and mercantile service in Northeast Indiana.

Mr. Patterson is a republican and an Odd Fellow and a member of the Congregational Church. Janu- ary 29, 1889, he married Luna Weaver, who was born in Kosciusko County, Indiana, a daughter of Jonathan and Elmira Weaver. Mr. and Mrs. Pat- terson had three sons, the first dying in infancy. The other two are Robert G. and Ralph W. Robert G., born August 26, 1892, is a graduate of the Angola High School and the Indiana State Uni- versity, and left his father's business to join the officers' training camp at Fort Benjamin Harrison, where he was commissioned a second lieutenant. He went with the Eighty-Fourth Division to France and participated in the record of that division of the Expeditionary Forces. Ralph W. Patterson was born April 3, 1897, was educated in high school and the' Tri-State College, and is now an assistant in his father's store.

ROY E. ROZELL. One of the substantial men of Otsego Township, who is now serving as trustee of his township, was born here December 16, 1876, a son of Charles O. and Sarah C. (Lininger) Rozell, and grandson of David C. Rozell, a native of New Jersey. When the latter was still a little boy his parents migrated as far west as Ohio, and he, in 1849, animated by the same venturesome spirit, crossed the plains to California in search of gold,

GEORGE M. DITMARS AND FAMILY

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HISTORY OF NORTHEAST INDIANA

making the return trip by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and New York City. While he was suc- cessful in his search for gold, he was unfortunate enough to deposit his fortune in an unreliable Cali- fornia bank, and lost it when that institution col- lapsed. Upon his return he went into the woods of Michigan, near the present City of Saginaw, where he lived until 1870, at which time he came to Steuben County, Indiana, buying a farm in Otsego Township, where he lived until his death. He had three children by his first marriage, namely : Horace, Charles O. and Cordelia. After the death of the first Mrs. Rozell, Mr. Rozell was married to Mary E. Todd.

Charles O. Rozell was born near Fremont, Ohio, September 25, 1849, and died March 9. 1906. His wife was born in Otsego Township December 24, 1851, and died May 3, 1911. She was a daughter of John and Elizabeth Lininger, the former of whom was born in Stark County, Ohio, February 7, 1824, the fourth in the family of nine children born to Samuel and Catherine Lininger. The Lininger fam- ily came to Hancock County, Ohio, in 1839. John Lininger was married August 26, 1849, to Elizabeth Dotts, born in Stark County, Ohio, and their chil- dren who grew to maturity were as follows: Sarah C., John A., Francis M. and Perry. After the death of the first Mrs. Lininger, John Lininger was mar- ried to Mrs. Amelia (Taylor) Cleveland, and their children were as follows: Sylvia A., Elmer, Luella and Nettie. In 1850 John Lininger came to Indiana and spent that winter in Noble County, but the subsequent spring came to Steuben County, locating on eighty acres of land that was heavily covered with timber, in section 5, Otsego Township, later increasing this homestead to 120 acres, and in addi- tion to it he owned forty acres in Pleasant Town- ship, all of which he cleared and developed. In 1862 he enlisted for service during the Civil war in the Twenty-Ninth Indiana Infantry, but was honorably discharged in a few months on account of ill health. His politics were those of a re- publican. Fraternally he belonged to Angola Lodge No. 180, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Charles O. Rozell was engaged in farming during all of his mature years, first on rented property, and later on his own farm of 160 acres in Otsego Town- ship. He and his estimable wife had the following children : Ora, who died in childhood; Roy E., whose name heads this review; Ray O., who lives near Hillsdale, Michigan; Glen C., who is a farmer of Otsego Township.

Roy E. Rozell grew up in his native township and laid the foundations for higher educational advantages in the district schools, later becoming a student of the Tri-State College at Angola. Subsequently he became one of the popular educa- tors of Steuben County, teaching for four consecu- tive years. From 1901 to 1909 Mr. Rozell was con- nected with the Government service as an employe of the postoffice of Toledo, Ohio, but in the latter year located on his present farm, which he owns. There are 105 acres in this homestead and it is a part of section 8, Otsego Township. In addition Mr. Rozell is serving as secretary of the Co-opera- tive Shippers' Association of Hamilton, Indiana, shippers of live stock. Mr. Rozell was chosen by his fellow citizens on November 5. 1918, to repre- sent their interests as a trustee of Otsego Township, which office he is still holding.

On April 28, 1898, Mr. Rozell was united in mar- riage with Jessie M. Williams, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Williams. Mr. and Mrs. Rozell have had the following children born to them: Letha G., who was graduated from the Angola High School,

attended the Tri-State College of Angola, graduated from that institution, and she is now engaged as a teacher of the Hamilton, Indiana, High School; Leon E., who is a student of the Angola High School; Alice P .; and Sarah J. Mr. Rozell is well known as a Mason. He is a man of pleasing per- sonality, and his varied experience has taught him to be an excellent judge of men and cor ditions. As a farmer he is making a record for himself, as he has in other lines in which he has been engaged, and is justly regarded as one of the most representa- tive citizens of Steuben County.

NELSON BAUGHER is an honored veteran of the Civil war, and for sixty years has lived in one locality of LaGrange County. He and his brother Isaac are bachelor brothers who have always re- mained together, have kept their home in common, and have shared many of their business and other interests.

Nelson Baugher was born in Chester Township of Wabash County, Indiana, February 28, 1842, a son of Jesse and Clarinda (Tindle) Baugher. His father, a native of Rockingham County, Virginia, was married in Wabash County, Indiana, and after some years there moved to Whitley County, where in re- turn for clearing forty acres of land he received a like amount of wild land. Later he sold that and bought eighty acres on section 4, Johnson Township, LaGrange County, and there spent the rest of his life. He was born in 1813 and died in 1894. He was very hard working, but never attained any degree of wealth. He was a republican, and he and his wife were active members of the Christian Church. In the family were twelve children, only three. of whom are living today: Nelson; Mattie E., wife of Elias C. Wemple; and Isaac W. Isaac was. born in the . residence of Rev. Squire Rowe, in Johnson Township, April 22, 1858, and is still living in the house. that was his birthplace.

Nelson Baugher grew up on a farm, and had little opportunity to attend school, his services be- ing required at home as soon as his strength per- mitted him to work in the fields. On September 28, 1864, he was called upon to shoulder arms in defense of the Union, and served with a Union regiment until mustered out in June, 1865. He reached home July 3d of that year, and it may be said that from that time to the present he has had no other outside interests than that constituting his farm and the immediate locality. His brother Isaac is a member of and has filled some of the chairs in LaGrange Lodge No. 144, Knights of Pythias, and Nelson is a member of both the lodge and encamp- ment of the Odd Fellows and has taken the Re- hekah degrees. Both brothers are republicans and Nelson served a number of years as supervisor. He is also affiliated with the Grand Army Post of LaGrange. The brothers own ninety-eight acres of land.

GEORGE M. DITMARS since early manhood has car- ried on the operations of the old Ditmars home- stead in Jackson Township of DeKalb County. He is the only son of the late Isaac Ditmars, who owned and developed this farm. The Ditmars farm is two miles southwest of Auburn.

George M. Ditmars was born in Keyser Township of DeKalb County August 1, 1869, a son of Isaac and Martha (George) Ditmars. His parents are both natives of Ohio, his father of Holmes County. The Ditmars and George families came to DeKalb County in the early days, and Isaac spent his life as a farmer. He died in 1919 and his wife in 1906. He had served as a soldier in the Union army dur- ing the Civil war and was an active member of the

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History of Northeast Indiana : LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Volume II, Part 82

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