USA > Indiana > St Joseph County > History of St. Joseph County, Indiana > Part 77
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John S. Massey was born in Indiana in 1843, the son of A. W. and Elizabeth (Smith) Massey. mother a native of Pennsylvania, and father of Indiana, and both of Scotch descent. Ile received his education in the common schools in this county; was married Dec. 19, 1855, to Mary Aun Ilatfield, and they have had 4 children, all of whom are living. Mrs. M. is a native of Michigan. Mr. M. has been a successful farmer. We have an example of his farming in his wheat crop of 1879. He had 15 acres of wheat that yielded 50 bushels per acre. Ile owns 70 acres of land for which he paid at the rate of $100 per acre, and his neighbor has offered bim $120 per acre. In polities Mr. M. is a Republican. P. O., New Carlisle.
James Mc Collum, grocer and Postinaster, Terre Coupee, was born in New York Nov. 17, 1806, and is the son of James and Lney (Print) MeCollum, father of Scotch descent, and mother a na- tive of Connecticut; early education only in the subscription schools of New York; was on a farm until 20 years of age; worked at the tailor's trade 20 years, then became a partner in a grocery at Terre Compee, which he is still conducting; came to this county in 1840; in 1832 he married Mary Minerva Badger, and they have no chil- dren. Mrs. McC. is a member of the P. E. Chinreh. Politically
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
Mr. McCollum is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Gen. Jack- son; has been Postmaster 10 years, and Justice of the Peace.
Perry McDonald, farmer, scc. 3, was born in the State of New York in 1841, the son of Michael and Mary (O'Daniel) McDonald, natives of Ireland, father a pioneer in this county and killed in 1864 in the war. Perry's education was limited to the pioneer schools of this county. In 1865 he married Mary Myler, and they have one son and 2 daughters. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church, and he is a Republican. He has occupied his present residence about 10 years, and has a well-improved farm.
Dr. Thomas T. McDonald was born Nov. 5, 1832, in Clark connty, Ohio, and is the son of J. B. and Sarah McDonald, the former a native of Maryland, and the latter of Kentucky. He came with his parents to La Porte county in 1836, and was prin- cipally raised on the farm and received his education in the common schools, and began teaching at the age of 22, which vocation he followed for ten years; during this time he began the study of medicine under Mr. J. M. Hunt, who died after a few months. Young McDonald pursued his studies unaided until the winters of 1863-'4 and 1864-'5, at which time he attended the Rush Medical College in Chicago. He began the practice of medicine in 1864, however, in what is now Lincoln tp., and in 1866 he came to New Carlisle, where he has been located ever since, and where he has steadily followed his profession, thus far, with reasonable success. The Dr. married Miss Hattie A. Higgins Nov. 6, 1866, a native of Ottawa county, Ill., born March 31, 1840; 5 of their 6 children are living, to-wit: Ella G., Harry H., Edith M., L. G. and Annie Lois. Dr. McDonald served as School Trustee and was elected to the office of Tp. Trustee, which office he is holding at present. Mrs. Mc- Donald is a member of the Presbyterian Church. P. O., New Carlisle.
Rev. W. P. Mckinsey was born in Rockbridge county, Va., Ang. 17; 1837; moved to this State with his father and family in 1849; joined the M. E. Church at Thorntown, Ind., Nov. 19, 1858; Educated at the common schools of Virginia and Indiana, and at the Thorntown Academy, then nnder the presidency of Rev. C. N. Sims, D. D .; served nearly four years in the 40th Reg. Ind. Vol. Inf., in suppressing the Rebellion, first for eight months as First Surgeon of Co. A, and then for 18 months as First Lieutenant of the same Co., the most of the time in command; then for 20 months as Quartermaster of the Regiment; licensed to preach at Stockwell, Ind., in August, 1868, and the following October was sent by Rev. S. D. Cooper, P. E., as preacher in charge of Star City Circuit; has served the following Churches: Star City, one year, Fulton, one year; Hebron, two years; State Line, one year; James- town, one year; Westville, three years; and New Carlisle, three years. ". Mr. McK. was married Oct. 3, 1865, Miss Anna Cones, of Thorntown, Ind.
781
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
Fred G. Miller, farmer, sec. 4, was born in Germany in 1835, son of Samuel Miller; received his education in the high schools of Germany; came to La Porte county, Ind., in 1854, since which time he has been farmer and contractor. In 1857 he married Amelia G. Gulback, and of their 9 children 7 are living, 4 boys and 3 girls. Mr. M. has been successful in business; at the present time he owns a saw-mill and 264 acres of land; has owned 1,000 acres, and been more extensively engaged in the land business than now; has sold his timber mostly to railroad companies; in 1865 he brought a number of Polanders into this section of the country, and is still importing them; there are now about 35 families of them in this tp., industriously clearing the marsh timber, and having farms of 20 to 80 acres each. Mr. M. is a Democrat, and he and his wife are members of the German Reform Church.
Isaac Newton Miller, farmer, sec. 3, was born in this connty in German tp., Nov. 3, 1835, and is the son of William and Mary Miller, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Indiana, who started the " Miller Settlement" in German tp. in 1830; Mr. M. became a wealthy and influential man, and served two terms in the Legislature of this State. Mr. I. N. Miller received his educa- tion in the common schools and Wabash College; is a remarkably successful farmer, as was his father, and has the best peach orchard in this tp .; he is a cheerful, free-hearted and obliging gentleman, and his neighbors say that he makes more money than any of them. He is a brother of Maj .- Gen. Miller, of California. He ran a mill in South Bend two years, and did not succeed well; he then doubled his diligence, went to farming, and at present owns 240 acres of land; for the last five years he has raised 120 acres of wheat, which has averaged 20 bushels per acre. March 25, 1858, he married Miss Ritter, a daughter of Jacob Ritter, who also settled here in 1830. They have 3 sons and one daughter. Mr. M. is a thorough Repub- lican, and was president of the Garfield and Arthur club in New Carlisle.
Jens Morton, born in Denmark in 1836, is the son of Jenson Morton; parents natives of Denmark; commenced to learn the blacksmith's trade while in Denmark; emigrated to America when 17 years old, and completed his trade at La Porte, Indiana. His education is limited to the common schools in Denmark. He was married in 1863 to Sarah Findley, a native of Indiana. Her mother was one of the pioneers of this county, settled as early as 1836. They have only one child, Freddie Morton, born in 1865. Mr. and Mrs. M. are members of the Christian Church at New Carlisle. In politics, Mr. M. is a Republican. He came to this connty in 1875; was in Colorado three years. He owns 80 acres of good land, which he has himself earned.
H. M. Nickerson, farmer and stock raiser on sec. 15, was born in Warren county, Ohio, in 1833. He is the son of Benjamin and Maria (Williams) Nickerson, of English descent; received his edu- cation in the common schools in St. Joseph county, Ind .; emigrated
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
with his parents to this county in 1837, and has lived here ever since. From the age of about 16 to 18 he worked at blacksmith- ing. He was married in 1855 to Rebecca Compon, and of their 12 children, 9 are living. He and his wife are both consistent mem- bers of the Christian Church. He has been a Trustee; in politics he is a Democrat; has held the office of Supervisor for six years. He has been a successful farmer, and is the owner of 175 acres of land.
Hurtain Proud, farmer, sec. 27, was born in Ohio Nov. 7, 1831, the son of the next mentioned; was brought to this county when four or five years old, by his parents; educated in the common schools of this county; married the first time to Julia Haines, June 16, 1861, and they had 3 sons and one daughter; she died in Feb- ruary, 1877, and Mr. P. subsequently married the widow of Frazy Carr. Mr. P. is a Democrat, and is now School Director in his distriet.
Joseph Proud, farmer, sec. 22, was born in Ohio April 19, 1808, and is the son of Peter and Abigail (Turner) Proud, natives of New Jersey, and of German descent; educated in the subscription schools of Warren county, Ohio; moved to this vicinity in 1835, where he has lived ever since. June 5, 1829, he married Harriet Woolsey in Warren county, Ohio, and of their 12 children, 8 are living, 4 boys and 4 girls, all married except the 4th son, Joseph, who is living on his father's farm and does most of the business ; his father is a little deaf. All the children are living in this State except Jesse, who is married and lives in Michigan. Mr. P. is a Democrat.
Henry B. Ranstead, farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 13; P. O., Terre Coupee; was born in this State in 1829, the son of Henry A. and Anna (Bell) Ranstead, father a native of Massachusetts, and mother of New York; the latter is still living, at the age of 84. The subject of this sketch was brought to this county in 1834 by his parents; was educated in the common schools of this State; has followed farming all his life. In 1850 he married Jane Fox, and they have had 5 children, 3 of whom are living. Mr. R. owns 1,000 acres of land in this county, 700 of which is good farming land; he has also a fine residence, good out-buildings, etc. He is a Freemason and a Republican.
Prof. Albert E. Rowell, principal of the New Carlisle public school, was born in the State of New York July 22, 1823, and is the son of Asahel and Phoebe (Lunt) Rowell; received his education in the common schools and Monroe (N. Y.) Academy; he was en- deavoring to obtain a regular collegiate education, when the death of his father, just before he was ready to enter college, compelled him to take the responsibility of the family; his father was a farmer and teacher; commenced teaching at 17 years of age and followed the profession until he was 30. Prof. R. has been a diligent student all his life; five of his brothers and sisters are living and have all been teachers; he has taught regularly every year since he was 32,
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
namely, in New York, Michigan, Illinois and this State. He taught at Battle Creek, Mich., nine years in one building; indeed, his ex- perience and qualifications are so great that many parties propose him for State Superintendent of Public Instruction; in New York he was a Superintendent of schools, and in Michigan, School In- spector.
He was married the first time to Celinda Eckler, and they have had 2 children; one is married and resides in the State of New York. Mrs. R. died, and subsequently. Prof. R. married Harriet L. Beman; they are members of the Congregational Church, in which denomination the professor has acted as Deacon. Mrs. R. is also teaching in the same building where her husband is engaged.
George HI. Service, banker, merchant and grain-dealer, New Carlisle, was born in this county in 1848, and is the son of J. II. and Sarah (Flanegan) Service; received his education in the high schools of this county; was married in 1846 to Mary J. Hews, a native of this State, and they have 2 daughters: Clara Lucille and Anna L. Mr. S. is a very prominent business man; last year, 1879, he bought and shipped a million bushels of wheat, besides attend- ing to his mercantile and banking business, buying other grain, etc. He was recently very active in establishing the water-works of New Carlisle, and inany of his opponents have since seen the wisdom of his course. See page 770. Mr. S. is a Republican, a prominent Freemason, and a member of the Baptist Church.
J. H. Service, banker, New Carlisle, was born in the State of New York Nov. 15, 1812, and is the son of Philip and Clara (Hall) Service, natives also of New York, father of German and mother of English ancestry; received his education in the common schools of his native State, followed the farm with his parents until 22 years of age, and then settled in New Carlisle, where he has accumulated a handsome fortune. He started in life as a poor boy, worked at brick-making two years, kept store in New Carlisle 30 years, except 1843-'6 he was in Buchanan; the last four years he has followed banking. He is one of the most influential men of the community, and has represented this county one term in the Legislature, but he usually declines public offices, preferring the energies of a busi- ness life. In 1847 he married Sarah A. Flanegan, and they have 2 sons and 2 daughters, all married except the younger son, who is still at home.
Peleg Slocum, deceased, was a prominent farmer in this tp .; he was born July 28, 1807, in New York, of German ancestry; he had good mechanical abilities, and worked at the carpenter's and shve- maker's trades and at farming, in the latter of which he was very successful; he owned 400 acres of good land here at one time, and even more. Aug. 29, 1840, he married Mary Egbert, daughter of Cornelius and Rachel Egbert, pioncers of this county, and of their 8 children 5 are living and married. Mr. S. was politically a Democrat, and a faithful man; died June 24, 1862. Mrs. S. is living on the home place with her youngest daughter.
784
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
David Smith, farmer, sec. 8; P. O., Dayton, Mich .; was born in Ohio in 1821, the son of Jonathan and Nancy (Miller) Smith, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent, and members of the Dunkard Church; father a successful farmer, worth atone time $30,000. David was educated in Portage tp., and in 1869 he settled in this tp .; has been a farmer all his life, with success, as he has raised his fortune from nothing to 315 acres of land, 200 of which is the very finest. In 1843 he married Permelia Jane Massey, and of their 5 children 3 are living; shedied in 1857, and in 1859 Mr. Smith married Mary Jane Gates, and they have 4 children living. Mrs. G. is a member of the Dunkard Church, and Mr. G. in politics is a Repub- lican.
Henry Smith, farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 20; P. O., New Carlisle; was born in this county in 1850, the son of Jonathan and Susannah J. (Runion) Smith, of German ancestry; educated in the common schools; was married in 1872 to Susannah Gogley. Mr. Smith owns 226 acres of land, and in politics is a Democrat. His father, a pioneer in this county, is still living, a wealthy farmer, having owned at one time as much as 800 acres of land. He is a liberal man.
Job Smith, born in New Jersey in 1813; he is the son of Job and Rachel (Rodgers) Smith, father of English and mother of Ger- man and English descent. They were natives of New Jersey. He never attended school a day in his life, but can read, and says he could have made himself a good scholar after he was grown up. His mother died in 1815. When he was 14 years old he started ont to make his own way through the world, but was to give his father all he made except what it took to clothe him till he was 21 years old, which was about one half of what he could make. He came to Indiana when he was 19 years old, and worked in the country the first year; the next year he worked for John Rush; the next summer came to Terre Coupee Prairie, where he has lived ever since. He was married in 1834, to Elizabeth Laneaster; they commenced to keep house with $12 worth of household furniture, and slept on a one-legged bedstead made by building in the corner of the house. They have one child, a girl, married and living in Mis- souri at present. Mrs. S. died in 1844. He was again married in 1851, to Mrs. Little, whose maiden name was Martha Ann Green, and they have 9 children, 5 of whom are married. Mr. S. is a far- mer, and owns 255 acres of good land. He was here when all the wheat was cut by hand, all grass cut with a scythe, single-shovel plows, all the honses made of logs, clapboard roof and puncheon floors; if a man was more than two days building, he would be called lazy or very slow. He was formerly a Whig, but is now a Republican in politics, has been Supervisor; never wore any cloth- ing except home-made till he was 17 years old. It was 25 years after he came to this connty before he saw any of his relatives, then he went baek among them. He is a liberal and kind-hearted man, and is mueh respected by his neighbors.
785
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
James Swank, born in the State of Ohio, in 1844, is the son of Peter and Elizabeth (Cramer) Swank, mother native of New Jer- sey, and father of Pennsylvania. He came to this county in 1850, and lived here until his death, which occurred in 1880. Mr. S. received his education in the common schools in this county, is a farmer on sec. 15, where he owns a farm of 40 acres of land. He was married in 1868 to Martha Fisk, a member of the United Brethren Church. They have 2 children. Mr. S. is a Democrat. P. O., New Carlisle.
E. C. Taylor was born Dec. 9, 1832, in Champaign county, Ohio, and is the son of Levi and Sarah Taylor, the former a native of Virginia, and latter of New York. His grandfather was one of Ohio's first settlers. Mr. T. was reared on the farm to the age of 16 or 18, at which time he began clerking and continued this business until he became of age, when he and a Mr. Parker formed a part- nership in the dry-goods business at North Louisburg, Ohio, and after a short time they moved their stock of goods to Kingston, where they took a third partner, H. B. Evans, and followed mer- chandising business for about one year, when they removed their store to Allen county, where Mr. Taylor sold his interest and began farming, which he followed in summer and clerked in winter; this he followed from 1854 to 1858, at which time he migrated to Berrien county, Mich., where he resided until Nov., 1864, at which time he located in this place and opened a store consisting of gro- ceries, provisions, flour, salt, queen's-ware, glassware, stone-ware, wooden-ware, notions, confectioneries, school books and stationery. Mr. Taylor married Miss Sarah C. Harris Dec. 16, 1856, who was born March, 1839, in Green county, Ohio, and they had 6 children, to wit: Charles L., Emma C., Annie B., Edward W., Daisy D. and Harris E. Mrs. T. is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Taylor has held the office of Town Treasurer for 14 years, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He owns 123 acres of land, besides his town property. P. O., New Carlisle.
Eli Terrill was born April 11, 1844, on sec. 30, this tp., where he is living at the present time. He is the son of Nathaniel B. and Saralı Ann (Garrett) Terrill, natives of Ohio, mother of German descent, father of English. He received his education in the com- mon schools in the district where he now lives, and has chosen the vocation of his father, that of farming. He was married in 1871 to Sarah E. Lamb, a native of this county. This union has been blessed with 4 children, 2 of whom are living, one boy and one girl. He is a Republican in politics; is a successful farmer, owning 223} acres of land.
Eli Wade, farmer and stockinan, sec. 28; P. O., New Carlisle; was born in Ohio Oct. 12, 1830, and is the son of John and Mary (Jennings) Wade, natives of England. The subject of this sketch is a self-made man, having never attended school more than 20 days in his life. In 1850 he married Rebecca Shreader, and they have a family of 10 children, 4 sons and 6 dangliters. In 1855 he emigrated
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
from Ohio to Indiana, and in 1859 to this county, where he has done well, financially. He and his wife are members of the M. E. Church, in which denomination he has been steward. In politics he is a Democrat. He has followed farming all his life, in which occupation he has been successful; he now owns 180 acres of land.
D. G. Warren was born in Ohio Nov. 3, 1833, the son of D. H. and Sarah (Graham) Warren, mother a native of Ohio and of Irish descent, and father of Maryland and of English descent. He received his education in the common schools of Indiana. He was married Jan. 2, 1867, to Eliza A. White, whose parents were among the early settlers of this county. In politics Mr. Warren is a Democrat, and he is a Freemason. Mr. and Mrs. Warren have also spent five or six years of their married life in Iowa, where they worked hard and were financially successful, but moved back for the sake of being near her parents. Their farm is on sec. 22, and consists of 80 acres, mostly under a high state of cultivation.
Samuel Wenger was born in Darke Co., O., in 1841; is the son of Joseph and Lydia (Isenhonser) Wenger, of German descent. He received his education in the common schools of Ohio; is not married; in company with his mother and sister he owns a farm of 135 acres, on sec. 2. He enlisted in the army twice during the Rebellion, the first time in the 152d Ohio National Guards, and the second time, for one year, in the 187th Ohio Vol. Inf., and served till the close of the war. He is a Republican. He came to St. Joseph county in 1866.
Asher White was born in New Jersey Dec. 7, 1814, and is the son of Asher and Mary (Lippincott) White, natives also of New Jersey, and of English descent; has attended school but six weeks in his life, but obtained a fair education from his mother. He has been married three times, and is also his present wife's third husband. For his first wife he married Barbara Ketring; for his second, Jemima Druliner, by whom he had one son and one danghter; the son is keeping hotel in New Carlisle; and for his third wife Mr. White married Adaline Huntington. At present they live on sec. 23. Mr. White is a farmer, and owns 300 acres of land here and 320 near Kankakee, all good land. Coming here in 1830, he must be counted one of the earliest pioneers, and has been a steady resident here ever since. Politically, he is a Republican, and he has held the office of Trustee several terms.
David White was born March 17, 1812, in Monmonth county, N. J., son of Asher and Mary White, natives of New Jersey; was reared on the farin; went to Ohio, where he drove a stage five years, and settled in this tp. about 1838; in 1840 he married Miss Minta A. Copper, who was born in Warren county, Ohio, in 1823, and they have had 5 children: John, Sarah, Marshall F., Martha Ann and George W. Mr. and Mrs. W. are members of the Christian Church. P. O., New Carlisle.
John D. White, hotel-keeper in New Carlisle, was born in La Porte county, this State, June- 15, 1841, and is the son of Asher
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HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY.
and Jemima (Druliner) White, the foriner a native of New Jersey, and the latter of Ohio, and of German descent; was educated in the common schools of La Porte county ; has followed farming mostly during life, and principally upon his father's farm. In 1873 he married Catharine Gaul, and they have 2 sons, John M., born Feb. 26, 1875, and Henry M., Oct. 31, 1877. Aug. 19, 1864, Mr. White enlisted in the 11thi Minnesota Infantry, and was discharged June 26, 1865, at Gallatin, Tenn.
Granville Woolman, farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 23; P. O., New Carlisle; is a son of Joseph and Rebecca (Allen) Woolman, the former a native of New Jersey, and the latter of Virginia, and both of English ancestry. The subject of this sketch received his edu- cation in the common schools of Ohio and Indiana; came to this county in 1834; was married in 1847 to Mary Whitaker, and they had 7 children. Mrs. W. died, and Mr. W., in 1877, married Sarah Jane Zigler, a member of the M. E. Church. In politics Mr. W. is a Republican. In stock-farming he makes sheep-raising a spe- cialty; for the last five years he has clipped on an average 500 sheep, and has received good prices.
PENN TOWNSHIP.
Much doubt and uncertainty envelope many of the events which go to make up the early history of a new country. The solitary wilds of an unexplored region afford few opportunities for making those notes and records which as time advances become valuable to the seeker after historical truths; and as a general thing the explorers and settlers of our great West have been men little accus- tomed to literary pursuits, and less desirous of literary honors. Besides, the ardnous labors and engrossing duties of pioneer life leave little room or opportunity for that quiet and leisure indis- pensable to scholarly habits. Thus it is that a large portion of interesting events and reminiscences of our first settlements have faded from the memory of man, or are only handed down as tradi- tions distorted by this uncertain medium, or mystified by the lapse of time. So it is with the pioneer history of Penn township; for we have found conflicting statements in some particulars regarding pioneer days and events; but by interviewing the most reliable authorities, the pioneers themselves, we are enabled to give a sketch which we hope will meet the approbation of all.
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