USA > Indiana > Steuben County > History of Steuben County, Indiana, together withbiographies of representative citizens > Part 69
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
mira, Julia A., Agnes and Alfred. Louis died in the fourth year of his age, Jefferson in early infancy, and Edward at the age of fourteen years.
Alexander Fullerton, of the firm of Ferguson & Fullerton, pro- prietors of the flour-mill, Hudson, Ind., was born in Washington County, Pa., in 1817. He was left fatherless in his childhood and made his home with strangers till manhood. In 1831 he went to Seneca County, Ohio, with the family in which he lived. He early in life began to work in a mill, and upon reaching manhood chose that occupation as a means of gaining a livelihood. He thoroughly understands every detail of the business, and the mill with which he is connected manufactures a fine grade of flour, having a good custom trade. Mr. Fullerton was married in Ohio, to Mary Ad- ams, a native of Jefferson County, Ohio, where she was reared. Mr. and Mrs. Fullerton have had seven children, but three of whom are living-Agnes, wife of Samuel Ferguson; Mary, wife of Luther B. Camp, and Sarah, wife of Orlando Kimmel, of Lagrange County. Four children died in early childhood.
David S. Gillespie, section 5, Salem Township, was born in Lorain County, Ohio, April 14, 1834, a son of James and Eve (Wor- man) Gillespie. James Gillespie was born in Ireland, and when a child his parents came to the United States and located in the State of New York. Later the family moved to Erie County, Pa. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. When a young man he emi- grated to Ohio and lived several years in Stark County, where he was married. In October, 1844, he moved with his family to Steuben County, Ind., and settled in Jackson Township, where he died in 1852. His wife is living in Alliance, Ohio. They had a family of seven children, all save one daughter living till matur- ity. David S. is the only resident of Steuben County, and has made this his home since coming with his father. He remained on the homestead till 1860, when he bought the farm on section 5, Salem Township, where he now lives. Mr. Gillespie owns forty acres of valuable land with good improvements, all made by his own industry and good management. He enlisted in 1862 in the One Hundredth Indiana Infantry and served fifteen months when he was discharged on account of ill-health. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg, and also of Jackson, Miss. He married. Helen Butler, a native of Vermont, born in 1837, a daughter of Daniel Butler. They have five children-Lester J., William E., Orla F., Nellie and Maud.
746
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
Moses Gonser was born in Whiteeyes Township, Coshocton Co., Ohio, Jan. 14, 1829, a son of David and Catherine (Miller) Gon- ser, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Mary- land. After their marriage his parents moved to Ohio and settled on a new farm in Holmes County, and subsequently moved to Coshocton County, where they improved another farm. In the spring of 1848 they moved to Fairfield Township, De Kalb Co., Ind., where the father died April 17, 1856. The mother died at the house of our subject Jan. 17, 1879. They had a family of ten children eight of whom are living-Jacob, of Kansas; Elizabeth, of De Kalb County; David, of St. Joe County, Ind .; Daniel of De Kalb County; Moses; Elias, of Lagrange County, Ind .; Susan, wife of John J. Ling, and Mary, in De Kalb County. John, the eldest son, died in Iowa, aged sixty-two years, and Sarah died in Fairfield Township, De Kalb County, in the fall of 1848, aged twenty-four years. Moses Gonser was nineteen years of age when he came to Indiana. He lived in De Kalb County till 1869 when he came to Steuben County. His homestead contains 250 acres of land 180 acres located on sections 35 and 36, Salem Town- ship, and seventy acres across the county line in Fairfield Township, De Kalb County. His residence, on section 36, Salem Township, is a fine two story brick built in 1880 at a cost of $2,500. He also owns a farm of 200 acres on sections 18 and 19, Salem Township, which is carried on by his son Albert. Mr. Gonser is a successful farmer. He has cleared over 200 acres of land, ' seventy-five of which are in his homestead farm, which is one of the best farms in Northeastern Indiana. He is an enterprising, progressive citizen, and although not a politician never refuses to perform any duty which his fellow-citizens assign to him. He served as Land Appraiser of De Kalb County a year, and Trus- tee and Clerk of Fairfield Township. He has been a Justice of the Peace of Salem Township, and for three years was a Commis- sioner of Stenben County. In politics he was originally a Whig casting his first vote for General Scott in 1852. Since its organiza- tion has affiliated with the Republican party. Mr. Gonser was married Feb. 22, 1852, to Lonisa Wright, a native of Orleans County, N. Y., daughter of Edward Wright, of De Kalb County. They have five children-Albert, Flora A., Marietta, Robert M. and Martha L. Their eldest child, Amanda, died at the age of seventeen years, in Salem Township.
Elijah D. Gunsaullus was born in Richland County, Ohio, in
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
1833, a son of Levi Gunsaullus, a native of New York and an early settler of Richland Township. In March, 1860, Mr. Gun- saullus came to Steuben County, Ind., three brothers having pre- viously settled here. His brother Henry came many years before and settled on section 14, Salem Township; later moved to sec- tion 15. He afterward sold his farm and with his brothers Levi B. and William A. built a saw-mill on the southwest quarter of section 14. The brothers ran the mill several years, when they sold out and Henry moved to Kansas, where he died. Levi and William returned to Richland County, Ohio, where the latter died and the former still lives. Elijah D. Gunsaullus bought his farm of George Davis. It is located on the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 21. The improvements have been made mostly by Mr. Gunsaullus. He was married in Richland County, to Elizabeth, daughter of Charles and Maria Conklin, natives of Cayuga County, N. Y., who moved after their marriage to Richland County. They have three children all born in Steu- ben County-Pyrl H., born May 16, 1860; Ella B., born May 19, 1866, and William A., born June 12, 1873. They lost three children in infancy. Mr. Gunsaullus enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, in September, 1864, and served till its close. He has always been an influential, enterprising citizen, and is now Trustee of Salem Township. A sister of Mrs. Gunsaullus, Mariette, wife of Casper Conger, came to Salem Township about 1850, and set- tled on the northwest quarter of section 22, where they lived about ten years, and then moved to section 15. In the winter of 1864 they moved to South Bend, and thence to Nebraska where Mrs. Conger died Sept. 2, 1880.
Eli R. Haines, section 8, Salem Township, was born in Carroll County, Ohio, in 1851. His father, William Haines, was born in Pennsylvania in 1808, and was married in his native State to Rebecca Smith. They moved to Carroll County, Ohio, where they lived a number of years, and in October, 1853, moved to Steuben County, Ind., and settled in Salem Township, on a tract of unimproved land. They improved and cultivated their farm and lived here till death. The father died Jan. 14, 1879, and the mother in May, 1884. They had a family of eleven children, nine of whom are living, five in Steuben County. Two of the sons, Thomas and William, were soldiers in the war of the Re- bellion. Eli R. resides on the old homestead where he has lived since 1853. He was reared and educated in Steuben County, and
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
is now one of the promising farmers of Salem Township. His farm contains sixty acres of land all well improved. He married Mary A. Summers, a native of Williams County, Ohio, daughter of -and Nancy J. Summers, her father born in 1823 and her mother in 1833. They moved to Noble County, Ind., where the father died Dec. 23, 1859, and the mother March 25, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Haines have two daughters-Avilla and Luella.
Arthur K. Hammond, section 4, Salem Township, is the adopted son of Edward H. Hammond, a pioneer of 1836. Edward H. Hammond was born in Pennsylvania, March 21, 1805. He learned the trade of a blacksmith in the town of Barnsville, serving an apprenticeship of three years. In the spring of 1836 he came to Steuben County with Eli Teal and an elder brother of the latter, and entered land on section 4, Salem Township. They then re- turned to Ohio, and the following fall moved their families to the township. Mr. Hammond improved his land and at the same time worked at his trade in partnership with Mr. Teal. They were the first blacksmiths in Salem Township. Mr. Hammond made of his land one of the finest farms in the county, residing on it till his death, 'Feb. 3, 1875. He was twice married. His first wife was Mrs. Elizabeth Teal, mother of Eli M. Teal. His second wife, who survives him, was Mrs. Frances (Teal) Kaufman, a na- tive of Fairfield County, Ohio, born in 1810. He had no children, but adopted a nephew, Arthur Kirlin. The subject of our sketch, Arthur K. Hammond, was born in Perry County, Ohio, May 30, 1851, and in 1855 accompanied his father, John Kirlin, to Steuben County. His father is still a resident of Salem Township. He was adopted by Mr. Hammond in 1861. He has had good educa- tional advantages, attending the public schools of Steuben County. He nowhas charge of the homestead of Mr. Hammond, and is one of the most successful young farmers of the township. He was married to Nancy Morrison, a native of Wabash County, Ind., born March 27, 1853, a daughter of John Morrison. They have three children-Clyde, Schuyler and Edith.
John Harpster was born in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1828. When seventeen years of age he began to work at the blacksmith's trade, and served an apprenticeship of two years. He worked at his trade till 1852, when he came to Steuben County, Ind., and en- tered land in Salem Township. Since then he has worked on his farm in connection with blacksmithing. He has a pleasant home, which he has made from a tract of unimproved land. His parents,
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
David and Catherine Harpster, were natives of Pennsylvania, and in 1829 moved to Seneca County, Ohio, where they died. Mr. Harpster was married in Ohio to Mary M. Sunday, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1829, who moved with his parents to Seneca County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Harpster have five children-Lu- cinda, wife of Ira Tubbs; John A. married Olive Jackson; Mary, wife of George Conklin; Emma D., wife of Thompson Deller; Amanda J., a successful teacher of Steuben County. Mr. and Mrs. Harpster are members of the United Brethren church, in which they are active and zealous workers. They were among the first of that denomination to locate in Salem Township.
Francis Hayward was born in Marion County, Ohio, in June, 1835. When fourteen years of age he moved with his parents to Lagrange County, Ind., where his father, Isaac Hayward, died in February, 1883. In 1879 he came to Steuben County and bought a farm on the east half of the southwest quarter of section 23, Salem Township. The first improvements were made by Abram Davis. Mr. Hayward was married in Lagrange County to Nancy Staner, daughter of Jacob Staner, who died July 4, 1874, leaving one son-Robert. After coming to Steuben County Mr. Hayward married Mrs. Emeline (Rodabaugh) Sloat, daughter of Adam Rodabaugh and widow of David Sloat. She was born in Portage County, Ohio, and removed with her parents to Stark County, Ohio, where she married Mr. Sloat. In 1872 she came to Steuben County. She has three children by her first marriage-Edward, Henry and Rosa.
Joseph Ketchum, dealer in drugs, tobaccos, stationery, etc., Hudson, Ind., was born in Huntertown, Allen Co., Ind., in 1854. He was reared and educated in his native town, and when nineteen years of age began teaching, and has taught nine years in Allen, Noble and Steuben counties. He learned the trade of a shoemaker of his father in his youth and plied that vocation during his vacations, and after abandoning the school-room devoted his attention to it till October, 1884. He moved to Hudson in June, 1877, and has since made this his home. In October, 1884, he embarked in his present business on North Main street, where he keeps a complete stock of everything in his line. He is an oblig- ing, courteous gentleman, and is building up a good trade. He was married in 1876 to Francis Grieves, daughter of Thomas Grieves, of Steuben Township. They have had four children; but two are living-Bertha and Ada. Two children died in infancy.
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
J. R. Kimmel was born in Richland County, Ohio, July 15, 1837. He was reared and educated in his native county, and in his youth learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, which he followed for twenty years. In 1863 he came to Steuben County, Ind., and bought twenty acres of land of John Boon on section 30, and in the year of 1876 he purchased forty acres more of Samuel Bair on sec- tion 31, all of which is in Salem Township. About eighteen acres had been cleared and a log cabin built, which is still standing. Mr. Kimmel now has fifty acres improved. In 1880 he built a pleas- ant frame residence and a good barn, and in many other ways has improved the place. Sept. 20, 1864, he enlisted fer one year in his country's service and remained until the close of the war, being discharged June 26, 1865. He was married in DeKalb County, Ind., Feb. 17, 1861, to Rebecca Helwig. They have three chil- dren-Jacob and Emanuel (twins) and George H.
William E. Kimsey, merchant, Salem Center, is a son of Dr. Joseph C. Kimsey. He is a native of the State of Indiana, born in Allen County, Oct. 12, 1851. Soon after his birth his parents moved to Fairfield Center, DeKalb County, and in 1855 to Salem Center. Mr. Kimsey's first business enterprise was running a prod- uce wagon, which he continued a year. In 1872 Dr. Kimsey erected a business house in Salem Center, and father and son be- came partners in the general mercantile business. In 1877 Will- iam E. sold his interest to his cousin, William T. Kimsey, and en- gaged as a commercial traveler for the firm Taylor, Rodgers & Co., boot and shoe dealers, Toledo, Ohio. He proved a successful sales- man, but the active and laborious life incident to that branch of business was too severe for his health, and in January, 1879, he returned to Salem Center and the next month bought the store of his father and cousin and has since conducted the business alone. Since Jan. 1, 1880, he has been Postmaster and is an efficient offi- cer. He has been a Notary Public since Aug. 4, 1875. He was married April 11, 1872, to Elizabeth Dole, a native of Huron County, Ohio, born March 19, 1851, a daughter of John Dole, of Salem Township. They have two children-Lois I. and Wal- lace D.
John Kirlin was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1816. His father, John Kirlin, was a native of Virginia. His mother was a native of Pennsylvania, but was married in Virginia and in 1806 moved with her husband to Fairfield County, Ohio. John Kirlin, Jr., was reared on a farm and when seventeen years of age began
751
HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
to work at the gunsmith's trade, serving an apprenticeship of four years. May 25, 1855, he came to Steuben County, Ind., and lived seven years on the farm of Edward Hammond. In January, 1863, he bought the farm where he has since lived. It contains 110 acres of choice land, eighty acres on the east half of section 16, twenty acres on the west half of the same section, and ten acres on section 15. His residence is on section 16. His improvements are all good and his land is under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Kirlin has been twice married. His first wife was Rebecca Teal, who died in Ohio, leaving one son -- Arthur, the adopted son of Edward Hammond. He afterward married Catherine Snitterlin, a native of Crawford County, Ohio, born in 1840, a daughter of Frederick Snitterlin, who settled in Salem Township in 1851, and now lives in Kendallville. Mr. and Mrs. Kirlin have seven chil- dren-George, born in 1862; Delmar, in 1863; Mary, in 1865; Edmund S., in 1869; Fletcher, in 1871; Aurette, in 1873, and Fred- erick, in 1878. Mrs. Kirlin had two brothers who served in the war of the Rebellion, and died while in the service-Frederick and Abraham. Frederick was a member of the Twenty-first Indiana Infantry, and died in the hospital at New Orleans from the effects of a wound received at the battle of Baton Rouge, La.
Harvey Lewis was born in Wolcott, near New Haven, Conn., in October, 1812. When fifteen years of age he went to Chenango County, N. Y., where he married Elizabeth Bassett in 1833, a na- tive of North Haven, Conn., born in 1815. In 1844 he came to Indiana, and bought a tract of land on section 5, of Mrs. Hill, the only improvement being a log cabin. He lived here three years, clearing and improving his land, when on account of the sickness of his family he returned to the State of New York, remaining there till 1854. By this time the country had become more settled and consequently more healthy, and they decided to return to their pioneer home. They settled on the farm in Salem Township, where they have since lived. The family consists of five children, four of whom are living-Laura, now Mrs. Ira Scott, of Norwich, Chenango Co., N. Y., has two children-Odell and Alice; Newell P., of Angola, married Orsavella Gale; Dwight B., who lives on the homestead, married Sarah A. Newman, and has two sons --- Benson and Harvey; Frank B., married Samantha Newman, lives in Lagrange County, Ind. Their eldest son, Hiram, married Nettie Fuller, of Branch County, Mich. He died at Gilead, that county, Sept. 29, 1873, leaving a widow and one son-Frank. When
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
Mr. Lewis settled in Salem Township the country was covered with heavy timber, wild game was abundant and white settlers few.
John Loughrey, deceased, was born in Pennsylvania in March, 1804, and when eleven years of age moved with his parents to Muskingum County, Ohio, and thence to Richland County, and Seneca County, where he was married in April, 1834, to Charity Young, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1814. In 1850 Mr. Loughrey came to Steuben County, and settled on section 3, Salem Township, where his family still reside and where he died March 4, 1865. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Loughrey, eight of whom are living-Nancy R., Emily, Andrew, Mary, George, Elmer, Irving and Catherine J. William Henry died in 1863, aged twenty years. James died in Ohio at the age of four years. Andrew and George live in Missouri, and Elmer and Irvin on the old home- stead. Nancy and Catherine also reside at home. Emily is the wife of Hiram Colwell, of Lagrange County. Mary is the wife of Will- iam Van Wagner, of Pleasant Township.
Leonard N. McLain resides on section 7, Salem Township, where his father, John McLain, settled with his family July 11, 1844. John McLain was born in the State of New York, Dec. 25, 1792. He was reared in Cayuga County where he married Eunice Nelson, a native of that county, born Feb. 16, 1803. In 1836 they moved to Monroe County, Mich., where they lived till 1844, and then moved to Steuben County. Mr. McLain bought a tract of unimproved land of John Candy. His first house, a log cabin, is still standing. While this house was being built the family lived in a log house on the farm now owned by Abner Sams, moving into their own house in April, 1845. After getting his farm under a good state of cultivation, the father died Sept. 2, 1855. The mother died Aug. 11, 1876. There was a family of thirteen chil- dren, ten of whom came with their parents to Steuben County. One was born here. Five of the children are living-Nancy, Mercy, Leonard N., Eliza P. and Mary Ellen. Leonard N., who owns and occupies the homestead, was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., April 11, 1834. He enlisted July 24, 1861, in the Twenty-first Indiana Infantry and served eighteen months, when the regiment was converted into the First Indiana Heavy Artillery, and served till Jan. 10, 1866, when they were discharged at Baton Rouge, La. His entire term of service was four and a half years' longer than any other soldier from Salem Township. Soon after his re- turn from the war be bought the old homestead. He married Mary
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
Fast, daughter of Reuben Fast, formerly of Salem Township, and now of Michigan. They have two children-Erdley L., born April 26, 1868, and Ray, born Feb. 24, 1884. Mr. McLain's farm contains eighty acres, sixty-five acres under cultivation. His resi- dence and farm buildings are commodious and substantial. His health was undermined by his prolonged army experience, and he has never fully recovered his former vigor. He had four brothers in the service-Sylvester served two years in the Second Michigan Infantry, when he was discharged for disability. He died at Burlington, Mich., Dec. 10, 1867. Ambrose enlisted in the One Hundredth Indiana Infantry, and was discharged for disability. He died July 23, 1863, four weeks after reaching home. Charles enlisted in the Seventy fifthi Illinois, in the fall of 1862; came home on a sick furlough and died March 18, 1864. John W., the youngest son, was in the same company with Charles, and died at Murfreesboro, Tenn., Jan. 22, 1863. Two brothers-in-law, Martin Haines and Orlando Dennison, were in the service. The former died in the army and the latter is living in Kansas. Probably no other family in Steuben County can show an equal army record with that of John McLain's.
Samuel Noll, section 11, Salem Township, is one of the promi- nent pioneers of Steuben County. His father, George Noll, was born in Union County, Pa., in 1796. He was reared in his native county and there married Nancy Hall. They moved to Stark County, Ohio, where nine children were born to them and where the mother died. He afterward married again and with his family, in 1839, came to Steuben County and bought the farm where Sam- nel now lives, living there till his death in 1862. No improve- ments had been made on the land, and in the spring following their arrival he built a log cabin in which he lived till his death. Of his nine children by his first wife, only Samuel is living. Three children were born to his second wife, two of whom are living- Polly, widow of Edward Snyder, and Sally, widow of Charles Ans- teet. Samuel Noll was born in Stark County, Ohio, in 1817, and was there married to Christina Feghtling, a native of Alsace, Ger- many, born in 1819, who came with her parents to America when eight years of age. Mr. Noll learned the cabinet maker's trade in his youth and has worked at it in connection with farming the greater part of his life. His father being well advanced in life when they came to Indiana, the work of clearing the farm and get- ting it under cultivation devolved on him. He now owns the
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HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY.
homestead which contains eighty acres of choice land, on which he has erected a good residence and farm buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Noll have had eight children, seven of whom are living-John, born in Ohio, in May, 1837; Elizabeth, also born in Ohio; George W., William Frederick, Edward and Caroline (twins), and Mary. Samuel died at the age of six years. Mr. and Mrs. Noll are mem- bers of the Reformed church, and in 1882 Mr. Noll was largely instrumental in the building of the new Trinity Reformed Church in Salem Township.
Samuel Parker was born in Armstrong Co., Pa., March 6, 1841, a son of Isaac and Margaret A. (Sanderson),Parker. Isaac Parker was born in Pennsylvania in 1808, and was there reared and mar- ried. He was reared on a farm but subsequently was employed several years on the public works and later in the salt works and coal mines of his native State. In April, 1845, he moved to Steu- ben County, Ind., and located on section 32, Jackson Township. In 1849 he rented the farm of Charles Squiers, where he lived three years, and then bought eighty acres of land lying north of his first location, on section 32. He made the first improvements on his land, clearing with the assistance of his sons fifty acres, and erected a log honse in which he lived till his death, Sept. 7, 1871. His wife died in May of the same year. They had a family of eight children, six born in Pennsylvania and two in Steuben County. Of the latter the eldest died in infancy and the other at the age of twelve years. The six surviving are-Elizabeth, wife of Rev. Fred- erick Komp, of Lagrange County; William, of Branch County, Mich .; Mary A., wife of John Groesbeck, of Lagrange County; Daniel, Samuel, and Nancy, wife of Henry Simmons, of Jackson Township. The sons were all soldiers in the war of the Rebellion. William served three years in the Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry. Daniel enlisted in the spring of 1864 in Company A, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, and served till the close of the war. Samnel enlisted Aug. 15, 1862, in Company B, One Hundredth Indiana Infantry, and served three years. He participated in some of the most important campaigns and battles of the war. His company was the leading one of the regiment the most of their term of serv- ice. Twenty-seven battles were inscribed on their flag, among them the siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss., Lookout Mountain, Mis- sion Ridge, Atlanta campaign, Resaca and Kingston. Their last battle was Bentonville. They then went to Washington, D. C., and took part in the grand review of the army. After the war Samuel
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