USA > Indiana > Wabash County > History of Wabash County, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 35
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BENJAMIN KALB. Prominent among the large land owners of Paw Paw township, Wabash county, is Benjamin Kalb, who is industriously engaged in the prosecution of a calling upon which the support and wealth of the nation largely depends, and in which he is meeting with well deserved success. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, all being in Paw Paw township, one hundred acres on the west side of the Manchester pike, one mile south of Urbana, and sixty acres lying just one-half mile west of the above mentioned farm. He was born, November 24, 1859, in Crawford county, Ohio, a son of William Kalb, of German ancestry.
William Kalb, a native of Germany, was but six months old when brought to the United States by his parents, who located first in Penn- sylvania, from there moving to Crawford county, Ohio, where they spent their remaining days, the father dying in the 60's, and the mother a few months later. He was reared in Crawford county, Ohio, from the age of six years, and when he attained his majority purchased a tract of unbroken land and there began life as a farmer. The land, one hundred and sixty acres, was heavily wooded, and he had first to clear an opening in which to erect a log cabin. Wild turkeys were more plentiful than the barnyard fowls, and on them and the deer which roamed through the forest the family larder was often supplied. He subsequently moved with his family to Bucyrus, Ohio, where, some eighteen or twenty years later, both he and his wife died, her death occurring in 1906, and his a few months later.
The maiden name of the wife of William Kalb was Katie Jacoby. She was a daughter of Jonathan and Katie (Joost) Jacoby, who removed from their native state, Pennsylvania, to Ohio, and there resided the remainder of their lives. The name Jacoby means James, and the famous James boys were relatives of Mrs. William Kalb, and their father often visited at her father's home. Mr. and Mrs. William Kalb were the parents of nine children, as follows: Abe; Aaron; Mrs. Sarah Gott- fried; Benjamin, the subject of this brief biographical sketch; Katie; Henry; Wesley ; Mrs. Sophia Berger; and Susan, wife of Henry Voltz.
Born in the old log cabin erected by his father in Crawford county, Ohio, Benjamin Kalb was there bred and educated, as a boy and youth attending the district school, and becoming intimately acquainted with the various branches of agriculture on the home farm. Leaving Ohio, he settled first in Howard county, Indiana, where he purchased forty acres of land, which he devoted principally to the raising of potatoes. Selling out at the end of twelve years, Mr. Kalb purchased from William Fries eighty acres of the farm he now owns and occupies, and later bought from Fred Speicher sixty acres, and from Thomas Oliver twenty acres. Here he is carrying on general farming, including the raising of swine, with
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most gratifying results, his land being fertile and well adapted to farming. Mr. Kalb usually puts from thirty to forty acres of his land in potatoes, each year raising about five thousand bushels. For this branch of agriculture he is well equipped, his land being well drained, he having spent more for the tiling of it than he paid for the first eighty acres he bought. He has also all of the most approved modern machinery for potato raising, including a planter, a sprayer, a digger, and a sorter, the latter being an invention of his own. His work is so conveniently arranged, and so systematized, that he can load a car of six hundred bushels in less than a day, his appliances and equipments being both labor and time savers, and invariably meeting the approval and commendation of all buyers and visitors.
Mr. Kalb has been twice married. He married first Ellen Bartholo- mew, who died in the spring of 1902, leaving four children, namely : Rena, wife of Henry Wise, of Urbana; Celesta, wife of George Wood, and they have one child, Mabel; Neely, managing one of his father's farms, married Marie Miller; and Walter. Mr. Kalb married second, April 3, 1906, Mrs. Ella Sholty, widow of Grant Sholty, and daughter of Humphrey and Louisa (Geiger) Roser, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively, and both of German descent. By her first marriage Mrs. Kalb had four children, namely: Ethel, wife of George Meyer, of Kokomo, Indiana; Vert and Verna, twins; and Paul. Mr. Kalb, by his second marriage, had one daughter, Here Matilda, who was born in 1908 and died September 23, 1913.
BURVIA A. HOUSER, M. D. From 1904 until his death on March 25, 1914, Dr. Burvia A. Houser in the practice of medicine at Wabash had won a representative practice and a high place as a citizen by his devo- tion to the duties of his profession, by his close study and his pronounced skill. His talents and executive ability gained him high positions of trust and responsibility in the fraternity in Wabash county, and his standing as a citizen entitled him to distinctive recognition among the men who contributed to the progress and development of that county.
Burvia Alden Houser was born at Somerset, Wabash county, Indiana, February 25, 1866, a son of James Houser, who in young manhood became one of the early settlers of the county. Like a number of his fellow practitioners Dr. Houser was a product of the farm, his boy- hood days being passed on the homestead near Somerset, where he received his primary scholastic training in the district schools. Later this was supplemented by attendance at the Academy at Amboy, and he took up the study of medicine in the office of Dr. L. Oneal at Somer- set. He matriculated in 1888 at the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis, graduating in 1890, and in the year started practice at Somerset with his preceptor, continuing thus and alone until his coming to Wabash in 1904. At Wabash he was successful in building up a lucrative professional business and in establishing himself firmly in the confidence of the people. His knowledge of the science of medicine was comprehensive and accurate, due to the fact that he had been a close
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student from early manhood, and always kept in touch with the progress and improvements of medical practice in later years. His best energies were devoted to the profession and his pronounced ability gained him a position in the front ranks of the leading practitioners of Wabash county. Many honors in connection with his profession were conferred upon him, including his election to the presidency of the Wabash County Pension Board in 1905. He also served as president of the Indiana Club of Wabash and of the Wabash Club, was a Knight Templar Mason, a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He was also well known in business and financial circles at Wabash, and was a member of the directing board of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of that city since its organization.
On January 30, 1886, Dr. Houser married Miss Anna Hooper, of Converse, Indiana. To their marriage were born two daughters: Ruth, and one who died at the age of two years. Dr. Houser's parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Houser, also survive him and reside on the south side.
SAMUEL C. SPEICHER. Among the families whose members have con- tributed to the material welfare and development of Wabash county, and more especially to Chester township, it is doubtful if many are better or more favorably known than that bearing the name of Speicher. Residents of the county since 1865, these people have on every occasion demonstrated their good citizenship and commendable desire to ald in the progress of this section, and in every walk of life have shown themselves men and women of integrity, fidelity and loyalty. One of the representatives of this family who has resided here from the date of the family's arrival, and who has won success as a farmer and stock raiser, is Samuel Speicher, a son of the founder of the family, Chris- tian Speicher.
Christian Speicher was a native of Bern, Switzerland, a son of John Speicher. He was a lad of fourteen years when he accompanied his father to the United States in search of an opportunity to better his condition, the family locating in Holmes county, Ohio. There Chris- tian Speicher met and married Miss Annie Steiner, in 1841, she having been born in 1812, and they became the parents of the following named children : John, who died February 25, 1896; William ; Katie; Christian; Samuel; Fred; Peter and Daniel. Mr. Speicher continued to be suc- cessfully engaged in agricultural pursuits in Holmes county, Ohio, until 1865, in which year he removed with his family to Wabash county, Indiana, and settled on land in Lagro township. Subsequently, however, he made removal to Chester township, and this locality con- tinued to be his home until the time of his death, December 15, 1892, the mother surviving until October, 1901. For some time after their arrival they resided in a modest plank house, but as the years passed and his means permitted, Mr. Speicher improved his home, erected new buildings and made many improvements on his property. He and his wife were devout members of the Reformed church and reared their
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children carefully in that faith. He was a democrat in politics and took a keen interest in public affairs, although he never found time to enter actively into politics. However, he was ever ready to assist any movement which promised the betterment of his community, was a stanch advocate of good roads, built several corduroy highways, and did much in the way of clearing the land from timber. His general farming and stock raising operations were successful, because he brought to his work a thorough knowledge of farming in all its branches, an energetic and enterprising nature, and a courageous spirit that would not brook defeat. His death removed from his community a man who had honestly won his fellow-citizens' respect.
Samuel C. Speicher, son of Christian and Annie (Steiner) Speicher, was born May 20, 1848, in Holmes county, Ohio. He was there educated in the district schools and reared to young manhood, and one of his earliest recollections of that section is of a settler who lived with his family in an old log shack and made his bed on a pile of brush thrown in a corner of this rude home. He was a sturdy lad of seventeen years when the family came to Wabash county, and here his training as an agriculturist continued until he reached his majority, at which time he decided to fend for himself. For some years he was engaged in farming in various communities, for himself and others, but finally decided to settle down and establish a home of his own. The lady of his choice was Miss Samantha Bohnstedt, daughter of Gottlieb and Elizabeth (Swallen) Bohnstedt, whom he married March 20, 1884, at Calhoun, Richland county, Illinois. After their marriage the young couple began housekeeping on their present property, a tract of eighty acres which Mr. Speicher had purchased in 1876, and in the following year their present home was erected, the addition thereto being built in 1894. Their . farm is known as "Cha-so-to Ma-e-thel." Mr. Speicher now is the owner of 148 acres of good land, all accumulated through his own honest efforts, and has one of the handsomest farms in the community. He has devoted the greater part of his time to general farming, but has also met with success in selling cream from his herd of Jersey cows during the last ten years. He likewise has a fine herd of Short Horn cattle, a number of which he ships to the markets each year,. and in all his ventures has been successful. As a business man he bears the reputation of a man of the strictest integrity, who has never taken advantage of another's misfortune. Mrs. Speicher, who was born January 6, 1866, is an excellent business woman and has been of great assistance to her husband.
Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Speicher, as follows: Florence A., born April 9, 1885; Elizabeth Anna, born August 3, 1886; Otto Christian, born October 4, 1888; Theresa Eliza, born July 8, 1890, who died April 28, 1904; Laura May, born August 20, 1893; Charles O. W., born August 29, 1895; Carol Evangeline, born May 7, 1897, who died April 12, 1912; Isaac, born October 31, 1901, who died young ; and Elijah Benjamin, born December 12, 1904, who died in infancy. Mr. Speicher's record as a business man is one well worthy of emulation,
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for he has risen from obscurity to a position among his community's substantial citizens solely through the force of his own energy and perse- verance. As a citizen his standing is no less high, and his popularity is shown by his wide circle of appreciative friends and the general respect and esteem in which he is held by the people in the locality in which he has lived for so many years.
AARON MANDELBAUM. Wabash county has just lost by death one of its ablest young lawyers, Aaron Mendelbaum, prosecuting attorney of Wabash county. His services were of an efficiency and fidelity which won the increasing approbation of the public, and his record both in private practice and in public office was highly gratifying to his friends.
Aaron Mandelbaum was a native of the city of Wabash, where he was born October 7, 1878, and always had his home in this locality. His
Natives parents were Moses and Caroline (Strauss) Mandelbaum. of Germany, the parents came individually to the United States, the father prior to the Civil war. He was a cigar maker by trade, followed that occupation in Cincinnati, where he was married, and also at Dayton, Ohio. From the latter city he came in 1875 to Wabash, and lived there until his death on December 27, 1908. His widow still survives and makes her home in Wabash, and six of her eight children are still living.
Aaron Mandelbaum grew up in Wabash, attended the public schools, graduating from the high school in 1896, and after reading law privately for about six months with J. D. Conner, Jr., he entered the law depart- ment of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Mr. Mandelbaum completed his studies and was granted the degree LL. B. in 1900. Admitted to the Wabash county bar in the same year, instead of taking up active practice he turned his attention to merchandising, and from 1901 to 1907 was associated with Louis Wolf in the retail grocery and wholesale flour business. Since 1907 he had been in active practice as a lawyer, and gained the reputation and recognition and patronage which are the sure marks of success.
He had been honored with official positions, being elected city attorney and held that office from January, 1910, to January, 1913. In Novem- ber, 1912, he was elected prosecuting attorney for the twenty-seventh judicial circuit, and his record in that office is familiar to all the citi- zens of Wabash county. Mr. Mandelbaum was an active worker in the democratic party. He died July 20, 1914.
HIRAM FLICKINGER. Nearly a half a century has passed since Hiram Flickinger came to Wabash county, and he is classed among the pioneers who have not only been eye-witnesses of the progress and advancement of the community, but have borne an active part in the work of develop- ment and improvement. Throughout all the long years he has been prominently identified with agricultural interests, and although his efforts have been crowned with excellent success, he still continues his active labors, for indolence and idleness form no part of his nature. Mr.
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land county, Ohio, and died in Wabash county, Indiana, June 10, 1904. He was a son of George and Margaret Shroyer. Mr. and Mrs. Binkerd have been the parents of seven children, the first three of whom were born in the State of Washington, named as follows: Ethel, born Jan- uary 23, 1894; Bessie, born January 24, 1896; Mabel, born October 31, 1897; Andrew, born July 18, 1899; Hazel, born June 28, 1900; Jose- phine, born January 10, 1904; and Pauline, born November 18, 1905. The children all have had their education in Wabash county, and the younger ones are still attending the local public school. Mr. and Mrs. Binkerd and their children are members of the Baptist church. Like his father before him he is a Republican in politics, and is a friend of good government, a worker for community welfare, and always ready to bear his share in any movement for the community's progress.
JOHN K. ALEXANDER. A career of unusual accomplishment and success has been that of J. K. Alexander, the owner of a fine farm- stead of one hundred and twenty acres in Waltz township. Mr. Alex- ander, whose home has been in Wabash county since 1906, was born and spent his early career in Miami county. When he was a child his father died a Union prisoner in Andersonville, and the boy from an early age had to perform a man's work. By thrift and industry he passed through the stage of initial accomplishments, and finally with the accumulations of his diligence came to Wabash county, and for a number of years his prosperity has been steady and undiminished, until he now ranks as one of the leading farmers and citizens of his locality.
Born in Miami county, Indiana, December 16, 1862, he was a son of Edwin and Margaret (Kennedy) Alexander. His father was a cooper and never worked at any other trade. He was born in the state of New York and came to Indiana in early life. After getting a fair start as a cooper he enlisted for service in an Indiana regiment and went to the front to fight the cause of freedom. He was captured and put in the notorious rebel prison at Andersonville, and while there suffered death along with many other northern prisoners. This left his family in a destitute condition, and the mother, who was a native of Virginia, had a hard time to take care of her little family for some years, but in 1872 received a pension from the government amounting to eighteen hundred dollars, and that was invested in forty acres of land in Miami county. There were six children in the family, briefly mentioned as follows : Martha, who married B. S. Shaw; Emma, who married Matt Colgan; Laura, who died at the age of eighteen; Alice, who died at twenty-two; John K .; and Eliza, who died when six years old.
Some time after reaching manhood J. K. Alexander acquired the forty acre farm in Miami county, located in Butler township, and con- tinued its cultivation, improving it in many ways by fencing and ditch- ing and building, until he sold out and in 1906 bought the one hundred and twenty acres in Waltz township of Wabash county. This farm had good improvements, comprising the buildings which are now found upon it, but Mr. Alexander has carried on the work and has brought his
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place to a state of productive value hardly surpassed by any similar farm in the vicinity.
Mr. Alexander married Irma Knight, a daughter of James and Rebecca (Waisner) Knight. Her father was born in Ohio and her mother in Indiana, the former dying in Miami county November, 1906, where her mother is still living. Mrs. Alexander had the following brothers and sisters: Warren, who married Christiana Seifert; Rosa, who married James Draper; William, who married Ollie Cunningham; Ida, who married W. W. Younce; Roy, who married Zella Salts; Alvah, who married Nellie Blue; Earl, who married Gertrude Barnhard; Seibert, who married Della Guthrie; and Edward, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander have the following children: Esther, born October 9, 1893; Edgar, born March 23, 1896; Paul, born September 14, 1898; Gertrude R., born April 22, 1903 and who died at the age of three years on April 28, 1906; Martha Mildred, born October 7, 1905, and died July 31, 1906; Robert C., born March 16, 1907; Carl R., born November 19, 1909; and Donald Joseph, born February 11, 1913. The parents have taken much pains in rearing and educating these children, the older ones having already finished their education and being ready for the active responsibilities of life. The family have membership in the Catholic church, and Mr. Alexander has taken much part in public affairs of a local nature. While his father was a republican, Mr. Alex- ander has given consistent support to the democratic interests. During his residence in Miami county he served as assessor of Butler township, and also for one term was supervisor of the township.
JOHN WALKER. Among the pioneer farmers of Wabash county whose labors have contributed to the material advancement and general pros- perity of the community was the late John Walker. His life was a busy and useful one and furnished an example of honorable dealing, stead- fast purpose, fidelity to principle and invincible moral courage that is well worthy of emulation. At his death the community mourned the loss of one of its esteemed and helpful citizens, and his memory is enshrined in the hearts of many friends.
Mr. Walker was a native of the state of Ohio, his birth occurring about the year 1817. George Walker, his father, has been long since deceased. As a boy he assisted his father with the farm work and attended the district schools when they were in session during the short winter terms, and early in life started out for himself, electing to follow agricultural pursuits as his life work. While still a young man he mar- ried Miss Maria Williams, and to this union the following named chil- dren were born :. Emeline, who married Theodore Van Arsdale and is now deceased; Martha Jane, deceased, who married John Brown, and after his death Saul Switzer; James; Archie, a resident of Warsaw; Peter, deceased; John, residing south of Wabash; and Sadie, now Mrs. Astor Clements, of Chicago. Long before the outbreak of hostilities between the North and the South, John Walker migrated to Indiana, and for a time resided in Kosciusko county, but subsequently moved to Miami
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county and later came to Wabash county, locating just east of Liberty Mills. He did not remain on this property long, however, but returned to Kosciusko county, where he continued farming for several years. He then again came to Wabash county and purchased a quarter-sec- tion of land near Servia, in Chester township, about 1861. Only about twenty-four acres of this land was then improved, but with the aid of his sons he cleared about as much more, and near the close of the Civil war disposed of this and again went to Kosciusko county. There he spent his remaining years, dying in 1907. Mrs. Walker passed away in 1904, and both are now at rest in the cemetery near Pierceton. Mr. Walker's years of industry enabled him to overcome all obstacles and work his way steadily upward to affluence. He was thus able to leave his family in comfortable circumstances, but more valuable than the prop- erty which they inherited was his untarnished name.
JAMES WALKER, who resides on a handsome property of ninety-two acres located about two miles southeast of North Manchester, Wabash county, Indiana, was born in Miami county, Indiana, October 17, 1844, a son of John and Maria (Williams) Walker, mention of whom immedi- ately precedes this review. His boyhood days were spent in helping his father in the farm work, as was the custom of lads of his day, and in attending the district schools in the winter terms. Upon attaining his majority he left home to start out on his own account and came to Wabash county, where he purchased a one-third interest in a sawmill at Servia. Some time later he disposed of this and for a year worked at the trade of stonemason. On January 19, 1869, Mr. Walker was united in marriage with Miss Nancy J. Rockhill, daughter of Crampton Rockhill, and she died in 1898, leaving two children : Lilly, who married Ed Airgood, a farmer of North Dakota, near the Canadian line; and John Wesley, agent for a railroad at MeCombs, Ohio. On March 30, 1902, Mr. Walker was married (second) to Julia A. Emley, widow of Sexton Emley.
General farming and stockraising, with' Hereford cattle preferred, have been Mr. Walker's occupations throughout life, and from time to time he has added to his property until at present he is the owner of ninety-two acres of well-cultivated land. A good residence, substantial barns, commodious outbuildings, improved machinery, good stock and well-tilled fields all attest the enterprise of the owner, whose efforts have been consecutive and well directed, bringing him a full measure of success for his labors. In political faith he is of independent policies regarding local affairs, but nationally espouses the doctrines of the demo- cratic party. Although interested in local matters, Mr. Walker has never held office, preferring to confine his attentions to his private interests. He is a consistent member of the Christian church and attends services at Servia.
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