USA > Indiana > Wabash County > History of Wabash County, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 42
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
Digitized by Google
827
HISTORY OF WABASH COUNTY
his practice he attended all his patients even when they lived at a con- siderable distance in the country on foot. The best years of his life have been spent in administering to the ills of the people around North Manchester, and by hard and conscientious labor he long ago built up a splendid practice.
Aside from his medical activities, the doctor has interested himself in various commercial enterprises, owning stock in two local banks, and several times has conducted drug stores in the city. He also has the honor of being president of the new Union Trust Company. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic Order, is a republican in politics, and espouses the doctrines of the Lutheran church denomination. He has served several terms as a member of the school board and the city council, and at an earlier date had an influential part in local politics. In Decem- ber, 1877, Dr. Ginther married Miss Laura Whitlow, a daughter of H. C. Whitlow, of North Manchester, Indiana.
ANDREW PEARSON. For a good many years Andrew Pearson has lived on what has long been known as the Old Hoosier Homestead, and here he has accomplished considerable along farming lines, making a home for himself and his family that is a credit to the community and establishing himself firmly among the leading men of the township.
Born in Miami county, Ohio, near the county seat of Troy, on January 8, 1846, Andrew Pearson is the son of William and Sarah (Million) Pearson. The paternal ancestry of the subject is of South Carolina, and the maternal ancestry of Tennessee birth, so that the family have long possessed the instincts and inclinations of the true southerner. William Pearson was but a small child when his father died, and he was reared by his mother's people. They came to Ohio at an early date, and in Miami county the mother and father of the subject were united in marriage. They became the parents of twelve children, four of whom died in infancy, and the names of the others are here presented in the order of birth : Ephraim, who died at the age of sixty years; Andrew, of this review; Eliza J., who married Calvin Hutchins; Augusta, who married Henry Bent; Mary E., the wife of Zeno Shambaugh; Ella married Mark Shambaugh ; Milo married Rose Werst; and Frank, who died at the age of thirty-three. He had married Josie Stauffer and left two children when he died.
William Pearson first settled in Miami county, after coming to Indiana, and after living there about two years moved to Wabash county. There he spent the remainder of his life. His first farm had on it an old log cabin and an old sawmill run by water power. He con- tinued improving the place from year to year, until after seven years he disposed of it and bought another farm two miles east and moved to it. IIere he found another log house, which he improved in many respects, and also put up other buildings. There was some cleared land on this place, but a great deal of it was covered with standing timber, which in those days had no value other than for an occasional fence rail, or to build a log house when one was needed. Later Mr. Pearson moved
Digitized by Google
828
HISTORY OF WABASH COUNTY
to his last farm, about three-quarters of a mile east of the previous one, and there he ended his days. This place has since then been regarded by the family as the old homestead and our subject now owns and occupies it.
William Pearson was a religious man, and a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church all his days. He was a man who always bore an excel- lent reputation, and one who wielded a splendid influence in his com- munity. When he died he was mourned by many who knew him for the many sterling qualities of heart and mind that had marked him.
Andrew Pearson was educated in Wabash county for the most part. His education, it is true, was a limited one, but the advantage of the Wabash city schools gave him an opportunity above many of his gen- eration.
When he had finished his schooling Mr. Pearson went to work on his father's farm and he was thus occupied until he reached the age of twenty-five, when he married. He chose Sarah Armstrong for his wife, and she was a daughter of Campbell and Susan Armstrong, natives of Preble county, Ohio. To this marriage six children have been born, concerning whom mention is here made : Bertha, the oldest, married F. S. Adams, and they have two children, Bennett and Martin; Annette mar- ried Campbell Gaunt, and their children are Allen, Robert and Lawrence; Mary married Charles Erwin, and their one child is named Esther; Susan married C. Kaufman, and they have three children, named Harry, Eugene and Rachel; Pearl is unmarried and Harry, the youngest of the six, married Nellie Burkholder:' They have three children, Charles, Geneva and Wayne.
Mr. Pearson located on his present place, known as the Old Hoosier Homestead, in 1908. It has 216 acres in all, and is well kept and is one of the productive places of the township, many improvements having gone into effect since it came into the ownership of Mr. Pearson.
Mrs. Pearson is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Pearson is an independent in politics. The family have a most excel- lent standing in their community and enjoy a host of good friends in and about the township and county.
WILLIAM FRANKLIN CLUPPER. A native son of Wabash county who has spent his entire career on the farm on which he is now located in Noble township, is W. F. Clupper, a progressive and enterprising agri- culturist and a citizen who has done much to promote the welfare and advancement of his community. Mr. Clupper was born August 20, 1874, and is a son of Louis and Mary (Schrantz) Clupper, and a grandson of Christian Clupper and John Schrantz. The home of Mr. Clupper was originally settled by John Schrantz, who emigrated to the United States about the year 1849 or 1850, from Switzerland, and here passed the remainder of his life.
The paternal grandparents of Mr. Clupper had the following chil- dren : John; Christian; Louis; Henry; Elizabeth, who married James Tyner; Mary, who married Fred Maurer; and Anna, who married Jacob
Digitized by Google
1
1 1 1
1 1
1
1
829
HISTORY OF WABASH COUNTY
Hainlen. By his first wife, who died in 1877, Louis Clupper became the father of two sons, W. F., and one who died in infancy. He was married (second) to Maria Putman, a daughter of Joseph Putman, and three children were born to this union, namely : George, who married Ethel Whitlock; Harley, who married Grace Unger, who is now deceased; and Hugh, who married Letha Sutton.
W. F. Clupper was but three years of age at the time of his mother's death, and he was then taken by his maternal grandparents to rear. He received good educational advantages in the public schools of Noble township, and grew up to agricultural pursuits, which he has always made his life work. On his present farm, a tract of seventy-three acres, he has done all the clearing that was not done by his grandfather, and has remodeled many of the buildings and replaced others with new ones. The present turnpike has been put through here during Mr. Clupper's residence, and he was superintendent thereof during the time of its building, a piece of work which was accomplished under the most unfa- vorable weather conditions, and which took two years in its completion. All of the machinery on his property is of the most modern construction, and indicate the owner to be a most progressive and enterprising farmer, and such is the reputation he bears throughout the community. In addi- tion to general farming he also successfully carries on stock raising, and his business is so carefully and systematically managed that he has won a high degree of prosperity. Mr. Clupper's grandfather Clupper was a republican, and his father also supported republican candidates and principles. Mr. Clupper himself has exercised his prerogative in voting independently, preferring to support rather the man he deems best fitted for the office than to give his vote because of any party allegiance. He has never sought nor cared for public office, finding his whole time and attention demanded by the duties of the homestead place. However, he has always shown his public spirit in helping movements for the advance- ment of his section. His religious connection is with the Christian church at Treaty, to which his wife also belongs, and of which he has served for some time as a member of the board of elders.
In 1898 Mr. Clupper was united in marriage with Miss Ida Long, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Burgett) Long. For one year after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Clupper made their home at Treaty, where their eldest child, Merlin, was born. Since their return to the farm they have had two children : Cyril and Noel, and all three are now attending school.
GEORGE PRESSLER. How largely the great struggle between the North and the South during the dark days of Secession developed the youth of our country can, in its entirety, never be known, but there are those living who entered upon the hardships incident to a soldier's life when little more than lads, and so bravely and courageously faced every vicissitude, and so uncomplainingly bore suffering and wounds, that their valor should be remembered when this now united country counts over its heroes. The great struggle between the Union and the Confederacy, with the important issues it represented, certainly brought forth a class
Digitized by Google
830
HISTORY OF WABASH COUNTY
of trained, disciplined men, whose influence has been ever since recog- nized in the peaceful pursuits which have engaged them. On Wabash county's roll of honor is found prominently displayed the name of George Pressler, who in August, 1862, joined the forces under his country's flag, and who bravely, cheerfully and faithfully fought for the preservation of the Union, in whose defense he received wounds of which he still bears the honorable scars. Since leaving his country's service he has served it no less valiantly and conscientiously as a citizen, and his career both as a developer of lands and as a public official places him high among the helpful men of Waltz township.
George Pressler was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, December 3, 1840, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Gephart) Pressler, and a grandson of Michael Pressler and George Gephart. The parents were natives of Pennsylvania, but were married in Ohio, and their family consisted of nine sons and two daughters. The father, who was a brick- layer and stone mason by trade, died in 1855.
George Pressler was educated in the public schools of his native county, and there was reared to agricultural pursuits. While a resident of the Buckeye state he was married (first) to Laura M. Huiet, daughter of Joseph and Susan Huiet and to this union there was born seven chil- dren : Joseph, who died at the age of four years; Lucretia, who died when thirteen years of age; Norman; Pearlie; Emma; Daisy, and one who died in infancy. Mrs. Pressler died in 1885, and Mr. Pressler was married (second) to Lydia Semans, the daughter of Thomas J. and Rebecca Semans, of Wabash, Indiana, and to this union there were born three children, two of whom died in infancy, Warren being the only sur- vivor. The second Mrs. Pressler died in 1895, and Mr. Pressler was mar- ried (third) to Rebecca M. Coate, daughter of Hiram and Rachel Coate, of Clinton county, Ohio. They have no children.
On coming to Indiana in 1871 Mr. Pressler settled first on a farm about one-half a mile east of his present property, a tract of eighty acres, of which thirty-five acres had been cleared, and here was located an old log house and log barn. He cleared this land, installed modern improve- ments and erected good buildings and here continued to reside for a number of years, carrying on successful farming and stock-raising opera- tions. Prior to disposing of this land he had purchased his present property, thirty-nine acres, on which the buildings had already been erected. Here he made his home and has shown himself both a practical and scientific agriculturist. He is a friend of modern methods, and by their intelligent use has made his property pay him well for the work he has expended upon it, thus making himself one of the substantial men of his community. He has been granted long years, and now in the evening of life, has a comfortable home and may look back over a career which in war or in peace bears no stain or blemish. In addition to his home farm he is the owner of a tract of seventy-six and one-half acres on what was formerly the Indian Reserve, and here he has made all the improve- ments and erected the buildings. This farm is now being cultivated by Mr. Pressler's son, Norman, an energetic and skilful farmer, who is rap-
Digitized by Google
831
HISTORY OF WABASH COUNTY
idly becoming known as a worthy successor to a worthy father. Norman Pressler was married to Miss Ollie Norris, and they have become the parents of two children, Moren and Carl.
The first year of the Civil war found Mr. Pressler an ardent Union man, but it was not until August, 1862, that he was able to so arrange his affairs that he was able to leave his home and go to the front. Becom- ing a member of Company K, Ninety-third Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, he saw active service almost from the start, and during the time that followed until his honorable discharge in June, 1865, he partici- pated in some of the most sanguinary battles of the great struggle. Some of these are: Stone River, Liberty Gap, Chickamauga, Orchard Knob, Mission Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Dallas, Pickett's Mills, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie River, Atlanta, Lovejoy Station and Nashville. The Atlanta campaign lasted from May 6th until September 4th, and not a day passed that was not marked by more or less fighting, and during this time Mr. Pressler took part in skirmishes too numerous to mention. His services brought him promotion among his comrades to the rank of corporal, and as such he served during the last year and a half of the war. Mr. Pressler was wounded four times, but on only one occasion allowed himself to be taken to the hospital. At the battle of Nashville, Tennessee, December 16, 1864, while storming the enemy's breastworks with his company, a bullet struck him just over the heart, but the three straps which held his canteen, haversack and cartridge box saved his life by stopping the force of the bullet, although he was confined to the field hospital for two weeks and was then sent to the hospital at Jeffersonville, Indiana, where he remained for six weeks. He still retains possession of the old army canteen as well as the bullet which struck him, the latter being dented on the end from coming into contact with the straps and Mr. Pressler's rib. He has kept these relics for forty-nine years.
At the battle of Chickamauga, on Saturday about noon, when his regiment first went into the engagement, they were stationed on the extreme left of the firing line. It will be remembered that in that battle the Confederates kept their troops moving from their left to their right in order to flank the Union army. In order to prevent the success of this movement, two men from each company in Mr. Pressler's regiment were detailed as flankers under the command of Major Birch of the Ninety- third. This detail stood at the left of the position occupied by their regiment, and were much exposed. The rebels were getting thick in their front and the bullets were flying fast when Mr. Pressler observed a dam- aged caisson, around which were lying six or eight dead or dying horses, and thinking it would be a good place to stand behind while firing, he started for it. Suddenly there was a terrific explosion; the caisson had been hit by a shell and exploded, the horses were thrown and scattered, and Mr. Pressler was knocked senseless. Had this happened fifteen sec- onds later he would have lost his life, since as it was he was very close to the caisson.
Mr. Pressler's entire service was replete with brave and active service,
Digitized by Google
834
HISTORY OF WABASH COUNTY
closely associated with the Exchange Bank of Roann, of which he is now the cashier, and of which his honored father, Daniel Van Buskirk, is the executive head. The father figures as the founder of the institution and is one of the well-known and influential citizens of Wabash county, specific record concerning him being given on other pages of this volume, so that a repetition of the data is not demanded in the present connection.
Dow Van Buskirk, as he is familiarly known in the county that has ever represented his home, was born at Ijamsville, also known as Lake- ton, Wabash county, on the 18th of July, 1875, and is the eldest of the four children of Daniel and Martha (Miller) Van Buskirk, the former of whom is still the president of the Exchange Bank of Roann. He whose name initiates this sketch was a child of about two years at the time of the family removal to Roann, where he was reared to maturity, and where he acquired his preliminary education in the public schools. He was graduated in the high school in the year 1895, as was also his sister Edith, and this class had the distinction of being the first to be graduated after the establishing of the Roann high school. Immediately after his graduation Mr. Van Buskirk assumed a clerical position in his father's bank, and he has since continued his services as a valued executive of this institution, save for the period during which he was a student in the University of Indiana. In the autumn of 1895 he was matriculated in the law department of the university, and in the same he was graduated as a member of the class of 1897, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He was forthwith admitted to the bar of his native State, but he has never engaged in the active practice of his profession, though his tech- nical knowledge has proved of great value to him in connection with his active business career. Mr. Van Buskirk has familiarized himself with the various details of the banking businesss and is recognized as a reliable and progressive business man as well as an efficient executive officer of the Exchange Bank, of which he has been cashier since his graduation in the university. He takes a vital interest in all that touches the well being of his native county and attractive little home city, and his polit- ical allegiance is given to the republican party, both he and his wife holding membership in the Presbyterian church and being popular factors in the leading social activities of the community. They reside on their finely improved farm of eighty-eight acres, eligibly situated in Paw Paw township, about one-quarter mile distant from Roann, and Mr. Van Buskirk gives a general supervision to the farm, in which he takes much pride and through the medium of which he finds both rest and recreation.
On the 6th of June, 1900, Mr. Van Buskirk wedded Miss Maude Squies, daughter of Howard Squies, a representative citizen of Wabash county, and the two children of this union are Katherine and James.
DAVID MARKS. Since the year 1880 David Marks had a live inter- est in Wabash as a man of business in this city, and though for a number of years he was a non-resident, he continued to maintain his home here and to retain his old-time interest in the city and all its affairs. He is of New York birth, the city of Rochester having been his birthplace, on
1
:
1
1
Digitized by Google - -
1
1
i
1 1
1
1
835
HISTORY OF WABASH COUNTY
April 30, 1850, and he is a son of Simon and Hannah (Kochenthaler) Marks, the former a native of Wachbach, a village some nine miles dis- tant from Stuttgart, Germany, in the Kingdom of Wurtemburg, and the latter at Nagelsberg, Wurtemburg, Germany. The parents came to America separately, and were married in New York. They eventually located in Rochester, in which city they passed the remainder of their lives.
David Marks, their son, lived at Rochester, New York, in his boyhood and there attended the city schools until he reached the age of seven- teen, when he came west to Marion, Indiana, the year being 1867. In Marion he had a married sister living, and he came to visit his sister and see something of the middle west, and it is a notable fact that he reached Marion on the first train that passed through the city. Though he had at first no intention of remaining in Indiana, Mr. Marks became interested in business, and in 1869 became associated with his brother-in- law, Morris Blumenthal, in general merchandising. He was thus asso- ciated until January 17, 1880, when he sold out his interest to his brother, Lewis Marks. He then came to Wabash and here became one of the owners in the Star Woolen Mills.
For years Mr. Marks was the financial manager and selling agent of this thriving concern, until on December 13, 1893, the property was destroyed by fire. Succeeding this unfortunate occurrence Mr. Marks went out on the road as a traveling salesman for a wholesale clothing establishment of Rochester, and for eleven years thereafter he had his headquarters, with sample rooms, in the Great Northern Hotel in Chicago.
In 1905 he became connected with a similar establishment in Chicago, and continued with them until in July, 1912. During these years he retained his home and his interest in Wabash, where he had become identified with various matters of public import, and his influence in his home city was always a most excellent one. In July, 1910, he was elected by the city council as a member of that body to fill the place previously occupied by J. J. Kingston and made vacant by his resignation. In November, 1913, Mr. Marks was appointed by President Wilson a mem- ber of the commission to adjust claims arising from the building of the Panama Canal.
Mr. Marks was a democrat in politics, and had ever had the best inter- ests of the community at heart, being known as one of the valuable citi- zens of the place.
On his 21st birthday Mr. Marks was made a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and his other fraternal relations were with the Blue Lodge and Chapter of the Masonic fraternity, the I. O. B. B., and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of which he is Past Grand Exalted Ruler.
On May 1, 1878, Mr. Marks was married to Miss Hattie Hyman, a daughter of Michael Hyman, one of the early pioneers of Wabash. Mr. and Mrs. Marks were the parents of two children, Jean and Shalla, the
Digitized by Google
836
HISTORY OF WABASH COUNTY
latter being the wife of Joseph J. Rosenmeyer of East Orange, New Jer- sey.
In addition to his regular business activities Mr. Marks was the owner of 178 acres of fine land in Wabash county, which he operated through a tenant, and he was a stockholder of the Farmers' and Merchants' Na- tional Bank of Wabash and of three other national banks in Indianapolis.
A man of affairs, he stood well in local business circles, and, with his family, had a place in the leading social activities of the city. He died July 17, 1914, on the Isthmus of Panama, where he had been since May.
WILLIAM DUBOIS. Few men within the borders of the state were more deeply conversant with pioneer conditions in the early days in In- diana than was William DuBois, who was born in Franklin county, this state, on May 30, 1825, and died on the 22d of June, 1914, at Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was a son of Samuel and Rachel (Krum) DuBois, both natives of the state of New Jersey, where the father was born in 1804 and the mother one year later.
It would be interesting to enter at some length into the early condi- tions attendant upon the existence in Indiana eighty-five years ago, but space does not permit of such deviations except in the briefest treatment, and it will suffice here to say that Samuel and Rachel DuBois came to this state when in their early youth, and that all their children were born in Franklin county, where they had settled on a farm. They became the parents of a fine, old-fashioned family of nine-seven sons and two daughters. The sons were: William, John, George, Hazel, Debyge, Oscar and Jasper. The parents ended their days in Franklin county, having lived long and useful lives in their community and being well known and highly esteemed in the county. Samuel DuBois was a Whig all his days and was active and influential in matters of a political nature in his town.
William DuBois had a very limited education, gained in attendance at the three months' winter school of the day. Being one of seven sons, his father favored him in that he did not require him to give his labor at the home farm, but he permitted him to strike out for himself as soon as he wished, so that he had been working on his own responsibility and saving his own earnings for some years when he reached his legal ma- jority, at which time, under ordinary circumstances of that time, he would have gained his freedom from the duties at home.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.