USA > Indiana > Wabash County > History of Wabash County, Indiana, Volume 2 > Part 43
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So it was that William DuBois went to work for other men in the community, and he was employed in one place for a year and a half, earning $7.50 a month during that time. The highest wages he ever earned as a farm hand were $11 a month, which was considered espe- cially good pay in his time. After his marriage in 1848 his father bought him an eighty-acre farm in I'nion county, and there he took his bride and settled down to the difficult task of getting his farm in shape for productiveness. It was a wild piece of land, practically covered with a heavy growth of timber, but he was able in time to make a presentable
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farm from it, and he prospered agreeably on that place. In 1864 he moved to Wabash county, however, and here settled in Noble township, on a farm of 160 acres located on the township line. Here he did some clear- ing and considerable building as well, so that his new place came to be in very good shape before he disposed of it. When Mr. DuBois felt himself no longer able to successfully work the place because of his ad- vancing years, he sold it, and after spending some little time in the home of his married daughter he settled with his son Samuel, who is married and lives in Noble township.
Mr. DuBois married Eliza Davis, daughter of Samuel Davis, in 1848, and to them were born twelve children. They were Hanna, Henry, Alice, Mary, Eveline, Caroline, Emma, Samuel, John, Eliza, and twins named William L. and James H. The wife and mother passed away in August, 1889, and Mr. DuBois remained faithful to her memory.
Mr. DuBois was a member of the United Brethren church and was a stanch and active worker in the organization. He has served as super- visor of Union township, and all his days was an excellent citizen in whatever community he found himself. In earlier years he was a re- publican, but more recently he turned his attention to the prohibition party and gave excellent service to that cause in the county. Mr. DuBois was one of the fine old men of the county, and he performed his full share toward the development and settlement of the district. As one who accomplished much in his years of activity, it is fitting and proper that his work have mention in such a publication as this.
H. G. BAER. The Baer family has been active in Wabash county through three generations, and from pioneer times down to the present different localities have benefited by their presence and influence. As early settlers they helped to clear the forests and extend the area sus- ceptible to the plow and the growing of crops. At the same time they have always been useful citizens and they have contributed to develop- ment through their influence and practical activities.
Mr. H. G. Baer of Urbana, who until recently was one of the lead- ing merchants of that little city, was born in Paw Paw township, Wabash county, January 9, 1865, a son of Garrison and Catherine Davis Baer. The founders of the family name and fortunes in this county were grandfather Joel Baer and wife, who in 1840 located two miles north and one mile west of Urbana in Paw Paw township. Their settlement was in the midst of the green woods, and before they could begin cul- tivating the soil a severe task awaited them in the clearing up of the land, felling of trees, ditching and draining, and other back-breaking toil. Urbana was then hardly deserving of the name of village, with one or two stores in frame or log shacks, and the era of sidewalks and up-to-date municipal improvements and mercantile enterprise was still far distant. Joel Baer lived a life of quiet industry and continued to make his home on the farm until his death. The land is still in the family name, being owned by Adam Baer. The Baer household in the days preceding the Civil war was one of those mysterious stations on Vol. II-24
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the underground railway, and Joel Baer was one of the active aboli- tionists who afforded the shelter of his home to many refugee blacks, who tarried with him a night or in some cases several days until their journey could be furthered toward Canada and freedom.
Garrison Baer, who was one of a family of eight children, six daugh- ters and two sons, all but one having been born in the Buckeye state, was a child of three years when the family left Stark county, Ohio, for Indiana The trip was made with wagons and teams, and Garrison Baer grew up in the wild surroundings of Paw Paw township, at a time when everything was new and the opportunity for the sportsman with rod and gun was practically unlimited. He followed in the foot- steps of his father, became a farmer, and eventually got possession of the old homestead, where he lived a life of quiet usefulness and honor- able integrity. His death occurred in 1903 at the age of seventy-five and his widow is still living in Urbana. She was born in Fayette county, Indiana, a daughter of Adam Davis, who was one of the pioneer farmers of Fayette county. Garrison and Catherine Baer were the parents of four children : Joel, of Wabash county; Adam, of Urbana; H. G., who is best known among his associates by the name "Greel"; and Jennie, wife of Frank Baker.
Mr. H. C. Baer grew up on the old homestead near Urbana, and while a boy the district school which furnished him an education was conducted in a log building. He thus attended school and worked on the farm until he was about twenty-two years of age, when he came to Urbana and for the following nine years was employed at the Cham- pion Seeder Company under Mr. Speicher. On leaving that establish- ment, he was clerk in the store of Adam Cook for some time. With this thorough and varied experience in business, in 1908, he and his brother Adam bought out the establishment of Azro Mason, who had for some years conducted business at the Baer location. The Baer Brothers at once enlarged their stock of goods, and until they sold out in the spring of 1914 their enterprise was one of the most conspicuous features of the little city of Urbana. As merchants they built up a large business in general merchandise by close attention to every detail of their trade, by studying the wants of the community in order to provide for them intelligently, and at the same time showed their public spirit by co- operating in many movements for the improvement of the commercial and social advantages of their little community.
On April 15, 1893, Mr. Baer married Miss Minnie Rager, a daughter of Aaron Rager, now deceased. The children born to their marriage are Forest, Wayne and Teddie.
Both the Baer Brothers are stockholders in the Farmers Bank at Urbana. Mr. H. G. Baer is a strong republican, has filled the office of township assessor, and in 1912 was given the nomination of the republican ticket for the office of county recorder. Although he made an excellent showing, and without any particular campaigning on his part, his candidacy fell in the troublous times of the notable split in the republican party, and as a result of the division of the normal vote,
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the democrats were successful. Mr. Baer when all was over was one of the first to join in wishing his competitor the utmost success while in office. About twenty years ago Mr. Baer joined the order of the Mac- cabees, and for several years has been record keeper of the Tent at Urbana. He and his family are members of the Evangelical church.
S. P. DOUGHERTY. The natural advantages of Wabash county as an agricultural community attracted at an early date a superior class of settlers, a thrifty, industrious, progressive and law-abiding people, whose influence has given permanent direction to the development of this locality. As early as the year 1850 there located in Liberty town- ship pioneers bearing the name of Dougherty, and since that time the members of this family have been numbered among this section's most substantial people. A worthy representative of the name is found in the person of S. P. Dougherty, who is now successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits on a handsome property of 1571/2 acres, located in Noble township, which has been his home for a quarter of a century.
S. P. Dougherty was born in Liberty township, Wabash county, Indiana, April 19, 1855, and is a son of John and Mary (Preston) Dougherty. His parents, natives of Coshocton county, Ohio, belonged to honored old families of the Buckeye state, where they were married, and in 1850 came to Wabash county, having heard of the opportunities awaiting the energetic and industrious settlers from former neighbors in Ohio who had preceded them here. Taking up a tract of Liberty township land, they began housekeeping in a little frame home, and for a time faced the hardships and inconveniences which attend existence in a new and uncultivated region. The father, however, was a man of industry and energetic nature, and soon began to make his farming operations pay, so that the original home was replaced by a more com- modious and comfortable structure, and here the parents passed the remainder of their lives. They were upright and God-fearing people, and by reason of their straightforward lives possessed the esteem and respect of all who knew them. They were the parents of ten children.
The educational advantages of S. P. Dougherty were secured in the same manner as those of other farmers' sons of his day and locality, the district school term lasting several months each winter. The remain- der of the year was passed in the hard, unrelenting work on the farm, where the youth gained experience that was to prove of great assistance to him in later years. When he started upon a career of his own he adopted farming for his life work, and in 1889 left Liberty township and settled on his present property in Noble township, which has con- tinued to remain his home. His tract of 1571/2 acres is nearly all under cultivation, and in addition to this he has cleared thirty-five acres in the same township. When he first located on this property there were but a few buildings, these old and practically worthless, but at this time he has a full set of substantial structures, fitted with modern equip- ment and conveniences. He is known as a good practical farmer, ever ready to give a trial to new methods which promise to be beneficial. He
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is a man of exemplary habits, commendable purpose and unbending integrity, and in all life's relations merits the confidence which is so freely accorded him. In political matters he is a democrat, but he has not cared for public office. With his family, he attends the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Dougherty was married to Miss Rose Keesey, the daughter of William and Catherine Keesey, and to this union there has been born one son : Frank, born February 23, 1892, who is single and his father's assistant on the farm.
BERNARD DOUGHERTY. Noble township, Wabash county, comprises a community which any section of the state might be proud, on account of the enterprising class of farmers constituting it and the high moral standards of the leaders of society and business throughout its extent. Among the agriculturists of this township is found Bernard Dougherty, who by his steady habits of industry throughout the twenty-three years of his residence here has achieved not only a competence but has also established and ever maintained a reputation which guarantees to him any station that he might be willing to accept. He has the distinction, also, of being a self-made man for he started out in life with only his ambition and energetic nature to aid him, and what success has come to him is a direct result of his own well-directed efforts.
Mr. Dougherty comes of a family which has been identified with the agricultural interests of Wabash county for something more than sixty- four years. He was born on his father's farm in Liberty township, this county, September 15, 1859, and is a son of John and Mary (Preston) Dougherty, natives of Ohio, and members of well-known and honorable families of that state. The parents were married in Coshocton, and not long thereafter, in 1850, migrated to Wabash county, Indiana, having been attracted hence by the glowing tales of this region's advantages related to them by former neighbors who had already visited in this locality. They took up a tract of Liberty township land, then totally uncultivated, and for some years made their home in a little frame house while with energy and perseverance they established themselves for the rearing of their family. As the years passed, and their financial resources grew, they added to their equipment, erected a new house and other buildings and purchased more land, eventually becoming known as substantial people. Their many sterling qualities won them the respect and esteem of their neighbors and those who came into contact with them, and few people had a wider circle of friends. They were the parents of ten children, whom they endeavored to rear in a manner that would fit them for honored positions in life.
Bernard Dougherty, like his brothers and sisters, received his edu- cation in the district schools of Liberty township, made the most of his opportunities, and secured a good mental training. Reared to the life of a farmer, he early adopted that as his life work, and continued to reside with his parents until 1891, at that time moving to what was known as the Farr farm, in Noble township. Subsequently he came to
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his present property, formerly known as the old Huff farm, in the same township, and this has continued to be his home to the present time. He has built a new residence, has made numerous other improvements, and now has the entire 140 acres under a cultivation. Under his skill- ful management his land is paying him handsomely for the labor he expends upon it, and he is rapidly becoming one of the most substantial agriculturists of his locality. Mr. Dougherty in his political views harmonizes with the democratic party and has been stalwart in its support, but has never cared nor found time for public office. With his family he attends the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Dougherty was married in Noble township to Miss Eva Weesner, daughter of Daniel Weesner, of Wabash county, and to this union there have been born two children: Mary, born on the Farr farm, and Mar- guerite, born on the present farm, both of whom were educated in the schools of Wabash.
WILLIAM WORKING. Though he has passed through a great many hardships and has seen many misfortunes, William Working has reached a place where he is independent and is known for one of the prosperous and well-to-do men of Noble township, where he was born on February 25, 1851, and where he has spent his days thus far. Mr. Working is the son of Jacob and Mary (Kingelsburger) Working. His mother, who was the second wife of his father, died when he was a small boy, leaving two other children-Philip and Lydia.
Jacob Working was born in Germany, and was three times married and was the father of seventeen children by his combined marriages. He came here in about 1831 and settled in Noble township on a rented farm, known in that time as the Miller Farm. He later moved to Mis- souri, and in Jackson county, Missouri, he was killed by the James outlaws. His home was in the vicinity of their haunts there, and having incurred their displeasure as a law abiding citizen and as a stanch Union man, they did not hesitate to shoot him down where he stood. Jacob Working was sixty years old at that time (1862). After that fatality the family were guarded by a government posse until they left the county. The guard accompanied them as far as St. Louis, the family comprising the mother and seven or eight children, and from St. Louis they went on to Peru, Indiana, settling in Peru township on a farm.
At that time William Working was a boy of about twelve years, but he did not consider himself too young to go to work and help support the fatherless family. He secured work as a farm help, and for almost twenty years he continued at the work of a farm hand. He then felt himself able to do something to further his own prosperity, and he accordingly bought eighty acres of land in Erie township, Miami county, Indiana, which he later sold and bought 149 acres in Noble township, Wabash county. Mr. Working has since that time added to his holdings until he has today several hundred acres of land in the
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township. He has prospered, despite his early hardships, and stands today among the foremost farming men of the community.
Mr. Working has been married five times. His first wife was Julia Kirkpatrick, deceased. They had a son, William, who died aged ten months. His second wife was Catherine Beck, deceased and their one daughter, Nellie, died at the age of seventeen years. His third wife was Barbara Ollinger, deceased. After her death he married Louise Rensel, deceased; and still later he married Lizzie Emmick. Mr. Work- ing is now living on a farm of 140 acres on the Marion & La Fontaine Pike, 11/2 miles S. E. of Wabash.
Mr. Working is a Methodist, though his father was a member of the Lutheran church, and he is a democrat in his politics. He has served as supervisor of Peru township, Miami county in the period of his residence there, and in Noble township has shown a fine spirit in all matters of public import.
Much of credit is due to Mr. Working as one who began life without material assets, dependent solely upon his native energy and wit to make his way through life. Lacking in early education, he has yet managed to acquire a fair equipment through reading and close and careful ob- servation, so that he holds his own among his fellows at all times. Hard work has been his portion all his days, but he has never been one to complain of his lot, and the results of his labors are a credit to him, indeed. He owns 350 acres of land in three separate farms, all in Noble township.
JOHN CLEMENS. For sixty years John Clemens has been iden- tified with Wabash county, where he has won prosperity and has lived with honor, his home now being in the village of Liberty Mills. IIe is one of the Grand Army men still living in this county, and his family had a share in the pioneer development of this region.
John Clemens was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, November 2, 1848, a son of Cornelius and Salome (Vance) Clemens. Both parents were of Pennsylvania Dutch extraction. It was in 1854 that the family moved from Ohio and settled in Wabash county, their first home being on rented land in Pleasant township, about five miles west of Liberty Mills. Cornelius Clemens was a man of industry, came to the county a comparatively poor man, and eventually was regarded as one of the prosperous citizens. After renting for a time he bought forty acres near Liberty Mills and lived there for a time, but about 1857 moved into the village, where his death occurred in 1878. His widow survived until 1897, and both now rest in the cemetery at Liberty Mills. Cor- nelius Clemens was originally a Democrat, then joined the Whig party, and finally became a Republican. In religion he was a Lutheran, while his wife was a member of the United Brethren church. His business was as a general farmer and stock raiser, and he brought many acres of Wabash county land under cultivation and in that way contributed to the permanent resources of the county. He was also interested in local affairs, and for several years held the office of town constable.
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As he was but six years old when the family came to Wabash county, John Clemens has spent practically all his life in this section, and his schooling was acquired by attendance at one of the early dis- trict schools, near Liberty Mills. His early experience was varied by the work of the home farm and he learned many helpful lessons not taught in school or books, and has relied on industry, honesty, and intelligent management to push him ahead in the world. He was not yet thirteen years old when the Civil war broke out and a few years later he followed the promptings of patriotism and enlisted in Com- pany F of the 153rd Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under the command of Colonel Carey and Lieutenant Colonel Ellis of Wabash. He served with his regiment until receiving his honorable discharge several months after the surrender of Lee, and it was at Louisville, Kentucky, in September, 1865, that his military service was completed. He returned home and assisted his father in working the farm until he was twenty-three years of age, and then married Miss Eliza Kissinger, daughter of George and Catherine Kissinger.
A young man without capital but with abundant confidence in his own resources, prepared to accept adversity as it came, he and his young wife began as workers for others, and for three years he was engaged in railroading. Since then he has been an independent farmer, and in 1883 moved into the town of Liberty Mills and for eight years was engaged in blacksmithing. Mrs. Clemens died in 1904, and their chil- dren were: Dora May, now Mrs. George Enyart; Levi Dexter; and Charles Calvin. Mr. Clemens is a republican in politics, and while a good citizen and ready to do anything that will improve his com- munity, has never sought nor held any official responsibility.
JOHN SIMONTON. Prominent among the families of Wabash county who have contributed materially to their section's welfare in various ways, is that bearing the name of Simonton, which has been represented here for eighty years. From the time of the sturdy pioneer who founded the family here to the present, the men who have borne this name have shown their general worth and good citizenship, honorable in business and loyal in friendships.
John Simonton, the progenitor of the family, was one of the real pioneers of Chester township. He was born January 18, 1813, in Preble county, Ohio, a son of John Simonton, Sr., who came to Wabash county with his family in 1835 from Ohio, journeying by teams from Ohio. They camped over night on the present site of North Manchester and finally settled on the old Simonton farm, October 1st of that year. The family first located one mile west and one-half mile north of the present homestead, to which they came in 1836. He belonged to that sturdy, self-reliant class to whose courage, determination and perse- verance the county is indebted for its early development and subse- quent growth, became a man of substance for his day, and gained and retained the respect and esteem of the people of his locality. He and his wife were the parents of three sons: Jake, who died at the age of
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eighty-four years; John, Jr .; and David, who passed away at the age of eighty-two years.
John Simonton, Jr., was twenty-two years of age when he accom- panied the family to Wabash county. He had received a public school education in Ohio and had been trained to agricultural pursuits, in which he was engaged in his youth. At the time of his father's death he received his share of the old quarter section of land. to which he subse- quently added forty acres by entry, and then purchased forty acres, later eighty acres, still later ten acres, and finally twenty acres, although he subsequently disposed of the two smaller tracts by sale. At that time the nearest mills were located in Elkhart county, and three days were required in making the trip from Mr. Simonton's home community, but finally he and a Mr. Abbott induced an Indian guide to show them a short cut through the woods, and they cut a path through north, and this was converted into a road. Even at this early day he was interested in road building and throughout his career he continued to promote the building and maintenance of public highways. While general farming and stock raising operations occupied the greater part of his attention, he also engaged in various other pursuits, and in each of his ventures met with well-merited success because of his excellent ability, his un- swerving integrity and the close personal attention that he gave to details. At a very early period he was engaged in a general mercantile business at Liberty Mills, in partnership with his brothers, and he was also for a number of years employed as a brick mason, being a skilled mechanic in that line. From the time that he erected the first residence and barn on his land he contributed to the upbuilding of his section. In politics a stanch republican, he took a great interest in the success of his party, served efficiently in the capacities of township assessor and supervisor, and at all times was thoroughly informed as to the vital issues of the day. When he died, June 3, 1895, his county lost one of its most active and energetic citizens. On September 13, 1835, Mr. Simonton was mar- ried to Miss Martha Calhoun, who was born December 22, 1817, daughter of Robert Calhoun, and she died March 21, 1885. They were the parents of eleven children, as follows: David, whose death occurred in 1913; Sarah Ann, who became the wife of Martin IIuffman; Harriet, who married the late George Rittenhouse; Lavina, who became the wife of William Killer; Jacob HI., who passed away in 1906; Mary Jane, de- ceased, who was the wife of John Cuppey; Mahala, deceased, who was the wife of Ben Nordyke; John C., who is a resident of Nebraska ; Robert W., who is deceased; and Perry and Charley, who remain on the old home place.
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