USA > Indiana > Whitley County > History of Whitley County, Indiana > Part 100
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 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106
about two hundred and seventy-five acres. but in later years has decreased his hold- ings. He has been a lifelong Republican, always active in the public affairs of the county.
In 1853 Mr. Hunt married Martha Jane, daughter of Thomas B. and Elizabeth (Chichester) Long, the former of Pennsyl- vania and the latter a native of Ohio. They were married in Ross county, Ohio, where Mrs. Hunt was born July 10, 1834, but re- moved to Whitley county in 1849 and set- tled on a farm near that of Mr. Hunt's, where they remained the rest of their lives. He died when past ninety, having survived his companion about twelve years. They had three children: Martha Jane, John, a resi- dent of Howard county, and Margaret, wife of Perry Cassel, on the old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt have had twelve children : Leigh Smith J. Hunt, the well known miner and millionaire of New York, who married Jessie Noble and has two children, Henry and Helen: Elizabeth married George Smith, but is now dead; Ellen is in Tennes- see : Thomas L., deceased; Haskel E. mar- ried Emma Firestone and is in Idaho; Frances M., wife of John Dickerhoff, of Ohio: James W. is a farmer in Etna, but for eight years has been with his brother in Corea; Franklin married Eva Scott and lives near the homestead; Homer and La- von are at home: Martha, wife of Fred Kline, lives in Pierceton; Minnie, wife of Edward Kline, lives at Cromwell, Indiana ; Catherine J., wife of George Bouse; Fred N. lives on the Washington Jones home- stead. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt are members of the Presbyterian church and he has served as trustee of the township.
806
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
ALBERT BUREL TUCKER.
There are few people in Whitley county who have not heard of the gentleman whom we are now to briefly consider. Not only has he been a long-time resident, but an extensive landowner, a breeder and dealer in fine stock, and of much more than ordi- nary importance in financial affairs. His ancestors were early in Rhode Island, some of the descendants removing to New York soon after the Revolution and settling along the historic Hudson and in a region made memorable by incidents of that remarkable struggle.
From both his father's and mother's families, Mr. Tucker is descended from Colonial and Revolutionary stock. In the eastern part of the country his forebears have been prominent and have taken active parts in the life and business of their commu- nities. His grandfather, Nathan Tucker, a Quaker, who was a victim of early persecu- tion, was born at New Bedford. Massachu- setts. The family is descended from pure English stock, and Nathaniel Tucker, of the famous "Tucker House," a place visited by many tourists, was a brother of the great grandfather of the subject of this sketch. The family's history in this country dates from the coming of three brothers from England as settlers in the new country. These brothers were Nathaniel, Jabez and Joshua. His mother's family is correspond- ingly illustrious. His maternal great grand- father came. to this country as a drummer boy in Burgoyne's army. Her father, James Parker, was born in Greenwich, Washington. New York, November 29, 1788. He served as a captain of cavalry in
the war of 1812, was a deacon in the Baptist. church, which at that time had a member- ship of about seven hundred, and died Oc- tober 6, 1851. James Parker married Sarah Weaver, born in Providence, Rhode Island, October 7. 1793, and twelve chil- dren were the result of the union. All grew to maturity, the first to die reaching the age of forty-two years. Mrs. Alanson Tucker's grandfather, Richard Parker, was born in Rhinebeck, Duchess county, New York, December 6, 1765. He served as a soldier through the Revolutionary war enlisting as a drummer boy when a mere youth. After the war he settled in Washington county, New York. The father of Mr. Alanson Tucker was born in Greenwich, February 15, 1809. He was married to Louisa. Teresa Parker, who was born in Argyle, New York, July 31, 1812, and who died at Etna, Whitley county, Indiana, November 12, 1897.
In childhood both Anson and wife were playmates with Chester A. Arthur, whose father was the pastor of the Baptist church at Greenwich. Removing to Ohio in 1849, he remained five years and in 1854 came to Whitley county, where he purchased four hundred acres of woodland in Etna town- ship, the location of the home being close to the village. His efforts were thenceforth directed to the development of a farm. An- ticipating the great increase in the demand for walnut lumber, he purchased a large amount of that timber and holding it a few years was enabled to realize the ad- vance in price, selling lumber at eighty dol- lars per thousand. His every venture was successful, so that his energies resulted in the accumulation of a handsome estate. He:
1
807
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
died in 1869. his companion surviving till a high state of cultivation and brought to 1897, aged eighty-five. He was a Whig and later a Republican and served his town- ship as trustee.
In early life he was a contractor in building canal locks and other stone work. He was fearless under all circumstances, one instance illustrating his character. Mason Long, in his "Converted -Gambler." gives Mr. Tucker credit for breaking up an or- ganized gang of thieves at Fort Wayne. who plied their nefarious calling, in collu- sion with the police force. The leader. Ryan, secured Tucker's purse by the assist- ance of an accomplice. Tucker was armed, as he knew of the gang's depradations. He shot Ryan, one shot taking effect in the neck after glancing from the collar-button. He forced a policeman at the point of the re- volver to crawl under a house where Ryan had hid and dislodge him and followed the two to the station-house, covering them with his weapon. Ryan was finally sent to the penitentiary for two years and the gang was broken up.
Mr. Tucker was about ten years old when he became a "wild westerner" by rea- son of his parents' transfer of residence from New York to the Hoosier state. The schools of the day, especially in the country sections, were poor avenues to education even for those most anxious to learn, but Albert, by occasional attendance at the old log cabin, managed to pick up the rudiments that were the basis of a wide practical edu- cation. At the death of his father he inher- ited part of the four hundred acres and this has been the scene of his activities as well as the basis of his fortune. He owns about three hundred acres, most of which is in
an advanced state of fertility by his untir- ing labors. In 1869 he erected a handsome and commodious house on the farm at the village of Etna, which is regarded as one of the best in the township. The outbuild- ings, fencing, roads, facilities for feeding and watering, indeed all the features are such as to indicate a progressive guiding hand. Mr. Tucker is a breeder of Per- cheron horses and takes commendable pride in the mammoth draft animals of his stables, the result of careful selection and judicious training. He also breeds and deals exten- sively in cattle and sheep. ranking well among live stock men of the county both in quantity and quality of his stock. Mr. Tucker has other financial interests, espe- cially in making loans and investments. He is a stockholder and director in the Colum- bia City National Bank. He is a member of the Baptist church, belongs to the Odd Fellows' lodge, is a Republican and has served as trustee of the township.
In 1898 Mr. Tucker married Miss Mary M., daughter of Milo and Catherine ( Bow- ersock) Lawrence, former residents of Al- len county, but now living in Thorncreek township of Whitley. Mr. and Mrs. Tucker have one son, Lawrence L.
WILLIAM S. LANCASTER.
Among the sturdy emigrants contrib- uted by North Caroline to the young state of Indiana was Sanders Lancaster, a poor mechanic, who reached Wayne county in [822 and there operated as a carpenter and
808
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
blacksmith until his death. He brought with him a son named Wright, who was born near Raleigh in 1819. He learned the carpenter's trade with his father, but in 1843 came to Whitley county and secured a tract of land in Cleveland township. He pros- pered and exercised considerable influence, as he served several terms as township trustee and in 1879 was elected county re- corder. serving a term of four years. He was a Republican, and was generally found in the councils of the party. Wright Lan- caster married Margaret Grimes, a native of Wayne county, by whom he had eight chil- dren: Indiana, wife of W. H. Cleveland; Jolın G., deceased; George G., deceased : Alexander G., a farmer of Richland town- ship: Frank R. and Ralph P., of South Whitley: Mary V., wife of Lewis Shuh, of Arkansas; and William S. The mother died in January, 1864, and by a second marriage with her half-sister, Sarah A. Grimes, there were two children: Nora, who died in infancy, and Walter W., a resi- dent of Piqua, Ohio. Mr. Lancaster died in 1892.
William S. Lancaster was born in Whit- ley county. Indiana. August 25, 1863, and being but a few months old at the death of his mother was reared by his sister. Indi- ana, until his father's second marriage, when he was seven years old. He remained on the farm until thirteen years old, when he went to South Whitley and later to Co- lumbia City with his father, while the latter was recorder. He learned the painter's trade, which he followed eleven years and then entered the employment of John J. Combs in the elevator at South Whitley. with whom he remained eight years, after
which he spent two years with the "A to Z" Printing Company. In January, 1905, he was appointed trustee of Cleveland town- ship, in which office he has since served, succeeding Hugo Logan, and still has two years to serve. In order to take his present position he resigned the office of town clerk. to which he had been elected after having been previously appointed to fill out an un- expired term of F. D. Wesner. Cleveland township has nine schools with twelve teach- ers, the one at Collamer having three. Thirty students attend the South Whitley high school and one entire school is trans- ferred to the town schools. Three trans- portation wagons are operated to take pu- pils either to South Whitley or to Collamer. Mr. Lancaster is active in fraternal circles, being a member of the Masonic order and having served five years as financial secre- tary of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows.
In 1892 Mr. Lancaster married Cora J., daughter of Moses and Eliza Mannen, of Richland township, where she was born in 1872. They have no children, but at. the age of seven adopted Cora Edna Knapp, now a school girl of sixteen. Mr. Lancas- ter is a Republican and his wife is a member of the Baptist church.
JESSE HOWARD BRIGGS, M. D.
In was about 1800 that Samuel and Ag- nes (Shephard) Briggs left Virginia to carve out a new home in the then rapidly filling section north of the Ohio. They set- tled in Ross county, where the former
809
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
bought two hundred and forty acres of City; Ordella, wife of Filmore Welsheimer, land, which he cultivated until his death in of Union township: Edward: Stephen O., a plumber at Columbia City; Charles and Frank, residents of Columbia City; Fred. living at Butler, Indiana, and Jesse Howard. Mr. Briggs is a Democrat in politics and a member of the Lutheran church. 1841, surviving his companion three years. Their seven children were: William, Jesse, James, Samuel, Robert, Silas and Andrew Jackson, the latter now living in Union township. The two last named are the only survivors. Silas Briggs was born in Ross Jesse Howard Briggs was born in Whit- ley county, Indiana, October 4. 1880. He remained on his father's farm in Union township until the completion of his four- teenth year, attending the common schools and the Coesse high school. For one year he was in the State Normal at Terre Haute. after which he took a course in Wittenberg College at Springfield, Ohio, graduating when seventeen years of age. In 1898 he entered the Northwestern University Med- ical School at Chicago and remained there two years. This was followed by a two years' course at Rush Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1903. After an experience as interne for nearly one year in the Presbyterian Hospital he came to Churubusco and entered actively into the practice of his profession. He has met with unusual success and is regarded as one of the most promising physicians of the county. Dr. Briggs is a Knight Templar, chancellor commander of the Knights of Pythias and member of the Modern Woodmen, Eastern Star and Pythian Sisters. His college fra- ternities are the Phi Kappa Phis at Witten- berg (Ohio) College, the Phi Beta Pi at Rush Medical College and the Alpha Omega Alpha honorary. Dr. Briggs is medical ex- aminer for nearly all the leading insurance companies as well as for those fraternities which have an insurance feature. Dr. Briggs is one of the leaders of the local county, Ohio, August 30, 1826, and re- mained on the home farm until the death of his parents, when he made his home for a time with an aunt, attending school at intervals as the opportunity afforded. He worked out for several years, principally feeding cattle and driving them to market. In 1848 he came to Whitley county and bought a section of land in Union township. but it was in 1851 that he returned and be- gan to develop it into a farm. He set to work to clear and improve this tract, which kept him busy for many years, but finally retired in 1903, since which time he has been living with his sons in Columbia City. In September. 1852, he married Rebecca. daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Grad- less) Nickey, natives of Virginia, who be- came early settlers of Whitley county. He died in 1864, surviving his wife, who was but thirty-five when she passed away. They had four children to reach maturity: David W., deceased, whose sketch appears else- where; Rebecca; Mary, now Mrs. Samuel Pierce, of Chicago, and Addison B., living in Princeton, Indiana. Mrs. Briggs was born in Smith township, Whitley county. September 27, 1835. and died March 22. 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Briggs had nine chil- dren to reach maturity: Desda Jane. wife of Philip Rouch, of Union township; Eliza- beth, wife of Albert Mossman, of Columbia
810
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
Democracy and in November, 1906, was elected coroner of the county. He is secre- tary of the board of health and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
HIRAM B. WHITTENBERGER.
In 1836, when Jackson was filling his second term as president and Sam Houston was gaining fame in Texas, the tide of emi- gration to Ohio was in full blast. Settlers were coming in from everywhere especially from New England. Pennsylvania, Virginia and Kentucky. About that time seven fam- ilies, who had settled in Medina county, resolved to push farther west toward the valley of the Wabash. They made the tedious trip in wagons and on horseback, finally pulling up in Fulton county, where jointly they founded the town of Akron. which has since become a place of consider- able importance. One of this party of pio- neers was William Whittenberger, who was born in Pennsylvania, but crossed the moun- tains early in the century and cast his for- tunes with the settlers of old Medina. After coming to Fulton county he bought a small farm, the cultivation of which provided for a large family of children but at his death was not sufficient to make them rich. He had married Joanna Sippy, whose grand- father had crossed the ocean with Lafay- ette and fought for the freedom of America during the Revolutionary war. This worthy couple were pious members of the Methodist church, and reared their family to habits of industry and morality. Their children. eleven in number, were William and Jacob.
deceased; Joseph, later a resident of Rochester, now deceased; John, deceased ;. Daniel, Stephen and Thomas, all living at Akron : Abraham J., of Claypool, Indiana ; Isaac, of South Whitley; Hiram, Benjamin and Clara. the latter the wife of C. E. Mc- Means, of Akron.
Hiram B. Whitenberger was born in. Medina county, Ohio, January 18, 1835, being still an infant in arms when his par- ents made their memorable trip to their new home in Fulton county. He remained on the parental farm until he grew to manhood. but as schools were scarce and poor in his neighborhood, he was able to pick up but a scanty education. He did contract work on farms until 1861, when he enlisted in Com- pany F. Forty-sixth Regiment Indiana Vol -. unteer Infantry, with which he served until his discharge in 1863. He was in some live -. ly skirmishes, but took part in none of the historic battles. After his discharge he es- tablished a store at Larwill, Indiana, in partnership with his brother, Abraham, but who retired after three years, when Hiram became sole proprietor. He was the pioneer merchant of the town. with whose every interest he has been a part for more than forty years, seeing whole generations come and go. He conducts a general store, keep- ing that selection of merchandise needed by his customers, most of whom are farmers. He has done an extensive business, retain- ing the good will and custom of his patrons by square dealing, unvarying courtesy and strict integrity.
In 1865, Mr. Whittenberger married Savilla Hayden, daughter of Zera Suther- land. of Logansport. Indiana, where she was born about the year 1839. Mr. and
1
8II
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
Mrs. Whittenberger have had six children : Clarence, who died when eleven years old ; Schuyler, who was killed in a railroad wreck in Nebraska, where he was a telegraph op- erator: Walter, who is in the store with his father ; Edward, a railway employe in Chi- cago: John and Benjamin, who died in infancy. The mother is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Whit- tenberger is an Odd Fellow. a Republican in politics, and was a member of the Larwi !! post of the Grand Army of the Republic. while it was in existence.
GEORGE W. KICHLER.
George W. Kichler, the fourth of his father's family, was born at Churubusco, Indiana, September 8, 1883, and was edit- cated as he grew up in the common and high schools, having graduated from the latter at the age of eighteen. He learned the baker's trade under his father's direc- tion and for two years had sole charge of the bakery. In 1903 he began reading law in the office of John W. Orndorf and was admitted to the bar in 1905 before Judge Adair. He entered into practice of his pro- fession at once, in association with his old preceptor, and May Ist of the following year purchased Mr. Orndorf's interest and is already in the enjoyment of a lucrative practice extending into all the state courts. He acts as agent for the Etna. American National. Continental, German, North Brit- ish and Security Insurance Companies and altogether is one of the busy citizens of Churubusco. He is a Republican and has already identified himself with active poli-
tics, being a delegate to the joint senatorial convention and a worker in local campaigns. He is a Pythian Brother and enjoys an out- ing on the northern Indiana lakes.
OSCAR C. CROWELL.
The genealogy of the Crowell family is given elsewhere in this volume in connection with two of the descendants of the original settler. It has been a useful family in con- nection with the farming interests of Whit . ley county, especially that portion covered by the township of Jefferson, where their activities have principally lain. They have not only done their part in developing the land as farmers, but by branching out as grain dealers and buyers of stock. they have assisted their neighbors by bringing the mar kets close to their doors. By this spirit of enterprise, they have helped others while helping themselves, become widely acquaint- ed and made their name familiar over a wide section of country. The local founder or first settler was Henry Crowell, who was among those who arrived as early as the 'thirties, when Whitley county gave little promise of ever becoming the farming sec- tion which spreads out before all who visit it in these piping times of prosperity. It was William Crowell. however, son of the old settler, who established his family's name and laid broad and deep the foundation for its future success. Active and enter- prising as a farmer, he eventually branched out as an agricultural trader and became widely known on account of the grain ele- vator which he established at Raber and con - ducted with unflagging energy until his.
812
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
death in March, 1903. By his marriage with Gertrude Cosemeyer, he left an unus ually interesting family of six children, who have proved worthy descendants of a patri- archal sire. Reed, the eldest, is prospering in the lumber business in the forests oi Arkansas; Harvey A., the second son, is a well-to-do farmer in Jefferson township: Cora, the only daughter, married Fred Rickerd, who resides in Michigan; William W., after his father's death, became joint owner with his mother of the one hundred and fifty-five acres composing the old home- stead in Jefferson township and is manag- ing this farm with success: Porter, the youngest child, passed away in 1904 before he had an opportunity to prove his quali- fications for business.
Oscar C. Crowell, fifth of these children, was born in Jefferson township. Whitley county, Indiana, February 24, 1878. As a boy he began helping his father on the farm and in his other work, for which he dis-" played a natural adaptability. His familiar- ity with affairs connected with the elevator qualified him to succeed his father in this responsible business and after the estate was settled he took full charge at Raber. He has control of the coal and grain supply handled at that point and for a young man has a high reputation among the farmers for promptness, courtesy and square dealing. Raber is situated about forty rods south of the old home farm and there Mr. Crowell makes his residence. He is well known to the farmers and others for miles around and all have confidence in his integrity and dis- position to do the right thing with his cus- tomers. His shipments are about sixty car- loads annually.
MERRITT W. CROWELL.
The family of this name dates well back into the pioneer period of Whitley county, and for three generations has been promi- nently connected with its agricultural inter- ests. The founder was Henry Crowell. who came from Ohio at the time usually de- scribed by that indefinite and rather mean- ingless phrase "in the early day." Usually this means that the person alluded to was among the first settlers and the fore-runners of the Crowells certainly deserve this title. He left a son named William, who became a farmer but was much better known as a buyer of stock and grain. About 1896, he built a grain elevator at Raber and ran it for many years, handling nearly all the grain shipped from this vicinity. Meantime he cleared, improved and managed his own farm, on which he carried on the miscel- laneous agriculture usual to this section, consisting of grain growing and stock rais- ing. William Crowell married Gertrude Catzmier, by whom he had six children : Reid is engaged in the lumber business in Arkansas; Harvey is a farmer in Jefferson township: Cora married Fred Rickerd, who is a farmer in Hillsdale county, Michigan ; Merritt W. and Oscar, who has charge of the elevator. Porter, the youngest, died in 1904, at the age of twenty-three years. The father after an active life passed away March 30, 1902.
Merritt W. Crowell was born on the homestead in Whitley county, Indiana, May 31, 1876. He grew up on his father's farm and obtained a good education in the com- mon schools of Jefferson township. After his father's death he became a joint owner
813
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
with his mother of the one hundred and fifty- five acres of which the home place consists, one hundred acres being under cultivation, the rest covered with timber and devoted to pasture. General farming and stock raising are his main interests. A fine brick residence was erected in 1891 and with suitable barns and other buildings, fencing and drainage makes this one of the really attractive and desirable rural homes of the county. June 21, 1904, Mr. Crowell married Miss Ocie, daughter of Franklin and Carlina Schuman, of Richland township.
Mr. and Mrs. Crowell have one son, Porter De Witt Crowell. The father is a Republican.
PETER V. GRUESBECK.
Early in the last century James Grues- beck, whose ancestors for generations had been in New York, left his native state to venture into the sparsely settled but rapidly developing county of Crawford, Ohio. He was a successful farmer there but obeying a natural instinct decided in 1852 to try his fortunes in Indiana and secured a farm in Columbia township, just west of Columbia City. Disposing of that farm in 1864, James Gruesbeck and wife came to Colum- bia City, devoting his attention to other farms which he operated in connection with his sons. He died at the home of his son, Theodore, at Lorane, Troy township, aged seventy-five years, having survived his wife about five years. He had married Mary Van Orsdall, in Ohio, and lived with her through life. Their mature children were Peter, Walter, Omar, Charles, and Theo-
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.