USA > Indiana > Whitley County > History of Whitley County, Indiana > Part 105
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
his present farm contains three hundred and three acres, lying one mile west of Coesse. He gives personal attention to his farm, keeps it in the finest possible condition and is fully abreast of the times on all matters relating to advanced agricultural methods, in addition to which he has large live stock interests, his breeds of fine cattle, hogs and horses being among the best. July 24, 1873. Mr. Mowrey was united in marriage with Miss Martha E. Jones, who was born in Whitley county, her father, Harvey Jones, a Virginian by birth, being one of the early pioneers of this part of Indiana. Her mother. Sarah E. ( Ritter) Jones, was a native of Champaign county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Mowrey have had three children : Elsworth, died in infancy : William, a farm- er in Beaver county, Oklahoma : Lloyd, his father's assistant on the home place and a student in Big College at Fort Wayne. Mr. Mowrey's fraternal relations are with the Knights of Pythias. He is a member of the Democratic party and the Lutheran church. Mrs. Mowrey is a member of the same church and with her husband takes an active part in all good work under the auspices of the congregation to which they belong.
ALBERT BUSH.
Few of Whitley county's native sons are as widely known and highly esteemed as the gentleman whose name furnishes the cap- tion of this brief review. Distinctively a representative citizen of the community, he has won the respect and confidence of a large circle of friends. An American in all the
846
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
term implies through his veins also courses the blood of a long line of German ancestors and combined with his other estimable qual- ities are many of the sterling characteristics for which that sturdy nationality has long been distinguished. His paternal grandfa- ther. George Bush, came to the United States when a young man and finally settled in Stark county, Ohio, where he purchased land and became a prosperous farmer. He married a Miss Miller, born in Pennsylvania, of German parentage, and they spent the remainder of their days on the Stark county farm, both dying a number of years ago. Joseph Bush was a native of Greene county. Ohio, and the second of a family of four. He remained with his father until attaining his majority, when he married Barbara Auer and about one year later removed to DeKalb county, Indiana, where he bought a farm. After a residence of eighteen months in that county he sold and in 1854 became a resident of Whitley, purchasing eighty acres of wild land in Jefferson township, which he proceeded to improve and on which he made his home for forty-nine years. He invested in other land until he · became the owner of three hundred and twenty acres, of which two hundred and forty were reduced to cultivation, this being one of the largest, best improved and most valuable farms in the township. Here Mr. Bush spent the greater part of his life, dy- ing in 1903, at the age of seventy-five. He was a man of ripe intelligence, a Democrat in politics and for many years a consistent member of the Reformed church. His wife, whom he survived twenty-seven years, was identified with the same religious body and her daily life was ever consistent with her faith. Joseph and Barbara Bush were the
parents of six children : Amos, deceased in childhood; Mrs. Sarah Shinbecker, of Jefferson township; Albert; Mrs. Phoebe Shaneline. of Pratt county, Kansas ; Wilson, who died at the age of seventeen; and Mi- nerva, who died in infancy.
Alfred Bush was born April 25, 1858, and received his early training under the wholesome influences of the farm and the district school. He also attended the Colum- bia City high school and then entered the Northern Indiana Normal University at Valparaiso in 1881. Mr. Bush turned his attention to educational work and for six- teen years taught in the district schools of Whitley county, becoming one of the most popular and efficient teachers of the county. Meantime he purchased a farm in Union township, two miles south of Coesse, on which he spent the interim between terms and finally discontinuing his work in the schoolroom he has devoted his entire time to his farm, meeting with gratifying re- sults. He has added to his original pur- chase until he now owns two hundred acres, one hundred and twenty being under culti- vation, while his improvements in the way of buildings, fencing, etc., are up-to-date in every particular and indicate the supervision of a progressive owner. By a system of tile drainage he has greatly improved his land. which with fertilizing and judicious rotation of crops has added largely to its productive- ness. Mr. Bush is a careful student of agri- cultural science, including improved ma- chinery and advanced methods. He raises abundant crops of all the grains and vege- tables grown in this section and in addi- tion devotes no little attention to live stock, to which he feeds the greater part of the products of the farm. By careful pruning
.
847
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
and judicious spraying he is enabled to se- cure full crops of selected apples and other fruits, even when orchards not so treated are practically barren.
In 1881 Mr. Bush was united in mar- riage with Miss Minnie Jeffries, of Whitley county, and they have one son, Roscoe, a student in the public schools. Mrs. Bush's parents. George and Axie (Thomas) Jef- fries, are among the wealthiest farmers of Jefferson township, where she was born. In his political affiliations Mr. Bush is a Demo- crat. in religion a Lutheran, and his frater- nal relations are represented by the Pythian brotherhood, himself and wife also holding membership with the Pythian sisters. Mr. Bush has been a frequent contributor to various journals and for five years has con- ducted a Farm Department in the Whitley County News. His services are also in demand at various county farmers' insti- tutes, where he handles practical topics, using his own experience as the basis of argument. He is also president of the Farmers' Mutual Telephone Company, of which he was an incorporator and promoter. He has devoted much time and attention to the natural history of northeastern In- diana, a subject upon which he is considered an authority, and as evidence of his fa- military with this line of research, the reader is respectfully referred to his article in this volume on the Flora of Whitley county.
LOUIS W. EMRICK.
Respected by all who known him, there is no man within the confines of Whitley county who occupies a more enviable posi-
tion than Louis W. Emrick, not only for the success he has achieved but also by reason of his integrity of character and the straight- forward, gentlemanly course he has ever pursued. Mr. Emrick was born February 8, 1854, in Allen county, being the son of Charles and Augusta ( Pater) Emrick, both of whom came to this county from Ger- many. They were reared in the fatherland and shortly after their marriage emigrated to the United States, living for some years in New York, where Charles followed his trade of milling. He removed to Detroit, ·Michigan, where he was similarly employed until coming to Indiana a few years later. He bought a saw-mill in Allen county and. later owned mills in Fort Wayne and near Coesse. Purshasing a section of fine timber land in Union township, he operated the mill here for many years. In connection with the lumber business he car- ried on farming and in due time became one of the most successful agriculturists in Union township, with the material advancement of which part of the county his later years were closely interwoven. He died in 1882, at the age of sixty-four years and is remembered as one of the intelligent and progressive German-American citizens to whom the Hoosier state is largely indebted for the prosperity which it now enjoys. His widow survived him about twenty years. Their four children are all surviving and of the three sons, Charles F .. Lewis Ward and John G., live on parts of the old homestead. A sister, Augusta, is the wife of Dr. N. R. Wenger, of Fort Wayne.
The education of Louis W. Emrick was obtained in the common schools. When old enough he took a place in his father's mill and it was not long until he became fa-
.
848
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
miliar with the lumber business in its every detail. He continued with his father for a number of years and contributed greatly to the latter's success, having early de- veloped ability as manager of the lumber interests which ultimately came under his control. Mr. Emrick secured a quarter sec- tion of timbered land of his father, which he at once proceeded to clear and improve, operating the mill in connection, and which. under his labor, has been developed until it is now classed with the finest farms in the county, one hundred acres being in cultiva- tion, the remainder consisting of wood and pasture. All the improvements are the re- sult of Mr. Emrick's efforts and for his com- fortable competence he is indebted to nobody but himself, being in all the term implies the architect of his own fortune. While he has not made the acquisition of wealth the prime object of life, his success in material affairs has been encouraging and he now not only ranks with the financially solid and well-to-do men of his township, but ranks as one of its representative citizens.
In September. 1876, Mr. Emrick was joined in marriage with Miss Zella A. Ball, of Whitley county, the union resulting in the birth of two children: William Louis, an electrician at Cavena, California, and Lawrence D., who died in infancy. Mr. Emrick has always manifested a lively inter- est in public affairs and, being a reader, has decided opinions concerning the great ques- tions upon which men and parties are di- vided. He is a stanch Republican on gen- eral issues, but in purely local matters not infrequently disregards party ties. Fra- ternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, holding membership with the lodge in Dunfee.
FRANCIS E. DE PEW.
Among the leading citizens of Union township is Francis E. De Pew, a represen- tative of one of the old and esteemed fam- ilies of Whitley county and a man whose standing and influence have made him a factor in public affairs. On the paternal side he is descended from French-Irish an- cestry, his maternal forerunners being Dutch-Irish, both branches of the family coming to this country in an early day and settling in New Jersey and Pennsylvania re- spectively. Mr. De Pew's paternal grand- father, Levi De Pew, was born and reared in the former state and later went to Penn- sylvania, where he married and became an extensive farmer in connection with which calling he worked for some years at his trade of millwrighting. He was quite suc- cessful in his business affairs, accumulated a comfortable fortune and lived to the ripe old age of ninety-two years, his wife dying at the age of eighty-five.
Elijah De Pew was a native of Pennsyl- vania, where he remained until 1849. when he came to Whitley county, and entered one- hundred and twenty acres of land in Colum- bia township, which he improved and lived on during the ensuing nine years, then dis- posing of the farm he moved in 1858 to Columbia City, where he made his home until his residence was transferred to Union township two years later. Purchasing a quarter section of land, on which but four acres were cleared, he addressed himself to the task of its improvement and in due time his labors were rewarded by a fine farm, all but ten acres of the tract being reduced to cultivation. Here he spent the remainder of a long and useful life, meeting with
849
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
abundant success as a tiller of the soil and making his presence felt as an intelligent and public-spirited citizen, dying in Feb- ruary, 1906, at the age of eighty-seven, sur- viving his wife who died in August, 1878, aged seventy-six.
Elijah De Pew's first wife was Jennette Paige, of New York, who departed this life in 1852, the mother of two children. In IS54 he entered the marriage relation with Rebecca Winget, who bore him three chil- dren: Francis E .; Rachel Ann, deceased wife of John Bixler, of Jonesboro, Indiana ; and Isa B., now Mrs. Daniel Harsbarger.
Francis E. De Pew was born in Colum- bia township. Whitley county, February 5, 1855, and spent his early life on the farm, receiving his education in the district schools and remaining at home until attaining his majority. When twenty-one years old he rented the homestead and continued to cul- tivate the same until his father's death, meantime purchasing forty acres on which he erected a dwelling and made other in- provements in view of ultimately making it his permanent place of residence. Inherit- ing forty acres of the family estate adjoin- ing his own land he took possession of same after the death of his father and in due time inaugurated many improvements in the way of drainage, fences, buildings, etc. As a farmer Mr. De Pew belongs to the most ad- vanced class, as his success bears ample witness, being progressive in his methods and a critical and enthusiastic student of agricultural science. He has placed himself in comfortable circumstances and with an ample competence for any exigency that may arise he is independent. Mr. De Pew has taken an active interest in public and
political affairs and for a number of years has been one of the influential men in the township. In 1904 he received the Demo- cratic nomination for joint representative from the counties of Whitley and Kos ciusko, but with the rest of the candidates went down in defeat before the formidable strength of the opposition. although run- ning far ahead of his ticket and carrying much more than the normal party vote. In 1906 he was nominated for county assessor but the landslide proved overwhelming.
In 1879, Mr. De Pew was married to Miss Martha J. McCoy, whose parents, David and Misanier (Walker) McCoy, moved from Ohio to this part of Indiana a number of years ago and spent the re- mainder of their lives on a farm in Colum- bia township. Mr. and Mrs. De Pew have no children of their own, but their home is a favorite resort of the children of the neighborhood. Fraternaly Mr. De Pew be- longs to the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and with his wife holds member- ship in the Rebekahs. He has passed the chairs of the subordinate lodge and was representative to the grand lodge. He is also a member of Summit City Encamp- ment, No. 16, at Fort Wayne.
EDWIN H. CLICK.
Edwin H. Click holds a prominent place among the leading farmers and representa- 'tive citizens of Union township. His paternal ancestors were among the early settlers of Rockingham county, Virginia, in
54
850
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
which state his grandparents lived for many years. Michael Click was born in Spring- field. Ohio, and when a young man came to Whitley county and established a photo- graph gallery in Columbia City, to which his efforts thereafter were devoted. He died in September. 1885. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Harriet Smith, is a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and is still living at Roy, Colorado.
Edwin H. Click, the only child, was born February 7. 1868, in Columbia City, in the schools of which he received his early ed11- cation, but owing to circumstances over which he had no control he was obliged to discontinue his studies at the age of seven- teen. After spending several years in any honorable employment which he could ob- tain, he decided to devote his attention to farming, and with this end in view, pur- chased land five miles east of Columbia City. in Union township, by additions to which he now owns one hundred and ninety acres, one hundred and fifty in cultivation, with first-class improvements. The soil has been improved with open and tile drains and is in a productive condition. Like the major- ity of farmers. Mr. Click devotes consider- able attention to live stock but general farm- ing is his main business.
Republican, earnest in the support of the principles of his party, but at no time has he sought office, or aspired to leadership.
JESSE SELLECK OMAN.
Jesse Selleck Oman, a representative farmer and highly esteemed citizen of Union township, was born in the house where he lives, March 7th, and dates his birth from the year 1855. His father, George W. Oman, was a New Yorker by birth and his mother, whose maiden name was Louisa Selleck, also sprung from an old family that lived for many years in the Empire state. The Omans came to Whitley county in 1836 and took an active part in the development of the locality in which they resided, taking this farm from the government. George WV. Oman devoted a number of years to the manufacture of shingles in New York as well as doing carpenter work. He took up land in Union township, made the first im- provements on the farm which the subject now owns and it was here that Esther Oman, who married James Hight, was born not long after the family came to the county, the event being the first of the kind within the present bounds of the township. The house which Jesse's father erected is still in use, as is also the barn, the latter being built over sixty-five years ago and notwith- standing its age it is still in excellent condi- tion and doubtless will answer the purpose for which designed for a number of years to come. Mr. Oman opened his house for accommodation of the traveling public and
September 17, 1890, Mr. Click and Miss Nettie Wynant were united in the bonds of wedlock and they are now the parents of two children, Helen and Walter, both stu- dents in the district schools. Mrs. Click's' parents were Jacob W. and Mary A. ( Kerr) Wynant, the former a farmer near Larwill. Mrs. Click was born in Jasper county, In- diana, and brought to Whitley county when four years old. In politics Mr. Click is a it early became a favorite stopping-place
851
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
for land-seekers and other travelers. He Smith township, settling there in the spring and his wife lived to a ripe old age, the of 1836. There he made a farm and was a minister of the Church of God. He died at the age of seventy-eight, surviving his wife about three years, she being sixty- eight. Mr. and Mrs. Oman supplied a home to Bertha Mellen from the age of eleven until married. Mrs. Oman is a member of the Methodist church at Coesse. former dying in 1883, at sixty-eight, and the latter in 1894, at seventy-eight years. Of their family of seven children, Jesse is the youngest. The names are: Esther, Henry C., Julia, Constantia, Levi Frederick, one died in infancy, and Jesse S. Esther, who became Mrs. James Hight, died when past sixty years of age. Henry C. was a soldier, who settled on part of the old farm, and later, returned to New York, where he married and died. Constantia is Mrs. Levi ALFRED GRACE. Garrison, who lives on part of the old home- stead. Levi Frederick is now a resident of Oregon.
Jesse Oman received such an education as the district schools were able to impart and when old enough to be of service was set to work in the fields, where he developed a strong physique, which has stood him well in the strenuous life he has since led as a tiller of the soil. Mr. Oman has been a persevering worker and capable manager and now owns a productive farm of one hun- dred and thirty acres, well drained and under a high state of cultivation. He is a man of progressive ideas, operates his farm according to modern methods and by a ju- dicious rotation of crops seldom fails to realize liberal returns. As a citizen he is public spirited , manifests an interest in cur- rent events and on all questions that attract the attention of the people has well defined opinions and the courage of his convictions in giving expression to the same. In poli- tics he is a Republican.
October 19, 1879, Mr. Oman was mar- ried to Miss Maxia, daughter of Zachariah and Ann (Ruckman) Garrison, pioneers of
Among the men of Whitley . county whose time and energies have been devoted to agriculture, the subject of this sketch is entitled to a conspicuous place. Alfred Grace is a native of Ohio, born July 28. 1858, in the county of Stark, being one of six children whose parents were William and Catherine ( Morroff) Grace. The names are as follows: Sarah, who lives with her father; John, who is living in Jefferson township; Mrs. Dinah Bennett, of Laud, Indiana; Henry, a resident of Jefferson township; Alfred, and Joseph, deceased at the age of forty. When Alfred was but three years old his parents came into the woods of Jefferson township and there im- proved a farm, one mile east of Laud and there the father still lives at about eighty- five years of age, having survived his com- panion about twenty years.
In his younger days Alfred Grace at- tended the district schools in the winter time and during the rest of the year assisted his father and older brothers in cultivating the soil, his free outdoor life in fields and woods contributing largely to the well developed
852
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
physique and vigorous health, which char- acterized his youth and early manhood. After working on the homestead until June, 1884, he rented the farm and from that time until 1891 tilled the soil for a share of the proceeds. In the latter year he pur- chased an eighty-acre farm in Jefferson township, which was his wife's father's homestead, on which he lived during the ensuing eight years. In 1902 he bought his present farm of one hundred and six acres in the township of Union, five miles east of Columbia City. It is part of the old Merriman homestead and with a handsome residence makes a very desirable home. Mr. Grace has not been sparing of his means to make his farm beautiful and attractive as well as productive, and believing in devoting the good things of this world to useful ends, he has provided his family with many of the comforts and conveniences of life, not the least being a substantial and well furnished modern residence, in which domestic peace holds sway and a spirit of hospitality pre- vails. His place is well drained and the soil, which is in excellent condition, pro- duces abundantly all the grain and vege- table crops grown in this latitude, in addi- tion to which considerable attention is de- voted to fine live stock, which has been found one of the most profitable depart- ments of modern farming.
the age of eighty-five years, in May, 1902. Two children have resulted from this union, WVilda May and Ethel G., both at home. In his political affiliations Mr. Grace is a Dem- ocrat and in religion holds with his family to the faith represented by the Church of God.
WILLIAM KRIDER.
William Krider, a pioneer farmer of Smith township, was born in Stark county, Ohio, February 22, 1839, and is the son of Jeremiah and Susannah (Zent) Krider, both natives of Pennsylvania, but who came to Stark county in early life and were mar- ried there. In 1845 they came to Indiana, moving in wagons and settled in Smith township, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land near the center of the town- ship, on which has been made a small clear- ing. They were soon in possession of a good home surrounded with all the com- forts of the times. The infirmities of age coming on, they moved to Churubusco and spent the remainder of their days in a re- tired life. The mothier, who was a member of the United Brethren church, died in 1883 and the father in 1898. They were parents of twelve children: John, Samuel, and Sarah Ann, deceased; William; Fanny, deceased ; George, a farmer living in Smith township; Eliza Jane, living in Denver; Malinda, living in Missouri; Frank, living in Smith township; Hulda, deceased; Jere- miah, living in Chicago; and Mary, living in Fort Wayne.
January 3, 1884, Mr. Grace was united in marriage with Miss Mary L., daughter of William and Margaret (Crumley) Kline, the former a native of Pennsylvania and of German descent, the latter born and reared in Wayne county, Ohio. They cleared a farm in Jefferson township and William Krider was only seven years there their lives were passed. He died at old when he came with his parents to Whit-
853
WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
ley county. He was educated in the com- mon schools and has always been a farmer. He remained at home until he was married, when he moved to a rented farm in Allen county, where he lived one year, returning to Smith township, where he purchased forty acres of unimproved school land in section 16. He improved this land, as also an additional forty acres, and made it his home about nine years, when he moved to the farm on which he still lives. At one time he owned three hundred and forty acres but gave a portion of this to his children, leaving two hundred and forty acres. In 1883 he erected one of the finest nine-room brick houses in the county. He also has commo- dious barns and other buildings to corre- spond. It is one of the finest and most de- sirable farms in the county and is a grand monument to industry, frugality and perseverance.
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.