History of Whitley County, Indiana, Part 106

Author: Kaler, Samuel P. 1n; Maring, R. H. (Richard H.), 1859-, jt. auth
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: [Indianapolis, Ind.] : B. F. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 940

USA > Indiana > Whitley County > History of Whitley County, Indiana > Part 106

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March 3, 1859, he was married to Sarah Anna, daughter of Jacob and Elizabethi (Briggs) Nickey, both from Ohio, but of Virginia ancestors, now deceased. They came to Indiana about 1838 and to them were born six children: Elizabeth, wife of Alex Moore, a farmer living in Union town- ship; Rosanna, wife of George Perry, living in Noble county; Ruhama married Joseph Long, and both are deceased; Sarah Anna ; Clerissa, wife of Lewis Metsker; Allen S., living in Tipton, Indiana.

The father was married the second time to Catherine (Crabill) Frederick, and to this union four children were born: Wil- liam S., living in Smith township on the home farm; Austin and Mary, deceased ; Jacob, living in Buffalo, New York.

Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs.

Krider: Irving J., a farmer of Smith town- ship, married Catherine Slagle, and lias one child, Mamie, who is the wife of Harry Briggs, and has two children. Robert and Willie. Etta, wife of Sanford Ort, of Churubusco, has two children, Sidney and Robert; William O., a farmer in Smith township, married Cora Lincoln, and has three children, Blanch, Ralph and Truman. Her death occurred in August, 1906. Liz- zie, the wife of Frank Egolf, living in Smith township, has five children: Paul, Roscoe, Elizabeth, Helen and Hildreth, twins. Olive, wife of Alfred Wollem, living in South Whitley; Samuel who married Cecil McGinley, operates the home farm. They have two children, Rodrick McGinley and Leonard E.

Mr. Krider does a general farming busi- ness, handles a good stock and manages his affairs with profit and marked success. He . is a Democrat but never held office. Him- self and wife are members of the United Brethren church.

MARTIN D. CRABILL.

Martin D. Crabill, a pioneer and well known farmer of Smith township, living in section 28, one half mile north of Collins, was born in Champaign county. Ohio, De- cember 18, 1840, and is the son of William and Catherine (Funk) Crabill, both natives of Virginia, in which state they were mar- ried in 1820. Here they continued to live till 1837, when they moved to Champaign county, Ohio, there they remained tliree years and then came to Indiana, settling in Smith township on one hundred and sixty

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acres of land purchased of the government, one mile west of where Martin D. lives. William, the son of Abraham Crabill, was born in 1795 and died on this farm in 1845. Both were members of the United Brethren church. Fifteen children were born. After the death of the father the widow by good management and perseverance kept the fam- ily together and gave them the benefit of the country schools. The children are as follows: Mary Ann, deceased: Catherine, widow of Jacob Nickey ; Harrison, a farmer living in Smith township; William, living in Missouri; Jacob, deceased; the sixth de- ceased in infancy: Caroline, . Margaret and Isaac, deceased : Eliza, wife of E. W. Flory, living in Kansas ; Levi, deceased ; Ellen, wife of Abraham Paulis: Minerva, deceased in infancy; Martin ; and Festus, a farmer liv- ing in Fulton county.

Martin D. Crabill remained at home till the death of his mother, after which he worked by the month till 1865 and then learned the carpenter's trade, working at the same until 1870, when he engaged in farming on a small farm of forty acres, where he remained till 1884, when he pur- chased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, on which he still lives. When he moved to this place only twenty acres were cleared, but by close application and good management he has developed one of tlie best farms in the county, being nearly cleared, thoroughly drained and well fenced, with a substantial barn and modern house, everything being in first-class condition for profitable business and the enjoyment of life.

September 8, 1867. Mr. Crabill was mar- ried to Mary E., daughter of Hiram and Catherine ( Davis) Jones, who was born in

Smith township, October 5. 1848. Hiram Jones was born in Knox county, Ohio, Au- gust 1, 1816, and Catherine Davis was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, February 14, 1812, and was married in Knox county, Ohio, in 1833, removing to Whitley county, Indiana, in 1842, buying the farm originally entered by John Strain, and "paying for it. with money earned by working for fifty cents per day. He died September 14, 1901, while she had died May 4, 1891. Their ten children were Elizabeth, Alfred, Nancy, Martha, Mary and Clarissa, and four dying in infancy. Jacob Davis, father of Catherine, came to Whitley county in 1842. and bought the Luther Mott farm, he enter- ing it in 1840. The parents of Hiram were John Jones and Martha Stilwell, who came to Whitley county in 1845, buying the Jacob. Davis farm. After his wife's death in 1854, he deeded his farm to his son John, to keep him during his life, which was not closed till April 5, 1868, being almost nine- ty-six years old.

Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Crabill: William E. married to El- nora Harter, and lives in Smith township; Naomi Alice, deceased in infancy: Albert Austin, living at home; Mary Vietta mar- ried to Merritt McLain, who live in Smith township and has three children: Velma Marie, Perry and Waunietta May.

In May, 1864, Martin D. Crabill enlisted in Company K. One Hundred and Thirty- ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was in many skirmishes, but no battles. His- discharge bears date of November, 1864. In politics he is a Democrat. Both he and his wife are members of the United Brethren church of Churubusco.

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LEWIS W. TENNANT, M. D.

The Whitley county family of this name is of Scotch origin. Lewis Benjamin Ten- nant leaving the hills of his native land to cross the water in search of a new home early in the nineteenth century. He had married a Scottish lassie and during the long journey to the United States, they decided on Indiana as a desirable locality for a fu- . ture home .. They located in Kosciusko county, where he practiced medicine until his death in 1865. While they were enroute to this country another child, Lewis H., was added to their already numerous progeny. The mother died when Lewis was still young and it became necessary for him to depend upon himself. H'e had about at- tained his majority when the tocsin of Civil war aroused his patriotism and he enlisted in the Forty-fourth Regiment Indiana Vol- unteer Cavalry, with which he served throughout the memorable struggle. Soon after his return he began the study of medi- cine, completing his professional education in Cincinnati and has since practiced his profession regularly, being at present so en- gaged at North Manchester. In 1865, he married Elizabeth, daughter of John and .Elizabeth Barron, natives of Pennsylvania. They came to Indiana in pioneer times, lo- cating at Logansport and there spent the remainder of their lives. Dr. and Mrs. Tennant have had eleven children: John, a resident of Ohio: Charles P., living in Kosciusko county; Demarius, wife of Em- mett Miller, of Sidney, Indiana ; Lewis W .; Walter, a resident of Kosciusko county ; Frank, who resides in Wisconsin; Leroy. deceased; Frederick, a resident of Sidney ;

Alma, deceased; James and Qttis, of Kos- ciusko county.

Lewis W. Tennant was born in Kos- ciusko county, August 2, 1871. All of his earlier years were spent in his native lo- cality, but acquired a good education in the local school supplemented by courses at the Terre Haute and Valparaiso Normals and the Academy at North Manchester. Entering the schoolroom as an instructor, he con- tinued to teach for six consecutive years. Meantime. deciding to follow the profession. of his father, his spare time was devoted to reading medicine under his preceptorship. He entered the Medical College of Indiana at Indianapolis in 1900, devoting four years to a thorough grounding in the intricacies of the profession, graduating with the class of 1904. In October of that year he located at Larwill and during the brief-time already elasped, has shown a remarkable aptitude for gaining both friends and business. He is a member of the Whitley County Medical Society, of the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen. His professional at- tainments received recognition by his ap- pointment as medical examiner for several standard life insurance companies as well as for the Modern Woodmen.

December 25, 1901, Dr. Tennant mar- ried Miss Cora L., daughter of Oren and Jane ( Freeman ) .Lenwell, a native of Laud, Whitley county, and born in 1881. Her mother was from Randolph county and her father a native of Whitley, their six children being Francis M., Freeman C., Curtis S .. Cora L., Clyde T. and Selbee R.

Politically, Dr. Tennant's affiliations are with the Republican party. Mrs. Tennant is a member of the Christian church.

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DAVID ROUCH.

The subject of this sketch was born in Wayne county, Ohio, May 4, 1850. the son of Samuel Rouch, a native of Pennsylvania. and Louisa Hamer, whose birth occurred in the state of Ohio. Samuel Rouch was reared to manhood in the state of his nativ- ity, married in Ohio, and in 1855, moved to Whitley county, purchasing the farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Union township on which he spent the remainder of his life and a portion of which his son, David, now owns. At the time of his arrival the land was practically unimproved. but by strenuous labor perseveringly con- tinned he succeeded in due time in removing the greater part of the dense forest and fitting the soil for tillage, besides erecting the buildings necessary on all first-class farms. He was a man of energy and de- termination and in addition to contributing largely to the material development of his township, took a lively interest in its public affairs, having served one term as trustee, but refused to take the office a second time, although elected thereto by a large majority of the votes cast. He and his wife were faithful members of the Lutheran church and in a quiet way did much to promote the cause of religion and good morals in the community, his voice and actions as well as his influence being ever on the side of law, order and civic righteousness. Mr. Rouch departed this life in 1888, his wife in 1891 and their memories are still cher- ished by the friends and neighbors among whom they lived so long and for whose wel- fare their efforts were generously exerted. Of the ten children of Samuel and Louisa

Rouch, David was the eighth in order of birth. During his childhood and youth he attended at intervals the public schools of the township and from the time he could work to advantage his services were re- quired on the farm, where he soon developed not only strong physical powers, but the spirit of independence and self-reliance that enter into the make-up of the intelligent and substantial American citizen of today. When old enough to begin life for himself he rented a portion of his father's land and was thus engaged during the ensuing nine years, forty acres at his father's death fall- ing to him as his share of the estate. Still later he acquired forty acres additional of the homestead, making his place consist of eighty acres on which he has erected a com- fortable and substantial dwelling, a fine commodious barn and other necessary build- ings, all in excellent condition and giving evidence of good taste, as well as an enter- prising spirit on the part of the proprietor. Mr. Rouch's farm is well drained, naturally and by tiling, the soil exceedingly fertile and for general agriculture and pasturage it loses nothing in comparison with any like number of acres within the bounds of the township.

In 1881 Mr. Rouch was united in the bonds of wedlock with Miss Elizabeth Lamb, of Whitley county, the union result- ing in two children, Nellie, wife of Carl C. Aker, and Joseph B., who is assisting his father on the farm. In-politics Mr. Rouch is a Republican, in religion a member of the United Brethren church as is also his wife. Carl C. Aker, who married Miss Nellie Rouch, is a native of Whitley county and the son of Charles F. and Clara Aker.

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After finishing the public school course he took up the study of telegraphy, which he completed in an institution at Columbia City and then entered the railway service as operator, being at this time in charge of the office at Coesse, where he has been stationed during the past two years. He is a skilled telegrapher, faithful in the dis- charge of his duties and enjoys the confi- dence of the company by which he is :employed.

CHARLES P. KIME, M. D. C.

The leading veterinary surgeon of Whit- ley county is Charles P. Kime, who was born December 30, 1863, on a farm in Wil- liams county, Ohio, his parents being Elias Kime, a native of Seneca county, Ohio, and Sarah Jane Kirkwood, who was born at Baltimore, Maryland. For forty years they resided on the Williams county farm, his death occurring February 27, 1888, while she survives. Their five surviving children are Horace, of Camden, Michigan ; Robert. who is on the homestead; Laura, who is Mrs. Frank Bunce, of Jonesville, Michigan; Albert, of Williams county, Ohio; and the Doctor.

Charles P. Kime grew to maturity on the farm, receiving the local school ad- vantages. Being early impressed with the importance of proper care of domestic ani- mals, he decided to become a veterinary and in order to equip himself thoroughly, took a course in the Chicago Veterinary College. graduating with the class of 1895. Choos- ing Columbia City as a suitable field for practice, he located here in that year and

soon became widely and favorably known among farmers and stockmen, his practice surpassing expectations. Professional de- mands have so increased that he is kept con- stantly employed and has found the work not only remunerative but one that demands intelligence and aptitude. A successful practitioner must not only be well read but must be a skilful operator and constantly in touch with the great advancement made in the profession. Dr. Kime is up-to-date and is in close touch with the most advanced thinkers on subjects pertaining to animal physiology, comparative anatomy and biol- ogy. He was married March 28, 1894. to Miss Lydia E., daughter of William S. and Angeline (Richie) Hazzard, a native of Williams county, Ohio. They have one daughter, Mildred A.

Dr. Kime is a Republican and is a high- ly respected member of the Pythian brother- hood.

WILLIAM H. HARSHMAN.

William H. Harshman, a successful business man and representative citizen of South Whitley, has spent the greater part of his life in the county. Jamies Harshman. his father, was a native of Greene county, Ohio, but came to Whitley county when a youth of seventeen and located with his par- ents in Cleveland township on what has long been known as the "Old Allen" place, where he spent the ensuing eight years. He re- moved to the township of Richland, where he made his home until his death, which oc- curred March 9. 1881, at the age of fifty-

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six years. James Harshman was not only a successful agriculturist and public-spirited citizen, but for a number of years took an active part in politics, having long been one of the Republican leaders in the two town- ships. He was just in his dealings, honor- able in every relation of life and his loss was keenly felt, not only by his immediate family, but by all of his fellow citizens. His wife was Mary J. Cullimore, who was born in Maryland, and now, at the age of seventy- eight years, makes her home with her son, George, on the family homestead in Rich- land township. They had eight children, of whom Sarah, Rhoda, William H., Martha and George, survive. James, Daniel and Upton are deceased. William H. Harsh- man grew to maturity with the conviction that man should earn his bread by the sweat of his brow. He attended winter terms of the public schools, obtaining a fair English education. He addressed himself assiduous- ly to the cultivation of the family homestead, where he remained until his thirtieth year. March 3, 1883, he was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie A., daughter of Henry Nor- ris, who came to this part of the state in an early day from Ohio. In 1885, Mr. Harshman engaged in the livery business, owning at this time a well equipped barn, supplied with all the conveniences and ap- pliances usually found in first-class estab- lishments, his stock and vehicles being of the best. Mr. Harshman is careful and method- ical and has met with deserved success. He works for the Republican party, and in mat- ters of religion supports the Christian and United Brethren churches. Mr. and Mrs. Harshman have four children, Elmer, Iva, Edna and Walter H.

OSCAR GANDY.

Perhaps no man has done more to make the town of Churubusco favorably known than Oscar Gandy, who was born in Preston. county, West Virginia, September 12, 1847 .. His father, Owen Gandy, removed to In- diana in 1853. settling at Heller's Corners,. Allen county. After several changes they" finally settled on a farm in Noble county, where the father spent his remaining years, dying at the age of sixty-two years.

In the fall of 1863. when but a stripling of sixteen years, Oscar Gandy joined Com- pany C, One Hundred Twenty-ninth In- diana Volunteer Infantry, with which he- served with honor until the war closed, bear- ing uncomplainingly his share of the toil and privations. He took part in the battles of Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Peach Tree Creek, Franklin, Nashville and Kingston. He re- turned to his father's farm, a boy in years. but a man in experience, and with a mind broadened through his contact and inter- course with men from all walks of life. He- finally decided to engage in some business. other than farming and formed a partner- ship with Thomas Rhodes, for the operation of a saw-mill at Churubusco. Three years. later he turned his attention to buying and selling town and farm properties in and about that village. He then engaged with George Maxwell in the dry goods business, though a couple of years thereafter ex- changed his interest for a farm. Resuming the manufacture of lumber in partnership with A. B. Nickey, he prosecuted it vigor- ously for some fifteen years when he turned his attention more especially to farming and

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stock raising. Mr. Gandy had become known as a man whose business judgment was good and whose name in connection with an enterprise, was almost a guaranty of its success. Indeed everything he touched seemed to prosper and his transactions gave him a substantial reputation for honesty and fair dealing. He organized the Exchange Bank of Churubusco in 1893, with a capital of ten thousand dollars. Having the confi- dence and support of the most conservative men of the community, it was an assured success from the start and was soon recognized as one of the solid financial insti- tutions of Whitley county. The year fol- lowing he organized the Exchange Bank of South Whitley, now known as the Gandy State Bank, also with a capital of ten thou- sand dollars. Mr. Gandy has been president of both these banks from their organization and each has so prospered that the capital stock of each has been increased to twenty- five thousand dollars. The Churubusco in- stitution occupies one-half of a double brick building erected by Mr. Gandy, one side being devoted to a full line of buggies, car- riages and wagons.

Mr. Gandy was first married to Miss Martha Jones, of Churubusco, her death, however, occurring about the time of the death of her infant child. His present wife was formerly Miss Emma Cleland, who is the mother of ten children, eight of whom survive : William Owen, Elmer E .. Orpha, Frank, Odessa, Perry, Druzilla and Ilene. The three sons are associated with their fa- ther in the Churubusco bank. Mr. Gandy is a Knights Templar Mason as well as hav- ing made suitable advancement in the Scot- tish Rite. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias.

Mr. Gandy has always been heartily in touch with any movement tending toward the betterment of the community and has ever proven to be a representative of the highest type of American citizenship.

ELMER E. STITES.

Elmer E. Stites, a prosperous and well known farmer of Smith township, living in section 15, was born in Wells county, In- diana, August 23, 1861, and is the son of George W. and Almira (Caston) Stites. The father of the subject was born in Ger- many and came to this country with his parents, Peter and Christina Stites, when he was six weeks old, while the mother was born in Buchanan county, Ohio. August 3. 1842, and was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Caston and departed this life- January 6, 1896. The marriage of these parents occurred in 1858. To this union ten children were born, namely: Marcellus, de- ceased. Elmer E., subject of sketch. Hat- tie, wife of Sidney Smith, living in Churu- busco, Indiana. John, living in Warren, Indiana. Maggie, deceased. Rollin, liv- ing in Bluffton, Indiana. Harvey, deceased. Mary, wife of Allan J. McKimmey, of War- ren, Indiana. Zora, living at home with her father. Martin J., living in Fort Wayne.

Peter Stites, the paternal grandfather, settled in Ohio, 1835, and a few years later moved to Wells county. Indiana, where he remained during his natural lifetime, which was closed in 1878 and that of his wife in 1877. Eight children were born to them: Mary. Conrad. William and John. all de- ceased. George W., father of this subject,

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living in Churubusco, Indiana. Charles liv- ing in Noble county, Indiana, and engaged in farming. Malvina, living in Fort Wayne. Sarah, living on the old Stites homestead in Wells county, Indiana. Catherine, liv- ing in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The par- ents were members of the Baptist church. George W. was trained by his father to the business of farming and in the meantime given the advantages of the common schools. Later on he was a student in the State Nor- mal School at Terre Haute, qualifying him- self for the vocation of teaching in the public schools, in which he was successfully en- gaged several years. He heard the patri- otic call for volunteers in 1861 and enlisted in Company F, Eighty-eight Regiment. as a private and was mustered out a lieutenant.

The subject of this sketch was brought up on the farm, where he performed the labor generally required of a boy in the country. He received a common school education and was engaged with his father in a general store at Middletown, Indiana, for about one year, after which they con- ducted the same business at Hoagland about two years. He then began farming in Allen county, to which he applied himself about two years. In 1882, he came with his fa- ther to Churubusco, this county, where they engaged in the hotel business, and which is being continued by his father. In. 1898 he moved to the eighty-acre farm previously purchased and to which he had added other small farms, until he owns one hundred and seventy-three acres of as fine land as there is in the country. He erected a barn sev- enty-two by forty feet, remodeled the house, and now the farm is one of the best im- proved and most desirable in the country.

In 1889 he was married to Emma, daughter of George and Nora (Fulk) Richards, who was born in Noble county, Indiana, March 29, 1868. The paternal parent was a na- tive of Noble county, Indiana, but is now deceased, the widow was born in Licking county, Ohio, and is living with our subject. Three children were born to these parents. parents, namely : Frank M., living in Marion, Indiana. Emma, wife of the sub- ject. William, deceased at three years of age.

The subject of this sketch is a Republican and has enjoyed several positions of honor and trust, being marshal of Churubusco, Indiana, two years; eight years justice of peace ; and four years trustee of Smith town- ship. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity at Columbia City, belong to the blue lodge. chapter and commandery. The history of his life should be an inspiration to the young men as it forcibly illustrates the possibilities of what may be accomplished by honesty, industry and perseverance. The family is childless.

I. N. COMPTON.

Among the pioneers contributed to the western country by the state of New Jersey. and especially to Ohio, when the latter state was new, was a family of the above name who left their native section during the earlier years of the last century. They set- tled in Coshocton county and followed agri- culture with some measure of success. An- drew Cox, one of the children, came with his parents in youth, grew up on the farm

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and afterward made farming his life's busi- ness. He married Mary A. Stafford, whose parents were Virginians and by whom he had nine children : Rhea, J. N., James, Jen- nie, Phoebe, Siletta, A. L., Frank and Ma- tilda. In 1835, hie purchased three hundred and twenty acres of government land in Richland township, Whitley county, and thus became one of the first settlers in that section of Indiana. It took him three weeks to make the trip to Indiana from Ohio on horseback before he reached his new tract in the Indiana wilderness. In 1837 he brought his wife and children from Ohio, and after the usual difficulties and rough experiences, they finally were settled in the new land. The father met with some successs as a farmer before his death in 1852. His wife, who survived him a number of years, died at the advanced age of eighty-three years.

I. N. Compton, one of the children of these early settlers, was born in Cosocton county, Ohio, September 20, 1832. He was a baby when his parents came to make their home in Indiana. He grew up on the family farm and, when large enough, assisted in the work of farming. He lived on the homestead until he reached his twenty-first year when he decided to make a start for himself. In 1861 he enlisted in Company G, of the Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Regiment of Infantry and served with this

command with the Army of the Tennesee. He saw much actual service and experienced many hardships incident to campaigning. He took part in the battles of Fort Donelson, Fort Henry, Shiloh and many smaller en- gagements and skirmishes. Returning to his home after the close of the war, he again took up his business of farming. He re- moved in 1881 to liis present farm in Cleve- land township, which is a tract of two hun- dred acres, more than half of which is under cultivation. He engaged in general farming and stock raising. He buys and sells much stock, and this branch of his business has come to be, under his management, very re- munerative. Although a Republican in general politics, he reserves the right to vote independent of party lines on county affairs. Following this line of action, he frequently votes for the man rather than for the party candidate.

In 1854, Mr. Compton married Sarah J., a daughter of Andrew and Susan (Bea- son) Grimes. His wife's parents were na- tives of Wayne county, Indiana, and came to Whitley county in 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Compton have had eight children: Jasper, a conductor on the Pennsylvania Railroad ; Frank G., a farmer of Richland township; Howard P., who was killed in a railroad wreck : and five others who died in youth. Mrs. Compton died in 1869.

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History of Whitley County, Indiana, Part 106

Author: Kaler, Samuel P. 1n; Maring, R. H. (Richard H.), 1859-, jt. auth Publication date: 1907 Publisher: [Indianapolis, Ind.] : B. F. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 940

Author: Kaler, Samuel P. 1n; Maring, R. H. (Richard H.), 1859-, jt. auth
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: [Indianapolis, Ind.] : B. F. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 940