USA > Indiana > Whitley County > History of Whitley County, Indiana > Part 66
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of all measures for its dissemination among the people. In politics he is a Republican and in religion a members of the Universal- ist church. Mr. Swan has been a diligent worker and judicious manager and having made all he possesses merits the proud American title of "Self-made Man." He was married in 1869 to Miss Ruth Anna Bell, daughter of Robert S. and Chloe (Had- ley) Bell, natives of New York and among the early comers of Whitley county, set- tling here as long ago as 1840. Mr. and Mrs. Swan have had two children, Theo- dore H., who died in childhood, and Dia- dem, who is now the wife of Dale White, of Forest, this county.
FREDERICK WOLFANGEL.
Prominent among the foreign born citi- zens of Whitley county is the enterprising farmer and highly esteemed gentleman whose career is briefly touched upon in the following lines. Frederick Wolfangel as the name indicates is a native of Germany, born in Wittenberg, December 10, 1840, be- ing the older of two children, whose parents were Mr. Frederick and Johanna (Gull) Wolfangel. These parents left their native land in 1851, immigrating to the United States and settling in Starke county, Ohio, where they resided for a period of four years, at the expiration of which time Mr. Wolfangel moved his family to Whitley county, Indiana, locating as a farmer in Jefferson township adjoining the place the subject now owns and occupies. Here they spent the remainder of their lives, widely
known and respected for their sterling hon- esty and sturdiness of character, for which their nationality has always been distin- guished. The second child, a daughter by the name of Catherine, married William Smith, of Whitley county, and at this time lives in Middlebury, Indiana, where her hus- band has business interests.
Frederick Wolfangel was eleven years old when his parents brought him to this country, and from 1852 to 1856 he lived in Starke county, Ohio, where he attended the public schools, supplementing the training received in his native tongue by a knowledge of the English branches. When a youth of sixteen he accompanied his parents to Whitley county, Indiana, and from that time until the present he has lived in Jeffer- son township, his residence covering a pe- riod of fifty consecutive years, during which time he has not only witnessed the many wonderful changes that have taken place in the county but to the extent of his ability has contributed to their accomplishment. Reared a farmer he has devoted his life, thus far, to tilling the soil and at the present time is recognized as one of the leading agricul- turalists of his community and as a neigh- bor and citizen stands in the front rank among his compeers.
Mr. Wolfangel's farm consists of one hundred and four acres of fine land, well improved and admirably adapted to general agricultural and stock raising. He cleared half of the farm by his own labor. erected the different buildings, which include a fine modern residence, a large, well equipped barn and the various other buildings found on farms of the better class and by judicious management has surrounded himself with a
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sufficiency of worldly wealth to render his condition one of independence. Mr. Wolf- angel was married in 1869 to Elizabeth Hipps, daughter of Jacob and Cebila (Smith) Hipps, and has a family of seven children namely, Emma R., Annie. Ira, Mary, Lydia, Charles and Homer, the third, sixth and seventh in order of birth being inmates of the parental home. Politically Mr. Wolfangel votes the Democratic ticket, and while ever interested in party matters and affairs of public importance he is not a seek- er after place having filled no office with the exception of minor positions connected with the schools of his township. He is a be- liever in religion and is a member of the German Reformed church. His life affords a practical exemplification of its worth and wholesome influence. He is in the best sense of the term a self-made man, having made all his possessions himself, and his life may be studied with profit by the young man. whose career is a matter yet to determine.
ENOS GOBLE.
For more than half a century a leading farmer of Whitley county, Enos Goble, of Washington township, ranks among the representative citizens of this part of Indi- ana and occupies a conspicuous place in the confidence and esteem of his many friends and associates. Few residents of the com- munity have been as long identified with its growth and development and none has so indelibly impressed his personality upon the people or exercised a stronger influence in directing and controlling public sentiment in
the township of his residence. The Goble family had its origin in England, of which country the subject's grandfather, Mathias Goble, was a native, and from which he emi- grated to America many years ago, settling in the state of New Jersey, where several of his children were born, among the num- ber being a son by the name of Peter R., whose birth occurred in the year 1785. In his young manhood Peter Roy Goble went to Ohio, where, in addition to working at the cooper's trade, he engaged quite exten- sively in the making of cider, which lines of business he followed until 1853, when he disposed of his interests in that state and moved to Whitley county, Indiana, locating in Washington township on the farm which his son, the subject of this review, owns and occupies. He married in Ohio, Miss Mary Weller, after whose death he took a second wife and by the two had a large family of seventeen children, of whom Enos, of this review, and James W. are the only sur- vivors .- both being residents of Washing- ton township. Peter Roy Goble was a man of excellent repute, a leader of the local De- mocracy in the township of Washington and an active participant in the political affairs of the county. In early life he was a Bap- tist, but subsequently severed his connection with that denomination and became a mem- ber of the United Brethren church. to the teachings of which he con- tinued loyal until the day of his deatlı. He lived a long and useful life and reached a ripe old age, dying in 1877. in his ninety-third year.
Enos Goble, son of Peter R. and Mary Goble, was born February 4. 1833, in Perry county, Ohio, and there remained until
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young manhood, in the meantime receiving such an education as the schools of the country could impart and acquiring a knowl- edge of the higher branches of learning by two years' attendance at a select school in the town of Somerset. In 1853 he accom- panied his parents to Whitley county, In- diana, and later engaged in teaching, which line of work he followed for twelve consec- utive years. In the meantime he purchased land in the township of Washington and in due season became one of the enterprising agriculturists. and substantial citizens of the communtiy. Mr. Goble the present time owns a quarter section of as fine land as the township of Washington can boast. He has made many valuable improvements on his place in the way of buildings, fencing, drainage, etc., having fourteen hundred rods of tile under his land. The tillable portion is under a high state of cultivation, rendering it a beau- tiful and desirable home. Mr. Goble's suc- cess as a tiller of the soil and raiser of fine live stock has been very commendable and he is classed to-day among the financially relia- ble men of the community, having accumu- lated a sufficiency of this world's goods to place him in independent circumstances with an ample competency to guard against fu- ture expenses. Like his father before him. Mr. Goble is a local politician of considerable note and influence, a Democrat of the Jef- ferson and Jackson school, and as a reward for services rendered his party as well as by reason of his fitness for the place he has frequently been elected trustee of his town- ship, filling the office to the satisfaction of the public for a period of eleven years, be- sides serving three terms as assessor. For a number of years he was a leading spirit in
the Farmers' Alliance of Whitley county. and as a member of the local grange made his influence felt in all matters relating to the agricultural interests of this part of the state.
In the year 1885 occurred the marriage of Mr. Goble and Miss Rachael Westall, daughter of Gilroy and Catherine (Lidey) Westall, natives of Virginia and Ohio re- spectively, the mother's people moving to the latter state from Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Goble have had thirteen children, six of whom are living, namely : George, James. Samuel. Enos, Charles, and Augusta, five of the deceased dying in infancy and two after reaching years of maturity. The subject and his wife are respected members of the United Brethren church and take an active interest in the various lines of religious and benevolent work under the auspices of the local congregation with which they worship.
OCTAVIUS PHELPS.
The subject of this sketch traces his line- age to New England, and combines in his personality many of the sterling qualities which have long distinguished the sturdy people of this section of the Union.
William Phelps, the father, was born at Windsor, Connecticut, in the year 1800, and six years later was taken by his parents to Franklin county, Ohio, where he grew to maturity on a farm and where he married in his young manhood Miss Jane Watt, whose parents were among the early settlers of that that part of the Buckeye state. In 1841 Wil- liam Phelps disposed of his interest in Ohio and moved to Whitley county, Indiana, lo-
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cating in Jefferson township, of which he er he ranks among the most enterprising and was one of the seven original settlers. He progressive of the community in which he purchased land and developed a farm which is still in possession of his descendants, and had a family of eleven children, only three of whom survive. Mr. Phelps being a gen- tleman of intelligence and good standing, did much to create an influence of public sentiment among his neighbors and fellow citizens. He died in the prime of life in 1847 and left to his wife and children an honorable name, which they prize as a grate- ful heritage.
Octavius Phelps was born June 8, 1825, in Franklin county, Ohio. After receiving an elementary training in the schools of his native place he obtained a knowledge of the higher branches by attending at Blendon Institute, Ohio, and later pursued his studies for one year in an educational institution of advanced grade in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana. With this excellent mental dis- cipline he entered the teacher's profession and continued in that line of work for a pe- riod of nine years in the schools of Whitley . and Allen counties, achieving well merited success and earning honorable repute as an able and popular instructor.
At the expiration of the period men- tioned Mr. Phelps discontinued teaching and turned his attention to agriculture, which vocation he has since followed, owning at this time a part of the original Phelps home- stead in Jefferson township, which he has converted into a fine farm and an attractive rural home, and on which, with the excep- tion of three years he has lived since com- ing to Whitley county in 1841, being in point of continuous residence one of the oldest citizens of the township. As a farm-
resides, and as a citizen discharges his duty as becomes an American today. Mr. Phelps has been twice married, the first time in 1848 to Miss Lydia Decker, who died after a mutually happy wedded experience, leaving besides her husband six children to mourn their loss, namely: Agnes J., Florence, William H., Edward, Ellen and Corwin. His second marriage was solemnized in 1885 with Martha E. Fordyce, daughter of Jo- . seph and Mary (Thompson) Fordyce, this union being without issue. Mrs. Phelps parents were natives of Warren county, Ohio. They moved to Indiana in 1861, set- tling on a farm in Huntington county, where they lived for a number of years, later in life transferring their residence to the city of Huntington, where their respective deaths subsequently occurred.
Mr. Phelps is a Republican in politics and a leader and trusted adviser of his party in Jefferson township. He held the office of justice of the peace eight years, during which time much important business was transacted in his court. and such were the fairness of his rulings and soundness of his decisions that few appeals were ever taken to higher tribunals. Mrs. Phelps is a mem- ber of the Christian church.
J. W. SMITH.
Success has been worthily achieved by the subject of this sketch, who has long oc- cupied a commanding position among the representative farmers of Jefferson town-
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ship, besides enjoying distinguished pres- tige as a public-spirited man of affairs. Oli- ver Smith, father of the subject, was born in 1832 in southern Indiana and departed this life in Whitley county in the month of July, 1906. He was a farmer by occupa- tion, came to this part of the state in 1852 and in due time became one of the most en- terprising and public-spirited citizens of the community in which he lived, having been a leader in local affairs and a man of great influence among his neighbors and asso- ciates. By judicious investment he succeed- . The quarter section of land which Mr. Smith ed in accumulating a handsome competence, owning at one time three hundred acres of land, much of which he improved and made valuable, besides becoming the possessor of considerable fine city property in Fort Wayne and elsewhere. He was a pro- nounced Republican in politics but never as- pired to office, and in public matters his opinions always commanded respect and car- ried weight. Malinda Berry, who became the wife of Oliver Smith, was a native of Ohio and the daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Hasty) Berry. They became the parents of seven children, of whom J. W. is the second in order of birth, the names of the others being as follows: Sanford; Melissa, de- ceased; Mrs. Estella Kelsey: Ina, wife of Martin Gillispie: Clarence; and Effie, who married Perry Putnam.
J. W. Smith is a native of Whitley county. Indiana, born in Jefferson township on January 6th of the year 1860. At the proper age he entered the public schools. which he attended until completing the branches comprising the usual course of study and on the farm received a training in the more practical things, which in due time enabled him to lay broad and deep the foun-
dation of his future course of action .. Reared under the wholesome influences of country life, and early initiated into the duties which labor entails, he developed, while still young, a strong, sturdy physique and an independ- ence of mind that stood him well in his sub- sequent career as an enterprising and pro- gressive tiller of the soil, which vocation he has always followed and in the prosecution of which he has achieved results that place him today among the leading men of his calling in the township of his residence.
owns is finely situated in one of the best parts of Jefferson township, one-half of it being under cultivation, thoroughly drained and otherwise well improved. The other eighty being largely devoted to pasturage, with a sufficiency of good timber remaining to answer all purposes of the farm for many years to come. Mr. Smith is a progressive agriculturist in the most liberal sense of the- word, and in connection with farming is ex- tensively engaged in the raising of fine cat- tle and hogs. His reputation as a stockman, comparing favorably with that of any other in the county. He has a beautiful and at- tractive home and with an abundance of this. world's goods as the result of his systematic labors is well situated to enjoy life. Polit- ically he votes the Republican ticket on state and general issues, but is broad and liberal enough to break away from party lines in matters of local nature, supporting the best qualified candidate for county and township- offices. Mr. Smith and family subscribe to the Methodist Episcopal faith and for a number of years have been earnest and con- sistent workers of that church and liberal contributors to its various charities.
In the year of 1881 Mr. Smith entered
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WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
the marriage relation with Miss Sarah Long, whose parents were Philip and Eliza Ann (Rogers) Long, natives of Ohio, and among the early settlers of Whitley county, moving to Jefferson township as pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have a family of seven children, whose names are as follows: Edgar, How- ard, Ethel, Archie, Chester, Hobart and Iva, all at home with the exception of Howard, who holds an important position in a bank in the city of Wabash.
O. J. CROWEL.
O. J. Crowel, farmer, stock raiser and trustee of Jefferson township, is the oldest of six children, whose parents were John W. and Martha J. Crowel, the former a native of Ohio and an early settler of Whitley county, moving to Jefferson township some time in the forties. John W. Crowel was a farmer and an intelligent and respected citi- zen. He developed a good farm and earned an honorable reputation as a public-spirited man. He departed this life in 1876. Before her marriage Mrs. Crowel was a Miss Mar- tha J. Shaffer, a native of Tennessee. She bore her husband the following children : O. J .: William D., of Jefferson township, and Mary E. Loutzenhiser; James B., a resident of Whitley county; John F., an artist, who died some years ago in Minnesota; and Henry, a farmer of Jefferson township. Michael Crowel, father of John W., was a Marylander by birth, but removed early to Virginia and then later to Ohio, and in the thirties came to Whitley county, entering land in Jefferson township, a part of it be- ing still in possession of his descendants.
He died in Ohio. He did not move to In- diana, but entered the land for his children.
O. J. Crowel dates his birth from June 7, 1850. He received fair educational train- ing and grew to maturity in close contact with nature. Mr. Crowel's life has been devoted mainly to farming, and at the pres- ent he holds prestige, owning a fine tract of two hundred acres, all but forty cleared and in a high state of cultivation, his build- ings and other improvements being substan- tial, and with the excellent condition of his- fields, orchards, etc., bearing evidence of the progressive spirit of the proprietor. Mr. Crowel, familiar with the nature of soils and their adaptability to the various crops grown in this latitude, cultivates his farm with great care and in addition to realizing lib- eral profits from his agricultural labors, also gives considerable attention to live stock, in the raising and marketing of which his suc- cess has been very gratifying.
In public affairs his interest has never been permitted to waver and in matters of political nature he has long taken 'an active part, being one of the leading Democrats of his township, besides wielding a strong influence in party circles throughout the country. In 1904 he was elected trustee of Jefferson township, which important office he still holds, discharging the duties of the same with credit to himself and to the sat- isfaction of the people of his jurisdiction ir- respective of political ties. Mrs. Crowel was formerly Miss Mary Chodat, daughter of D. A. and Leah (Sours) Chodat, the father a native of Switzerland and the mother of In- diana. The ceremony by which her name was changed to the one she now bears was solemnized in the year 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Crowel have five children : Edward, an em-
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ploye of the Nickel Plate Railroad; Iva, wife of John Vogley; Ray, Hazel, and Les- ter, all living. The last three are still mem- bers of the home circle.
ANDREW KENNER.
Andrew Kenner, a well known farmer and highly respected citizen of Troy town- ship, Whitley county, was born in Witten- berg. Germany, May 25, 1834, and was the son of John G. and Christina ( Mattes) Ken- ner. The mother of the subject died in Ger- many in 1847. The father then married Margaret Yahn and came to this country in 1853. settling in Hancock county, Ohio. He departed this life in 1855. His first chil- dren were Andrew, John G. and Gotlieb. who died in 1856. Two children were born to them, Sophia, wife of William H. Attes- barger, living in Hancock county, Ohio, and John, living in Michigan. John G. came to Indiana in 1860, bought this present farm and made some improvements, going from here in the fall of 1864 to the army, enlist- ing in the Thirteenth Indiana Regiment. His death occurred near Raleigh, North Carolina, after the fighting was over and when about ready to come home. Andrew remained in Ohio, working by the month, until 1858, when he went to California and Idaho, engaging in mining, teaming and other work until 1864, when he came to Whitley county, purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, the beginning of a farm, but little improved, in Troy township, where he has continued to live to the present time. He had assisted John in its purchase in 1860.
He has always been industrious and frugal and as a result his farm is one of the best in the country. In 1870 he erected one of the largest and finest eleven-room brick houses in the county, the brick for the same being burned on the farm, the lumber cut on the farm and finished in oak and ash. In 1872 he built a large and commodious bank barn, which, together with other modern buildings, completes a very convenient farm. His business is general farming. He was married in 1865 to Mary (Goodrich) Ken- ner, widow of his brother John, and who was born in Richland township and is a sis- ter of Fletcher Goodrich. She had one child by her first husband, Charles A. Kenner, a doctor of medicine at Omaha, Nebraska. He grew up on the farm, went west, graduated in medicine and has a fine practice in the city. Three children were born to them: Cora became the wife of Thomas M. Briggs, of Thorncreek township, to which union were born three children, Orville C., Bland M. and Theresa; William Clinton, also a doctor of medicine at Utica, Nebraska, whose first marriage was with Ora Devore, resulting in the birth of one child. James Robert. The second marriage was with Ju- lia Dart, the result of this marriage being one child, William Clinton. Lewis A. is the well known dentist living in Columbia City, with his wife, formerly Nettie Workman, and have one child. Irene L. Mrs. Kenner died in 1873. His second marriage occurred in 1874 to Margaret Jane. daughter of John W. and Cynthia (Wiley) Smith, born in Troy township, June 16, 1851. Her parents were natives of Ohio and Kentucky, coming to Indiana in an early day, where they con- tributed their full share to the development
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of the country and in the establishment of schools and churches as well. The father died February 17, 1890, and the mother April 21, 1900. Eight children were born to them: Rebecca, deceased ; George Lewis, living in Troy township; Margaret Jane; Ann Elizabeth, wife of John H. Elliott, liv- ing in Troy township; Hugh Franklin, on the old homestead; Martha E., widow of James R. Coyle, living in Troy township; Mary A., wife of D. C. Noble, living in Co- lumbia City ; Harriet I., widow of Jasper N. Marrs, living in Troy township. Ten chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kenner: Eva, wife of Charles M. Arnold, living in Troy township, with four children, Delma M., Frederick C., Blanche Irene and John A. ; Frank E., married to Kizzie Hyre, living in Columbia City, and has one child, Helen Marie; Minnie Dell, wife of Arthur Wat- ters living in Troy township, also has one child, Merland Roscoe ; Clyde DeWitt, a den- tist at Seward, Nebraska; John C. married Mabel Fona Bills and is operating his father's farm; George LeRoy, married Cloan Her- rick, is in Columbia City; Ella May is a telephone employe in Columbia City; Mary Frances, Lyman Roscoe and Frederick Oral, all. at home.
In politics Mr. Kenner is a Republican, and the public, recognizing his sterling in- tegrity and good judgment, nominated and elected him to the office of township trustee in 1894. He discharged the duties of this office so satisfactorily that he was re-elected in 1900 to the second term, making six years of service. Mrs. Kenner is a faith- ful and generous member of the Methodist Episcopal church. The family is enterpris- ing in all matters of public interest and is held in very high esteem.
Mr. Kenner became an Odd Fellow in California in 1860 and for forty-seven years has kept in close touch with the fraternity, being also a member of the encampment.
For forty-three years he has been active- ly identified with Whitley county and few citizens have done more to advance the in- terests of the county and its civilization. No move for the general betterment but has found in him an ardent supporter and advocate.
BEAL F. TAYLOR.
The subject of this sketch enjoys a his- tory that is worthy of emulation by many young men. He was born in Jefferson township, Whitley county, March 22, 1858, and is the son of Henry and Melvina (Moss- man) Taylor. Henry, the father of the sub- ject, was born in Ohio in 1821, in which state he resided and was a successful car- penter until 1845, when he came to this county and located on the home farm, which he improved and cultivated with success. His death occurred in 1896, his wife pre- ceding him in 1865. They had six chil- dren: Marion and Josephine, both de- ceased ; James R. W., a farmer in Jefferson township; Beal F., the subject ; Howard W., also deceased, and John M., also a farmer in Jefferson township. The grandfather came to this country from Ireland and located in Virginia and later moved to Ohio. He was of Scotch-Irish descent. The subject was married on February 19, 1889, to Magdalene J., daughter of Burkhard and Caroline tRie- bon) Shanline, natives of Germany, who after coming to this country lived in Penn- sylvania, but later moved to Noble county.
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