History of Whitley County, Indiana, Part 77

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 77

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IRVING J. KRIDER.

This prosperous farmer was educated in the common schools which gave him the basis of future usefulness and success. The system with which he managed his business and the success achieved pointed him out as a proper person with which public business could be safely entrusted, and accordingly he was made president of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, the duties of which he discharges efficiently and to the entire satisfaction of his associates. He is also serving the public as a member of the county council, a position requiring a thor- ough knowledge of public affairs and the courage to act for the best interest of the

public, regardless of the personal influence and prejudice. His record thus far is sat- isfactory to personal friends and the public as well.

Mr. Krider was born in Allen county, Indiana. June 16, 1860, and is the son of William and Sarah (Nickey) Krider, whose history appears in another chapter. He was married October 27, 1881, to Kate, daughter of Uriah and Julia Ann (Pendlum) Slagle, born in Smith township, October 10, 1861. Her father was a native of Ohio, and her mother of Kentucky. They were married in Ohio in 1846, the same year came to Indi- ana and settled in Smith township. Here they remained till 1884, when they moved to Rice county, Kansas, where they continued to reside to the end of their lives. The death of the mother occurred October 27, 1898. and was followed by that of her husband on December 6, 1901, while visiting at the home of Mr. Krider. They were faithful and con- sistent members of the Methodist church. Eleven children were born to them: Frank and Zachariah, both deceased; Elizabeth, wife of Henry Cook, living in Rice county, Kansas ; Howard and Charles, living in Ok- lahoma ; Minnie, wife of Peter Hull, also in Oklahoma : Katie; Elda, widow of William McKoun, living in Huntington, Indiana; Margaret, wife of Joseph Smith, living in Finney county, Kansas; Thomas, living in Kansas; and Olive, wife of George Scudder, living in Oklahoma.

Mr. Krider and wife have but one child, Mamie E., wife of Harry Briggs, a farmer of Smith township. They have two children : Robert K. and William. Mr. Krider is iden- tified with the Democraic party and his wife is a member of the United Brethren church

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at Collins. After marriage they lived on a rented farm five years, when they purchased a farm of one hundred and forty-three acres on which they still live. An elegant ten- room house was erected in 1902 and later a fine barn thirty-eight by sixty feet. The farm is well stocked, systematically and scientifically managed and produces splendid results. It is one of the best improved and most productive farms in the county and pre- sents every evidence of prosperity.

JACOB E. PENCE.

Jacob E. Pence, a prosperous and success- ful farmer of Smith township, was born in the township May 3, 1862, and is the son of Absalom and Clara (Van Houten) Pence. Absalom Pence was born in Highland coun- ty, Ohio, and was the son of George C. Pence, who came to Whitley county in 1836 and settled in Smith township. He was a successful farmer and gave much of his time to religious interests. being a class leader for many years in the Salem Meth- odist Episcopal church. The mother was born in Richland county, Ohio, October 28, 1835, and was the daughter of Jacob A. and Catherine Ann Van Houten, who came to Whitley county, Indiana, in 1837. and also settled in Smithi township. He bought government land near Concord, where he reared the family, though in later years he resided in Union township where he died. To him was the distinction of having served as judge of the first court held in the county. His eventful life closed in 1875, be- ing preceded by his wife, who died in 1868.

Both were members of the Presbyterian church near Coesse. They were the parents of eleven children : John, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church in Illinois; Isaac, David, Jacob, Alexander, Jane Clara, and Emma. The only survivors are Alexander and Clara.

Absalom and Clara Pence were married at Concord, in1853, and spent their lives on the farm in Smith township. They were both faithful and zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The father died in 1875, and the mother still owns the old homestead though now living with Ja- cob E. Six children were born to them: Northan W. died at twenty-five; Leila, wife of W. A. Leech, living in Smith township; Melda died in infancy; Emma Jane died in childhood and Effie L. died at seventeen. Jacob E. continued to live with his wid- owed mother until he was married, February 3. 1882, to Martha Almeda, daughter of John and Ingeba (Gandy) Jones, born in Smith township July 15, 1860. Her father was a native of Ohio, while her mother was born in Virginia. They were married in . Whitley county and engaged in farming. John was born November 1, 1825, and died September 15, 1895: Ingeba was born June 27. 1827, and died March 3. 1874. They were the parents of six children: George W., living in Smith township: Charles and Isaiah, deceased; Samantha. wife of C. N. Smith, living in Collins; Martha Almeda, and Mary, wife of Richard Cramer, of Smith township. Mr. Pence and wife have had three children: Ruth, who died at twenty- three : Toby Absalom, a student in the Co- lumbia City high school, and Herschel Oscar. Jacob E. Pence was educated at the public

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schools, securing a foundation upon which he has builded constantly and successfully. In 1885 he purchased his first forty acres of land, which he sold in 1890 and imme- diately purchased eighty-five acres, a part of the present farm. He purchased eighty acres adjoining and in 1903 purchased eighty-four acres more, making two elegant farms some ten miles apart. The latter farm was formerly the homestead of his un- cle, Abraham Pence, and is a part of the original section purchased by his grandfa- ther. Mr. Pence is a Republican in politics and enjoys social and fraternal relations with the Knights of Pythias lodge, while Mrs. Pence is a member of the United Brethren church, giving it faithful and zealous support.

REV. CHARLES S. PARKER.

Rev. Charles S. Parker, the popular pas- tor of the United Brethren church at Chi- rubusco, of which he took charge in Septem- ber, 1905, was born in Huntington county. August 2, 1865, and is the son of John J. and Celia (Penland) Parker, the former a native of Lawrence county, Ohio, and son of William Parker, an attorney and a native of Pennsylvania, who located in Lawrence county in 1824, and later removed to MIt. Etna, Huntington county, Indiana, and finally to Iowa, where he served several years as judge of the courts. He died in that state in 1867. the father of seven chil- dren. John J. Parker accompanied his par- ents to Huntington county when a lad of twelve. He was reared to manhood under

the parental roof and spent forty-one years on the farm near Huntington. His death occurred in Oregon in February, 1897, and that of his wife occurred in Huntington on September 8, 1892. They were the parents of ten children, those living being Rev. William F., pastor of the United Brethren church at Butler, Indiana; Belle, wife of Samuel Horsell, of Chehallis, Washington ; David M., of Huntington; Thomas J., of Huntington: James M .: Charles, general manager of Philometh College in Oregon; and Richard B., of Huntington.

Charles S. Parker passed his childhood and youth amid the scenes of farm life, most of the time being spent in incessant toil, varied only by attendance at the district schools. At the age of nineteen, feeling the need of a more thorough intellectual train- ing, he entered the Huntington Normal, the Roanoke Seminary and North Manchester College. Being reared under religious in- fluences, when quite young he began seri- ously to consider the matter of his soul's welfare. His convictions were strong and abiding, his feelings deep, and seeing his duty plainly, he made a public profession of religion and united with the church. It was with the object in view of ultimately devot- ing his life to the ministry that young Park- er prepared himself and in September. 1895. he was ordained a minister at the St. Jo- seph conference. His first charge was at Dayton, Indiana, which was his field of labor during one year. He then accepted a call to the church at Frankfort and after a successful pastorate of three years at that place he served successively at Silver Lake, South Whitley, North Manchester, Peru, Indianapolis, and at Russell, Kansas. Two

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or three years he devoted exclusively to evangelistic work. Mr. Parker's life has been one of great activity. Intent upon his Master's work, he has labored zealously and faithfully in spreading the gospel and call- ing men and women to repentance, many through his earnest and eloquent appeals be- ing induced to abandon the ways of sin and seek the better way of leading to lives of righteousness and Christian service. Os- tober 19. 1898, Mr. Parker and Miss Sue Pence were united in the holy bonds of wed- lock. Mrs. Parker was born in South Whit- ley August 21, 1878, the daughter of Allen and Mary (Harshbarger) Pence, and is the mother of one child, Paul. Mr. Parker takes a living interest in all public questions, rendering unqualified influence to all ef- forts making for better living and a purer citizenship.

FREDERICK G. BINDER.

During the years immediately preceding the Civil war six brothers by the name of Binder emigrated to the United States from Germany and settled in various towns in eastern Michigan. As they wrote favorable reports back home, another brother, Jacob U., was tempted to come in 1860, and set- tled at Ann Arbor, where one of the others lived. He established a butcher shop in con- nection with stock buying, and became an old style drover, taking cattle to Buffalo and New York. At one time he received an order to send forty yoke of cattle to Lake Superior and after some lively hustling pro- cured the number in two days and drove

them to Detroit, for shipment by boat. He brought with him a son, Frederick G., who was born at Wittenberg, Germany, March 12. 1853, and learned the butcher trade, while with his father in Ann Arbor. He worked both in Ypsilanti and Detroit, but in 1874 came to Whitley county, which was destined to be his permanent home. He first worked with Fred Bush and for eight years for Daniels Brothers, in Columbia City, but being ambitious to enter business on his own account he began at South Whit- ley. with a capital of two hundred dollars. However, he had a partner by the name of Dickey, whose standing enabled him to get all the needed credit. In 1885 he opened business, at the stand where he now is, though the intervening years have made wonderful changes in his financial condition. His business as a butcher, stock-dealer, and meat merchant grew steadily, through good management, skill and industry until now after twenty years Mr. Binder can consider with pardonable pride what he has accom- plished. His annual sales now exceed twenty thousand dollars and he pays to the farmers of Whitley county between ten thou- sand and fifteen thousand dollars a year for stock. By confining himself strictly to his own business and giving it his undivided at- tention, he has achieved well merited success. He is now located in the same building in which he worked while employed by the Daniels Brothers, buying it in 1893. In politics he is a Democrat and has frequently been honored by his party, while in turn rendering it faithful and judicious service. He was county chairman for two years and has been delegate to the county and state conventions. He was a member of the city

F.G. Ponder

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council for two years and held the office of city treasurer twelve years in succession. Mr. Binder would not be a German could he not find time for social intercourse and for the enjoyment of the society of friends. He contributes to all influences to develop and improve his adopted city. He is a stockholder in the furniture factory, one of Columbia City's most valuable industries, besides having other real estate and busi- ness interests. He is a charter member of the Knights of the Maccabees and has been a trustee ever since the institution of the lodge.

In 1874 Mr. Binder was married to Re- becca Walz, of Marshall, Michigan, and they have an interesting family of five sons. Fred G., the eldest and namesake of his father, is a printer. Otto S. and Edward C. remain with the father. Walter is clerk with the Providence Trust Company and Homer is in high school.

JAMES M. CRONE.

James M. Crone, a highly respected and well-to-do farmer of Whitley county, was born in West Virginia September 19, 1853. and is the son of Levi and Margaret (Ore- baugh) Crone. Levi Crone came to Whit- ley county in 1872 and located in Columbia City, where he labored by the day. His death occurred in 1890. He was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Orebaugh in Rockingham county, Virginia, and they were the parents of six children: George William, a farmer in Smith township; Sa- rah Margaret, a resident of Chicago, and the

widow of William Reed: Elizabeth, wife of James Jeffries, lives in Xenia, Ohio; Mary, a resident of Cincinnati; James M. : Nancy Jane, of near Leesburg, Indiana, wife of Le- ander Jeffries. Levi and his son George were compelled to leave West Virginia in 1863 in order to avoid conscription into the Confederate army and for a time lived in Xenia, Ohio. The mother and the remain- der of the family came north with the Unoin army some time later.

James M. Crone received a good district school education and in 1870 came to Whit- ley county and worked as a farm hand for Mortimer Jeffries. On February 6, 1873, he was united in marriage with Miss Pris- cilla, daughter of Mortimer and Elizabeth (Keen) Jeffries and born in Smith township August 4, 1858. Mortimer and Elizabeth Jeffries located in Whitley county on a farm adjoining the present Crone farm, where Mr. Jeffries died in 1879 and his wife in 1901. They were the parents of six chil- dren: Leander, Priscilla, Herbert, Lizzie, Mary and Levi, the latter a resident of Lan- sing, Michigan. James M. Crone after mar- riage lived on the farm of his father-in-law and was successful in raising abundant crops and all kinds of cereals common to that locality. He is now the owner of one hundred and forty-six acres of rich land. nearly all under cultivation, and a part of which was inherited by his wife from her father's estate. He has erected an attractive and modern eight-room house, has built a large and substantial barn and the general appearance of the place is inviting to the observer. Mr. and Mrs. Crone have been the parents of three children : David, who died in 1890: William, who married Miss

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Carrie Hire and lives on the Levi Jeffries homestead; Amanda, living at home. Mr. Crone supports the Republican party, while he and his family are members of the Collins United Brethren church. Mr. Crone is a man of stanch qualities of character, his actions being characterized by the strictest integrity and he now occupies an enviable position in the community.

JOSEPH J. PENCE.

Joseph J. Pence, who is entitled to spe- cial mention because of the distinction that is his of having lived in Smith township the longest of any poineer settler, was born in Fayette county, Ohio, November 20, 1831. and is the son of George C. and Sarah (Windle) Pence. The paternal grandfather was Philip Pence, a native of Germany who came to America in early life and settled on a farm in Highland county, Ohio. It is stated that he was bringing corn from Ken- tucky and when crossing the Ohio on a ferry boat it sprung a leak and sank. He jumped on one of his horses and it is supposed was kicked and so stunned that he was drowned. George C. Pence was born in Highland county, Ohio, November 20, 1791, being forty years older to the day than Joseph J. In 1836 he disposed of his farm in Fayette county and with his family started with a wagon and team to drive to Whitley county, arriving there November 18th. He bought all of section 19, Smith township, the pur- chase price being twelve hundred dollars and here he lived until he went to Hardin county, Iowa, in 1856, trading the old home-

stead with Joseph J. He was the first man to drive through Smith township. At that day the woods were inhabited by a great number of Indians and deer and other wild animals, the most numerous of which was wolves, and he was compelled to cut his way through the forests to reach his destination, having selected the land the spring before. Mr. Pence was married in Fayette county, Ohio, to Sarah Windle, who was born in Shenandoah county, Virginia, November 18, 1792. Mr. and Mrs. George Pence were the parents of ten children, Henry. Eliza, Abraham, John, Absalom, Catherine, Willis F., Elizabeth. Joseph J., and Jesse. Mrs. Pence died August 18, 1854, at the old homestead and he died in Iowa about 1866. He was married again in Iowa to Mrs. Gauger, whose maiden name was Reese and who formerly lived in Whitley county. Joseph J. lacked but two days of being five years of age when he came to the present home. With the exception of about one year, when he resided in Iowa, he has lived ever since on the farm. In 1854 he went to Hardin county, Iowa, exchanging two years later with his father and renting the old homestead, getting one hundred and twenty acres, which his father first pur- chased. On this land he raises all the crops common to this section of Indiana and has achieved a marked and definite suc- cess in his calling, a success which may be credited entirely to his own efforts, directed and controlled by wise judgment and keen discrimination. Mr. Pence has been twice married, his first union being with Susan Waugh, who was born in Ross county, Ohio, in 1837, the daughter of Joseph and Nancy (Harper) Waugh, the latter of whom

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recently died at the ripe old age of ninety. This union was blessed with the birth of six children : Mary Elizabeth, wife of J. J. Smith, a resident of Whitley county, has two children, Jessie and Minnie; Eldora, who died in childhood; James Abraham Lincoln, a resident of Smith township, who married Maria Leach and has three chil- dren, Olive, Mabel and Joseph C .; David M .. a resident of Smith township, married Miriam Coulter and has two children, Evan J. and Lylia May; Florence, wife of F. J. Heller, an attorney of Columbia City, has three children, Kate, Grace and Lois; Wil- liam Judson, a resident of Columbia City, married Zella Clark and has two children, Hallie and Alice Amelia. Mrs. Pence died June 6, 1871. Mr. Pence's second marriage, which took place November 14, 1872, was with Alice Henney, who was born in Whit- ley county September 17, 1851, and. is the daughter of Philip and Charlotte (Richard) Henney, natives of Stark county, Ohio, who came to Whitley county in 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Pence are members of the Methodist church, he having belonged to this body for nearly sixty years. He distinctly recalls the first sermon he ever heard, which was de- livered in his father's cabin by a traveling preacher when he was seven years of age. Mr. Pence now owns one hundred and sixty acres, after having given a farm to each of three children. In 1870, Mr. Pence erected a fine brick residence, which is thoroughly equipped with every modern convenience, and he soon forged to the front as an enter- prising tiller of the soil. He has always kept abreast of the times in the matter of advanced agriculture, his beautiful and high- ly cultivated farm being at this time one of

the finest and most attractive places in Whitley county, as well as one of the most highly improved. Mr. Pence is the only surviving member of the Pence family and relates many interesting incidents per- taining to the pioneer days of Whitley coun- ty. He has four great-grandchildren. In politics he gives an unqualified allegiance to the Republican party. He is a man of ex- cellent business judgment and sterling integ- rity and is deserving of the success which has accompanied his efforts.

DAVID L. PENCE.

David L. Pence, a practical and pro- gressive farmer of Smith township, was born on the farm which he now occupies March 13. 1859. and is the son of Willis F. and Mary J. (Burney) Pence. The paternal grand- parents were George C. and Sarah (Windle) Pence, both natives of Ohio. The maternal grandparents were John and Catherine (Myers) Burney, the former of whom was born during the voyage across the ocean. He was raised in Harrison county, Ohio, and died there in 1839. Mr. and Mrs. John Burney were the parents of five children: Martha, deceased ; Elizabeth, widow of Ma- jor Prichard, of Colorado : William, a doctor in Hannibal, Missouri; Loraney, widow of Adam Van Houten, lives in Denmark, Kan- sas, and Mary J. Mrs. Barney's second marriage was with Lewis Deem and they were the parents of three children: Eliza, wife of George Kreider, lives in Smith town- ship; David, deceased: John, a resident of Churubusco. The parents came to Indiana

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about 1854 and located on a farm in Smith township, where they both died. The mater- nal great-grandparents were William and Elizabeth (Ticher) Burney, natives of Eng- land. They came to America and located in Harrison county, Ohio, where they en- tered government land and lived during the remainder of their lives. Willis and Mary J. (Burney) Pence were married April 21, 1858, and located on the farm now occupied by David L. They were the parents of two children : David L., and Kate, who is the wife of Everett Barney, a resident of Thorn- creek township. Mr. Pence died January 2, 1862, and the widow was united in mar- riage with Jacob J. Hallenbeck, a native of New York and son of Jacob W. and Susan- nah Hallenbeck, the former of whom died in 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob J. Hallenbeck were the parents of three children : John W., who married Miss Lydia Morse and lives on a farm in Union township; Ida, deceased, and George, who died in infancy. Jacob Hallen- beck died in 1904 and his wife is now living in Columbia City.

David L. Pence received his education in the common schools of the community and has spent his entire life in Whitley county. He is now the owner of the old homestead, which comprises one hundred and thirty-six acres of excellent land and on this he has erected a modern house of eleven rooms and other necessary buildings which go to make up a complete homestead. On November 22, 1882, he was ,united in marriage to Rosa A. Demoney, born in Allen county, Indiana, March 2, 1865. daugher of Albert A. and Mary ( Donaldson) Demoney, and who was a teacher before marriage. This union was blessed with the following named children :

Orval, a teacher in the county, and Estella M., a teacher at 'Collins, both living at home ; Albert, who died in infancy, and Benjamin F., student in the Collins high school. Mr. and Mrs. Pence are members of the Sa- lem Methodist church. In his political affiliations Mr. Pence is a Republican and is loyal in his advocacy of the party and its principles. He is a man of many fine person- al qualiies and enjoys the good will of all. who know him.

WILLIAM A. LEECH.

William A. Leech, an enterprising and well known farmer of Whitley county, was born in Richland county, Ohio, March 31, 1858, and is the son of James and Elizabeth (Strean) Leech. They were married in Whitley county on August 2, 1849, and lo- cated on the farm now owned by William A. Mr. Leech died in February, 1879; his wife survives and is living in Churubusco. This union was blessed with the birth of seven children : John W., who died one day after his wife, the two being buried in the same grave, his age being forty-eight ; Fanny. wife of William Jacuay, a resident of Allen county, Indiana; Austin, deceased in boy- hood ; William A .; Mariah, wife of James Pence; Ira Elmer, who is living in Marion, Indiana; Esther and Jane, who died in in- fancy. The paternal grandfather was John Leech, who came to America from Ireland and settled in Richland county, Ohio. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 and died in Ohio. He was the father of eleven chil- dren, all of whom grew to maturity: Benja-

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min, James, Samuel, Joseph, John, Esther,, two. His farm work has been followed by Jane, Margaret, Mary, Nancy, Emily and excellent results and his property is now well improved and valuable: He has good build- ings on the place and his work is of such a practical nature that he annually harvests good crops and finds for them a ready sale upon the market. Mr. Leech is an ardent supporter of the Democratic party and en- joys the sincere respect and absolute confi- dence of all who know him. Elizabetlı. The maternal grand-parents were John and Mariah (Craig) Strean, the former of whom was a native of Ireland, who came with his parents to Knox county, Ohio, and in 1830 located in Allen county, Indiana, subsequently removing to Whitley county and thence in the fifties to Hardin county, Iowa, where both died. Mr. and Mrs. Strean had ten children: Mary, Ma- riah, Hester Ann, McKee, Elizabeth, John, Sarah, Joseph, Lorain and Jane. The mater- nal great-grandparents were Robert and DANIEL ZUMBRUN. Elizabeth (McKee) Strean, the former of whom was born in Ireland and after coming to America lived in Knox county, Ohio.

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History of Whitley County, Indiana, Part 77

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