USA > Indiana > Whitley County > History of Whitley County, Indiana > Part 87
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eldest but ten, she realized to the full the meaning of hard work, but with a grim de- termination she succeeded in rearing her children and gave them more than ordinary education so that two were competent and successful teachers. Margaret, the wife of Isaiah Brown, of Chetopah, Kansas, taught in the country for eight or ten years. Eliza and Mary have remained with their mother. The paternal grandparents were William and Elizabeth (Flory) Laird. the former of whom followed agricultural pursuits all his life and died in Stark county, Ohio, about 1826.
George W. Laird was born on his present homestead in Thorncreek township, Whit- ley county, Indiana, February 17, 1858. When but seventeen years of age he began teaching and with the exception of fout years. during which he served as trustee and one year spent at Valparaiso, he has taught all his life in Whitley county. Mr. Laird lends his support to the Democratic party and at all times takes a deep interest in the wel- fare of the community. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Patrons of Husbandry. He is unmarried and resides on the old homestead with his mother and sis- ters. The mother is a member of the Evan- gelical church. Mr. Laird is an honest, straightforward man in all of his dealings, conscientious in his work as a farmer and ed- ucator and it is with pleasure that this brief synopsis of his life and tribute to his worth as a factor in the affairs of Whitley county is given a place in this volume. Mr. Laird's home, four miles north of Columbia City, is an attractive one and is in the center of an active, intelligent neighborhood and. besides participation in church and Sunday school,
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Mr. Laird, assisted by his sister, enjoys ten- dering the hospitality of the home to the numerous neighbors and friends. Possessing a well cultivated tenor voice. Mr. Laird takes pleasure in the study and practice of both vocal and instrumental music. Well read and carefully informed he enjoys friendly social discussion on the important questions affecting public or religious life.
DENNIS WALTER.
Dennis Walter, a prominent farmer and early pioneer of Thorncreek township, Whit- ley county, Indiana, is the son of Francis Valentine and Monica (Harmbaugh) Wal- ter, natives of Germany. They were mar- ried in 1825 and ten years later came to Huron county, Ohio, and purchased eighty acres of wild land which the father cleared and put into a high state of cultivation, liv- ing there the remainder of his life. This union was blessed with six children. five boys and one girl: Frederick, who lives in Mansfield, Ohio; Joseph, who lives on the old homestead in Huron county; John, who went west early in life and has not been heard of since; William, deceased; Dennis, the subject : Mary, who is the widow of Lewis Strouse, a resident of Bismarck, North Dakota.
Dennis Walter was born in Huron coun- ty, Ohio, January 15. 1834, reared under the parental roof and received such education as was afforded by the schools of his neighbor- hood. . At the age of nineteen years he took up life's activities on his own account and began clerking in a store. He followed this
vocation for two years and then returned to farm life. In 1855 he started to California, but owing to some trouble was compelled to turn back and came to Ohio and assisted il the operation of his father's farm. In 1858 he engaged in the dry goods business with his brother-in-law at Monroeville, Ohio, and
after three years of very pleasant business dealings he disposed of his interest and be- gan clerking in a distillery. After holding this position for one year, he went on the road as traveling salesman, but in 1863 re- signed and came to Columbia City, where he bought a half interest in a distillery own- ed by his brother. Becoming dissatisfied with this business he purchased his present farm of eighty acres, thirty-five of which was under cultivation, and there he is still living. In place of the log cabin which was on the farm when it came into his possession, he has erected an elegant twelve-room house, under which is a large and convenient cellar. and has made other improvements on the place in the way of drainage, good fences, a large barn and several outbuildings. In about 1859 he was joined in wedlock with Mary Ann Carabin, who was born in Huron county, Ohio, April 14, 1836, and they are the parents of ten children : Edward D. and Jerome, who are living in Republic, Wash- ington: Alfred L., who lives in St. Joseph, Michigan ; Frederick, who is a resident of Chicago: Matilda, who is known as Sister Gregory in the Catholic church; Lydia, who is the wife of Ferdinand Eich, a resident of Plymouth : Nettie, who is the wife of Charles West, a resident of Chicago: Cornelia, liv- ing at home : Julia, living at Plymouth, this state; Cecelia, a resident of Chicago. The subject's political allegiance has always been
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given to the Democratic party. He has serv- ous kinds of employment and then made a ed as land appraiser and assessor and is deep- ly interested in everything pertaining to the welfare and progress of the community. The entire family are members of the Cath- olic church and their friends and neighbors speak of them in terms of praise and high regard. Mr. Walter is now about seventy- two years of age and in the evening of life is enjoying the fruits of his former toil, hav- ing gained a comfortable competence by his perseverance, industry and capable management.
NATHAN ROBERTS.
This prosperous farmer and public-spirit- ed man of affairs is a native of Holmes county, Ohio, but since his youth has been a resident of the Hoosier state, his life being closely identified with the progress of Whit- ley county. His paternal grandfather was a Virginian by birth, but left the state of his nativity many years ago and went to Han- cock county, Illinois, thence after a six years' residence moved his family to Indiana, where he spent the remainder of his life. Nathan Polson, the subject's maternal grand- father, was a native of Germany but early emigrated to America, where he reared his family, only one member of which is now living, Mrs. Deborah Crawford, who with her husband and two children resides in the state of Missouri. George Roberts, father of Nathan, was born in Ohio and spent his early life in that state, learning while still young the tanner's trade. Later he came to Indiana, where he spent two years at vari-
tour of observation through several of the western states, with the object of finding a suitable location. After a residence of six years in Illinois he returned to Indiana and purchased a farm in Whitley county about one mile south of Columbia City, to the improvement and cultivation of which he de- voted the remainder of his days, departing this life August 22, 1901. George Roberts was a man of intelligence and exercised ben- eficial influence on all with whom he came in contact. For many years a zealous mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, his life, ever in harmony with the faith he pos- sessed, was marked by the many unselfish acts of kindness and charity which enter into the make-up of the well-rounded. upright Christian gentleman. Elizabeth Polson, who became his wife, was a lady of excellent parts, devoted to her family and church and her life was a long round of duty, faith- fully and uncomplainingly performed. She bore the following children: Nathan, Mar- garet, William and Wilson, who died in in- fancy : Mary Elizabeth, wife of John Hurd. of Columbia City; Normanda, who married Thomas Miller and died in 1887, leaving two children : Sarah Jane, now Mrs. C. H. Or- ner.
Nathan Roberts was born in 1846 and when a lad of eight was brought by his par- ents to Whitley county, Indiana. Later he accompanied them in their various travels. and during that time attended the schools of the different places where the family was temporarily located. Returning to Whitley county, he resumed his school work in Co- lumbia City and during his vacations assisted in cultivating the farm, dividing the time
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between study and labor until arriving at of whom died in infancy : Allen, John, Fan- manhood's estate. On attaining his major- ity he gave his entire attention to the duties of the farm and was thus engaged with his father until his twenty-ninth year, when he married and set up a domestic establishment of his own, choosing for his companion Eliz- abeth Nolt, who was born and reared in the county of Whitley.
Immediately after his marriage Mr. Rob- erts moved to the farm in Columbia town- ship, where he has since made his home and in due time achieved merited success in his chosen calling, besides earning the reputation which marks the honorable and upright citi- zen. The farm, which came as a legacy to Mrs. Roberts, consists of one hundred and eighty-six acres of land, the greater part un- der cultivation, and in the matter of improve- ments it easily ranks among the best country homes in the county, the residence, a large and commodious frame edifice, being finely finished and furnished and equipped with modern conveniences, while the barn and out- buildings are in excellent condition. In brief, the place is fully up to date, lacking none of the features that constitute the com- fortable and attractive home of the intelli- gent, well-to-do American countryman of to- day, while as an agriculturist. in full touch with everything relating to the noble voca- tion to which his time and energies are be- ing applied, Mr. Roberts stands with the most advanced of his class in this part of In- diana. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts are much es- teemed in the community and always take a lively interest in everything that tends to advance the material, social and moral in- terests of their neighbors and friends. They have been the parents of seven children, four
ny, and one unnamed. Adam is engaged in cultivating the farm owned by his father, and on which the latter spent his youth and early manhood. He married Mabel Lover- ing, of Boston, Massachusetts, and is an en- terprising farmer and one of the public-spir- ited men of the township in which he lives. Harry, next in succession, is a member of the home circle and his father's assistant in running the farm. Ella, the youngest of the family, who recently was graduated from the public schools, is still under the parental roof. Mr. Roberts is a Republican but not a partisan, nor has he ever aspired to public position or leadership, having no inclina- tion in these directions.
HENRY H. LAWRENCE.
A leading farmer and insurance promo- ter as well as a soldier in the Civil war, Henry H. Lawrence occupies a conspicuous. place among the more progressive citizens of Whitley county. He was born December 14, 1841, in Wooster, Wayne county, Ohio, and is the son of John A. and Sarah (Rouch) Lawrence. He attended the pub- lic schools of his native county and at the age of nineteen entered the service of the government, enlisting September 21, 1861, in Company G, Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he experienced the fortunes and vicissitudes of war for more than three years. Until his discharge in November, 1864, he shared all the sufferings and perils of the many campaigns, including some of the most sanguinary engagements.
EUNICE M. LAWRENCE.
Henry , H. Lawrence, Laurence,
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of the war. He was at Cumberland Gap and Chickasaw Bayou with Sherman, later proceeding to Alexandria and Millikens Bend and on to Vicksburg, in the siege and fall of which his regiment bore a gallant part, holding Johnston in check at Black river and after the surrender, accompanied his command to Jackson, Mississippi, and to New Orleans. He then went to Indianola and Matagorda Island, Texas, and back to Louisiana until expiration of service. He remained one year with his father in Ohio, when he joined his brothers George and John, in Whitley county, where the three engaged in the manufacture of lumber, op- erating a saw-mill on Mud Run during the ensuing seven years and meeting with grati- fying success. Disposing of his interest he purchased one hundred and forty-six acres of wild land in Union township, where he has since lived and turning his attention to agriculture has followed the same ever since, meanwhile by judicious management bringing his farm to a high state of cultiva- tion, besides erecting a fine modern dwell- ing and basement barn with necessary out- buildings. His son, William E., is a partner and the leading feature of their business is a creamery, milking a dozen cows.
June 14, 1866, Mr. Lawrence was united in marriage with Miss Eunice Mowrer, of Wayne county, Ohio, whose parents were natives of Pennsylvania and of German de- scent. Mrs. Lawrence devoted her life to the family, proving a most excellent com- panion and helpmate. Her death occurred February 22, 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Law- rence had two children. William Eldon graduated at Purdue University and then going east spent ten years in Virginia, where
he erected and operated a creamery as well as becoming familiar with the growing and handling of nursery stock. He there mar- ried Lelia F. Fisher, by whom he has two children, Bessie May and an infant. He is now devoting his energies to the demands of the homestead, his intelligence and ex- perience producing most gratifying results. Thoroughly imbued with advanced agricul- ture he keeps in hearty co-operation with others through the medium of Spring Run Grange. Elizabeth May is the wife of Al- bert G. Lower and the mother of two chil- dren. Mr. Lawrence is a stalwart Repub- lican and at times has been his party's can- didate for important official positions, in- cluding that of representative and county treasurer, an overwhelming majority of the opposition, defeating him with the rest of the candidates. For nine years he has been president of the Whitley County Farmers' Fire Insurance Association, of which he was an organizer and a director for fourteen years. He is its active representative for Union township and to him is largely due the growth of the company and the solid status which it enjoys. This organization has about three and one-half millions of insurance at risk, all confined to the farmers of Whitley county, the average cost being about one-half on the average of that in the standard companies. He belongs to George WV. Stough Post, No. 181, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is past- commander. He is also identified with Spring Run Grange, Patrons of Husbandry and Whitley County Pomona Grange, of which he is lecturer. Mr. Lawrence is a firm believer in revealed religion and with his children belongs to the English Evangel-
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ical Lutheran church, of Columbia City, with which his wife also held membership. He has been superintendent of the Sunday- school and was long a teacher in the same and for thirty years has been a member of the council of the church. He has always been deeply interested in agricultural and it was through his instrumentality that the Farm- ers' Institute of Whitley county was estab- lished, of which he was president for four years, and to him in a large measure must be attributed its success. He is alive to all that concerns the community, keeping in touch with current events and the trend of modern thought, and in a large degree is a moulder and director of opinion among his friends and neighbors on matters of local and general interest.
FLETCHER GOODRICH.
The Goodrich family were among the earliest of the pioneers of Whitley county and the name has been intimately associated with the important events in its history. Fletcher Goodrich was born on the farm where he now resides. April 27. 1850, and is the son of Price and Julia Ann (Black) Goodrich, the latter a native of New Jersey and the former of Connecticut. They were married in Delaware county, Ohio, and pre- vious to 1840 came to Indiana, settling in Richland township on one hundred and sixty acres of land purchased of the government. which is now partially owned and occupied by Fletcher. This move was made in wag- ons. in sixteen days, long enough to go to any foreign country with the present travel-
ing facilities. They engaged in farming, but Mr. Goodrich was also a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church, faithful and zealous in his work, which he continued over seventy years. He also enjoyed public honors, being the third judge of the probate court of the county, and served for some years as county commissioner. In addition to his public duties, he was energetic and successful in business, being a lime-burner. a brick-burner, brick and stone mason, plas- terer and building contractor. He built the first brick court-houses both in Whitley and Noble counties, burnt the lime and brick and built in 1849 the brick residence now owned and occupied by his son. The shingles witli which this house was roofed he also shaved from blue ash. But few men in Whitley county or in the state have performed greater work for the development of the material, educational and moral interests of their com- munity than Price Goodrich. His death oc- curred in 1892 at the old home where he first settled and that of his wife followed the next year. The passing away of this venerable couple cast a gloom over the fireside of nearly every household and "peace to their ashes" found a responsive amen in every heart. Nine children were born of this union : Fan- ny, now living in Kansas and the widow of John Marrs: Silas, living in Thorncreek township: Minerva, wife of Scott Barber, of Larwill: Chauncy, living in Wyoming ; Mary, deceased : Martha, a resident of Lar- will: John F., deceased; Fletcher; and Cal- vin, who died in infancy. Fletcher was edu- cated in the common schools of Richland township and has always lived on the old home farm. This now consists of one hun- dred and twenty-three acres of well improved
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land, tile drained and well fenced, which by intelligent management has been made pro- ductive. A specialty is made of potatoes and a large crop is grown each year, that for 1906 being one thousand seven hundred bushels. In 1878 he was married to Mary Ann, daughter of James and Lydia Mc- Cown, who was born in Hancock county. Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. McCown came to In- diana in 1855, settling in Thorncreek town- ship. The husband is deceased, but his wid- ow is still living at the old homestead. Eight of their children reached maturity, of whom five are living.
Mr. and Mrs. Goodrich are the parents of nine children : Alice L., wife of Amon Beard, living in Troy township: Frank, at home; Alva and Charles Price died of scar- let fever and were buried in one grave; Erma; Leota, wife of Leonard Foster, of Thorncreek township; Chauncy, Floyd and Frances.
Mr. Goodrich is a Democrat and has served the public faithfully and acceptably for nine years as supervisor. The family take an interest in all social and public af- fairs in the neighborhood and are highly esteemed.
WILLIAM H. HAMILTON.
A native of Whitley county and descend- ant of one of its early pioneer farmers, was born in Columbia township. December 23, 1860. His father was Justin Hamilton, a native of New York, and his mother was of Pennsylvania birth, both having been brought to Indiana in childhood. The grandfather, Kise C. Hamilton, came to
Whitley county in the early thirties, being among the first permanent settlers in Colum- bia township, where he purchased a tract of government land. Here he resided until about 1860, when he retired with his wife to Columbia City, where both died. The father of Kise C. Hamilton was born in New York and served with distinction in the war of 1812. Justin Hamilton for a number of years owned and cultivated the farm upon which William H. now lives. He was mar- ried in 1859 to Mary Nolt, who died at the age of thirty-two, leaving two children, be- ing followed in 1863 by her husband. The older of the two children indicated is Wil- liam H., the younger being Virginia Eliza- beth, who was first married to Gabe Knisley, of Whitley county, and was later the wife of J. M. Main, a soldier of the Civil war and formerly a merchant of Columbia City, but now living retired on his farm near the city.
William H. Hamilton turned his atten- tion to agriculture and since beginning for himself the duties of life he has lived on the farm in Columbia township, which he now owns. It is one of the beautiful and attrac- tive rural homes in Whitley county, the im- provements ranking with the best. while the fertility of the soil and the advanced meth- ods by which it is cultivated bear testimony to the progressive spirit of the proprietor. Mr. Hamilton's dwelling is a substantial edifice. elegantly finished and furnished with all modern conveniences. He erected a large well built barn, one of the best in the town- ship. besides good outbuildings.
Mr. Hamilton was married in 1885 to Miss Matilda Compton, whose grandparents came to this county from Ohio in 1837 and whose father. S. J. Compton, served with
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distinction during the Civil war as a pri- vate.in the Forty-fourth Regiment Indiana Infantry. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton have no children of their own, but about fourteen years ago they took to their home a little orphan girl, Leona Leech. now a teacher in the Columbia City schools.
DANIEL BAKER.
Daniel Baker, one of the leading farmers and representative citizens of Washington township, was born February 21, 1848, in Whitley county, Indiana, the third of a fam- ily of five children, whose parents were Jo- nas and Maria ( Haines) Baker. Jonas Baker was a native of Stark county, Ohio, where he lived until of legal age, when he came to Whitley county, Indiana, and located in what is now Washington township, of which he was one of the first permanent settlers, his arrival being some time in the thirties. He bought land, cleared and otherwise improved a good farm and became a substantial and praiseworthy citizen, dying on the place which he redeemed from the wilderness in the year 1892. His oldest child, a daughter by the name of Elizabeth, married Joseph Mullendore, a farmer of this county ; Mary, A., the second in order of birth, became the wife of David Shoemaker, and at the pres- ent time lives on a farm in the state of Kan- sas. Mary J. is deceased, and Frank P. Ba- ker. the youngest of the family, lives on a farm in Washington township adjoining that of the subject. Jonas Baker was a man of excellent parts, successful in his business
affairs and at one time was the owner of five- hundred acres of valuable real estate in the county of Whitley. He served several terms as trustee of Washington township, was keenly interested in all enterprises for the benefit of the public and stood high in the esteem and confidence of his fellowmen.
Daniel Baker first saw the light of day on the family homestead in the township of Washington, grew to maturity in close touch with farm labor and in the public schools received a fair English education. He has devoted his life to agricultural pur- suits and is now the owner of a splendid farm of one hundred and sixty acres, all but twenty in cultivation, and his improvements are among the best in the county, the land being well drained, the buildings modern and in excellent repair, everything on the place indicating the interest and progressive spirit of the proprietor, who has long en- joyed high standing among the represena- tive agriculturists and stock raisers in this part of the state.
Mr. Baker was married in 1873 to Miss Dora, daughter of George Fowler, of this county, and has a family of eight children : Charles married Lettie Liche and is engaged in agricultural pursuits. Harley P. is also a man of family, his wife having formerly been Lulu Clarke. Orpha is the wife of Ottis Plattner, one of Whitley county's suc- cessful teachers. Albert G. lives at home and assists in the management of the farm. Cleo and Roy are still members of the home circle. Mr. Baker is a Democrat, but not a politi- cian in the usual acceptance of the term, and he and wife are members of the Baptist. church.
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FRANKLIN SHILTS.
Franklin Shilts, one of the practical and esteemed farmers of Thorncreek township. was born in Lorraine, France, April 11, 1839, and is the son of Jacob and Margaret (Egolff) Shilts, also natives of Lorraine. They emigrated to America in 1846, settling in the coal region of Elk county, Pennsyl- vania. They remained here until 1854, when they removed to Noble county, Indiana, and in 1865 to Whitley county, where they bought the farm now owned and occupied by Franklin, three miles north of Columbia City. Mr. and Mrs. Shilts had two children to reach maturity, Franklin, and Mary, de- ceased wife of Sebastian Keller. Both parents were members of the Catholic church in Columbia City. Jacob Shilts died Septem- ber 27. 1889, aged eighty-five, and his wife June 10, 1871, aged sixty-eight. He could remember distinctly the retreat of Napoleon from the disastrous invasion of Russia, the Cossacks following and harrassing him till the Rhine was crossed.
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