USA > Indiana > Whitley County > History of Whitley County, Indiana > Part 89
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JOHN H. SHILTS.
John H. Shilts, a successful farmer and public-spirited citizen of Thorncreek town- ship, and ex-recorder of Whitley county, was born August 15, 1862, at Avilla, Noble county, and is the son of Franklin and Cath- erine (Monger) Shilts, of whom separate mention is found on another page. He re- ceived a good, practical education in the dis- trict schools and upon the home farm, where he remained until eighteen years of age. He taught one term and then took a business course in the normal school at Valparaiso. He confined his attention wholly to teaching till 1888, when he took special teacher's training under the renowned Professor Hol- brook at the Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio. His work as an educator extended over ten years, one being in the Columbia City graded schools. In 1886 he was elect- ed recorder for the county, a position. he filled with aptitude and to the satisfaction of all for four years. Being nominated when but twenty-two years of age, he was the
fice by his party in Whitley county. In 1891 he removed to his present fine farm of eighty acres, which he had purchased meantime, and erected in 1900 an attractive ten-room house and in 1904 a commodious bank barn, forty by sixty feet. He also owns a thirty- seven acre farm in Columbia township, each affording ample income. In 1894 he was chosen township assessor and held this of- fice efficiently for five years. In 1885 he married Miss Hulda, daughter of Albert and Jane Hatfield, a native of Whitley county, who became the mother of five chil- dren, Gertrude and Leander being the only survivors. During the year 1897 the angel of death thrice visited this home, taking the mother and two children. Three years afterward Mr. Shilts was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary J. Goodfellow, who was born in Columbia City in 1862, a daughter of John and Julia Goodfellow, both now de- ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Shilts have two chil- dren, Walter L. and John F. Himself and family are devout members of St. Paul's Catholic church.
Mrs. Shilts is considered one of the most progressive and thoroughly informed men of the county. He has a selected library of about six thousand volumes, including the state reports of agriculture and statistics and geology of Indiana complete. He also takes keen interest in the collection of old curios- ities, such as ancient household articles, an- tique furniture and the like, including an antiquated lock safe, the first owned by Whitley county. He has made a careful study of the Indians and of the Mound Builders, having several thousand imple- ments of Indian warfare and domestic uten-
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sils. His collection of rare and valuable coins indicates the enthusiasm of the pro- fessional numismatist.
Mr. and Mrs. Shilts are widely known, their home being one of the most popular rural social resorts in the county, a wide circle of warm friends finding therein a generous dispensation of old-fashioned, warm-hearted hospitality. We take pleasure in presenting two articles by Mr. Shilts, one on Thorncreek township and the other that on the archaeology of the county.
THOMAS E. ADAMS.
Thomas E. Adams, a progressive and re- spected farmer of Thorncreek township, was born on his present homestead Decem- ber 3, 1857, and is a son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Elliott) Adams, his parents being James and Catherine (McDonald) Adams, both natives of Ireland. Andrew Adams was also born in Ireland March 17, 1821, and when eight years old was brought to America by his mother, who settled in Penn- sylvania. His father dying when he was a child, Andrew was taken by an uncle, a farmer in Columbiana county, Ohio, with whom he remained till eighteen years old. Going to New York City, he learned the trade of machinist and boiler-maker, at which he worked until 1852. A Mr. Brew- er, an attorney and paymaster in the United States Army, for whom young Adams worked in Ohio, sent him to look after lands he owned in Whitley county and while here he decided to become a resident himself. Some years later he purchased part of the Brewer lands, the owner having been killed
by an explosion on an Ohio river steamboat. He also purchased other tracts until he be- came the owner of over a thousand acres. He disposed of the greater portion, however, and at his death owned but two hundred and eighty acres. Returning to Beaver county, Pennsylvania, he was married to Elizabeth Elliott, a native of that county and a daugh- ter of George and Margaret Elliott. For forty-seven years they journeyed hand in hand till her death in 1897. He died April 15, 1906, aged eighty-five years and twenty- eight days.
He had rendered valuable assistance to his children when it was most needed. A consistent member of the Baptist church, he was an enthusiastic Sunday-school worker and being well read and ever ready to up- hold his opinions enjoyed a social discussion of live topics, whether of religion or public polity. He was a Democrat and served six years as county commissioner.
They were the parents of three children : John, a well known horseman of Columbia City and New York: Thomas and Andrew. The latter is doubtless the most renowned literary character that can be credited to Whitley county. After spending several years as a cowboy in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma, he began to write of the life he had seen and experienced, his best known books being "The Log of the Cowboy," "The Texas Match-Maker," "The Outlet" and "Cattle Brands." His articles are ea- gerly sought by the leading magazines. His home is at Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Mr. Adams served as commissioner of Whitley county for three terms. Himself and wife are consistent members of the Pres- byterian church and he was a Democrat politically.
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Thomas E. Adams received a prelimi- nary education in the district schools, sup- plementing this with three terms at Valpa- raiso. He bought and sold stock for his father from eighteen years of age until the practical retirement of the latter. Thomas then took charge of the farm, which he has since operated, though for a time he was engaged in merchandising in Albion. Few stockmen in Indiana are more extensively known than Mr. Adams, his herds of short- horn cattle, Shropshire sheep and Duroc- Jersey swine having carried off honors sought for by many ambitious breeders. Thorn Creek Stock Farm is well adapted for breeding purposes and he is considered as one of the successful breeders of the state.
October 18, 1893, he was married to Miss Hattie Pollock, a native of Noble county and a daughter of Truman and Mary (Alwine) Pollock. Mr. and Mrs. Adams have two children, Cedric and Andrew. Mr. Adams's farm contains six hundred acres of fine land, on which is located a meat and commodious house, barns and other improvements so corresponding as to lend harmony to the whole, making it a very desirable rural residence. He is a Dem- ocrat and for six years was trustee of Thorncreek township. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order.
HARCANIS C. LEAMAN.
Harcanis C. Leaman, one of the esteemed residents of Thorncreek township, was born on the farm on which he is now living June
29, 1864, and is the son of Samuel and Eliz- abeth (Crumley) Leaman. The paternal grandfather was Samuel Leaman, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio in an early day and in 1838 came to Whitley coun- ty, where he bought and settled on eighty acres of land, which is now part of the farm owned by Harcanis. Mr. Leaman was twice married and had eight children : John, Sam- uel, Daniel, William, Isaac, Agnes. Lacina and Mariette, none of whom are living. Mr. Leaman died when past seventy. Samuel Leaman, Jr., was born in Massillon, Ohio, in 1826, and after his marriage bought forty acres of land adjoining his father and there erected a nice home. By his father's death. he inherited the old homestead, on which he lived until his death, which occurred May 17, 1884. Elizabeth (Crumley) Lea- man was born in Stark county, Ohio, and came to Indiana with her parents as a child. These parents came to Noble county about 1843 and are now both deceased, he attain- ing past ninety years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Leaman had ten children: Galves- ton, a ranchman in Colorado; Wayne, who is living in Churubusco: Albert and Clinton, both dying in childhood ; Harcanis C. ; Emma J., wife of David Fisher, of Thorncreek township: Laura, wife of Henry J. Press- ler, owning part of the old homestead : Isaac. of Thorncreek township; Rosa D., wife of Oscar McCown, a resident of Oklahoma : Massillon, who is living in Columbia City. Mrs. Leaman is living in Churubusco.
Harcanis C. Leaman was early inured to the toil incident to the life of a farmer and. upon attaining his majority decided to adopt agriculture for his life work. He is the own- er of ninety acres of the old homestead, 011
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which stands a fine twelve-room brick house. equipped with all the modern conveniences. March 19, 1893. he chose a life companion in the person of Jennie A. Pressler, who was born in Thorncreek township in 1864. and is the daughter of Valentine and Diana ( Dupler) Pressler.
Mr. Leaman is a Democrat, while fra- ternally hie and his wife belong to the order of Ben Hur. Mr. Leaman has served on the advisory board and has done much to ad- vance materially, morally and educationally the interests of the community. They have no children but by a former marriage, Mrs. Leaman is the mother of Henry Cleveland and Frank Laota Stewart, young men, the oldest being a teacher for the past three years.
FRANKLIN P. LOUDY.
The ancestors of Whitley county's fam- ily of this name were natives of Germany. Edward Loudy and Louisa Stroh, after mar- rying in the old country during the latter years of the eighteenth century. emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1801 and farmed there until their respective deaths. Their five children, now all dead, were Jane, Lucy. John, Edward and Daniel. The latter was married in his native state to Martha Wise, with whom he removed in 1836 to Sandusky county, Ohio. He located on a farm and remained there until 1864, when he went to Monroe county, Michigan, resumed farming- and so continued until his death in 1867. His wife, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1807. died in 1847 during the residence in Ohio.
Franklin P. Loudy, son of this worthy
couple, was born in Sandusky county, Ohio, July 4. 1845. In December, 1864, he en- listed in the One Hundred and Twenty-third Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Sec- ond Brigade, Third Division of the Twenty- fourth Corps. Army of the Potomac. With this command he participated in the battles of New Market, Virginia, Win- chester, Berryville, and the bloody engage- ments of the Opequan, in which Early was so disastrously defeated by General Sheridan. Other engagements of the command were Fisherville and Cedar Creek, where Sheri- dan made his famous ride. This fighting took place within a little more than six months and after its transfer to the army of the Potomac, this corps did its full share of the work in the final crushing of Lee's army. It was engaged at Petersburg, at High Bridge, and in the round-up at Appomattox. Few soldiers in the same length of time can show harder campaigning, more arduous service and severe fighting than that which fell in part on Mr. Loudy, who has just right to be proud of his share in saving the Union. At Winchester he received a flesh wound, was captured at Appomattox, paroled three days later, and soon exchanged. After the surrender Mr. Loudy went with his regi- ment to Camp Chase, Columbus, where he was discharged. He had the distinction of acting with Company H at the state house, Columbus, as guard of honor over the re- mains of President Lincoln, when his body was lying in state on its way to Springfield. Illinois. After his final discharge June 12. 1865. Mr. Loudy returned to his parents' home in Michigan, but after a rest of one year went to Omaha, Nebraska, where he engaged in railroading. Coming back to
franklin P . Sondy
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Michigan, he attended commercial school at in Thorncreek township. At that time the land was in a wild state, but he at once turned his efforts towards improving it and soon made of it one of the most attractive and desirable farms of the locality. He died November 10, 1881, in middle life. His wife, Anna Born, was a native of Switzer- lived on the farm until her husband's death and since then has made her home with her children, they being: Callie, wife of Dr. Schoonover, of Greenville, Pennsylvania ; Amanda, wife of George Hemmick, of Churubusco; John, a merchant near the old home; Julia, wife of F. W. Hart, of Colum- bia City; Ella, who is in the millinery busi- ness at Churubusco; Benjamin, a miner in Arizona : Ernest S .: Samuel and Albertine, deceased. Toledo, Ohio, then settled at Columbia City, in his trade of painter and paper hanger. After continuing this work at the county - seat for three years he came in 1871 to Churubusco, which has ever since been his place of residence. In 1886 he was elected town clerk and treasurer, in which position . land, came to Whitley county in early youth, he served three years, besides being council- man for one term. In 1890 he was elected on the Democratic ticket trustee of Smith township for four years, was re-elected at the end of his term and at present holds this of- fice. He has made an excellent official, man- aging the township affairs with honesty and judgment, enjoying full confidence of his constituents. In 1887, he organized the Churubusco volunteer fire department and held the position as chief until 1904. when compelled to give up by pressure of other duties.
In 1874 Mr. Loudy married Margaret, daughter of David and Martha (Frick) Ruch, natives of Pennsylvania, and his wife and self are members of the Lutheran church, and much esteemed in the social cir- cles of Churubusco. He is a Mason, Knight of Pythias, and a comrade of Simonson Post of the Grand Army of the Republic.
ERNEST S. COTTERLY.
Ernest S. Cotterly is a son of John and Anna (Born) Cotterly, the former of whom was born in Switzerland and came to Amer- ica when about twenty years of age. He as first located in Ohio, but later removed to Whitley county, where he settled on a farm
Ernest S. Cotterly was born on the old homestead in Whitley county, Indiana, April 6, 1878, received his preliminary education in the public schools, later attended high school one year at Auburn, supplementing this by terms in the normal schools at An- gola, Columbia City and Valparaiso. He then taught for ten years, operating the homestead in the meantime.
April 13, 1902, he was married to Miss Lydia, daughter of Joseph and Jane Hyre, pioneers of Whitley county, and to thiem have been born two children: Ellen Lavon and Mary Jane. Mr. Cotterly is of pleas- ing presence, genial in manner and conver- sation and his social qualities, as well as his sterling characteristics, have made him pop- ular with a large class of people. He is a reader and thinker and spares no pains to keep himself in touch with the trend of mod- ern thought. A close observer of current
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WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
events, he has well defined opinions upon political, economic and sociological subjects. but neither his tastes nor inclinations have ever permitted him to become an active par- tisan, much less an aspirant for public hon- ors. Besides voting the Democratic ticket and occasionally giving expression to his
first located in Connecticut, about 1820 came .
to Muskingum and subsequently to Licking county, Ohio. Mr. Parkinson died of the cholera in 1832. his wife dying some years previous.
After the death of his father, James Staples assisted his brother in the operation convictions, he takes little interest in party . of the home farm. He enlisted in July, affairs. Joseph Hyre was a farmer in Thorncreek township and died there aged sixty-four. His widow now resides in Co- lumbia City. 1861. in Company C, Twenty-seventh Reg- iment Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served the full term of three years. His service was in the west under Generals Fremont, Pope and Grant. He assisted in the cap- ture of Island No. 10. the siege and battle of Corinth and the battle of Iuka. Under JAMES STAPLES. General Sullivan two brigades met rebel General Forrest's cavalry at Parker's Cross- James Staples, a respected citizen and successful farmer of Thorncreek township, was born in Licking county, Ohio, March 24. 1838, and is the son of William and Anna ( Parkinson) Staples, both natives of England. William Staples was the son of Samuel Staples and grew to manhood in the country of his nativity. He served nine years in the English army under the Duke of Wellington, including the Peninsular war, and was wounded at the taking of the Isle of France, East India. He emigrated to this country about 1832 and located on a farm in Licking county, Ohio, where he (lied in 1852. His wife survived till 1872 and they were the parents of three children : Wesley, a farmer in Thorncreek and a sol- dier in the Civil war, died at fifty-eight ; James, and Sarah, who is the wife of Sam- nel Waters, a resident of Troy township. The maternal grandparents were John and Elizabeth ( Robertson) Parkinson. John Parkinson and wife coming from England roads. Tennessee, where after capturing five hundred prisoners, three hundred horses and six or seven pieces of artillery, they drove the enemy off with but slight loss. After this he did not see much active service, owing to impaired health, which kept him in hospital at Paducah. Kentucky. August 4, 1864, he was mustered out at Camp Denison, Ohio. In 1865 he and his brother brought the family to Indiana and located on a farm in Thorncreek township. near his present home. Mr. Staples was married in 1867 to Elizabeth, daughter of Frederick and Lydia ( Humbarger) King, both now deceased. Frederick King came from Perry county, Ohio, to settle in the woods on land his father had bought and on this farm Mrs. Staples was born in 1848. Frederick died at thirty-eight, his widow becoming the wife of John Pressler and lived and died near Columbia City, aged seventy-two. The King children were Eliz- abeth, Reuben and Matilda. Reuben lives
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WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
on part of the King homestead; Matilda married Noah Hiveley and died in middle life. In 1878 Mr. Staples bought the other interests in the King estate and has lived here ever since. His place has good im- provements and is considered one of the model farms of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Staples have had six children: Byron, a sawmill operator living in Tennessee: Lo- gan, the present sheriff of Whitley county ; Valona, wife of James Leamon, a farmer of Thorncreek township; William Wirt, married Mary Johnson and lives in Thorn- creek; Virgil, who married Minnie Smith, is a farmer in Miami county, Indiana; and Bruce, operating the home farm. Mr. Staples is a Republican, served five years as assessor and twelve years as justice of the peace His relations with his neighbors and friends have always been of the most agree- able character, his influence has ever made for the good of those with whom he associ- ates and the high esteem in which he is held shows that the confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens has not been mis- placed. He is a member of the United Brethren church, while his wife belongs to the Church of God.
ALVIN M. HIRE.
Alvin M. Hire, who is numbered among the practical farmers of Whitley county. was born in Elkhart county. Indiana. De- cember 17, 1866, and is the son of Jacob and Christena (Haney) Hire. For particu- lars of family history see sketch of Simon WV. Hire, elsewhere in this book. The sub-
ject of this sketch has spent his entire life in the three counties of Elkhart, Noble and Whitley. At the usual age he began his education in a school near his home and therein remained until he had mastered the branches of learning taught in such insti- tutions. When still a youth he began work in the fields, plowing, planting and harvest- ing from early springtime until crops were gathered in the late autumn. He started out in life on his own account, empty hand- ed, and today he is a prosperous resident of his county, owning fifty-seven acres of arable and productive land. On December 19, 1886, Mr. Hire was married to Miss Elizabeth Swihart, a native of Noble town- ship, Noble county, the daughter of Jacob and Clara (Gidley) Swihart. Jacob Swi- hart was the son of Jonathan, who came to Noble county in 1870. Clara (Gidley) Swi- hart was born in Washington county, Ohio, and died in 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Swihart were the parents of seven children: John, who lives in Arkansas; Walter, who lives in Noble county : Elizabeth; Amy, the wife of Arthur Gardner, a resident of Goshen, Indiana; Martha, wife of Amasa Cripe, of Goshen: Jesse, who is on the old home- stead in Noble county ; Charles, who lives in Goshen.
Mr. Hire and his wife have had six chil- dren: Esta, Blanch, Lucy, Rhoda. Glen, Dorotha. Mr. Hire votes with the Repub- lican party, but he has never sought or de- sired office for his time and attention are fully occupied with his business affairs, which are of an important nature. He is bending every energy to develop his farm and already deserves to be classed among the best farmers of the county.
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WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
ELMER J. NEI.
The gentleman whose career is briefly outlined in the following paragraphs is of German descent and belongs to that large and eminently respectable element of our populace that in a quiet and unassuming way has done so much to improve the great central and western states, and develop their resources. Frederick Nei, a native of Ger- many, was brought to America by his par- ents when about six years old and for some time thereafter lived in Canton, Ohio, near which city his father purchased a farm of eighty acres, on which he spent the remain- der of his life, dying at the ripe old age of eighty-eight. Frederick made a tour through Whitley and other counties of northeastern Indiana with the object in view of finding a suitable location, but for some reason he returned to Ohio without making the con- templated investment. During the ensuing four years he cultivated the farm in Stark county and at the expiration of that time made a second trip to Whitley county, bought one hundred and thirty-four acres of land, which is now in Union township, which in due time he improved and which he still owns. In connection with agricul- . ture, Mr. Nei worked for a number of years at carpentry and being a skillful mechanic, his services as a builder were always in great demand. He is now in comfortable circumstances, owning a fine estate, which is well improved in the way of buildings, drainage and fencing and his long period of residence in the same locality has made him one of the best known, as well as one of the oldest citizens in the township. Before her marriage Mrs. Nei bore the maiden name of Elma Altaffer; her parents were German
and for many years lived in Columbiana county, Ohio, in which state she was born and reared and it was there she met her future husband. The family of Frederick and Elma Nei consisted of four children : Rufus. Leonard, Elmer J., and Frank, the second oldest of the number being deceased. February 17. 1870, in Columbia City, Whit- ley county. Indiana, Elmer J. Nei first saw the light of day and his childhood and youth were spent on his father's farm in Union township, where by practical expe- rience he early learned the true meaning of honest toil and frugal thrift. He divided his time between work and attending school until nineteen years old and then turned his attention to the pursuit of agriculture, which has since been his life work and in the prose- cution of which his success has been very encouraging. With the exception of one year spent in the employ of others he has always lived on the farm which is now his home, working for his father until 1903, since which time he has been tilling the soil upon his own responsibility.
Mr. Nei has been twice married, the first time to Alma Crawford, of this county, who died after about one year of happy wedded life, leaving a daughter, Ada. Later he married Anna Walter, of Missouri, who has borne him four children: Frances. Freder- ick, Bertha and Ruby. Mr. Nei belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the order of Woodmen. In politics he is a Democrat and as such was elected in 1904 trustee of Union township for a term of four years, the du- ties of which office he has since discharged to the satisfaction of all concerned. Mrs. Nei holds membership in the order of Mac- cabees and since her childhood has been identified with the Lutheran church.
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WHITLEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
MICHAEL LAWRENCE
One of the leading farmers and stock raisers of Columbia township, was born in Wayne county, Ohio, June 2, 1855, and is the oldest son of George and Eva Ann (Mowrey) Lawrence, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in these pages. Like the majority of country boys the early experi- ence of Michael included the usual round of farm labor during the spring and summer months, varied in the winter time by at- tending the subscription schools in his na- tive county. At best his educational advan- tages were but meager, the schools lasting only about three months of the year, but by diligent application he succeeded in com- pleting the usual course of study and at the age of twenty was sufficiently advanced to take charge of a school, to which vocation he devoted his attention for about one year. At the close of his school term Mr. Law- rence engaged in agricultural pursuits for himself on a part of his father's farm in Union township, where he continued for a period of eight years, and two years later purchased the fine farm in Whitley county, on which he has since lived and which, un-' der his excellent management, has been im- proved until it now stands to the front among the most productive and valuable in this part of the state. Originally his farm consisted of one hundred and sixty-five acres, one hun- dred of which were in cultivation, but since coming into his possession he has cleared and rendered tillable an additional thirty acres, besides purchasing fifty-five acres ad- joining, all of which is well situated and especially adapted to general agriculture and
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