USA > Indiana > Whitley County > History of Whitley County, Indiana > Part 93
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ASHER D. HATHAWAY
was born June 17, 1838, in Knox county, Ohio, but since his seventh year has been a resident of Whitley county. His ancestors lived in Pennsylvania, of which state his grandfather, Joseph Hathaway, and his fa- ther, Thomas, were natives. Joseph Hatha- way migrated with his family to Ohio, set- tling near Mt. Vernon, Knox county, where
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he died many years ago and it was there that Thomas Hathaway met and married Ma- linda Mann, who became the mother of twelve children, nine growing to maturity, eight still living. In 1846 Thomas Hatha- way disposed of his interests in Ohio and moved to Whitley county, settling in Cleve- land township, where he engaged in farm- ing on leased land, subsequently purchasing a place of his own, on which he spent the remainder of his days, departing this life in 1858, his wife surviving until 1891. Asher D. Hathaway accompanied his par- ents on their removel to Indiana and in the woods of Cleveland township experienced many of the vicissitudes of pioneer life. He assisted his father and brothers in culti- vating the farm and when not thus engaged spent much of his time in quest of wild game, with which the forests were infested, being an unerring shot and by means of his skill as a huntsman contributing largely to the family's bill of fare. He remained with his father until the latter's death and on at- taining his majority began life for himself as a tiller of the soil, which vocation he has continued ever since, meeting with gratify- ing financial results and becoming the pos- sessor of an excellent farm in Cleveland township, where he now resides. Mr. Hath- away's place, which contains one hundred and ninety acres of very productive land, eighty acres in Cleveland and the rest in Richland township, is situated about four miles northwest of South Whitley and is admirably adapted to general agriculture and stock raising, one hundred and fifty-five acres being tillable. A comfortable modern residence is a conspicuous feature of the farm, in addition to which there is a large
and commodious barn, one of the best struc- tures of the kind in the locality, the other buildings being in excellent condition, the improvements including a system of tile drainage, by means of which the soil has been greatly benefited and its productiveness increased.
In 1865 Mr. Hathaway married Elmira, daughter of Philip and Maria (Firestone) Carper, natives of Stark county, Ohio, who came to Indiana in 1851 and settled on a farm in Cleveland township, where their respective deaths occurred a number of years later. Mr. and Mrs. Hathaway have three children: Carrie, wife of Mr. George Kyler, a farmer of Kosciusko county; Al- fred, on a farm near South Whitley; and Sylvia, wife of John H. Rider, of Cleveland township, died July 7, 1905. Mr. Hatha- way and wife are people of high social standing and enjoy in a marked degree the respect of their many friends and associates. He is an esteemed member of the Odd Fel- lows, belonging to Springfield Lodge, No. 213. Mrs. Hathaway is identified with the Christian church, manifests an interest in all the activities of the congregation and en- deavors to make her life correspond with her profession as an earnest and sincere fol- lower of the Master.
August 12, 1862, Mr. Hathaway enlisted in Company K, Eighty-eighth Indiana Vol- unteer Infantry, First Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, and served until the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Perryville. Stone River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. took part in the Atlanta campaign and was with Sherman on his march to the sea. He was never wounded or taken prisoner and as
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the result of his honorable service is a wel- county. October 16, 1861, he enlisted in come comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic post at South Whitley.
ALEXANDER GOFF.
This gentleman was one of the loyal sons of the north who, during the dark days of the rebellion, when the ship of state was stranded on the rugged rocks of disunion, turned his back to the pleasures of home, society and friends and went to the front to battle for his country and if necessary sacrifice his life upon the altar of duty, that the government might be preserved. Since then he has devoted his energies to the peaceful pursuits of civil life, with advan- tage both to himself and others. Alexander Goff was born in Jay county, Indiana, No- vember 9, 1841, being the son of John and Susannah (Mann) Goff, both born in Penn- sylvania. John Goff became a citizen of Indiana as early as 1830, settling in Jay county, where he followed farming until 1851, when he disposed of his interests in that part of the state and changed his resi- dence to Whitley county, purchasing the farm in Cleveland township now owned and occupied by his son. Mr. Goff improved the place and converted in into one of the best farms in the locality. He had eight chil- dren, six of whom grew to maturity, but at this time Alexander and Ruhena, who mar- ried John Smith, of Cleveland township, are the only survivors.
Alexander Goff spent the first ten years of his life in the county of his birth and in 1851 was brought by his parents to Whitley
Company E, Forty-fourth Regiment Indi- ana Infantry, with which he served until his discharge, May 26, 1864, at Chattanooga, Tennessee. Mr. Groff participated with his regiment in a number of engagements, re- ceiving at Fort Donelson a wound which compelled him temporarily to quit the com- mand. When his injury was healed he re- joined his regiment and remained at the front until discharged. Among the most important battles in which he was engaged were Shiloh ; siege of Corinth, where he was under fire the greater part of thirty days; Stone River, Perryville, Chickamauga, where he also received a painful wound, and other minor engagements and skirmishes, in all of which his conduct as a soldier was above reproach. On leaving the service Mr. Goff returned home and resumed farming, meeting with gratifying success in his call- ing, besides achieving standing as an enter- prising citizen. He owns an excellent farm of one hundred and fifteen acres, all but twenty-five of which are under cultivation and highly improved with substantial build- ings, good fences and a thorough system of drainage. Mr. Goff resides in the village of Collamer, two miles west of South Whit- ley, where he has a beautiful and attractive home. Though a Democrat, deeply inter- ested in the success of his party, Mr. Goff is neither a politician nor office seeker, mak- ing every other consideration subordinate to the useful life he leads as a tiller of the soil.
In 1865 Mr. Goff married Jane, daugh- ter of Nathan and Ruth (Radcliff) Wil- liams, who bore him six children: Belle, wife of Levi Dohner; Heber, Fred, Jesse, Milo and Hollis, all married except Milo
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and Fred and doing well in their respective vocations. The mother of these children died in 1884 and in 1890 Mr. Goff entered the marriage relation with Mrs. Susan Ket- row, daughter of Albert and Ella (Thrush) Ramsey, natives of Maryland and Pennsyl- vania, respectively, the father dying in Octo- ber. 1900, in Kosciusko county, and the mother in 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey were the parents of eleven children, one of whom died at the age of twenty-two years and one in infancy, the rest rearing families. By her marriage with Mr. Ket- row, Mrs. Goff had three children: Calvin, Amanda, wife of Peter Wagoner, and Paris. Mr. Goff is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Grand Army of the Republic and Mrs. Goff is a member of the Christian church.
JOHN P. JACKSON.
The ancestors of the Whitley county family of this name originated in New Jer- sey and the grandfather of John -P., Ben- jamin Jackson, had six children: David. Daniel. Benjamin, Harriet, Phoebe and Ziba. All of these are dead but some reached advanced ages, especially Phoebe Vennum, who was one hundred and four years old. her one hundredth birthday be- ing celebrated June 23, 1884, at Morrison, Illinois. David, the eldest, was married in New Jersey to Prudence Hathaway and with the rest of the family migrated to Knox county, Ohio, in 1814, where his fa- ther, Benjamin, died at the age of ninety- one and his mother, Abigail (Mitchell) Jack- son, at the age of eighty-four. In 1852
David brought his wife and children to In- diana and settled on a farm in Allen county, but in 1860 removed to Whitley county to the present home of John P. and here he lived until his death in 1883, his wife hav- ing passed away in 1875. They had sixteen children, of whom only Mahlon and John P. are living, the others being Ira, Polly, Phoebe, Clarica, Electa, Abigail, Sarah, Daniel. David, Silas and three who died in infancy. Polly was the wife of John Potts. and about 1850 came to Noble county, Indi- ana. Ira soon after settled near Laud. Da- vid also settled at Laud, so that when the family came these were already here.
John P. Jackson, youngest of this fam- ily, was born in Knox county, Ohio, No- vember 5, 1833. He accompanied his par- ents to Indiana and when twenty-two began working out by the month. In six years, by close saving and rigid economy, he had enough money to buy forty acres of land in Allen county, but later returned to live with his father and mother in Whitley county and remained with them until their deaths. He inherited the homestead now consisting of eighty-eight acres in Thorncreek town- ship, four and a half miles northwest of Co- lumbia City. As the result of careful man- agement he now has a comfortable home as well as a valuable estate with a modernly constructed house, good bank barn and other conveniences. His farm is well drained, in a fine state of cultivation and is a desirable country home.
In 1858 Mr. Jackson was married to Catherine Komp, of Troy township, who died in 1881 after becoming the mother of eight children: Frank and Elizabeth, de- ceased: Frederick, in telephone work at
etohum & Jackson
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Fort Wayne; Lillie, wife of H. A. Rouch, of Nebraska; Daniel, of Logansport, is a Pan Handle conductor ; Chloe is a professional nurse in Chicago; Daisy, wife of Holten Longnecker, of Colorado; and Vern, a Pan Handle brakeman, was killed while on duty, aged twenty-two. In 1884 Mr. Jack- son married Martha, daughter of Aaron B. Long, a native of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, who came to Indiana when eighteen years old and married Julia Crowl in Kosciusko county. Her mother, Elizabeth Coy, is still living at Syracuse, Indiana, at the age of ninety-seven years. Mrs. Martha (Long) Jackson was born in Kosciusko county, De- cember 17. 1855. By his second marriage Mr. Jackson had seven children: Clarence, Jesse, Mearl (deceased), Floyd, Homer, He- ber and Edith. The parents are members of Mission Chapel Baptist church. In 1864 Mr. Jackson enlisted in Company B, Thir- teenth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infan- try, with which he served until the end of the war, taking part in the battle of Fort Fisher and in numerous skirmishes. His service extended over one year, being dis- charged from a hospital on account of ty- phoid fever. Mr. Jackson is a Republican, though never an aspirant for public office.
AARON MISHLER.
The family of which the subject is a worthy representative is an old and honor- able one and wherever known the name has stood for sound intelligence, unbending rec- titude and good citizenship. High ideals of duty have also characterized the different
members of this family, but none of them have proved more worthy than the enter- prising tiller of the soil whose name appears above.
Aaron Mishler, son of Daniel and Cath- rine Mishler, was born August 12, 1862. (For genealogy see sketch of Lewis Mish- ler.) Reared on a farm and spending his youth and childhood amid scenes and influ- ences calculated to develop what was best in his nature, he early displayed those quali- ties which inspire confidence and afford proof of future activity and usefulness. Se- lecting agriculture for his vocation he de- voted to it all his energies of body and mind and now in the prime of life easily ranks with the most enterprising farmers of Whit- ley county. Mr. Mishler's farm, containing one hundred and seventy-five acres of val- uable land, lies about three and a half miles north of South Whitley and in the matter of improvements, cultivation and produc- tiveness is admittedly one of the most beau- tiful estates in Cleveland township, the buildings being modern in consturction and the entire premises giving evidence of a com- petent management. On this farm are grown extensive crops of the grains and vegetables raised in northern Indiana, much of the product being fed to the fine blooded cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs, of which the proprietor raises a large number. In his political views Mr. Mishler has always been a Republican. He has been a lifelong mem- ber of the German Baptist church and as such his influence has ever been on the side of morality and civic righteousness and his life an example of Christianity practically applied.
In the year 1885 Mr. Mishler married
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Miss Ella, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Reed) Kyler, since which time their do- mestic life has been agreeable and happy. Their hospitable home is a gathering place of numerous friends and a model of domes- ticity and comfort, in which resides a silent strength that wields a powerful influence in purifying and elevating the affairs of society and the state. They have one child, Ethel, who is still with her parents.
LEWIS MISHLER.
With the exception of three years, this prosperous farmer and representative citi- zen has been an honored resident of Whit- ley county since his birth, which occurred June 14, 1859, in the township of Cleve- land, where he still lives. His father, Dan- iel Mishler, was born in Miami county, Ohio, in 1827 and came to northeastern In- diana many years ago, settling in Kosciusko county, where he became a successful farm- er, later removing to Whitley county, where his death occurred in 1905. His wife, for- merly Catherine Miller and also of Ohio. bore her husband eleven children : Phoebe. wife of Lewis Bayman, of Cleveland town- ship; Lewis, subject of this sketch ; George, who resides in Nebraska ; Aaron, a resident of Cleveland township: John D., of Ross- ville ; Estie, deceased ; Ira and three that died in infancy. Daniel Mishler was a man of sterling worth, a zealous member of the German Baptist church, and his influence in the community of his residence and else- where was ever on the side of morality and civic righteousness.
The early life of Lewis Mishler was spent on the farm and under wholesome parental influences. He developed while still quite young a well rounded character, which enabled him to lay correct plans for his future course of action. Reared a tiller of the soil, he has never departed from this vocation and since engaging in it for himself his progress has been rapid, his standing as a farmer and stock raiser at the present time being second to that of no other man in the county. Mr. Mishler has accumulated a handsome estate, owning three hundred and sixty-five acres, all but sixty-five of which are tillable and highly improved. eighty acres lying in the county of Kosci- usko. It is as a breeder and raiser of fine live stock that he is most widely known, ranking among the foremost in this line, and devoting special attention to thoroughbred shorthorn cattle, Oxforddown sheep and superior breeds of swine. He has been lib- eral in expenditures for improvements, as is attested by his large and imposing modern residence, capacious barns and other build- ings, also by his farm, the condition of ev- ery part of which bears evidence of the su- perior manner in which it has been culti- vated and managed. Mr. Mishler is public spirited to the extent of lending his influ- ence to all enterprises having for their object the material advancement of his township and county.
He usually votes the Republican ticket, but is not a politician in the usual accepta- tion of that term. He is a member of the German Baptist church and as such has been the means of accomplishing much good in the community, his life being in harmony with the faith he professes.
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In 1881 Mr. Mishler was married to Miss Barbara, daughter of David and Sa- rah (Kreider) Arnett, and is the father of two children, Harley A. and Sarah C., both still members of the home circle. They lost two children in infancy. They adopted Tina Brooking, a three-year-old girl, whom they have reared as their own and who is still living with them.
ROBERT T. SMITH.
The present trustee and a well known farmer of Smith township, was born in Wayne county, Ohio, November 6, 1861, and is the son of William and Sarah (Glover) Smith, the latter born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and the former in Washington county, same state. William was the son of James Smith, also a native of Pennsylvania, who moved to Ohio in an early day and engaged in farming. He was married to Cazia McCulla and to this union eight children were born. William, Adam, Samuel, David, Margaret, Mary, Rebecca and Martha, all deceased. Sarah (Glover) Smith was born February 15, 1827, and is the daughter of James and Isabella (Thomp- son) Glover, both natives of Ireland and married in the old country. In 1820 they moved to Canada and later to Pennsylvania. where they spent their lives, seven children being born to them: William R., Rachel. Saralı, Isabel, Charles. James and Mary. William and Sarah Smith were married in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1847, where they engaged in agriculture and remained till the death of the husband, which occurred in 1864. The widow came to Indiana in 1881,
since which time she has lived with her son Robert. She enjoys a membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. Eight children were born of this union: David, deceased ; William, living in Indiana; Charles and Samuel, deceased: George, living in Indi- ana; Francis D., living in Ohio; Freder- ick, living in Richland township, Whitley county : Robert T. Mr. Smith has always followed agriculture as a means of livelihood and business. In 1896 he was married to Sarah Ellen, daughter of Eli and Catharine (Mowery) Mosher, born in Whitley county, Indiana, August 29, 1865. The parents were early settlers in Whitley county and performed a liberal share in the develop- ment of the country, aiding in all enterprises of a beneficial nature. Mr. Mosher is at this time a citizen of Columbia City. He and wife had nine children: Adam B., Francis S. and Charles, deceased; Michael H., Clara G., deceased ; Abraham, Sarah E., Clarinda and Anna.
Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith : Clara I., Francis E. and Rob- ert T. Mr. Smith is a Republican in poli- tics and in 1905 was appointed to the office of trustee of the township, in which position he renders the public efficient and satisfac- tory service. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and devoted to its interests.
CHARLES E. WEYBRIGHT.
· The news that one of its citizens was to be a deputy clerk of the supreme court dur- ing the next four years was pleasantly re- ceived in Columbia City, especially in Re-
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publican circles, owing to the recipient's ac- tive connection with the affairs of that party for some years past. Charles E. Weybright, the gentleman in question, who entered upon his new duties under Clerk Fitzpatrick on January I, 1907, is a young man of popular manners, excellent education and good busi- ness qualifications, with a large capacity for making and holding friends. He was born September 8, 1875, in Washington town- ship, Whitley county, Indiana. His parents, Martin B. and Mary E. (Smith) Weybright, were old settlers of Whitley county, the for- iner coming here in 1837 and the latter in 1850. They were respectively natives of Montgomery and Wayne counties, Ohio, and were married after coming to Whitley county. The father died in September, 1899, but his widow still lives on the farm in Washington township, where she went to housekeeping as a bride more than half a century ago. This worthy pioneer couple became the parents of eight children: Wil- liam H., now on the home farm; Kezialı, wife of Henry Benner; Belle, wife of John Faudree: Sherman E., clerk in the quarter- master general's office at Jeffersonville ; Nel- son and Allie, deceased; Charles E. and Harley, a resident of South Whitley. The parents were members of the Baptist church and the father became attached to the Re- publican party at its foundation. On com- ing to Whitley county, he entered seventy acres of wild land, which he eventually im- proved into a valuable piece of property. Charles E. Weybright, seventh of the chil- dren in order of birth, had a yearning desire to obtain a good education from his earliest boyhood and as he had a natural adaptabil- ity his wish was gratified before he was
called to enter into business affairs. Besides. attendance at the common schools he had the benefit of one term at the Valparaiso Nor- mal and one in 1896-98 at the Terre Haute State Normal. During this period and later he had ten years' experience as a teacher, four in the common schools and six in the graded schools at South Whitley. In 1903 Mr. Weybright was appointed deputy in the office of County Auditor Charles E. Lan- caster and retained that place until he re- signed to assume his new duties at Indian- apolis.
June 14, 1904, he was married at South Whitley to Miss Blanche, daughter of George and Ella Allen. Mr. Weybright is a member of the Knights of Pythias, of the County Officers' Association of Whitley county and for three years has been secre- tary of the Republican county central com- mittee. Mrs. Weybright is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and popular in the social circles of Columbia City.
HON. JOHN W. ORNDORF.
This name, now so familiar throughout northeastern Indiana, was first heard of in this section of Allen county when George W. Orndorf settled on a farm in Lake town- ship in 1846. He was successful in his busi- ness affairs and in 1876 removed to Churu- busco, where he died a few years later in his seventy-second year. He married Eva Spinks, who bore him eight children, of whom John W. Orndorf was the fifth. He was born in Allen county, Indiana, February 9, 1854, and grew up on his father's place
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with the usual experience of farm boys. This consisted in working during the sum- mer and attending school in the winter, his educational acquirements being supplement- ed later by one year's term at the select school in Churubusco. His first business venture was as a teacher in the schools of his native district, which occupation he followed for four consecutive terms, during this time attending the normal at Valparaiso and spending his vacations at work on the farm in the summer seasons. In the fall of 1877 he went south and remained there two years looking after some real-estate interests of his father. In the spring of 1879 he re -. turned to Churubusco and accepted a posi- tion in a hardware store, owned by his fa- ther and William A. Geiger. After a year he joined his father in purchasing the Gei- ger interest, but disposed of it by a resale before the end of twelve months. In the spring of 1882 Mr. Orndorf was elected justice of the peace and after serving four years was admitted to the Whitley county bar, since which time he has been in active practice of the law at Churubusco. In July, 1887, he was appointed postmaster by Pres- ident Harrison, served four years and acted a year as deputy prosecuting attorney under John C. Wigent. In 1886 he was candidate on the People's ticket for clerk of the county, but was defeated by Samuel P. Kaler by about three hundred votes. In the spring of 1906, Mr. Orndorf was nominated as a candidate of the Republican party for state senator from the district composed of Whitley and Huntington and was elected the ensuing November by a majority of three hundred and sixty-one votes, carrying both counties. He has enjoyed other po-
litical honors, having been chosen delegate from the twelfth congressional district to the national convention which nominated Theodore Roosevelt for the presidency in 1904. He has also served in various state and county conventions of his party. In fact, he is easily the leading citizen of his community and one of the most prominent as well as most popular of Whitley county's public men. He is interested in lands in Whitley, Steuben and Noble counties and owns land in Kansas and South Dakota be- sides other valuable property. In April. 1906, he sold his law practice at Churu- busco owing to pressure on his time arising from other duties, and his friends feel con- fident he will make a hard-working and in- fluential member of the state senate.
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