USA > Indiana > Whitley County > History of Whitley County, Indiana > Part 95
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Mr. Metz first married Christina Shive- ly, a native of Wells county, Indiana, who died in 1863. His second matrimonial al- liance was with Nancy Wagoner, of Hunt- ington county, by whom he had four chil- dren : Maggie, Cora, Irvin and Stella. After the mother's death some years later, Mr. Metz was married in 1881 to Miss Fanny, daughter of Lewis and Mary (Shoemaker) Rhumsyre, by whom he had two children : Omer R., bookkeeper for a large business
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house in Philadelphia ; and Arthur R., who is studying chemistry in the Indiana State . University but manages the farm for his mother. The parents of Mrs. Metz had six children : Katie, Mary, David. Fanny. Lewis and Adam.
JOHN KREIDER.
Early in the ninteenth century David and Barbara Kreider migrated from Penn- sylvania to Montgomery county, Ohio, where the former ended his days after a residence of some years. His son Jacob, who was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, An- gust 25, 1809, located in Darke county. Ohio, in 1833 and after a residence there of twenty-two years removed to Whitley coun- ty. Indiana. He bought land in Cleveland township, which in due time was cleared and developed into a good farm, and continued to live on the same until 1865, when he went to Huntington county, where he spent the remainder of his days, dying in 1895, while on a visit to his daughter. He was a true type of the rugged pioneer, took a prominent part in local affairs and is remembered as a man of high moral character, having long been a zealous member of the German Bap- tist church. He married Elizabeth Brenner. a native of Ohio, who died in 1856, the year following the settlement in Whitley county. They had nine children : Barbara G., George. Sarah .A., Joseph, Eliza. David, Paul. John and Elizabeth, all but Paul surviving and well settled in life.
John Kreider was born in Darke county. Ohio, May 20. 1845, and hence was about nine years old when his parents came to
Whitley county. Since then his life and work have been intimately connected with the material development of the community in which he has resided continuously for over fifty-one years. His schooling was that of the pioneer boy and while still a youth he was able to keep pace with full grown men in the work of clearing and cultivating the soil. He attended school in a little log build- ing near the parental home and by diligent application obtained a fair education. Sev- eral years before attaining his majority, he began working for himself as a hired hand at monthly wages and by carefully husband- ing his earnings soon had a neat sum for future emergencies. For some time he lived with Abram Gable, one of the county's pio- neers, and worked for him and others until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he enlisted in Company I. One Hundred and fifty-second Regiment Indiana Infantry with which he served in the Army of the Potomac until honorably discharged in Sep- tember, 1865. He participated in the battles of Harper's Ferry. Charlestown, Winches- ter and others, in all of which his conduct was that of a brave and fearless soldier who shirked no duty, however arduous or dan- gerous. At the expiration of his term of service, Mr. Kreider returned home and re- sumed his farm labors, which have placed him in easy circumstances.
March 17, 1867. he married Miss Hul- dah. daughter of Frederick and Catherine (Wysong) Wantz. natives respectively of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and Brad- dock county, Virginia. Frederick Wantz was born September 19. 1806, came to Whit- ley county in 1844 and entered land in Cleve- land township, of which he was one of the
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first settlers. The place on which he located and improved and on which he and his wife spent the remainder of their days, is now in possession of Mr. Kreider, who holds the original patent from the government bearing the signature of President Van Buren. Mr. Wantz died in 1880 and his wife in 1884. the latter being born on June 16, 1803. Mr. and Mrs. Kreider have had eight children : Sarah E. ; Fred, who married Amadda Lay- ton and is engaged in farming in Cleveland township; Joseph J., who married Alma Huffman and resides in Washington town- ship; Minnie, wife of Clyde Martz, who op- erates a part of the family homestead ; John L., who married Effie Jenkins and is also interested in the cultivation of the home place : Eliza C .. Izah and Loyd, still under the parental roof. Mr. Kreider owns two hundred and forty acres of fine land, of which one hundred and twenty are in culti- vation, forty consisting of timber in its orig- inal state, not a tree of any size having been cut. Mr. Kreider devotes his attention to general farming and stock raising, in which his success has been gratifying. He has a commodious and comfortable residence, sup- plied with many modern conveniences, and . the barn, fences and general appearance of the place indicate the presence of a practical and painstaking farmer. He co-operates with the Democratic party. but has never sought nor desired office, contenting him- self with being an active worker in the ranks. He holds membership in Lodge No. 131, In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, and Springfield Post, No. 195, Grand Army of the Republic, at South Whitley, and with his wife belongs to the United Brethren church.
FRED HARSHBARGER.
As a successful farmer and stock raiser. of Cleveland township and an honorable representative of one of the county's oldest families, the gentleman whose name appears above is entitled to mention in any history of Whitley county. Fred Harshbarger was born in Whitley county, December 15, 1873. being the second child and the only son of Isaac M. and Amanda (Pence) Harshbar- ber, appropriate mention of whom will also be found in this work. Reared on the pa- ternal homestead, he became at maturity his father's assistant and thus acquired the knowledge of practical farming that laid the foundations of his future success. The neighborhood schools afforded him good opportunities for education and, combined with his subsequent reading, have made him unusually well informed on those questions of most interest to men in his line of busi- ness. When old enough to begin life for himself Mr. Harshbarger engaged in farm- ing and to this he has since devoted his thought and energy, with the result that he is now in comfortable circumstances, own- ing a small but well improved farm adjoin- ing the corporate limits of South Whitley. Mr. Harshbarger has achieved reputation as a breeder and raiser of stock, which he car- ries on in connection with his general farm- ing interests, and from this source de- rives no inconsiderable portion of his income. He makes a specialty of im- proved shorthorn cattle, which are valna- ble as revenue producers, and his other do- mestic animals are of good grades in their respective breeds. He is a Republican in politics, but not an aspirant for office, pre-
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ferring the quiet life he leads to any posi- tion within the gift of his fellow citizens.
In 1898 Mr. Harshbarger married Miss Edith, daughter of J. P. and Amanda D. (Keefer) Anderson, the father a native of Wabash county, Indiana, and representative of one of the pioneer families of the north- ern part of the state. For a number of years he was in the railway service as ticket agent at Liberty Mills, in connection with which he conducted a flourishing business buying and shipping grain at the same point. At one time he held a position in the postal service in Kansas City, Missouri. He also taught school at different places and for sev- eral years was engaged in the mercantile trade in Columbia City, besides being va- riously employed elsewhere throughout the country. Mr. and Mrs. Harshbarger have two children, Jean and Winifred. The family are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church at South Whitley.
WILLIAM S. NICKEY.
Among the emigrants from Germany to the United States in 1769, were three broth- ers named Nickey, one of whom died on the ocean and another became a sol- dier in the Revolution, participating in the battle of Long Island. After the war he settled in Virginia and reared a fam- ily, one of whom was Samnel. He en- listed for service in the war of 1812 and died February 17, 1832. He married Anna Balsley, a native of Pennsylvania, by whom he had eleven children : John, Mary Ann, Samuel. David, Christian, Jacob, Julia Ann. Rose Ann, Catherine, Rebecca and Henry.
The widow Nickey removed soon after her husband's death with her children to Ross county, Ohio, where she remained six years- and in 1838 came to Whitley county, settling in Smith township, with which her descend- ants have ever since been closely identified. This devoted mother made her home with her son David until her death in 1861. Jacob Nickey, her sixth child, was born in Augus- ta county, Virginia, in 1814. In 1834 he married Elizabeth Briggs, a native of Ross county, Ohio, who died in 1844 after be- coming the mother of six children: Eliza- beth, the eldest, is the wife of Alexander Moore, of Union township; Rose, wife of George Perry, lives in Noble county ; Ru- hamah married J. O. Long, of Smith town- ship, but both are now dead; Sarah is the wife of William Krider, of Smith township; Clarissa, wife of Lewis Metsker, also in Smith township. Allen S. lives in Tipton county. In January, 1849, Jacob Nickey married Catherine (Crabill) Frederick, who was born in Rockingham county, Virginia. October 29. 1821, and is now living with W. S. in the enjoyment of excellent health at the age of eighty-five. Her father. William C. Crabill, removed to Whitley county and settled on a farm in Smith township. Jacob Nickey developed a farm in Smith township which he operated until his death in 1892. and built on it the first frame house in Whit- ley county. He was a practical business man and was chosen trustee of Smith township and commissioner of the county several terms.
By the second marriage there were four children : William S., Mary N. (deceased) wife of Nathaniel Metsker: Austin, de- ceased ; and Jacob W .. now of Buffalo, New York.
N. S. Mickey
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William S. Nickey was born on the pater- nal farm November 3. 1849. He has spent his whole life in the same locality and until recently has lived on the old homestead. three miles southwest of Churubusco. He is a Democrat and has long been an important factor in the public life of his county. In 1888 he was elected county commissioner, was re-elected and devoted careful attention to the affairs of the public, proving himself a most conscientious and capable official. The old home farm, consisting of two hundred acres, is well improved with first-class build- ings and its cultivation has yielded a satis- factory income. Stock breeding, growing and feeding has been a leading feature. He has ever been much interested in church and Sunday school work, frequently giving over- sight to religious and charitable affairs and for seven years continuously was superin- tendent of the Sunday school at Churubusco.
October 17, 1878, Mr. Nickey married Jennie, daughter of John J. and Rachel (Daugherty) Mossman, natives of Ohio, who passed the greater part of their lives on a farm in Wabash county. Mrs. Nickey was born December 5, 1849, and died February 20, 1892. She was the mother of seven children: Inez R., Lan H., Lee F .. Rheua, Lena Z., Ella M., and Orpha, who died in infancy. All the living children remain at home, Inez being a teacher. The family are members of the United Brethren church, at Churubusco, and are among the most high- ly respected citizens of the county. Mr. Nickey has recently purchased and remod- eled a neat residence on Main street, Colum- bia City, retiring from the personal demands of the farm.
PERRY M. WILLIAMSON.
Joshua Williamson left Virginia in an early day, and after spending several years in Ohio moved in October. 1843, to Whit- ley county, settling on what is locally known as tlie Grimes farm in Cleveland township, where his death occurred in 1858. at the age of seventy-two. By his two marriages he had eleven children, five of whom were by luis union with Elizabeth Thorp: Malissa J., Perry M., Beniah, Joseph L. and Henry H .. all living except the oldest.
Perry M. Williamson was born in Pre- ble county, Ohio, April 10, 1837, and hence was about six years of age when brought to Indiana by his parents. During his youth he attended such schools as were then com- mon to this part of the country and still retains many fond recollections of the primi- tive log building, with its rough floor, back- less benches and large-mouthed fireplace, in which he was first initiated into the mys- teries of learning. By far the greater part of his time, however, was devoted to the steady routine of labor on the home place and later he came into possession of land of his own, which by dint of hard work he cleared and otherwise improved, making of it one of the best and most valuable farms in Cleveland township. Mr. Williamson's place now consists of one hundred and forty- four acres, the greater part under a high state of cultivation, and in improvements. including buildings, fencing, orchards and drainage, compares favorably with any other farm of the township, the entire premises giving evidence of care and impressing the beholder as the home of a substantial, well-
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to-do agriculturist. Like the majority of the progressive farmers of his locality, he de- votes considerable attention to fine live stock. in the breeding and raising of which he en- joys more than mere local repute and from the sale of which he realizes every year a goodly portion of the income which has placed him in comfortable circumstances.
In 1862 Mr. Williamson married Rose Ann Pence, of Whitley county, and they have four children: W. W. (see sketch in Columbia City biographies) ; Amanda W., wife of L. L. Lee; Ada B. and Ora E., de- ceased. Mr. Williamson is regarded as a leader among the Republicans of his town- ship, being a stanch and unswerving sup- porter of his party and loyal to its princi- ples. For a number of years he has held membership in the United Brethren church, with the teachings of which his daily walk and conversation have always conformmed. and his wife belongs to the same Christian denomination.
HENRY H. WILLIAMSON.
Sixty-three years have dissolved in the mists of the past since the above named was brought to Whitley county, during the great- er part of which period he has been an hon- ored resident of Cleveland township and very closely identified with the growth and de- velopment of its resources. He recalls the time when the country was a wilderness, infested with wild animals, many of which fell before his rifle and he has not only been an eye witness of the many remarkable changes that have taken place since that pe-
riod but has contributed his share toward making them possible. Henry H. William- son was borne in Darke county, Ohio, March 3. 1843, the son of Joshua and Eliza- beth (Thorp) Williamson. He was brought to Whitley county in his childhood and be- ing reared amid its stirring scenes of pio- neer times he early became accustomed to hard work and on the farm received the training and discipline that prepared him for the duties of subsequent life. He was reared to agriculture and has always followed that calling, owning at the present time two hun- dred and eight acres of valuable land in Cleveland township, which he has converted into a fine farm, one hundred and fifty acres being tillable, the rest largely timber and pasturage. All of the improvements on this place are the results of Mr. Williamson's own efforts and to nobody but himself is he indebted for the handsome competency which he today commands. Mr. William- son devotes considerable attention to the breeding and raising of fine live stock, mak- ing specialties of Durham cattle, Chester White and Duroc-Jersey swine. He also manufactures every spring large quantities of maple syrup, his sugar orchard being one of the finest and most productive in this part of the county.
In 1862 Mr. Williamson was married to Miss Mellezene, daughter of Fred. and Cath- erine (Wysong) Wantz, natives of Preble county. Ohio, and early settlers of Whitley county, their arrival here antedating the year 1845. Mr. and Mrs. Wantz had eight chil- dren : Mary A., Elizabeth, Sarah, Catherine. Jackson. Daniel. Mellezene and Huldah, the majority of whom grew to maturity and act- ed well their parts in the world. Mr. and
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Mrs. Williamson have had seven children: Noah F., deceased; John B., a farmer of Cleveland township; Weldon, deceased ; Os- car, a farmer and oil operator of Wells county ; Delmar, a farmer of Kosciusko coun- ty ; Gideon, a resident of Washington town- ship; and Rollie, a farmer of Cleveland township.
Mr. Williamson stands well among his neighbors and commands the confidence of the public. He is intelligent and enterpris- ing and with faith in the future of Whitley county has done all within his power to ad- vance its development. Fraternally he is connected with Lodge No. 222, Knights of Pythias, and politically gives his support to the Democratic party. He is a firm believer in the Bible and as a member of the United Brethren church has made his influence a po- tent factor for good in the community. Mrs. Williamson belongs to the same church and is deeply interested in its various charities and benevolences.
JOHN ROSE ANDERSON.
We have here the oldest living settler of Whitley county, the patriarchal pioneer of Richland township. He has lived on the same farm over sixty-eight years, has paid taxes regularly from the organization in 1838 and took part in the first election held in the county, which was attended by only seven voters. This venerable man was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, October 7. 1816, his parents being Samuel Wellington and Rebecca (Rose) Anderson. The for- mer was born in County Down, Ireland, in
1774 and his wife in Essex county, New Jersey, in 1776. They were married in New Jersey, removed to Ohio early in the nine- teenth century and farmed there until their respective deaths in 1825 and 1830. Their four children were John Rose, Joseph and Elizabeth, deceased, and Samuel W., a res- ident of Kansas. John Rose, after the death of his parents, made a meager living by working out. Having been reared by John Mossman, he bought six days of his time for three dollars and thus started out on a conquest of the world before reaching ma- turity. It was September, 1837, when this homeless boy wandered into the confines. of Whitley county and a few months later found him proprietor of one hundred and sixty acres of wild land bought from the government. The exact date of his settle- ment was November 14, 1837, and from that day to this he has been a continuous occu- pant of this land, though one who sees it now would find little to recall the rugged condi- tions of long ago. Mr. Anderson is over ninety years old and at the meeting of the old settlers' association in 1905 he was pre- sented with a gold-headed cane as a token of regard and recognition of his claim to be- ing the oldest living settler of Whitley county. He is a member of the Methodist church, a Republican in politics and has in years past served as township trustee, school director, constable and supervisor. He has arranged that his old family Bible and the gold-headed cane presented him shall de- scend as heirlooms to the oldest male repre- sentative of each succeeding generation. Mr. Anderson has always been a pronounced temperance advocate and one of his amuse- ments for years has been the collection of
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stamps, of which he has quite a variety. He accumulated a competency during his many laborious years and still owns one hundred and forty acres of good land, though he has given most of his holdings to his children from time to time.
October 21, 1839, Mr. Anderson married Lucinda, daughter of David and Betsy (Burts) Witt, old settlers of Muskingum county, Ohio. Lucinda (Witt) Anderson was born in the above mentioned locality June 14, 1823, and died in 1878 after hav- ing become the mother of ten children. Jo- seph, the eldest of these, died in 1905 from the effects of wounds received in the war. He married Amanda Keifer and had four children, Frank E., Edith, Ethel and Jo- seph. Wellington, the second son of Mr. Anderson, died in infancy. Jonathan W., now deceased, married Marie Hamintree and left four children, Clyde, Charles, Myr- tle and Algie. Milliard F., the fourth son, who is an oil-cloth manufacturer, married Jennie Morrison and has three children, Frederick, Georgia and Mabel. William, the fifth son, a resident of Richland town- ship, married Rose Hamintree and has five children, Merle, Archie, Keith, Floyd and Adolph, besides one lost in infancy. Eliza- beth Jane, eldest daughter of Mr. Anderson with whom he makes his home, first married David Smith, by whom she had four chil- dren, John, Leroy Clifton, Cora and Neal. The father dying March 5, 1896, the widow married William Smith, brother of her first husband. Frank, the sixth son, a resident of Richland township, married Martha Noris and had two children, Ralph and Ruth, both now dead. The eighth and ninth children of Mr. Anderson were twins, May
and Cassius, who died in childhood. May Sofia, the youngest child, also passed away before maturity. Mr. Anderson has four great-grandchildren, two of them being Georgia and Winifred, grandchildren of his eldest son, Joseph. Helen Steel is a granddaughter of Jonathan Anderson and Beatrice Smith is the granddaughter of Eliz- abeth (Anderson) Smith.
WALLACE W. WILLIAMSON.
The founder of the local family of this name was a Virginian, who moved first to Ohio, and then, after a few years' residence, came about 1842 to Whitley county, locating in Cleveland township, where he spent the remainder of his life as an industrious and enterprising tiller of the soil. He purchased eighty acres of wild land, on which he erected a log cabin of the conventional type and with the assistance of his sons cleared and improved a good farm, where he lived and prospered until his death in 1860, his widow departing this life three years later.
Perry M. Williamson, one of his sons, was born in Preble county, Ohio, helped to clear the Whitley county farm and after his father's death took charge of the homestead, which he has since cultivated and still owns and occupies. He was married in 1861 to Miss Rose Ann Pence, a native of Cham- paign county, Ohio, who bore him four children: Wallace W., Amanda, wife of L. L. Lee, a farmer of Cleveland township residing on the home place; Ada Bell and Ella, deceased.
Wallace W. Williamson was born in
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Cleveland township, July 22, 1863, and at- tended school in the same district where his father had received his early instruction. After completing the usual branches he be- came a student of the Ohio Normal College at Ada, where he prosecuted his studies for a period of four years and from which he was graduated with a creditable record in 1889. While attending college he devoted his vacations to teaching in order to defra, his expenses, and after finishing the course continued educational work in the district, village and town schoolsof his native county. spending in all about five years as an in- structor. In 1889, Mr. Williamson pur- chased the Weekly Tribune at Rochester, Indiana, and for one year thereafter pub- lished the same, during which time he earned honorable repute as an able editor and clear, concise, forceful writer. January 1, 1891, he bought the Columbia City Times. chang- ing the name to The Mail, and fourteen years later became owner of the Columbia City Commercial, which he merged with the former paper under the name of the Commercial Mail, since issued as a daily and weekly and now one of the best edited and most influential papers in the northeastern part of the state. With the exception of two years, Mr. Williamson has been actively identified with journalism in Columbia City since 1891 and during that time has become widely and favorably known throughout Whitley and other counties as one of the ablest newspaper men in northeastern In- diana. The Commercial Mail has constantly grown in public favor, not only as the offi- cial organ of the Republican party in Whit- ley county, but as a clear. dignified and interesting family paper, its columns con-
taining all the latest news in a very readable form, besides a thorough discussion of the leading public questions and political issues of the day, in the consideration of which the editor is fearless yet courteous and writes so as to be understood easily. The office is well equipped for all kinds of first-class work in the printing line and under the present able management the enterprise has proven successful financially, the circulation of both daily and weekly being large, while the advertising patronage is and always has been quite liberal. Mr. Williamson is one of the Republican standard bearers in Whit- ley county, but conducts his paper in such a way as to win the esteem of his political op- ponents. He has rendered valuable service to his party, in recognition of which he was appointed, December 1, 1897, as postmaster of Columbia City, the duties of which posi- tion he discharged with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the public for a period of eight years, retiring from the office with the good will of his fellow citizens in 1905.
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