USA > Indiana > Whitley County > History of Whitley County, Indiana > Part 99
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Mr. More is one of the best known men of the county, which he has helped trans- form into one of the most progressive re- gions of northern Indiana. He has ever man-
ifested a lively interest in matters political and as a Republican has been influential in a number of hotly contested campaigns. Having given spiritualism careful investi- gation, with views emphasized by personal experience, which have thoroughly verified the correctness of his opinions, he has for many years been a thorough believer in the future state as exemplified in teachings of the leaders of spiritualism.
A few additional particulars about the children will prove of interest. Jacob N. was an unusually promising young man, highly talented in his profession and en- joyed the brightest prospects as superin- tendent of a large electric manufacturing company when cut off in his prime. Hubert A., who has operated the homestead for six years, exhibits unusual qualities as a prac- tical agriculturist. He married Lizzie, daughter of Isaac Sheafer, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and has two children, Homer E. and Ethel R. Jolin graduated in the elec- trical engineering department at Purdue. also spent a year at Princeton University and was then retained for six years as pro- fessor of electrical engineering. Previous to this he had installed a street car system at Davenport, Iowa, and while there mar- ried Stella White, of that city, where for nine years he has held the position of city electrician. Mary W. became one of the best known educators in Whitley county. where she taught for over twenty terms. Mrs. Elizabeth Jane More, mother of this bright family, was the daughter of Jacob Nickey, a pioneer of Smith township, and was about four years old when brought from Ohio by her parents. Her only sur- viving brother is Dr. Allen S. Nickey, of
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Tipton, Indiana. Her half-brother, Wil- he married Mary J. Talbert, who was born liam Sylvester Nickey, is still on the old family homestead in Smith township.
CHARLES E. LANCASTER.
The family of this name in Whitley county traces its ancestry to the famous "eastern shore" in the state made famous by Charles Carroll and other worthies of the Revolution. It was in 1787 that Aaron Lancaster was born in Maryland of poor but respectable parents who, like himself. were lifelong members of the historic Soci- ety of Friends. In youth he was appren- ticed to the shoemaker's trade in Baltimore, but after removing to Wheeling, West Vir- ginia, in 1837, he engaged in coopering on a large scale, at one time employing a thou- sand men. He continued in this line of business with varying fortunes until his death in 1867. Before leaving Maryland he had married Martha Williams, also a native of that state, and their son, Thomas E. Lancaster, was born there June 12, 1826. He was eleven years of age when the fam- ily removed to Wheeling, where he was con- nected with his father's cooperage estab- lishment until 1857. In this year he was ordained as a minister in the Methodist Protestant church and labored with that denomination in West Virginia until 1862, when he joined the Indiana conference and filled numerous important appointments in this state during the succeeding thirty-four years. In all he had served more than half a century, when advancing years compelled him to retire in 1896. In early manhood
in West Virginia, January 10, 1832. Her parents, John and Nancy Jane Talbert, were farmers in West Virginia until 1885, when they removed to Kansas and there ended their careers. The venerable minister and his wife are at present living in quiet retire- ment in a comfortable home at Columbia City. They had seven children : James B., who died in infancy ; Thomas Edward, who died at thirty-two: John William, who died in infancy; Francis Pierpoint, who died when twenty-one years old; Charles E., the subject of this sketch: Louis M., died in infancy; Harry F., in the dry goods business at Columbia City.
Charles E. Lancaster, fifth of his fa- ther's children, was born in Henry county. Indiana, December 16, 1863, and as he grew up was temporarily resident in various com- munities as the itinerant system of the church transferred his father from place to place. In the meantime he attended the common schools, besides taking courses in the high school at Muncie and in Franklin College. In 1881 he came to Whitley county, secured a position in the general store of George W. Maxwell at Churubusco and remained there about ten years. Ine interest held by his brother Edward was purchased by Charles E. after the death of the former and in 1893 he removed the es- tablishment to Columbia City, where it has since been a fixture. . In addition to this line of dry goods, carpets and cloaks, Mr. Lancaster owns the Vandalia elevator and deals extensively in grain and seeds. He became quite prominent as a citizen during his residence at Churubusco, serving as clerk and treasurer of the town, and since
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coming to Columbia City has been a mem- ber of council. Having become generally known over the county and being influen- tial in Republican party circles, he had little difficulty in securing the nomination as can- didate for auditor in 1902, was elected that fall and entered office on Jannary I, 1903. Having completed his four years' term, he retired January 1, 1907, with the good will of everybody and the plandit so much sought for by conscientious men of "well done, thou good and faithful servant."
October 18, 1887, Mr. Lancaster mar- ried Miss Emma, daughter of Samuel F. and Fanny Barr, residents of Churubusco, where Mrs. Lancaster was born in 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster have two children : Freda, born in 1894, and Gail, born in 1898. They also adopted the son of Mr. Lan- caster's brother Edward, who was eighteen months old at the time of his father's death and has been reared as a member of the family. Mr. Lancaster's fraternal relations are with the Masonic order, Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
CARL EDWARD LILLICH.
George and Mercy (Glotzbager) Lillich were married in Wertenberg, Germany, and emigrated to Ohio in 1852 and in 1865 re- moved to Columbia City. Though a cooper and weaver he was here employed as a com- mon laborer until his death in 1886, his wife surviving sixteen years. But two of their children are living. John Melvin be- ing a tailor at Fort Wayne.
Carl Edward Lillich was born in Wayne county, Ohio, April 28, 1863. At the age of twelve he began to learn the baker's trade and worked as a journeyman until 1893, when he opened business on his own account and has continued actively ever since. He started the first bread wagon ever seen in Columbia City and did his own driving, selling only the product of his own bakery. Though the business has increased so as to justify the employment of two as- sistants Mr. Lillich still persists in attend- ing personally to his customers. He enjoys an excellent trade and supplies everything usually found in first-class establishments. including plain and fancy baking. Mr. Lil- lich is best known from his connection with the volunteer fire department, which has ex- isted fifteen years and of which he was made chief six years ago. He has been a member of the hook and ladder company for fifteen years and for three or four years has been foreman. There are twenty men in the hose and twenty in the hook and lad- der company, making an efficient fire fight- ing force. Mr. Lillich is a Democrat but no politician, though he served ten years on the board of health. He is a trustee in the Modern Woodmen of America.
September 28, 1886, Mr. Lillich was married to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of John Taupert, a machinist of Columbia City, and they have one son, John Edward. aged seven. One daughter died in infancy. Mr. Lillich resides on the same lot where his parents settled when they first came to Columbia City and which has been his con- stant home for over forty-two years. He has built a new house near the old one and finds greatest enjoyment while entertaining friends at his own fireside.
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MARCUS GILLESPIE.
The Gillespie family is not only patri- otic, but lias the courage of its convictions. The paternal grandfather came to this coun- try before the Revolutionary war and when the struggle came on hie enlisted for the in- dependence and equality of man. His son Menzes continued the brave record as a soldier in the war of 1812, and thus both offered the greatest sacrifice possible for a man to make in behalf of his country-their lives as soldiers. Marcus Gillespie is a na- tive of Blendon township, Franklin county, Ohio, where he was born October 19, 1821. His parents, Menzes and Chloe (Phelps) Gillespie, were born in Windsor, Connecti- cut, the father in 1796 and mother in 1799. They came to Ohio soon after the war of 1812, where they lived to the close of their lives, the mother's death occurring in 1865 and the father's in 1846. Seven children were born to them, three of whom are still living and all over seventy years of age. Marcus came to Indiana in 1847 and settled on Indian Creek in Jefferson township on what was called the old Raccoon road, named after Chief Raccoon's village. He cleared land and built a cabin, where he lived five years clearing and farming. In 1852 he sold his place and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on which he still lives. He built a cabin and applied himself energetically in clearing and improv- ing his farm until it was a very desirable place, with good buildings and all the mod- ern conveniences. It is stocked with a good breed of hogs and Durham cattle.
He was married in 1846 to Anna, daughter of Abner Parks, who came from
New Jersey to Ohio, where he lived the re- mainder of his days. Mr. Parks was a shoe- maker by trade, which at that time was a good one and profitable as well. Eleven chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gillespie, three of whom are still living: Mary mar- ried Samuel Swain, attorney and real estate- dealer of Fort Wayne. Arthur married Barbara Howenstine and resides on the farm adjoining his father's. Morton mar- ried Ina Smith, lives in Fort Wayne and is employed in the Orphans' Home of Allen county.
The industry and frugality of Mr. Gil- lespie have brought a competency for inde- pendence and comfort in old age. In early life, lie was a Whig, voting for Clay, Tay- lor and Scott, but since the formation of the Republican party he has given it earnest support. A grandson enjoys a lease of the: old home farm.
SYLVANUS KOONTZ, M. D.
A farmer in youth, a druggist in later years and a practicing physician for more than thirty years, Sylvanis Koontz lias led an unusually active life during his exist- ence of more than three score years. He has attained success financially, but what is bet- ter, has made many friends and had his share of enjoyments as he went along, hav- ing the satisfaction also of knowing that lie had contributed his share in developing the communities where his business called him to reside. His parents, first of the name known in this section of Indiana, were Baltzer and Susanna (Whistler) Koontz,
MARCUS GILLESPIE.
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who were natives of Stark county, Ohio, but left there in 1853 to seek a new home in Huntington county in this state. Re- maining there until the following spring, they removed to Whitley county and settled on a farm in Washington township. They spent many years in cultivation of the farm, which came into their possession in 1854. and both reached an advanced age before the final summons came, he being eighty- four and she eighty-seven. Sylvanus Koontz, now the well known physician, was the youngest of fourteen children born of this worthy pioneer couple. His birth oc- curred in Stark county, Ohio, May 25, 1844, and he was about ten years old when his family removed to Whitley county. He worked on the farm until his eighteenth year, when be became a Union soldier, en- listing in Company I, Fifty-fourth Regi- ment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, October 27, 1862. He served with this command fourteen months, until the expiration of his enlistment, but in October, 1864, became a member of Company G, One Hundred and Forty-second Regiment . Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which command he contin- ued to serve until the close of hostilities. At Vicksburg he was slightly wounded in the hand by a fragment of shell, but escaped other injury.
Returning to his old home after the war, the youthful soldier concluded to resume his education and to this end applied him- self in the common schools and the academy at Roanoke for two years, working at the carpenter's trade in the summer season. In 1869 he took up the study of medicine, and graduating from the Fort Wayne Medical College began the practice of his profession
at Laud in the fall of 1872. He removed to Roanoke in the fall of 1887, which has since been the scene of his professional work. During seven years of his residence at this place he was engaged in the drug business. In 1890 he was married to Mo- rilla J. Haley, a native of Holmes county, Ohio, where she was born in 1843. His wife died at Laud April 26, 1876, and Dr. Koontz took for his second wife Adelaide M. Kirkpatrick, a native of Summit county, Ohio. By this second union there were four children: Jessie, a professional nurse ; Chafee, Eldon, who died when six months of age, and Hugh, who was killed at Ro- anoke when nine years of age. Dr. Koontz is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of Laud Post of the Grand Army of the Republic.
DAVID SWAN LINVILLE, M. D.,
Was born at Columbia City May 21. 1862. He graduated from the high school and attended two years at the Wesleyan Uni- versity, Delaware, Ohio. After teaching for two years he entered medical college, grad- uating in the class of 1886 and shortly thereafter joined his father in practice. In the war with Spain the Doctor was mustered into the United States service as first lieu- tenant, being named inspector of rifle prac- tice. He went with his company to Cuba and at the close of hostilities was discharged with the command at Savannah, Georgia, April 26, 1899. Dr. Linvill returned to his practice with renewed zest. In addition to his regular office practice he was retained
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as surgeon by two lines of railway. The Linvill family have displayed taste and tal- ent for medicine. and none have displayed this in a more marked degree than the sub- ject of this sketch. His activity in his pro- fession is further displayed by his member- ship in various associations, including the American Medical, State Medical, Tri- State. Tri-County. Twelfth District and County Medical. He also holds member- ship in the National Association of Railway Surgeons and is secretary of the United States board of pension examiners ; nor are his activities confined to matters strictly professional. He is prominent in various fraternal orders, including the Masonic, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen, Order of Ben Hur, Royal Arcanum and Elks. He believes in the strenuous life, en- joys out-door sports and is fond of a vaca- tion in the North Woods, where there is a chance for big game. Dr. Linvill justly deserves and all accord him the title of a progressive citizen. Prominent profes- sionally and socially no resident of Whit- ley county is more widely known.
In June, 1887. Dr. Linvill was married to Lorena Hemmice, by whom he had one daughter, Elbertine, who died in childhood. the mother passing away a few months thereafter. June 13, 1897, Dr. Linvill was united in marriage with Mrs. Maud Thomp- son, of Wabash.
GEORGE BOYD.
This gentleman, at present living in Co- lumbia City, has led an active life in various
lines of business. As a farmer, a carpenter, saloonkeeper, meat dealer and finally in his present employment. Mr. Boyd has had an unusually good training as an all-around man of affairs. His parents, Alexander and Elizabeth (Densmore) Boyd. moved from Pennsylvania to Whitley county in 1844, when this section was little better than a wilderness. They took up eighty acres of woodland in Union township which, by dint of hard work and the privations customary with the pioneers, they converted it into a good farm and comfortable home. where they spent the remainder of their lives, the father passing away in his eighty-second year and his wife at the ripe old age of eighty-five. They reared a family of sev- eral children, all but one of whom are still living in widely scattered parts of the coun- try. James, the eldest, is a farmer in Union township, and John, the second child. fol- lows the same occupation in Missouri. Eliz- abeth married Wilson Keiser. of Jefferson township, and Nancy J. is a resident of Ohio. Martha is the wife of James Graves, of Smith township, and Hettie, who mar- ried Henry Graves, died in middle life. George Boyd was born on the old home- stead in Whitley county February 2. 1853. At the age of sixteen he left the farm to en- gage in the carpenter trade and followed that occupation for several years. Subse- quently he was engaged in the saloon and meat business at Columbia City and contin- ued in this line until May, 1906, when he embarked in the livery business. He occu- pies the main building thirty-four by fifty, with an annex twenty-five by thirty-five, keeps from eight to twelve horses and a full assortment of first-class rigs of various
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styles. He also buys and sells horses and in every way conducts an up-to-date livery business.
In May, 1888, Mr. Boyd was married to Lizzie, daughter of William Geisler, of Whitley county. They have had two chil- dren, Ruth, who is a school girl, and Esther, who died at the age of two years. In poli- tics Mr. Boyd may be described as a Demo- crat with independent notions. He is fond of out-doors sport, especially hunting, and takes an interest in training dogs, of which he owns some that are fine and well-bred. Pretty much everybody in Columbia City and many throughout the country know George Boyd and it is not too much to say that all who know him like him.
J. WILLIAM C. SCOTT, M. D.
Among the emigrants who came from Scotland to the United States in 1799 was Robert Scott, a sturdy, self-reliant young man anxious to make a career for himself in the infant republic of the western world. He settled in, Pennsylvania and lived there until 1825, when he determined to move farther west, and mounting his horse rode across mountains and through forests until he reached Fayette county. Ohio. He entered land and spent the rest of his life in developing a farm. where he reared a family and died in 1858. In early manhood he had married Mary Elgin, by whom he had five children, Joseph .. Margaret, Mary, Sarah and James E .. Sarah being the sole survivor. The mother passed away in 1868. James E.,
the youngest, was born November 29, 1821, and remained in Fayette county until 1849, when he came to Whitley county and settled on two hundred acres of wild land in Troy township that had been purchased by his father from the government. He experi- enced the usual pioneer hardships and inces- cessant work in the improvement of his farm, which he cultivated until his death, November 21, 1884. and left an estate of several hundred acres. Like his father. he was a Democrat and a stanch adherent of the Presbyterian church. August 29, 1849. he had married in Ohio Lydia Jane Cock- erill, who proved a loyal and devoted wife and self-sacrificing mother. She was the daughter of William and Phoebe ( Mooney) Cockerill, natives of Virginia and of Welsh extraction, who came to Fayette county. Ohio, in the early years of the nineteenth century. "Race suicide" was unknown in those days, large families were not unusual and that of the Cockerills ranked well to the front with fifteen children. Elizabeth, Amelia, Thomas, William. Samuel. El- dridge, Lucinda, Mary Ann, James, Lydia Jane, Amanda, Armanis, Catherine, Eliza and Hannah. Lydia Jane, the tenth, was born in Fayette county. Ohio, September I. 1830, and has survived her companion al- most a quarter of a century, living with her son. Dr. Scott. The Cockerills, though originally slaveholders in Virginia, were not in accord with the "peculiar institution" and sought a home in Ohio to be where it did not exist. Mr. and Mrs. James E. Scott had three children: J. William C .. Edward N .. a medical student, who died at twenty-three, and R. R., of Columbia City, who has particular mention elsewhere.
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J. William C. Scott was born in Troy After his graduation in 1849 he located at township April 6, 1853. While growing up Wolf Lake, Indiana, where he formed a partnership with Dr. Elias Jones, but in the- same year came to Etna, where he practiced until his death, which occurred August 12, 1884. In 1847 he married Mary Ranking, a teacher at Laporte, who died a few months later. In 1852 he married Lavina Jane Seelye, by whom he had three children to reach maturity : Perry G., Mary Jane and Nellie G. He was one of the pioneer prac- titioners of northern Indiana and one whose practice yielded him a handsome compe- tence. He died August 12, 1884, his widow surviving in 1907. Dr. and Mrs. Scott have had six children: Bertha Imogene, wife of Arthur Kelley, of Ligonier; Mabel A., in school at Crawfordsville; Frances. died in infancy ; D'Maris Marguerite, Ron- ald Shirley and Robert Hudson. In addi- tion to his own children, Dr. Scott has. reared Edward, son of his deceased brother,. who graduated from Wabash College in 1904. on the farm he had the training usual to boys of that period. He learned thoroughly the meaning of hard work but now looks back with pleasure to the time when experi- ences on the farm were mingled with many wholesome pleasures. Young Scott availed himself of the schools of the country and later spent a year and a half at the Valpa- raiso Normal College, preparing to teach and to this occupation his attention was di- rected for several years. He took a course 'in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, which was supplemented by a course in Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia after having practiced one year. In 1880, to use a colloquial expres- sion, he "hung out his shingle" in the little town of Etna, which has since been the center of his activities in the practice of his profession. Dr. Scott has achieved success as a physician, is popular as a practitioner and after twenty-six years is recognized as one of the ablest members of the profession in the county. He is a Mason, a Knight of Pythias and a member of the Whitley FRANKLIN HUNT. County Medical Association, the State Med- ical Society and the American Medical As- sociation.
In 1882 Dr. Scott married Mary Jane, daughter of Dr. Stephen S. Austin, who was born in Onondaga county, New York, in 1821, his parents being Perigo and Sarah (Gray) Austin, of Rhode Island and Mas- sachusetts, respectively, and of Welsh and French extraction. For a number of years Dr. Austin taught school in his native state, but in 1843 went to Laporte, Indiana, where he entered the old Indiana Medical Univer- sity, reading under Meeker and Higday.
No man in Whitley county is better known or more highly respected than Franklin Hunt, who is not only a pioneer himself but the son and grandson of pio- neers. Charles Hunt, his grandfather, was born in Massachusetts toward the close of the eighteenth century, went to North Car- olina in early life, where he married a Miss Bryan and came with her to Indiana terri- tory as far back as 1805. He settled in Wayne county, where he built the first mill and was actively engaged in business until his death. His nine children were Timothy,.
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James, George, John, Stephen, Smith, Charles, Sarah and Catherine Rebecca. Smith Hunt was born in North Carolina and married in Wayne county Elizabeth Lamb, a native of Kentucky. She was a daughter of James Lamb, who emigrated from Scotland about the time of the revolu- tionary war and settled in Kentucky. Smith Hunt and wife spent their whole lives in eastern Indiana and left numerous descend- ants. General Harrison made Colonel Hunt commander of the Wayne county militia. His ten children were James W., Lucina, Jane, Monroe, Catherine, Frances, Mary, Hannah, Eliza, Franklin, Newton and Sa- rah E. The only survivors are Lucina, a resident of Wayne county, who is ninety years old, and Franklin. Two sisters, Cath- erine and Frances Mary, were wives of Washington Jones, who located in Etna township in 1849. improved a farm and spent their lives here. His son, Oliver P. Jones, still lives in. Etna township on part of his father's homestead.
Franklin Hunt was born February 22, 1828, in Wayne county, Indiana. He re- mained with his father until 1850, when he got the "gold fever" and started on a tedi- ous and dangerous overland trip to Cali- fornia. The trip was made without serious accidents and he worked there at mining a year and a half, when he returned to Indi- ana. Some years previously his father had entered some fourteen quarter sections of land in Noble county, which subsequently became Etna township of Whitley county. In 1852 Mr. Hunt settled on part of this land, as his brother-in-law, Washington Jones, had already done, and has remained there ever since. At one time he owned
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