USA > Indiana > Allen County > History of the Maumee River basin, Allen County, Indiana > Part 34
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she was reared, being identified with the United Brethren church. The old home was destroyed by fire in 1893, and within the same year Mr. Miller completed his present fine brick residence, whose dimensions in the main are thirty by fifty-two feet, with a wing, while in equipment and appointments it is thoroughly modern, being supplied with hot and cold water by means of a private plant and being heated by furnace. The fine barn, of the bank sort, is forty by eighty feet in dimensions and in addition to affording ample stor- age capacity for produce, machinery, etc., it also has the best of accommodations for live stock. Mr. Miller remains a bachelor, and his sister presides most graciously over the domestic economies of the pleasant home, which is one of the most attractive in the locality and which is a center of generous hospitality.
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JOHN D. SPRANKLE.
There is no element which has entered into the composite makeup of America's social fabric which has been of greater strength and value than that derived from the German empire, which has furnished a contingent of sterling worth within the years of our national ex- istence. The ancestors of the subject of this sketch came from Ger- many to America in the early colonial epoch and settled in Pennsyl- vania, with whose history the name has ever since been linked, while of John D. Sprankle it should be said that he is one of the venerable and honored pioneers of Allen county, where he has maintained his home for more than half a century, while he is one of those worthy citizens who have aided materially in the industrial and civic up- building of this favored section of the state.
John D. Sprankle is a native of Huntingdon county, Pennsyl- vania, where he was born on the 19th of February, 1825, being a son of Peter and Frances (Bredenbaugh) Sprankle, the former hav- ing been born in York county and the latter in Lancaster county ; while the father became one of the successful and influential farmers of Huntingdon county, where both he and his devoted wife passed the closing years of their lives. George Sprankle, grandfather of the subject, was numbered among the early settlers in the old Key- stone state, while it was his to render valiant services as a soldier in the Continental line during the war of the Revolution. In politics George Sprankle was originally an old-line Whig, but he lived to witness the birth of the Republican party and to espouse its cause, while both he and his wife were zealous and consistent members of the German Reformed church. They became the parents of six children, of whom only two are living, John D., who was the third in order of birth, and Peter, the youngest, who resided at Alexander, Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. The names of those deceased are as follows : Susan, Mary A., George and Michael.
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John D. Sprankle was reared to the sturdy discipline of the home farm and early became inured to hard work, while his educa- tional advantages in his youth were necessarily limited, owing to the exigencies of time and place, the only schools in the vicinity of his home having been those maintained on the subscription plan. He remained at the parental home until he had attained to the age of twenty-three years, and in the meanwhile he had been employed for a time in the rolling mills of his native county, the steel industry at the time having been practically in its infancy there. In 1840 he accompanied his father to Indiana and other western states, as the middle states were then designated, their object in making the trip being to search for a new location for the family. The father, how- ever, continued to reside in Pennsylvania until his death, as before noted.
In 1850 Mr. Sprankle came to Allen county and took up his permanent location, securing a tract of heavily timbered land, in Aboit township, and erecting in a small clearing in the forest the little log cabin which was his original home here. He became the owner of a landed estate of two hundred and forty acres and de- veloped one of the valuable farms of the county. While none can fail to appreciate the attractions and the capitalistic valuation of this fine homestead at the present day, it is difficult for the younger gener- ation to realize the herculean labors performed in transforming the untrammeled wilderness into fertile fields and blossoming meadows. Our subject labored with all of energy and well directed ambition, and the natural result was his attaining a position as one of the sub- stantial men and influential citizens of the county. He retained pos- session of his old homestead until 1901, when he sold the property to his only son, with whom he now resides in Wayne township and in the immediate vicinage of the city of Fort Wayne. In appending paragraphs further mention is made of the son, who is one of the county's prominent citizens. Mr. Sprankle has ever taken a loyal interest in public affairs of a local nature and has wielded much influence in the community in which he made his home for so many years. He cast his first presidential vote for Zachary Taylor, candi- date of the Whig party, but ever since the organization of the Re- publican party he has given a stanch allegiance to the same, while he
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takes a lively interest in questions of public import at the present time, though he has reached the age of four score years. These years rest lightly on the head of this honored pioneer and he is well preserved in both mental and physical vigor. During the war of the Re- bellion Mr. Sprankle was a member of the Loyal League and did all in his power to further the advancement of the Union cause, while it may be said also that he was uncompromisingly an abolitionist in sentiment, having the courage of his convictions in this regard, as has he also in all other exigencies and relations in life. His memory remains unimpaired and his reminiscences of the early days are graphic and most interesting, while he has the affectionate regard of young and old and finds his lines cast in pleasant places as the shadows of life begin to lengthen from the golden west. His cherished and devoted wife, his companion for nearly a half century, remains by his side, and both have been zealous members of the Reformed church from their youth up.
In the year 1847 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Sprankle to Miss Susan Soures, who was born in Summit county, Ohio, on the Ist of May, 1831, being a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Hart- man) Soures, who removed to Adams county, Ohio, while she was a child, while she there maintained her home up to the time of her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Sprankle have three children. Mary is the wife of Henry Smaltz, a prominent farmer of Aboit township; Josephine is the widow of Daniel Rousseau, and resides in the city of Chicago, Illinois. John C. F., the only son, was born on the old homestead farm, in Aboit township, this county, on the 10th of December, 1856, and was reared and educated in his native county, where he duly availed himself of the advantages of the public schools. He is one of the successful and extensive contractors of the county and also has the general supervision of the old home- stead farm, which he purchased in 1901, as has previously been stated, while he owns other property in the county and is one of the prominent, reliable and highly honored business men and loyal citizens of this section of the state, his pleasant home being located in section 8, Wayne township. He is a stalwart Republican in his political proclivities, is a prominent and appreciative member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree
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ALLEN COUNTY, INDIANA.
of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, and both he and his wife are members of the Christian church.
On the 5th of February, 1879, John C. F. Sprankle was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Rousseau, a daughter of Francis M. and Martha J. (Correy) Rousseau, who are well known residents of Wayne township, the former having been born in Richmond, Wayne county, Indiana, and the latter in the state of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Sprankle have four children, Frank J., Cloyd, Blanche and Howard.
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JAMES CUNNISON.
Of sterling Scottish lineage is Mr. Cunnison, who is a native son of Allen county and a representative of one of its honored pioneer families, while he stands as one of the prominent farmers of Wayne township. In said township his birth occurred on the 17th of De- cember, 1840. He is a son of Robert and Margaret (Ramsey) Cunnison, both of whom were born and reared in Scotland, the father having been born in Kirkmighel, Perthshire, Scotland, Janu- ary 15, 1800, while he immigrated to America when still a young man, having settled in Allen county, Indiana, as a pioneer of 1833. Fort Wayne was at that time scarcely more than an Indian village and trading post, while civilization had as yet gained but a pre- carious foothold in this section, which was practically a virgin forest. He settled in Wayne township and there began the reclaiming of a farm, but his life ended a decade after his arrival in the county, as he passed to his reward November 2, 1843. His wife, who was born in Perthshire, Scotland, on the 22d of January, 1799, eventually contracted a second marriage, becoming the wife of John Whetton, Sr., who was born in Lullington, England, and who likewise was one of the worthy pioneers of Allen county, where he died January 31, 1861, the family having removed to Pleasant township in 1843. In that township the devoted mother also passed the remainder of her life. Of her first marriage were born three children, the eldest, Isabelle, having been born on shipboard while her parents were en route to America, and she died in Fort Wayne, when three years of age; Robert, who was born in 1835, met an accidental death, having been killed by the damps of a well, on the 8th of July, 1880, he was a successful farmer of this county and was held in high regard by all who knew him. He married Miss Matilda Beck, while of their six children five are living; and James, subject of this sketch, was the youngest in the family.
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ALLEN COUNTY, INDIANA.
James Cunnison was reared to the invigorating discipline of the farm and in the pioneer days had his full quota of hard work to perform, while his educational opportunities were limited to a some- what desultory attendance in the common schools of the locality and period. He has never faltered in his allegiance to the great basic industry of agriculture and through his connection therewith has gained a competency, being the owner of several farms, in Pleasant and Wayne townships, while the same are operated by his sons and son-in-law. Though he has practically lived retired for several years past he maintains a general supervision over his farms and other capitalistic interests, and is far from being idle or inactive. For two and one-half years Mr. Cunnison resided in the city of Fort Wayne, and at the expiration of this period he purchased his present homestead place, known as the John Bishop farm, in section 28, Wayne township, where he has maintained his home since 1901. The attractive residence property is located in the environs of Fort Wayne and is one of the valuable places of the county. His landed estate in the aggregate comprises three hundred and thirteen acres in Pleasant and Wayne townships, and all the property is well improved and under effective cultivation. On the 23d of May, 1883, Mr. Cunnison's homestead residence in Pleasant township was destroyed by fire, but he soon afterward erected a new and better dwelling on the place, which he still owns. He is a stalwart Re- publican in his political allegiance, and while he has never been ambitious for public office he has shown at all times a most loyal and helpful interest in his home county, with whose civic and in- dustrial development he has been intimately identified. He is a most appreciative member of the time-honored Masonic fraternity, being affiliated with Summit City Lodge, No. 170, Free and Accepted Masons, and other York Rite bodies of Fort Wayne, while in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite he has attained the sixteenth degree, being affiliated with the consistory in Fort Wayne. He is not for- mally identified with any religious organization, but his wife is a devoted member of the United Brethren church.
On the 21st of January, 1866, Mr. Cunnison was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary Dalman, who was born and reared in Allen county, being a daughter of William and Rebecca (Osborne) Dal-
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man, who settled in this county in 1833, having been pioneers of Pleasant township, where they continued to reside until summoned to the life eternal. The father was born in Derbyshire, England, and the mother was a native of Ohio. In conclusion we incorpor- ate a brief record concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Cunnison : Alexander was born on the 25th of June, 1867, and is one of the successful and influential farmers of Pleasant township. He is a thirty-second-degree Mason and is also identified with the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows. He married Miss Della Shipler. Mar- garet I. is the wife of Levi E. Koons, another enterprising farmer of Pleasant township, and they have three children, Arthur, Mollie and James R. William, who was born August 5, 1871, married Miss Lillie Glass and they are residents of Arlington, California, having two children, Gladys and Wayne. He is an Odd Fellow. Frank, who was born September 18, 1875, is a successful farmer of Wayne township, while in a fraternal way he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He married Miss Florence Mason and they have two children, Edna Irene and Glenn. James, the youngest of the subject's children, was born on the 30th of November, 1882, and is now employed in the offices of the Wells Fargo Express Company in the city of San Bernardino, California.
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ALLEN COUNTY, INDIANA.
WILLIAM W. SHOAFF.
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One of the old and well-known retired citizens of Allen county, Indiana, is William W. Shoaff, who is now living in Fort Wayne in the quiet enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. Mr. Shoaff was born on November 15, 1829, in Miami county, Ohio, and is the son of John P. and Priscilla (Freeman) Shoaff, the former born in Maryland, October 12, 1804, and the latter a native of Ohio. John P. Shoaff, at the age of one year, was brought by his parents to Ohio, locating near Dayton. In February, 1885, they removed to Allen county, Indiana, and on February 4, 1885, Mr. Shoaff located in Churubusco, Indiana, where he spent the rest of his days, dying there on February 1, 1887. On February 5, 1828, he was married to Miss Priscilla Freeman, who was born in Greene county, Ohio, on January 4, 1810, and who died at the old home in Allen county on May 22, 1880. To this union were born eleven children, of whom William W., John F., Anna, James B., Jennie, Allen P. and Wade Scott are now living.
The subject of this sketch received but scant educational ad- vantages in his early youth, as at the age of seven years he found himself on a frontier homestead, where the father needed all the help he could obtain from his sons in order that the land might be cleared and rendered fit for cultivation. As it was, the subject was able to attend the three-months term of school each winter until he was twenty years of age. He then entered McJunkin's private school in Fort Wayne, where he attended two years and also attended the Methodist College here two years, receiving a good practical knowledge of the main branches. In 1853 Mr. Shoaff took up civil engineering as transit man in the employ of the Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, in which capacity he performed much arduous and valuable work in the construction of this important line. He located
30
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the road from Fort Wayne to Chicago, and had full charge of the construction of two sections of forty miles between Plymouth and Valparaiso, Indiana, also drilling the wells, putting up the grain elevators, etc., for the company. The company was at that time in poor financial condition and Mr. Shoaff relates that at one time he was compelled to wait six months for his salary. He remained with this company for over seven years, which is certainly tangible evidence of the satisfactory character of the service rendered by him. He then engaged in farming and so continued successfully up to the time when he felt justified in laying aside the active duties of life and is now, in his comfortable home at No. 311 Douglas avenue, Fort Wayne, enjoying the closing years of his life in an ideal man- ner, free from the worries and cares of an active life.
On March 10, 1859, Mr. Shoaff was married to Miss Eliza J. Work, who was born in Dekalb county, Indiana, the daughter of Robert and Sarah Work, and to them have been born two sons, John R., of White Plains, New York, with offices at No. 935 Broad- way, New York city, and Joseph Y., of Denver, Colorado, both being engaged in the carpet and rug business. Politically Mr. Shoaff has been a lifelong Democrat, and he says he expects to die one. Fraternally he is a Freemason, while his religious affiliation is with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been a faithful member for thirty years. A man of fine personal qualities, he has won friends all along the pathway of life and now enjoys the sincere regard and esteem of all who know him.
467
ALLEN COUNTY, INDIANA.
FRED STANLEY HUNTING.
The gentleman to a brief review of whose life the reader's at- tention is herewith directed is numbered among the energetic and well-known business men of Fort Wayne and has by his enterprise and progressive methods contributed in a material way to the in- dustrial and commercial advancement of the city and county. He has in the course of an honorable career been most successful in all lines in which he has directed his efforts and is well deserving of mention in this work. Mr. Hunting, who is the present capable and popular treasurer and sales manager of the Fort Wayne Electric Works, and who is closely connected with several of the substantial monetary institutions of the city, is a native of the state of Mas- sachusetts, having been born at East Templeton on the 30th of September, 1867. His parents, William and Mary D. Hunting, were also natives of the old Bay state and were descended from English ancestry. The subject was reared under the parental roof and enjoyed excellent educational advantages. After taking the full courses of study in the common and high schools of his native town, he entered the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, at Worcester, Massachusetts, from which he received in 1888 the degree of Bachelor of Science and graduated with honors, entitling him to participation in the Graduates' Aid Fund. On October 8, 1888. Mr. Hunting came to Fort Wayne and has since that time been closely identified with the business and commercial interests of this section. He has evinced marked business and executive ability in every avenue of effort to which he has directed himself and stands high in the estimation of those who have come into contact with him, especially those most closely associated with him. He is perhaps best known through his connection with the Fort Wayne Electric Works, one of the largest manufacturing concerns of this city. In the responsible
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positions of treasurer and sales manager he directs the entire com- mercial policy of the company, and it is no more than just to say that to a very large degree the success of this enterprise can be attributed to the indefatigable and persistent efforts of Mr. Hunting. The electric machinery and supplies manufactured and sold by the Fort Wayne Electric Works have attained a high reputation throughout this and foreign countries because of their high standard and the growth of the concern has more than kept pace with the remarkable progress of the city along other lines. Besides the interest already mentioned, Mr. Hunting is also a stockholder and director in the First National Bank, the Tri-State Trust Company and the Tri-State Building and Loan Association, all of this city, his counsel and advice being valued by his colleagues in these institu- tions.
Politically Mr. Hunting is a stanch advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party, though not in any sense a seeker after the honors and emoluments of public office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his varied business interests. Fraternally he is connected with the Free and Accepted Masons, and socially he belongs to the leading clubs of the city. His re- ligious affiliation is with the Plymouth Congregational church, of this city.
A few months after coming to Fort Wayne Mr. Hunting re- turned to his native town and was united in marriage, on May I, 1889, to Miss Harriett Alzina Sawyer, a native of Phillipston, Massachusetts. This most happy and congenial union, which was unfortunately broken by the death of Mrs. Hunting on June 26, 1904, was blessed in the birth of three children, Ralph W., Lawrence S. and Harold Stanley. Because of his genuine worth and pleas- ing address, Mr. Hunting has won and retains a host of warm per- sonal friends.
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ALLEN COUNTY, INDIANA.
THE BAIRD FAMILY.
At this juncture we are permitted to enter a review concerning one of the old and honored families of Allen county, and the present representatives, none of whom is married, are William H., David W., Mary O. and Robert E., all of whom reside on the old home- stead farm, in section 36, Eel River township. Their parents were Robert D. and Mary (Hatfield) Baird, the former of whom was born in Akron, Summit county, Ohio, in 1818, being a son of Robert and Mary (Beard) Baird, the former of whom was born in West- moreland county, Pennsylvania, and the latter in Franklin county, that state. He removed to Ohio in the early pioneer days and was a member of an Ohio' regiment during the war of 1812, serving along Lake Erie and being stationed with his regiment at Ashtabula during the greater portion of the time. On the last day of May, 1836, he came with his family to Allen county, Indiana, and located on the farm now owned and occupied by his grandchildren. He then had a family of nine children, of whom seven came with him to this county, including two sons, Robert D. and John, the former being in his eighteenth year and the latter about twenty-three. Robert Baird, Sr., entered claim to a considerable tract of land in Eel River and Washington townships, securing about four hundred and eighty acres, practically all of which was in its wild state and covered with heavy timber. He erected his house on the present home of his grandchildren, in the southeast corner of Eel River township. No road had been opened to the land, and he was compelled to cut his way through the forest. He first built a pole shanty, and this con- stituted the family residence about two years, after which he erected a more commodious house of round logs, the building being one and one-half stories in height, and being one of the largest in the locality at the time of its erection. This was the family home until about
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1840, when the present homestead was erected, the same being one of the fine old places of the township. A huge chimney was con- structed in the center of the building, with fireplace opening in each room, while each was equipped with andirons and cooking apparatus of the type common to the pioneer epoch. The poplar logs utilized in the building of the house were hauled seven miles to be sawed, and the interior is finished in black walnut, all of which was planed out by hand. The grandparents here continued to make their home until death, Robert Baird passing away in October, 1854, at the age of seventy-three years, while his wife died in April, 1868, lacking only ten days of being eighty-five years of age. Of their seven children who came to Allen county all are deceased except one, a brief record concerning them being as follows: Honora died in 1849, at the age of forty-five years, never having married; Matilda mar- ried Christian Jourdan and after his death became the wife of Patrick Horn, and she died at the age of sixty-six years; John is individually mentioned further on; Elizabeth became the wife of Payne Osborn and resided in Lagrange county at the time of her death, when about sixty years of age: Robert D. was the father of the subjects of this sketch; Salome married William Wallace and she died at the age of forty-eight years; Agnes, the only survivor, is the widow of Wil- liam Mason and now lives with her nephew, John Karriger, in Wash- ington township, being seventy-seven years of age at the time of this writing, in 1905. John Baird married Miss Margaret Mc- Nagny, and they had two children, Louise, who married William Carter, now resident of Jonesboro, Grant county ; and Julius, who died at the age of fifty, his wife also being deceased, while their son, Clarendon, a railroad man, is now the only one of the Baird name aside from the children of Robert D.
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