USA > Indiana > LaGrange County > Illustrated Atlas and Columbian Souvenir of LaGrange County, Indiana. > Part 11
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M. J. Nelson, of Eden township, was born on Elkhart Prairie, three miles south of Goshen, Dec. 13, 1831. When he was one year old his parents settled on the present farm in Eden township. In the fall of 1860 he went to Iowa with the intention of staying, but came back to try to get some one interested in his brother's property in Sionx City, but could not succeed in this, though the property is now worth several millions. He then worked at $10 per month on the farm, and has been farming since, He was married Dec. 3, 1867, to Eliza Anderson, of Greenfieldl township, and they have had four children, Elva and Gusta, living, and two dead. He now owns a fine farm of 180 acres in Eden township and in the last few years has made great improvement in buildings, etc., until now it is one of the nicest farms in the country. The last few years he bas devoted most of his time to fruit raising, having all varieties of fruit, not on an extensive scale, but for family nse.
John S. Ramsby, a well known pioneer of the Hawpatch, was born May 28, 1814, in Fairfield county, Ohio. His father died when John was quite young. He came to Indiana Oct. 14. 1834. and his mother entered part of the present farm in Eden township. Here he worked by the day and in 1837 went back to Ohio and was married to Hannah Reynolds, of Fairfield county. About a year after marriage they returned to LaGrange county to share the hardships of those days. Mr. Ramsby has cleared his place and made it one of the best farms on the Hawpatch. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsby are both members of the M. E. church at Eden chapel. They have nine children living, five daughters and four sons. Alvin H. was born Jan. 10, 1848, on the present farm in Eden township. He has always lived with his father and is engaged in the breeding of standardbred horses and at present is owner of horse No. 11,535, sired hy Hawpatch, formerly owned by Latta Bros.
Adolph Sigrist, a well known farmer of Greenfield township, was born in Ohio, and came to this county in 1873. He now has a well-kept and valuable farm, worth over $75 per acre. He gives his attention to general farming, raising mainly wheat and corn. The crops of the first have been as high as 35 bushels to the acre, and of the latter from 35 to 60. Mr. Sigrist has capably filled the office of road supervisor and is esteemed as a citizen.
David Sutton, of the Hawpatch, was born in Eden township, July 5, 1855. He followed farming on his mother's place nntil [881, when he purchased his present farm in Clearspring township. April 18, 1878, he was married to Anna E. Ditman, of Clearspring township, and they had three children, Edna. Lester and Ray- mond. Mrs. Sutton died March 10, 1886. Mr. Sutton was always interested in the breeding of fast horses. He has a good fertile farm of 80 acres, which is mostly cleared, there being only seven deres of timber.
Andrew Funk, of Eden township, was born in Hocking county, Ohio, March 28, 1818. In February, 1838, he. settled in Eden township and entered 80 acres of land, and a year later entered another 80. In 1843 he was married to Dorothy Ann Hutchinson, of this connty. She died in 1856 and he was married again in 1860 to Mary Speedy, of Pennsylvania. Of this union there are five children living, Edward F., Hugh S., James C., Daniel and Evaline. When he first purchased he paid $1.25 per acre, and afterwards buying land at different times paid 83.00, 812.00 and $20.00 per acre. He cleared 175 acres alone before his children were old enough to help him, and he experienced many hardships in earlier years. At present the farm is divided, Hugh owning 213 acres, and the remaining portion of the farm belonging to James and Daniel. Hugh is raising peppermint and expects to engage in it ou a larger scale soon, as he has considerable low land which is well adapted to this product. They have in all a scope of 400 acres, one-half of which is high land.
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AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.
David H. Hooley, of Clearspring township, was born in Mifflin county, Pa., iu 1841, and came to this state in April, 1867. In November, 1870, he was married to Catherine Greenawalt, and for five years after his marriage be was a resident of Greenfield township, near Brighton. In 1888 he purchased his present farm, the old Greenawalt homestead, one of the valuable farms of the Hawpateb. He has four children, Jessie W., Irwin A., Orlando G., and Cletus E.
Eli Parks, of Eden township, was boru in Clearspring town- ship in 1860, son of Harlan Parks. They lived in Clearspring nutil Eli was four years old, then removed to Eden township. where he has lived on his present farm ever since. He was married in 1883 to Clara, daughter of C. C. Greenawalt, now of Clearspring township, and they bave three children, two girls and one boy. Mr. Parks has a fine farm of 80 acres. He built his persent buildings in 1883, which are among the best in the township.
John Price, of Clearspring, was born May 22, 1857, in Clear- spring township, on the farm he how occupies, theu the property of his parents, William H. and Rachel Price. He is a successful farmer and an influential citizen. He has served three years as trustee of bis townsbip, three years as assessor, aud five years as county ditch commissioner. In 1890 his fine residence was des- troyed by fire. Mr. Price was married December 25, 1873, to Emeline, daughter of Harley Barnes, and they have three sons aud a daughter living. He is largely engaged in raising thoroughbred Cotswold sheep.
John B. Flint. of Clearspring township, was born in that township. February 11, 1846. At the age of sixteen years he enlisted in the amny, in the 25th Indiana. He was wounded at Spottsylvania and was discharged, but re-eulisted in April, 1864, aud was again wounded at Cheraw, S. C. After the war he spent five years in California, and again stayed there three years after three years spent at home. Then after a residence of six years iu Miebigan he bought part of the old homestead in Clearspring, and was married February 26, 1886, to Amua S. Siegert, of New York.
Edward Pixley, of Clearspring township, is a son of Elijah Pixley, one of the early settlers, who came to Uniou county in 1828, and thence to Clearspring in 1835, building a log cabin, aud going through the experiences of pioneer life. Edward was born in Adams county. Ohio, in 1827. In 1858 he went to California and mined three years. Returning home he was married October S. 1862. to Eliza Howell, and settled on his present farm. He has one child living. Ida M., wife of Smith Cunningham.
John D. Zook, of Hawpatch, was born in Mifflin connty, Pa., in 1853. After his father's death he managed a pottery. Iu 1880 he came to Indiana and found work by the day until the next year when he attended commercial school at Keokuk. Iowa. Subse- quently he tangbt penmanship in Indiana and taught three months in the St. Joseph, Mo., commercial college. Returning to Noble county be purchased a farm, and five years later traded for his present home. He was married in 1889 to Mary Shantz, of Wayne county, Ohio. He is an active worker in the Mennonite chnreh and Sunday school.
John Greenawalt, of Clearspring township, purchased his present farm of 165 acres iu 1863. Only about twenty acres was cleared then. but it is now splendidly improved, with a large barn bailt in 1872 and a fine residence built in 1882. He was born in Mifflin county, Pa .. September. 1835, aud spent most of his youth in Ohio and worked on a farm there and in Indiana and Illinois until bis marriage Jannary 28, 1864, to Lydia Bowman, of Elkhart connty. He has four children. Anson, Clarence. Mina, wife of George Coldren, and Della.
Among the pioneers of LaGrange county none are more en- titled to note than David Smith and his family, who settled on 360 acres in Lima township in 1833. They have been prominent since in the history of the county. One of the sons, John Smith. is the subject of this mention. He is widely known as a snecessful farmer, and has given particular attention to the improvement of live stock. It is owing to his efforts and of others like him that snch great strides have been made in the live stock interests of the connty. Mr. Smith was born in Clark county, Ohio, October 24, 1823. He was married to Sarah R. Parker in 1855, who died in 1857. leaving one child, Sarah A. In 1862 he was married to Serena Craig, and they have two children, Mary J. and Charles C.
John B. Brant, of Eden township, was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1839, son of Jacob Brant, a farmer, with whom John lived and followed farming until 1860 when he was married to Sarah Auu Thompson, of Dark conuty, where he lived until 1880 when he settled ou his present farm in Eden township. At that time the farm was iu poor condition, being very wet aud very little cleared. Since that time Mr. Brant has made great improve- ments and built his present house in 1887. They have three adopted children, the oldest, Samuel, having been a teacher in the public schools of the county.
Joel Sanderson, one of the leading farmers of Lima township, is a native of Vermont, born December 26, 1816. His father, James Sanderson, was the first white child born at Woodstock, Vt. The family removed to Huron county, Ohio, in 1828, and in the same year the father died, leaving teu children to make their way in the world. Joel Sanderson, the youngest, made his own way from boyhood, acquiring his education and his competency by industry. He is a good type of the self made man. Coming to this county iu 1844 he first settled in Greenfield township, and came to Lima township in 1869, purchasing his present large and well-situated farm. He was married in 1842 to Mary A. Legg. and eight children were born to them.
Prominent'among the large land owners and successful farm- ers of the county is Solomon Sexaner, of Lima township. His birth place was Erie county, Penn. He was born May 28, 1844, and was reared ou the farm of his parents in that county until their removal to LaGrange county iu 1861. The family settled in Lima township and prospered in tilling the fertile soil. The father died March 19, 1890, leaving to Solomon Sexaner the old home. He is now the largest land owner in the township, possessing over 600 acres. Mr. Sexauer was married in January, 1884, to Christina Kilkupp, aud four children have been born to them, of whom one is deceased.
S. T. MeKee, one of the leaders among the younger farmers of Lima township, occupies the MeKee homestead east of Lima, one of the handsome farm properties surrounding that village. He has been a resident of the township since 1865, when he came here with his parents, and is highly esteemed as a successful and energetic mau.
Henry H. Bassler, a well-known and influential citizen of Lima townsbip, was elected in 1890 to the position of Commis- sioner for the North District, and took office in the winter of 1891. Mr. Bassler has always been engaged in farming. is heantifully located near the village of Lima, and has done well in his calling. During seven years he was also engaged in the grain business at Lima. He was born in Lancaster county, Pa., August 18, 1824, aud when a boy was left to care for himself by the death of his parents. He was married November 11, 1845, to Elizabeth Rohrer, a native of Maryland, and they resided in Erie county, Pen., until 1860, when they moved to this county. They settled in Greenfield township first and came to Lima in 1868. Mr. Bassler has for many years been president of the Farmers' Resene, a mutual fire insurance company, which has 1,424 members in LaGrange conuty, its membership being limited to the county, and carries risks amounting to over 82,200,000, It is a represen- tative institution, and one of the most important of the county.
John Seaburn, who resides in Section 22, Springfield township, is the owner of 572 acres of land, including the old homestead, where his parents, William and Nancy A. Rawles Seaburn, settled in 1832. William Seaburn was a prominent citizen, and prosper- ons as a farmer, his land holdings at the time of his death in 1870 amounting to 280 acres. John Seaburn is widely known and is everywhere popular. His farm is highly improved and yields abundant returns, and is one of the most valuable properties of the county. As a citizen he is enterprising and public spirited.
Joseph Gunthorp, a successful farmer of Greenfield township, is a native of England. He came to the United States in 1853 and settled at Burr Oak, Mich. In 1857 he became a resident of LaGrange county and subsequently bought land. He has a well kept farm, well adapted to general crops, and giving good yields. He was one of the first men in the county to breed Lincolnshire sheep, at which he has been quite successful, as he is also in the raising of short horn cattle. He is an enterprising citizen, enjoys a wide acquaintance and is highly respected.
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AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.
James Billman, of Johnson township, was born in Medina county, Ohio, in 1837. He moved to Holden, Mo .. in 1868, and there he married Emma, daughter of Samuel Miller, of Starke county, Ohio. They moved to this county in 1869, and located in Johnson township in 1871, where they now reside. They have had born to them four children, Milton W., James W., George A. and Charles S., all of whom are living. By his industry and economy he has cleared his land and now enjoys a pleasant farm home in section 3.
Cyrns Wright, a well-known farmer and stockraiser of Milford township, was born in Steuben county, Dec 27, 1853, the son of the late Elbridge Wright and his surviving wife, Martha A. At twenty- eight years of age Mr. Wright moved to Milford township upon the farm he now occupies, which he has handsomely improved. He raises a variety of crops and breeds standard-bred horses and other first-class stock. He was married December 29, 1875, to Lneinda, daughter of Daniel and Elixa Wert. She is an accom- plished musician.
James H. Ryno, a successful farmer of Johnson township, was born in Penn-Yan, Yates county, New York, in 1831. His father. Stiles Ryno, was born in New Jersey in 1800, and moved to New York state in 1815 and in 1836 to Michigan. Mr. Ryno lived with his parents and enjoyed the pursuits of farm life until 1864, when he was united in wedlock to Josie Ann, daughter of George Dickenson. Three children were born to them, May, Louisa, Frank A. and Clayton H. Mr. Ryno settled in section 28, John- son township, the same year he was married, where he now resides.
Moses P. Miller, of Clay township, is a native of Pennsylva- nia. born in Cambria county, July 28, 1845. When twelve years of age he came to Indiana and his home was first in Eden town- ship. Nine years later they removed to Newbury township, and thence to Missouri for three years. Then after three years' resi- lence in Eden township he became a citizen of Clay, and has so remained for sixteen years. He is esteemed as a citizen and suc- cessful farmer, and in addition to general farming he raises many cattle and sheep. He was married January 24, 1866, to Eva Hos- tettler, who died July 3. 1885, leaving eleven children. Mr. Miller is a member of the Amish church.
Jacob Yoder, a well-known farmer of Clay township, is a native of Somerset county, Pa., born December 11, 1831. Twenty- eight years ago he became a resident of this township, and now has a comfortable home in section 19, and two hundred acres of land. He was married in 1844 to Barbara Miller, who died in 1879, the mother of nine children-George, Lydia, Jacob, William. Samnel, Fanny, Lizzie, Andrew, Susannah. June 6, 1880, he was married to Magdalena Harshberger. Mr. Yoder is a member of the Amish church.
William Fanning, a prosperous young resident of Springfield township, is the owner of eighty acres in that township and 210 acres adjoining in Stenben conty. Soon after his marriage to Ida, daughter of John Holsinger, they removed to California and made a fortunate investment in orange groves, but returned on account of ill health of his wife. He still owns interests in orange culture, and has a very finely improved farm here. His barn is one of the largest in the county, and fitted with water pipes and other conveniences. Mrs. Fanning's father, John Holsinger. deceased, was one of the pioneers of northern Indiana, clearing farms in Johnson and Orange townships, and becoming quite wealthy.
Well known as one of the earliest settlers and farmers of Springfield township, was Willis Haskins, who was born August 21, 1797. in Cayuga county, N. Y., and died in this township in 1883. Mr. Haskins served in the war of 1812 as a fifer. In 1830 he was married to Jane Jackson, and in 1836 they came to La- Grange county, accompanying Mr. Haskins' parents, Erastus and Mary Haskins. They bought land of the government in the northern edge of Springfield, and farmed there during the remain- der of their days. By his marriage mentioned he had eight chil- dren, Elizabeth, Franklin, Charles, George, Albert, Mary J., Edith and Willis, and by his second marriage to Clarissa L. Munger he had two children, Eugene and Ella. Three sons, Franklin, Charles and Albert, served in the war of the rebellion for the union, and the first named died at Nashville.
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William Horner, deceased, was in his time one of the leading farmers of the county. He was born in Westmoreland county. Pa., and came to Indiana in 1867, settling in Section 34. Green- field, and purchasing a farm of 150 acres, which was his home until his death in 1884. In Pennsylvania he was married to Mary Millhnff, who died in 1888. His two sons, Jeremiah and William, now farm the old homestead, prospering in their occupation and sustaining the reputation of good farmers. The land of this farm is fertile and yields abundant crops
S. H. Haybarger, a successful farmer of Lima township, was born in Erie county, Penn., April 18. 1861. His father, a native of Pennsylvania also, came to this county in 1865 and bought 120 acres of land in this township where he lived until his death in 1888. At that event the subject of this mention took charge of the farm and has successfully managed it since, improving it greatly, and adding largely to its value. This farm lies in Section 17. and upon it he has a pleasant home.
Three hundred broad acres of Lima township land is in the capable hands of Tobins Sexaner, a citizen well known and esteemed for his honesty and industry. His farm interests are large but are well managed. Mr. Sexaner was born March 27. 1843, in Erie county, Penn., and came to LaGrange county with his parents in March, 1861. He was married Jannary 10, 1866, to Charlotte Barton, of Vanburen township, and five children have been born to them, two now deceased.
Milton Rowe, a leading eit zen of Eden township, was born in Preble county, Ohio, in 1833, and came to Elkhart county in 1859. Thence he moved to Hawpatch in Noble county, and to his present farm of 240 acres in 1861. He was married in Preble county, and has seven children living, Josiah, Laora M., Charles. Howard. Emma C., Maggie E. and Celia. Mary Anderson and Emma C .. deceased. All the children living are in the county except Maggie. who is married and lives in Iowa. Mr. Rowe has a fine farm. handsomely improved.
Hiram J. Miller, who is handsomely located on a good farm in Section 13 of Clay township, is one of the enterprising and successful farmers of LaGrange county. Mr. Miller has from early life been engaged in this occupation. He was born in Bloomfield township, Jan. 7, 1845, and at ten years of age with his parents removed to Clay and settled on the farm where he now resides. He was married to Miss Sophia Showalter in 1867. They have had three children, William F., Nellie M., and Earnest. deceased. Mr. Miller is a member of the Presbyterian church.
Jacob Shuman, an enterprising farmer residing on Section 29. Johnson township, was born June 9, 1843, in Summit county, Ohio, and came with his parents to LaGrange county. April I. 1854. He enlisted in the United States service Dec. 28, 1863, as a member of Co. D, 12th Ind. Cav., and served faithfully until honorably discharged July 6, 1865. Since then his ocenpation has been farming. He was married to Julia A. Parker. Nov. 22. 1866, and they have three children, one daughter and two boys. Mr. Shuman is a son of Barney Shuman, a native of Union county. Pa., who died March 9, 1874. Mrs. Shuman is a daughter of Seth W. Parker, elsewhere mentioned, who was married April 28, 1844. to Elizabeth Woodward, of which union six chilchen are living. Julia A .. John W., Winfield S .. Barbara J., Leonard W. and Lois J.
Moses A. Yoder, one of the leading younger citizens of New- bury township, is a native of that township, born July 7. 1865. In December. 1888, he was married to Katie. Hostettler, and they have two children, Ora and Oscar. Mrs. Yoder was born in Eden township December 4, 1866. Mr. Yoder is a good general farmer. keeps good stock, and has a farm of fertile sandy loam soil. He is a son of Renben Yoder, who was born in Somerset county. Pa., January 9, 1837, and came to this township in 1867. In 1882 he was elected trustee of Newbury township and served one term.
John J. Miller, a prosperous farmer residing in section 18. Clay township, was born December 3, 184I. in Cambria county. Pa., and in 1844 came with his parents to Elkhart county, and thence in 185I to Clay township. He is an all-round farmer, and successful. Mr. Miller was married January 1, 1865, to Miss Mary Taylor, and they have had six children, of whom five are living. Ida, Edna, Alton, Edwin and Grace. Mrs. Miller was born Octo- ber 18, 1845.
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AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.
Christiau J. Plank, one of the leading farmers of Greenfield towuship, is a native of Wayne county, Ohio. In November, 1858, he came to this township aud rented the farm he now owns for two years, and subsequently farmed in Michigan and on Elkhart prai- rie for six years. About the close of the war he purchased forty acres of his present farm at $62.50 per acre, incurring a debt of $1,300, and iu less than three years he had paid the debt and had a surplus of 8500 He then purchased another thirty-five acres. Iu 1873 Mr. Plank erected his comfortable residence at a cost of $2,000. and afterward built a commodious barn at a cost of $1,000. - In the same year he purchased forty acres more land at 83,200. go- ing in debt for the entire amonnt. a debt which he paid in full in less than teu years. He continued to increase his tarm until he has 195 acres of valuable laud. Upon his farm wheat has yielded as high as 453 bushels an acre and corn as high as 60 bushels. The farm also produces small fruit and berries abnudantly. Mr. Plank takes much interest in live stock, breeding Shropshire sheep es- pecially, and for ten years has dealt largely in poultry. His life has been au unqualified success, although he began withont assist- ance.
Winfield Scott Parker. of Johnson township, was born in Clearspring township January 21. 1848. His father, Seth W. Par- ker, was born at Ellington, Conn., November 29, 1815, aud moved with his parents when a boy to Onondago county, N. Y., thence to Ohio, and from there to Clearspring township abont 1841. In April, 1864. he made his home in Johnson township. near Wolcott- ville, where he died March 28, 1890. W. S. Parker was married September 26, 1872, to Polly, danghter of Christian and Mary Wonders, of Noble county. She died February 8, 1876. Angust 16. 1877. he was married to Ruhama M., daughter of Jacob and Matilda Stillinger, of Noble county, and they have four children. Mr. Parker's home is on section 28. Taking his land much of it in a wild condition. he has cleared and improved it and made a pleasant home. He is an enterprising citizen, and holds stock in tbe Wolcottville creamery.
Josiah M. Miller, one of the prosperous young farmers of Clay township, is a native of the conuty, born August 31, 1861, in Newbury township, the son of Moses P. Miller. He was married September 1. 1889, to Fanny Yoder, and they have one child. Mr. Miller is a member of the Amish church and is highly esteemed.
James Dallas, of Johnson township, was born in Clearspring township. February 16, 1845. where he resided with his parents twenty-seven years. He married C. E. Young February 8. 1872. and they located in Johnson township in April of that year. They had born to them a daughter. Addie E., May 5, 1873. Mr. Dallas enlisted in the 44th Indiana Infantry, October, 1862. and was hon- orably discharged May 2, 1863. He re-enlisted in the 12th Indiana cavalry January 2. 1864. and was honorably discharged Decem- ber. 1865. His father, Lorenzo Dallas, was born in Preble county, Ohio, June 27. 1819, and moved to Clearspring township in 1836. where he has resided ever since. He was among the pioneers of the township and much credit is due him for his success in life.
William Crampton, a prominent farmer of Vanburen town- ship, was born in Lincolnshire, England. June 18, 1830. He came to America July 10, 1851. to Lima, August, 1851, and after a resi- lence in Michigan to Vanburen in 1858, settling ou section 20. He was married to Emily D., daughter of George Cook, who was one of the early settlers and affectionately remembered. They have three children. Alti Ione, wife of J. E. McClaskey, Esq., George E. and Edwin C. Mr. Crampton has served two terms ( six years ) as county commissioner, and was one of the first directors of the Farmers Resene. one of the most important institutions of the county.
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