Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 65

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 932

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A. C. Alexander, the immediate subject of our sketch, was reared in his native coun- ty, remaining on the home farm until he was seventeen years of age. Then he served an apprenticeship to the trade of blacksmith, and for ten years was engaged in work at that trade. In 1880 he removed to Grant county. In 1884 he engaged in merchan- dising at New Cumberland, was thus occu- pied there until 1890, and that year was appointed deputy sheriff, under John Sand- ers, Sheriff of Grant county, and served in the capacity of deputy for two years. In 1892 he was appointed receiver of a syndi- cate, the affairs of which he settled up sat- isfactorily, this business occupying his time

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until 1894. In 1894 he was elected on the Republican ticket to his present office, that of County Sheriff, and has recently entered upon the duties of this position.

Mr. Alexander was married in 1883 to Miss Sarah A. Barrett, a native of Delaware county, Indiana, and a daughter of William Barrett, one of the early settlers of Dela- ware county. They have had three chil- dren, viz .: Fannie, born March 16, 1884; Lota M., born September 15, 1885, died October 12, 1886; and Benjamin H., born April 22, 1888, died January 2, 1891.

For a number of years Mr. Alexander has taken an active and intelligent interest in Republican politics, serving as delegate to various party conventions and in other ways showing his devotion to the cause, and his election to the office of County Sheriff shows wisdom on the part of his constitu- ents. Fraternally, he is identified with the I. O. O. F. Mrs. Alexander is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

S TEPHEN D. SLAYMAKER is a prominent farmer of Monroe town- ship, residing upon section 17. His father, John Slaymaker, was born in Frederick county, Maryland, in 1808, and was of German descent. The father of the latter, Alexander Slaymaker, was a native of Maryland and by occupation a farmer. In his native county Mr. John Slaymaker lived till he was sixteen years of age, the subscrip- tion schools then in vogue affording him all the means he ever had of obtaining an edu- cation. At the above age he entered upon life on his own responsibility and went to Pennsylvania, where he engaged in freight- ing across the mountains.

In Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, he

was united in marriage with Miss Martha, daughter of Philip Benz. She was born in the same county, in 1817, and was also of German descent. About one year after their marriage they removed to Seneca county, Ohio. They were not possessors of much means and were compelled to rent land for six years in order to get a start in life. With small means thus accumulated and hoping to still further improve their con- dition they set out for Henry county, Ohio, where land was cheap enough to justify them in purchasing a home. The farm on which they settled was in a dense woods and re- mote from every advantage in the way of schools, church, mills, stores, etc. This land the elder Mr. Slaymaker cleared up and improved, residing thereon for twenty years and prospering.

The spirit of the true pioneer possessed him, and, when the encroachment which came with a more thickly settled community began to be manifest, he sold his farm and deter- mined to go still further West, and in 1868 settled in Kosciusko county, Indiana. Pur- chasing an improved farm, the family again took up the irksome labor of establishing themselves in a home. Mr. Slaymaker was a Republican in politics, and to him the duties of citizenship were of grave import- ance and were rigidly attended to. He and his estimable wife lived according to the Golden Rule and by their kindly, unosten- tatious ways won the respect and esteem of all.

They were the parents of three children, two of whom are living: Catherine Ann, wife of John Young, of Paulding county, Ohio, who has three children, -Barbara, wife of P. McArtha, also of Paulding couuty, and has one child, John; and La Fayette; Louis, deceased, is the second in order of

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birth; while Stephen D. is the youngest. Mr. and Mrs. Slaymaker lived to a ripe old age before being called to their final home. His death occurred February 3, 1888, and the wife and inother survived until January 26, 1894, when she, too, passed away.

Their surviving son, Stephen D., was born in Seneca county, Ohio, July 17, 1846. He had fair advantages in his youth for ob- taining a primary education. The district schools of his boyhood were quite an im- provement over the subscription schools of his father's day, though not by any means up to the standard and efficiency of the public schools of the present. He has al- ways been much of a student as well as a close observer of affairs. On veterinary medicine he is well informed and his practice in that line has been rewarded with consid- erable success; however, farming has been his chief occupation. He owns 200 acres of cultivated land, eighty acres of which is in Monroe township, forty in Washington township, and eighty in Calhoun county, Michigan.

Politically, Mr. Slaymaker is an ardent Republican and takes an active interest in local affairs. In the fall of 1894 he was elected Trustee of Monroe township. Like his father, he adopted the Golden Rule as his guide in life and lives in strict accord- ance with its requirements, having the re- spect and esteem of his neighbors.

J OHN KENOWER .- Among the purely self-made men of Huntington who have distinguished themselves for their ability to master the oppos- ing conditions of life and wrest from fate a large measure of success and an honorable name, is John Kenower, who for many

years has been prominently connected with the lumber trade of northeastern Indiana. He has resided in Huntington since 1841, and his development of lumber interests in this section has been of material benefit to the county, leaving an impress upon busi- ness affairs that has been strongly and beneficially felt.

The record of this gentleman cannot fail to prove of interest, as does that of every man who faithfully performs his duty to his country, his neighbor and himself; and we therefore take pleasure in present- ing a portrait of him in connection with this sketch, as also that of his wife. He was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, March 2, 1820, and was the third child and second son of Jacob and Sarah (Wise) Kenower. From Dutch ancestry he is de- scended. His parents were both natives of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, the former born October 6, 1791, and the latter July 15, 1792. In the Keystone State they lived until 1834, when they became resi- dents of Clark county, Ohio, locating on a farm near New Carlisle, which was their place of abode until January, 1845, when they arrived in Huntington. The present thriving Western city with its manufac- tories, industries, commercial establish- ments, its churches, schools and beautiful homes then contained a small population, and the Kenowers may therefore be justly numbered among the honored pioneers. In the family were nine children, several of whom were destined to become prominent in the business, social and public life of the new city. They were George, born Jan- uary 29, 1816; Mary Ann, March 7, 1818; John, March 2, 1820; David, September 13, 1822; Catherine, December 9, 1824; Sarah, May 27, 1827; Adam Q., July 18, 1829;

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John Kancel.

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Ann Elizabeth, November 16, 1831; and Jacob, November 19, 1834. The last named was a native of Ohio, the others of the Keystone State. The father of this family died on the 6th of August, 1866, and the mother August 27, 1854.

Our subject was a youth of fifteen when he went with his parents to Clark county, Ohio. The duties of farm life early became familiar to him and he aided in the labors of the field on his father's place until Janu- ary, 1841, when he left the parental roof and came to Huntington. It was a village containing the fourteen families of John Roche, David Osborn, William G. Johnson, Patrick McCarty, John McClellan, J. E. Taylor, William Delvin, Captain Elias Mur- ray, Dr. F. W. Sawyer, Chelsea Cran- dall, Thomas Doyle, James Gilleese, Mrs. Daniel Johnson, a widow, and Julia Mur- ray. Mr. Kenower came here in company with the families of H. J. Betts, Hugh Montgomery, Charles Taylor and William Taylor, the party traveling from New Car- lisle, Ohio, to this place.

Mr. Kenower had received but limited educational privileges, and accordingly was obliged to do manual labor when he arrived in Huntington, for he had no capital. He engaged to H. J. Betts, working for four months for $25 per month, his board, wash- ing and mending, and then took a town lot in payment for his services. It is the site on which the American House now stands. Mr. Kenower next engaged in carpentering, which he followed until about 1852. In 1 846 he purchased a cabinet shop and con- ducted business in that line until 1863.

Mr. Kenower was married in the mean- time. He had lived in Huntington only fourteen months when he chose as a com- panion and helpmeet on life's journey Miss

Lucy H. Montgomery, daughter of Hugh and Sally (Betts) Montgomery. They were married on the 18th of March, 1842, and on the 18th of November following the lady's death occurred. On the 14th of April, 1847, Mr. Kenower married Miss Florence M., daughter of John Binager. She died at the expiration of fifteen months, leaving a young child, who survived the mother only a few weeks. On the 15th of April, 1850, was celebrated the marriage of our subject and Sarah Purviance, daughter of James L. and Elizabeth (Sprowl) Purvi- ance. They became the parents of four children, -Clara Isabella, William W., Eliz- abeth J. and John P.

Mr. Kenower began his connection with the lumber trade in 1850, and has been the leader in the development of this industry in Huntington county. Such was his energy that during the first year his business amount- ed to more than 150,000 feet of lumber manufactured, and in the first ten years more than 2,000,000 feet of lumber were sold. As the raw material could not at that time all be obtained in Huntington county, the beneficial influences of this enterprise therefore extended to other counties by pur- chasing the timber there. This region sup- plied an excellent quality of black walnut timber, which was in much demand in the markets, and the manufactured lumber was extensively shipped to Toledo, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, New York and Chicago. No other enterprise ever established in Hunting- ton county had more to do with the rapid settling up of the community than that of which Mr. Kenower was the founder. In 1865 he erected a sawmill, which he yet operates. He possesses marked business ability and executive powers. A man of enterprise, positive character, indomitable

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energy, strict integrity and liberal views, he is and has been fully identified with the growth and prosperity of the city of his adoption.

Mr. Kenower has served in official posi- tions, having been County Commissioner at the time of the building of the present courthouse, and a member of the Town Council at the time of the incorporation of Huntington. For a number of years he served in that office and gave his support to all measures calculated to prove of public benefit. He has been identified with the educational interests of Huntington and in 1869 built a schoolhouse known as the Rural Home. He has also been largely in- strumental in developing the splendid gravel- road system of the' county, and was presi- dent and director of the Mount Etna Gravel Road Company, and a director of the Maple Grove Gravel Road. He is never deterred by obstacles which would utterly discourage many another man, but steadily works his way to success, demonstrating the truth of the proverb that where there is a will there is a way. The moral welfare of the com- inunity also largely owes its advancement to him. For many years he has been a constant member of the Baptist Church, contributed largely to the building of the first house of worship here as well as to the present fine church edifice, and has been superintendent of the Sunday-school for nearly forty years.

DAM Q. KENOWER. - For more than half a century this gentleman has resided in Huntington, and his name is inseparably connected with the history of the business interests of the city. His thoroughly American spirit and

his great energy have enabled him to mount from a lowly position to one of affluence. One of his leading characteristics in business affairs is his fine sense of order and com- plete system, and the habit of giving careful attention to details, without which success in any undertaking is never an assured fact. He is a man of intrinsic worth, esteemed in all the relations of life and in the record of northeastern Indiana well deserves honor- able mention.

Mr. Kenower is a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, his birth having oc- curred there on the 18th of July, 1829. The family is of German origin and was founded in America by the great-grandfather of our subject, who emigrated from Germany to the New World, bringing with him his two sons, Jacob and Andrew. The spelling of the name was at that time Knour, but was changed to the present orthography by the father of our subject. Of the two sons, Jacob located in Cumberland county, Penn- sylvania, Andrew in Lancaster county of the same State, and since that time the families have been spoken of as the Cumberland and Lancaster Kenowers.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, Jacob Kenower, of Cumberland county, made farming his life work and died in 1833, at the age of seventy years. He married and reared a large family, including Mrs. Worm- ley, who had several children; Jacob, father of our subject; David, who lived in Pennsyl- vania, and reared a family; Adam, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania; Rebecca, wife of Joseph Schram, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania; Daniel, who married Eliza Lobauch, and made his home in Pennsylvania; Nancy, who became the wife of David Goodyear, of the Keystone State. The maternal grandfather of our subject was born in Pennsylvania, and there

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spent his entire life. Members of the family went from that State to Virginia.

Jacob Kenower, father of Adam Q., and Miss Sarah Wise, were married on the 22d of December, 1814, the wedding ceremony be- ing performed by Rev. A. Helffenstine. They began their domestic life in Cumber- land county, Pennsylvania, whence they re- moved in 1834 to Ohio, locating in Clark county. For a year they lived upon a farm, and then made a home in New Carlisle, where the father followed the carpenter's trade. In February, 1844, they became residents of Huntington county, Indiana, casting their lot with the early settlers of the county seat, which was then little more than a village. Ten years later the mother died, July, 1854, while the father, who survived twelve years, died August 6, 1866. In their family were nine children: George, born June 30, 1816, in Cumberland county, Pennsylva- nia, was married and had two sons, George F., editor of a paper in Nebraska; and John, professor of the schools of Breckenridge, Mis- souri, where his father is also now living. Mary Ann, born in March, 1818, is the widow of Moses Neely, who was formerly engaged in merchandising in Muncie, Indiana, where his death occurred in 1866. They had ten children. David died in infancy. John is the next of the family. Catherine died in 1871, when about fifty years of age: she was the wife of Porter Ayres, of Huntington. Sarah, who made her home with our subject, died June 27, 1894, at the age of sixty-seven years. Adam Q. is the next younger. Ann Elizabeth, born November 6, 1831, became the wife of Dr. Louis Pomroy, of Hunting- ton, Indiana, and died in 1867. Jacob Wise, born in Ohio, November 19, 1834, married Augusta E. Smith, daughter of William C. Smith, and is in the employ of his brother

Adam. Their children are Catherine, wife of William Cox; Clara Nora; Sadie Pomroy; and Maud, who died at the age of seven years.

The period of Adam Kenower's early childhood passed uneventfully, unmarked by any event of special importance. He at- tended the common schools until fifteen years of age, and then began to earn his own livelihood by working at the painter's trade, which he had learned entirely through his own efforts, without any instruction whatever. For six years he devoted his energies to that employment, and then en- tered upon his connection with the furniture business, as an employe in his brother's store, where he acted as salesman for six years. In 1863 he formed a partnership with his brother John in the same line of trade. The necessary capital he had se- cured through earnest labor, persistence, diligence and frugality. After carrying on the store for two years and a half, Mr. Kenower sold out, and from 1865 until 1868 was engaged in the shingle business. In 1867, however, he returned to his old un- dertaking, opening a furniture store in part- nership with James R. Whiteside, who after thirteen months withdrew from the busi- ness, which has since been successfully car- ried on by Mr. Kenower alone. He is one of the oldest furniture merchants in the city, and has a large and well appointed store, where he is doing a good business. He possesses excellent executive ability and re- markably good judgment, which, combined with straightforward, honorable dealing, has brought to him signal success in his under- takings. Going resolutely to work, he has, step by step, raised himself to his present high position of honor and trust.

In the days of his early manhood, Mr.

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Kenower was happily married to Miss Anna M. Taylor, a native of Mount Holly, New Jersey, born June 18, 1831, a daughter of Charles and Mary : King) Taylor. Her par- ents were also born in the same State, but the former was of Irish lineage, while the latter caine of English ancestry, her grand- father having been a son of an English lord.

Mr. and Mrs. Kenower became the par- ents of a family of eight children. Charles Edgar, born January 7, 1853, is associated with his father in business. Kate Pomroy, born September 6, 1855. died in infancy. Willis Evans, born February 13, 1857, mar- ried Belle Slack, a niece of General Slack, and they have one child, Jean. Jennie May, born January 20, 1860, is the wife of Will- iam McGrew, son of George McGrew, and a resident of Thornton, Illinois, where he is serving as superintendent of the stone-crush- ing works of the Brownell Stone Crushing Company, of Chicago. Mary C., born July 24, 1862, died October 1, 1868. Sarah Adda, born December 20, 1865, is at home. Herbert Porter, born May 22, 1867, is en- gaged in the stone crushing works in Thorn- ton, Illinois. Sanford Kinsbury, born July 18, 1870, is a graduate in mechanical en- gineering of the Stanford University of Cali- fornia, and is now superintendent of the Phoenix Telephone Company.

Mr. Kenower and his wife are faithful and consistent members of the Baptist Church, and are deeply interested in all that pertains to its welfare. Our subject also holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a charter member of the Fire Department, which was organized in 1856. He gives evidence of the political principles which he advocates by casting his ballot in support of the candi-

dates of the Republican party, and on that ticket he has been elected to the positions of City Clerk and Alderman, serving for one term in each office. A well spent life, an honorable business career, is the brief record of one of the men, who, starting under ad- verse circumstances, has built up his for- tune by the exertion of his own brain and muscle, and owes his prosperity to himself alone.

S TEPHEN B. KEMP, the popular proprietor of the Tremont Hotel at Wabash, is a native of Canada, born in Codrington, Ontario, Sep- tember 12, 1863, a son of Henry F. and Sarah (Strevel) Kemp, natives of that coun- try, who had nine sons and one daughter; and nine of the children are still living, namely: Clifford, James M., Orville W., Stephen B., Henry F., Walter R., Oscar E., Ira and Eva May. Henry Kemp was a farmer in Canada, in which country he died, in 1885, at the age of fifty-four years. He was a prominent man in politics, belonging to the "Liberal " party. His wife still sur- vives, now living in Brighton, Ontario. The paternal grandfather, James C. Kemp, also a native of Canada, and of English parentage, was an agriculturist in his younger days, and died in Saginaw, Michigan, aged eighty-two years, after having brought up a large number of children. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Milton Strevel, a native of Canada and a farmer, was killed at the age of forty-five years in an accident in that country.

Mr. Kemp, whose name heads this sketch, received a good education in his native land, and at the age of nineteen came to Wabash, Indiana, and his first position here was that

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of fireman on the Cincinnati, Wabash & Michigan Railroad, for four and a half years, and then in succession he was proprietor of the New Lutz Hotel for one year, grocer at Benton Harbor, Michigan, for eighteen months, employee in the office of the Illi- nois Central Railroad Company at Chicago, and also of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company, employee in the post- office at Chicago, Illinois, for eighteen months, and then, in December, 1892, he returned to Wabash and took charge of the Tremont Hotel, in partnership with his brother-in-law, William A. Newman. This hotel, having 100 rooms for guests, is ele- gantly furnished throughout, is first-class in all its appointments, and would be a credit to any city of much larger pretensions than Wabash; and the proprietors are careful and painstaking, rendering satisfaction to all their patrons. Mr. Kemp is a gentleman of fine business capacity, as the appearance of the hotel and the patrons testify.

On the 3d day of August, 1885, Mr. Kemp was united in marriage with Miss Kathryn M. Newman, daughter of Adam and Mary A. (Scott) Newman, and they have had two children, -Beatrice, deceased in in- fancy, and L. Scott.

Mr. Kemp isa Master Mason and a mem- ber of the order of Knights of Pythias, and in business matters is a member of both the Indiana Hotelkeepers' Association and the Hotelmen's National Benevolent Associa- tion.

PILLIAM H. REED .- We find particular satisfaction in offering a record which shall briefly out- line the genealogy and personal career of the subject whose name initiates

this paragraph, for he not only comes from ancestry long and prominently identified with the interests and development of the Middle West, but himself occupies a po- sition of distinctive prominence as one of the able members of the bar of Adams coun- ty, and as one of the progressive and public- spirited citizens of Decatur, over which municipality he presided with signal honor in the office of Mayor, giving the city an ad- ministration which must pass into her his- tory as one of the best ever afforded. He is a man of broad ideas, force of character and unimpeachable integrity, and a con- sideration of the life histories of the repre- sentative men of Decatur would be incom- plete were there a failure to enter specific mention of William H. Reed.

Samuel Reed, the father of our subject, was born in Sandusky county, Ohio, July 1, 1835, being the son of Peter Reed, a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, where he was born on the 6th of February, 1802. Peter Reed was one of the earliest settlers in Sandusky county, Ohio, where he took up his abode in 1834. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Burkett, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, November 12, 1812, and her death occurred March 18, 1887. The death of Peter Reed occurred July 9, 1885. He was the son of John Reed, who was born in Pennsylvania, and who became one of the pioneers of Ohio, settling in Perry county as early as 1808. His death occurred about the year 1829.

Samuel Reed, the father of the im- mediate subject of this review, continued his identification with the agricultural indus- tries of the Buckeye State until about eight years ago, when he removed to Ingham county, Michigan, where he now retains his residence. He is a stalwart Democrat and

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has been an influential worker in the party ranks. In his religious adherency he is identified with the Lutheran Church. At the time of the late war of the Rebellion he took up arms in defense of the nation's honor, serving for one hundred days, as a member of Company K, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. On the 27th of June, 1858, oc- curred the marriage of Samuel Reed to Miss Hannah M. Ohlinger, the daughter of David and Hannah Ohlinger. She was born in Butler county, Ohio, on the 16th of May, 1840, coming of stanch old Pennsylvania ancestry. Her father was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, March 13, 1805, and his death occurred on the 20th of October, 1870. He was the son of George Ohlinger, who was also a native of the old Keystone State, his death having occurred about the year 1830. Samuel and Hannah Reed be- came the parents of five children, of whom we make brief record, as follows: Sarah born April 14, 1859, died October 11, 1862; Noah F. was born May 26, 1860; William H. is the subject of this sketch; Peter B. was born September 18. 1865; and Mary L., born January 13, 1870, is the wife of H. M. Anspach, of Wyandotte, Michigan.

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Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 65

Author: Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 932

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 932