Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 80

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

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10. William Stults, born in Stark county, Ohio, February 27, 1829, moved to Whitley county with his parents in 1848 and lived with them for a number of years, making farming and teaching school alter- nately his profession. He was married in 1854 to Miss Ellen Jane Best, and to their union were born two children, viz .: Emma

J., now a teacher in Huntington county; and Augusta E., deceased. His wife hav- ing died, February 18, 1864, he was again married, in 1869, to Miss Rebecca F. Camp- bell, and to this union there were Ernest W., Cora E., Francis I. and Austin W., - all living with their parents in Huntington, Indiana, and securing a good education as a a preparation for future usefulness.

Joseph Stults, the subject of this bio- graphy, has been identified with this region from pioneer days, and is one of the most honorable citizens of this part of Indiana, up to the present being one of the most active citizens in pushing forward every important and useful enterprise within his power that is calculated to develop this part of the coun- try. He is practically a self-made man, and is entitled to great credit for his success in life. His educational privileges were very limited. The schools of the frontier afforded but meager privileges, yet by ex- perience, observation, reading and contact with the world he has become a well in- formed man.

On arriving at his majority he was mar- ried, the lady of his choice being Miss Har- riet Guest, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, July 17, 1823, the daughter of Pit- ney Guest, a Baptist minister. Immedi- ately after his marriage he settled on his father-in-law's farm, where he commenced at once the toil of agricultural life and to experience the mishaps and perplexities strewn in the way of every young farmer, and has met them all and constantly kept his head above water.

In the fall of 1848, with his wife and three small children, he moved to Indiana, and settled in Whitley county, Washington township, on a wooded tract, and with characteristic energy began its development,

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soon transforming it into a valuable farm. He remained there until 1863, when he purchased a farm in Union township, Hunt- ington county, containing 160 acres, which he occupied until 1865; then he purchased another farm, near Huntington, where he now resides with plenty of this world's goods to make him comfortable and happy in his declining years. In connection with his operations as a farmer he has long been en- gaged in auctioneering, his first effort being in 1844. For the last twenty-eight years, the number of sales actually effected by him were 2,030, his largest sale amounting to $6,000. At one time he disposed of 327 articles in 330 minutes, from which was realized $2,796.72. At one of his sales of buggies, 1,500 people were present, with two bands and two balloon ascensions. He traveled 36, 545 miles to and from these sales, and has sold goods to the value of $1,855,700.

Mr. Stults has held a number of local offices, among which were those of Town- ship Trustee, Justice of the Peace and County Treasurer. He was elected Treas- urer of the county in the fall of 1880, and he never betrayed the confidence bestowed upon him by his constituents, but always performed his duties promptly and with sat- isfaction to all. He has also served as No- tary Public for a number of years. He has been an honored member of the Masonic order since 1865. In 1858 he and his wife identified themselves with the Methodist Episcopal Church, where he still holds his membership.

The names of his children are: G. W. Stults, attorney at law; E. Catherine, now Mrs. Bucher; Mary A., now the wife of Mr. Cloud; Jacob P., a farmer; William W., also a farmer; Ella, now the wife of Dr.

Webster; Emery, a practicing physician of Fort Wayne; Loey, a farmer; Charles, also a practicing physician of Fort Wayne, the rest locating in or about Huntington, except Ella Webster, who is a resident of South Whitley.

In closing this biography, it is but jus- tice to say that the brothers of Mr. Stults were honorable, upright citizens, with high social qualities, a number of them holding at different times honorable offices of trust; and in the discharge of their official duties there was never a blot to mar the good repu- tation they bore in the community where they lived. They are naturally jovial and high-lifed, and at the same time are re- ligiously inclined, and all have been identi- fied with some branch of the church, princi- pally the Methodist Episcopal Church. It is further due the subject of this sketch to note the fact that his grandfather was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, having enlisted the latter part of 1779 or the first part of 1780, and served to the close of the war in 1783, about four years. The grand- father on his mother's side was a prisoner of that war for a short time. There is another notable fact in the history of this family connection that might be mentioned. There seems to have been, and still is, an inherent disposition in the family to teach school, no less than thirty-six teachers hav- ing followed that profession, for longer or shorter periods of time.

In politics they are and always have been ardent Republicans ever since the party or- ganization in 1856; previous to that time they were Whigs. The first vote cast for president was for George Washington, by the grand- father of the subject of this sketch. The last votes cast by these families were for Benjamin Harrison.

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Mr. Stults, with his noble traits of char- acter and high social qualities, also feels proud of his family connections.

J AMES A. BARNS, proprietor and editor of the Courier, at Auburn, Indiana, was born in Onondaga coun- ty, New York, near Memphis, June 7, 1832, and is the son of Cyrus and Eliza (Elliott) Barns. He was reared to farm life, his father removing to La Porte county, Indiana, and taking up a tract of land there in 1839. He was educated in the common schools and in Hillsdale (Michigan) College, where he pursued his studies from 1855 until 1859. He afterward engaged in teaching in the public schools of Michigan and north- ern Indiana. He was for two years principal of the high school at Wolf Lake, Noble county, Indiana, for two years at Pierceton, Kosciusko county, for a similar period at Ligonier, Noble county, and one year in Waterloo, Indiana. In July, 1870, he pur- chased the Air Line, which he sold in De- cember, 1870. He was afterward for ten years County Superintendent of Schools, and his long continued service in that capac- ity well indicates his efficiency and fidelity to duty. In December, 1880, he purchased the Courier, which he has owned and pub- lished since, and on the 4th of March, 1895, he began the publication of the Daily Courier, the only daily in the county. The weekly paper has the largest circulation of all papers in the county, and is one of the best appointed newspaper offices in this section of the State, with fully equipped job rooms and every facility for turning out first-class work. He edits a bright, clean and interesting journal and is meeting with good success in his business.

In Pierceton, Indiana, on the 8th of De- cember, 1867, Mr. Barns was united in mar- riage with Miss Alicia H. Lamson, daughter of La Fayette and Phoebe (Scott) Lamson. They have one daughter, Nellie L., born November 9, 1874. Mrs. Barns is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Politically, Mr. Barns is a stanch Demo- crat and is deeply interested in the growth and success of his party. Through the col- umns of his paper and in other ways he aids in every enterprise that is calculated to prove of public benefit, and is deeply interested in the welfare of his adopted county.

ENRY C. KINZIE, section 26, Jackson township, is a farmer of Kosciusko county. He is a son of John and Mary M. (Crouse) Kinzie, the former having been born near Hagers- town, Maryland, December, 12, 1820, a son of Henry Kenzie, an early settler in Mont- gomery county, Ohio. Mary, the mother of Henry C., was also born in the vicinity of Hagerstown, and was a daughter of Charles Crouse, who settled in Montgomery county, Ohio, where he lived and died.

The parents of the subject of this memoir were married in Ohio, where they lived for three years after this event, when, in 1851, they removed to De Kalb, Indiana, where they resided for one year. In 1852 they located on section 25, Jackson township, Kosciusko county. The country at that time was new, thinly settled and very little developed, and Mr. Kinzie cleared and im- proved this land. In 1859 he moved one mile south, upon the adjoining section, and later settled upon the present site of Kinzie Station, and here Mr. and Mrs. Kinzie lived till called to a better world, he dying in 1880,

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she in 1878. He was a successful farmer and accumulated considerable means. In their community they were highly respected and esteemed, being the best of neighbors, the truest of friends. Both were German Baptists in religious belief and lived in strict conformity to the requirements of their church. Mr. Kinzie was interested in the Sabbath-school, and was long a teacher.

Our subject is their only son and child. He was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, August 6, 1845, and was a child in years when his parents settled in the wooded wilds of northern Indiana. Such education as he received was obtained at home, where by diligent study he acquired sufficient to en- able him to teach, which he followed in the schools of the county thirty-six months in all, establishing an excellent reputation as a teacher. In 1869 he was married to Miss Ella, daughter of Henry and Sarah (Bow- man) Bonebrake, both deceased. Mrs. Kin- zie was born in 1851, and died in 1879, and is buried in Waynesburg, Ohio.

In 1872 Mr. Kinzie removed to the crossing of the Grand Rapids & Indiana and Wabash Railroads, where La Otto is now situated, becoming the agent of both lines. Here he remained till the fall of 1890, when he came to Jackson township and located upon his present farm, where he has since lived and prospered. He owns two farms, one of fifty-one acres in section 36; the other contains thirty-nine acres, and is situ- ated in section 26.

Mr. Kinzie's second marriage was to Miss Martha Simon, in 1880. She is a na- tive of De Kalb county, Indiana, born Feb- ruary 16, 1851, and is a daughter of Moses and Abigail (Homsher) Simon, the former a native of Columbiana county, Ohio, born December 12, 1823; the latter, of Chester

county, Pennsylvania, born May 6, 1827. They cleared and improved the land upon which they settled in De Kalb county. They are parents of seven children, six of whom are living. Mrs. Kinzie, before her mar- riage, taught in the schools of De Kalb county twelve years; was popular as a teacher and greatly esteemed by her pupils.

Politically Mr. Kinzie is a Prohibitionist, and is ardently attached tothe cause. While living in Noble county he was the candidate of the party for County Clerk, but was de- feated by the old parties combining against him. In 1894 he was the candidate of his party for Sheriff of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Kinzie are members of no denomina- tion, but in all good works take active lead- ing parts, so far as permitted. For many years Mr. Kinzie has been associated with the Sabbath-school work.

OBERT ROSS, a farmer, section 35, Jackson township, is a son of George Ross, a native of Craig county, Virginia, who was born in 1815, and was a son of James and Jane (Black) Ross, Virginians by birth, both of whom died in the State of their nativity. The maiden name of our subject's mother was Hannah Heckman. She was born in Clark county, Ohio, in the year 1821, a daughter of David and Mary (Snuffer) Heck- man, who were married in Clark county. Following this event they went to Virginia for a short time, when, returning to Ohio, they lived there for three years; and in 1849 removed to and settled on section 34, Jack- son township. At that time the country was new, there having been but little done in the way of changing the face of nature.

Mr. Ross and his estimable wife possessed

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true pioneer grit, and went to work with a will to make a home in a wilderness. A house was erected, clearings soon appeared, and ere long cultivated fields marked the site of dense woods. On this farm Mr. Ross lived out the rest of his life, attaining a ripe old age, dying May 15, 1895. Mrs. Ross still survives, her life forming a link between a past and present fraught with greater changes, the time considered, than had ever before occurred in the world's his- tory. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ross, all of whom grew to maturity: Robert, Louisiana Priser, Mary Jane, de- ceased wife of the late Israel Adams, John, Jannette Sparks and Sarah C. Holben. The elder Mrs. Ross is a member of the German Baptist Church, having been all her life a devoted Christian woman.

Our subject, the eldest of the family, was born in Clark county, Ohio, December 17, 1843, and from the age of six years he was raised in Jackson township, receiving his education in the district schools, and re- maining with his parents for four years after attaining his majority. He was united in marriage with Miss Susan Snell, December 31, 1868. She is a native of this county, born June 6, 1848, and a daughter of John and Magdalene (Brower) Snell, pioneer set- tlers of this county.

On his present farm Mr. Ross settled March 23, 1869, it being at the time of set- tlement in its wild state. His labors of a quarter of a century since have effected a pleasing transformation, well evidencing the industry and enterprise of the man. His improvements in the way of buildings are tasteful, commodious and comfortable. He has 232 acres of excellent land, which is de- voted to general farming and stock-raising.

Four children have been born in the

family of Mr. and Mrs. Ross: John Alonzo, who married Elta Leckrone, has one child, and resides at Leroy; Amos Walter, Elmer Clarence and Nora Alice. Mr. Ross is in- terested in the cause of education generally, and has given his children excellent advan- tages, all of whom are good English scholars. He is a Republican in politics and attends to the duties of citizenship as becomes a good citizen, believing that in the intelligent use of the ballot good government is best sub- served. He has been the incumbent of some of the offices of the township. Mr. and Mrs. Ross are German Baptists in religious sentiment, and with the church he is offi- cially connected in the capacity of Deacon.

MOS MOHLER, one of the most highly respected citizens of Hunt- ington, Indiana, is now retired from active business pursuits. He is a native of Millerstown, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, born August 27, 1821, a son of Simon and Elizabeth (Hann) Mohler. His father emigrated in his eighteenth year from Germany to America and settled in the State of Pennsylvania. The mother was born August 27, 1795, and died March 22, 1848 in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Peter Hann, and one of a family of six children: Sarah, the wife of John Wenger; Annie and Catharine, who were never married; Margaret, the wife of James Welsh; and Peter, who resides in Miami county, Indiana. The Hanns have been American born for several generations. Simon Mohler and wife were the parents of the following children: Sarah died at the age of three years; Joel, deceased, was a drug- gist in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; John Henry married Catharine Holmes; the third born is

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the subject of this sketch; Samuel, a tinner by trade, married Jane Summey; William, deceased, married Henrietta Young; the next child died in infancy; Mary Ann died at the age of twenty-three years at the residence of her brother Amos. The father was a Whig in politics, and in his religious faith was a Lutheran. His brothers, Samuel, John, Bastian and Rudy, all followed him to Amer- ica, accompanied by their father. Some of them settled in Maryland, and the others in Ohio.

The parents of our subject removed to East Liberty, Allegheny county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1827. Three years later, a lad of nine years, he went to live with his uncle, John Wenger, who had married his mother's sister Sarah. There he lived on a farm in Montgomery county, Ohio, until the spring of 1837, when he went to learn the carpen- ter's trade, working for Jacob Miller for a term of three years: the first year he received twenty-five cents per day, the second year $4 per month and the third year he had $10 per month. He then went to live with his uncle, James Welsh, who mar- ried his mother's sister Margaret; he resided with him in Randolph township, Montgomery county, Ohio, for six years. He was mar- ried in 1847, and then settled at Harrisburg, Ohio, where he ran a carpentry and under- taking business for seven years; he also contracted for house building and the erec- tion of bank barns. In February, 1854, he went to Lockington, Shelby county, Ohio, where he embarked in the grocery and dry- goods trade, which he conducted alone for three years. He then formed a partnership with Daniel Rasor, under the firm name of Mohler & Rasor, which existed until June, 1861. The business was then closed out, and Mr. Mohler resumed his old trade of

carpentering. He sold his property in Lock- ington in 1864, and in April, 1865, he re- moved to Huntington, Indiana, where he has since resided. He first lived at the corner of Market and First streets, then known as Braytown; in 1872 he purchased the property in which he resides at 94 East State street. For three years he was col- lector for the Huntington Herald, but the most of his time has been given to contract- ing and building. Among the many build- ings erected by him are the old Drover Hub & Spoke Factory, the old Methodist Church, Clark's mill, the E. T. Taylor block and a number of dwellings.

Mr. Mohler was married February 4, 1847, to Maria Rasor, a daughter of Daniel Rasor. Her mother's maiden name was Wey- bright. Mrs. Mohler was born at Union, Ohio, December 7, 1828; her death occurred in this county May 6, 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Mohler are the parents of ten children. Alonzo D. is the subject of a separate sketch; Mary Ann, born May 30, 1850, Elizabeth Amberzine, born November 6, 1852; Orion E., of whom a sketch appears on another page, born February 9, 1855; Clara, born July 23, 1857, died in Ohio, June 23, 1858; Carrie, born June 10, 1859, died August 28, 1864; Arcturus Lincoln, born June 19, 1865, died September 11, 1869; Aldona, born September 27, 1868, died April 8, 1877; Retta, born December 15, 1871, died De- cember 17, 1871; Harold Clayton, born February 15, 1875, was a student in the Huntington high school, at which he was graduated in 1894, and is now a student in DePauw University.

Mr. Mohler is Republican in politics, and represented that body as Trustee of Wash- ington township, Shelby county, Ohio, and was Postmaster at Lockington, Ohio, where

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he served three and one-half years, discharg- ing his duties with great fidelity and prompt- itude. He is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

A LONZO DANIEL MOHLER, arch- itect, was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, January 26, 1848, descending from the good old Ger- man stock that emigrated from the Father- land and settled in the Keystone State in the early history of that commonwealth. Amos Mohler, father of Alonzo D., was a native of the State of Pennsylvania; he was united in marriage to Maria Rasor, a native of Ohio, and to them were born ten chil- dren, of whom the subject of this biography is the oldest. The father was a carpenter by occupation and for a number of years was engaged in building near Dayton, Ohio, afterward removing to Shelby county, Ohio, where he embarked in the mercantile trade. In 1865, he removed with his family to Huntington, Indiana, where he resumed building as a vocation. Alonzo D. learned the trade with his father, and afterward served an apprenticeship as a cabinet-maker. In his youth his time was divided between acquiring a literary education and receiving industrial training. Having arrived at ma- ture age he determined to secure an ad- vanced literary education, and after some private instruction he passed the examina- tions to enter the freshman class at Asbury (now DePauw) University, at Greencastle, Indiana. He pursued the course covering four years, during which time he supported himself by working at his trade afternoons. He was graduated in 1873 with the degree of A. B., and three years later he received from his alma mater the degree of A. M.

After finishing his college course he took charge of the high school in Muncie, Indi- ana, and the next year had charge of the public schools in La Grange, Indiana, where he placed the schools in the front rank of In- diana's common-school system. He re- mained at La Grange seven years, and in 1881 went to Lima, Indiana, where he had charge of the schools for three years. In 1883 he turned his attention to journalism, purchasing an interest in the Herald at Huntington; the following year he became one of the editors of the paper, of which both a daily and a weekly edition are issued. He was elected County Superintendent of Schools in Huntington county in 1885, a po- sition for which his many years as an edu- cator had thoroughly fitted him.

In the spring of 1890 Mr. Mohler entered the office of F. B. Kendrick, architect, at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and studied the pro- fession under his direction until September, 1891. In January, 1892, he opened an of- fice in Huntington, and has since given his time to this business. He was architect in 1894 for the Fourth District school build- ing, and in 1895 for the William street school-house. He is architect for the hand- some cut-stone residence that is being erected for W. W. Hawley in this city. He was architect for the Herald block, the Grayston block, the first cut-stone business house erected in the city, the Michael block, at Rochester, Indiana, and the residence of Alfred Reichenbach. He has an unusual aptitude for his profession, and has met with gratifying success.

Mr. Mohler was united in marriage Jan- uary 1, 1874, to Miss Sarah Albina Davies, who was born in Huntington county, July 27, 1850. Mrs. Mohler is a daughter of Jesse and Jane (Orton) Davies, old and hon-

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ored residents of Huntington county. Mr. and Mrs. Mohler are the parents of three children: Inez, born November 14, 1874, died October 19, 1875; Ruth, born April 1 5. 1881; Vida was born September 3, 1893. Mr. Mohler gives his support to the Re- publican party. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the Knights of Pythias. In his religious faith he adheres to the doc- trines of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

EV. STEPHEN A. NORTHROP, D. D., the distinguished pastor of the First Baptist Church, of Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and more recently pastor of the First Baptist Church, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was born at Granville, Ohio, April 7, 1851, and is a son of Rev. William R. Northrop, a native of Gallipo- lis, Ohio, and a Baptist clergyman.

When Stephen A. was ten years of age his parents moved to Michigan, where he received his preliminary education. At twenty years of age he went to Granville, Ohio, to attend Denison University, where for three years he pursued a classical course. At the end of his junior year he went to Colgate University, Hamilton, New York, where, in 1876, he was graduated with the degree of A. B. When in college he became prominent as a debater and orator, and was among the first of his class in literary abil- ity. He was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity and still takes great inter- est now in its prosperity. Later his alma mater conferred upon him the degree of A. M. in course, and in 1895 Franklin Col- lege, of Franklin, Indiana, honored him with the degree of Doctor of Divinity.

Baptist institution, meanwhile supplying the pulpit of the First Baptist Church, of Ash- ville, New York. On July I he received a call from the First Baptist Church, of Fenton, Michigan, where he remained over five years and was eminently successful, having by his earnest effort added nearly 200 to his church. . In July, 1882, he was unanimously called to the First Baptist Church, of Fort Wayne, Indiana. This call he accepted, assuming the pastorate September 1, 1882. He served this church over thirteen years with marvel- ous success, over a thousand having been added to the church. In 1889 the Church Home, popularly known in Fort Wayne as "The Tabernacle of the People," was en- larged to seat the throngs that flocked to hear him. His stirring and useful career at- tracted the attention of the First Baptist Church, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and he was called heartily and enthusiastically to take charge of this church July Ist. He began his labors October 1, 1895, under the most auspicious circumstances. Already the masses are being drawn by his tact, geniality and eloquence. The Church Home, where he preaches, is the finest of the Baptist denomi- nation. in that city, and in many respects the most costly. Doctor Northrop has solved the problem "how to reach the masses," and in this achievement he is to be con- gratulated. He is a thorough mixer and is in touch with all public interests which have for their prime purpose the elevation of man and the salvation of the race. Dr. North- rop has been honored in many ways. In 1887 he was elected president of the Board of Managers of the Baptist Ministers' Home, Fenton, Michigan, an institution supported by the Baptists of Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan. He was also elected

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Memorial record of northeastern Indiana, Part 80

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