USA > Indiana > Memorial record of northeastern Indiana > Part 91
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James Elgin Scott is numbered among the honored pioneer settlers of Whitley county. He located here when it was largely an undeveloped region and in the work of progress and advancement always bore his part. He was a practical and enterpris- ing farmer who left to his widow a comfort- able home, and was a man whose sterling worth and strict integrity gained him the high regard of all with whom he was brought in contact.
HARLES D. STICKLER. This gentleman is another one of the representative farmers of Whitley county, Indiana, his farm being lo- cated on section 10, Washington township. Briefly a review of his life is as follows:
Mr. Stickler's father, Michael Stickler, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylva- nia, in 1802, son of George and Christina Stickler, he a native of the province of Al- sace, then a part of France, and she a Vir- ginian by birth; both early settlers of Penn- sylvania. The mother of Charles D. was before her marriage Miss Rebecca Heiser. She was born in Lancaster county, Penn- sylvania, in 1807, daughter of George Hei- ser, who was of German descent. Both the Stickler and Heiser families moved to Ohio and settled in Stark county when the par- ents of our subject were small, and there they grew up and were married. After their marriage they settled on a tract of land ten miles from Canton, cleared the
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same and made a good farm, and in 1853 sold out and moved over into Indiana, locat- ing on wild land in section 29, Columbia township, Whitley county. Here they clear- ed up another farm. They made their home on it until 1877, when they moved to Ful- ton county, this State. In 1885 they re- turned to Whitley county, and that same year Mr. Stickler died. His widow survived him until June 8, 1894. They were the parents of ten children, all of whom reached maturity. Eight of this number are now living: Mrs. Lydia Bentz, John M., David, William, Benjamin, Mrs. Rebecca George, George, and Charles D. The parents were members of the Reformed Lutheran Church, and in this faith reared their children.
Charles D. is the youngest of the family now living. He was born in Stark county, Ohio, February 5. 1848, and was five years old when the family removed to Whitley county and settled in Columbia township. In this township he was reared, and in the local district schools his education was re- ceived. When he was sixteen he left home and engaged in sawmilling. After his mar- riage, which event occurred in 1872, he set- tled down on a rented tarm in Thorn Creek township, this county, and continued to farm in said township until 1877, when he purchased an interest in a sawmill in Rich- land township and inoved there. A year later he moved the mill to Washington township, and ran it two years longer. Then he settled on his present farm, then all covered with forest, and to the work of clearing and cultivation his land has since devoted his energies, the result being that he now has sixty acres under cultivation. His farm comprises eighty acres.
Mr. Stickler was married in 1872 to Miss Lida E. Egolf, a native of this county, born |
in 1853, daughter of Henry and Rachel (Roshon) Egolf. Her mother is deceased, and her father resides in Thorn Creek town- ship, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Stickler have had eight children, six of whom are living, viz .: Clarence H., Orlando H., Minnie L., Otto H., Benjamin F., and Flora Olive. All are at home except Clar- ence H., who is married and settled in life. His wife was formerly Miss Eva Jones.
Mr. Stickler has always affiliated with the Democratic party, and for a number of years has served as a Justice of the Peace. He was appointed to this office in 1885, the following year was elected to it, and has twice been re-elected, in 1890 and 1894, his present term holding until 1898.
a DWARD L. ZEIS, cashier of the State Bank of Jonesboro, Indiana. -- This popular banking institution, of which Mr. Zeis is cashier, was first organized as a private bank in July, 1891, and was re-organized under the State laws of Indiana in 1892. It numbers among its stockholders some of the most influential and wealthy farmers of the county, its man- agement being in the hands of such well known men as John C. Evans, president; Dr. E. M. Whitson, vice-president; E. L. Zeis, cashier; and C. H. Rothinghouse and Robert Corder -- all of Jonesboro. A general banking business is transacted with all parts of the world. The bank building, a com- modious and modern structure, was erected in 1893, and it contains the largest fire and burglar proof bank vault in Grant county.
Mr. E. L. Zeis is a native of La Fayette, Indiana, the son of Conrad H. Zeis, who is a native of Hesse Cassel, Germany, born November 3, 1843. The latter was a son
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of John Zeis, formerly a bookbinder in the Fatherland, who died many years ago. Conrad Zeis emigrated to America in 1858, settling in Greencastle, Indiana, where he entered a drug store, intending to learn the business, but as he found it uncongenial to his taste he abandoned it. He then applied himself to learning the bakery business, which was more to his liking and in which he had some considerable degree of success. Later he went to Indianapolis and La Fay- ette, and in 1868 settled in Oxford, at a day when that now thriving town was isolated from the thoroughfares of travel. Here he established himself in the grocery business, his goods being hauled on wagons from La Fayette until the railroad was built to Oxford.
Mr. Zeis has been eminently successful in his business career, having amassed a com- fortable fortune. He is still actively engaged in the grocery business at Oxford, carrying on the most extensive store in the place, be- ing now the oldest living merchant in Benton county. For his public-spiritedness he is noted, and he is decidedly popular as well. The large brick block occupying the corner of Main and Fifth streets, Jonesboro, he erected in 1893.
Mr. Zeis was united in marriage with Miss Barbara Schmidt, a native of Ohio, who was born September 5, 1843. Her father was accidentally killed at Evansville, Indiana. Five children were bornto Mr. and Mrs. Zeis, four of whom are living, -- Edward L., Charles F., Gertie E. and Emma M .; Oma June is deceased.
Mr. Zeis and his estimable wife are Chris- tians of a strictly orthodox type, being mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Few men and women, if any, have a stronger hold upon the esteem and friendship of the people than they. To do good and deal
honestly has always been their motto, and great is their reward.
Edward L. Zeis was born November 18, 1867. His preliminary education was re- ceived in the schools of Oxford. Subse- quently, as supplemental to this, he attend- ed the Union Business College at La Fay- ette, taking the regular course, and was graduated in 1885. Returning to Oxford, he again entered his father's store. In 1888 he was tendered the position of cashier in the Citizens' State Bank, of Rochester, In- diana. In banking he had had no practical experience, and the proposition was indeed flattering to his recognized business capacity and judgment. However, he accepted the proffer, being at the time twenty-one years of age. The place he creditably and effi- ciently filled until 1891, when the organiza- tion of a bank at Jonesboro was decided upon; and the same year he, his father and others established there a private bank, which was reorganized in 1892, as before stated at the the head of this article.
He has investments in the neighboring town of Gas City, being a stockholder in the Gas City Land Company, and of the Jonesboro Gas Company he is treasurer and director.
Mr. Zeis was united in marriage with Miss Belle C. Miller, of Rochester, April 17, 1894. She was born in 1871, and is the daughter of George I. Miller, a native of Ohio, now a representative business man of prominence in Rochester. Mrs. Zeis is a young woman of pleasing personality and refined culture, being a graduate of the Ox- ford (Ohio) College, of the class of 1893. She and her husband are both interested in Christian work, belonging respectively to the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches. Of the latter Mr. Zeis is Trustee and Stew-
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ard. Socially he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Jonesboro Lodge; and during 1894 he was president of the School Board. Politically he espouses the principles of Re- publicanism and is a close adherent to its doctrines of government.
ENJAMIN L. AUGER, popular florist of Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a native of this city. He was born February 22, 1853, his parents being Charles and Catherine (Trapp) Auger.
Charles Auger was born near Versailles, France, in 1824, the son of a French florist. After being employed in a number of the leading gardens of Europe, principally in France, he emigrated to America and loca- ted first in New York city. Subsequently he came West to Indiana, stopping for a time in Marion, and coming from there, in 1852, to Fort Wayne. Here he engaged in market and flower gardening. In 1869, when the city had sufficiently developed, he gave his attention exclusively to the busi- ness of florist, in which he continued for many years. He is the pioneer florist of Allen county, and one of the oldest in the State, Fort Wayne still being his home. Of his good wife we record that she was born near London, England, and that she came to America about the time Mr. Auger ar- rived here. Their marriage occurred in New York city.
Benjamin L. Auger, with whose name we introduced this article, was educated in the public schools of his native city, spend- ing also three years at Notre Dame. On completing his studies, he engaged in busi- ness with his father. Subsequently he was for three years, from 1873 to 1876, in Cin- cinnati, during that time having charge of
the establisment of Cooke & Company, the leading florists of the Queen City. On his return to Fort Wayne, in 1876, he again -- became associated in business with his father, and when his father retired in 1883 Benjamin L. succeeded him, and has since - conducted an extensive and profitable busi- ness. For a number of years he has proba- bly had the largest cut-flower trade in the city of Fort Wayne. Mr. Auger's office and greenhouse, at No. 16 East Washington street, occupies a space, 62 x 150 feet, and since 1887 he has had a growing house, 150 x 150 feet, on Creighton avenue.
Mr. Auger is married and has an interest- ing family of three children, the date of his marriage being 1879. Mrs. Auger was for- merly Miss Lillian Bird, she being a daugh- ter of James Bird, of Fort Wayne.
Like most of the enterprising business men of this city, Mr. Auger is identified with a number of fraternal organizations. He has a membership in the National and State Florists' Associations, the F. & A. M., I. O. O. F., and K. of P. He is a mem- ber of Trinity Church of Fort Wayne.
ILTON B. EMERSON. - This gentleman has for years been one of the prominent factors in the history of Whitley county, Indi- ana, and as such should be accorded specific recognition in a work of this character.
Mr. Emerson is a native of the Buckeye State. Before giving a sketch of his life, however, we wish to refer briefly to his parentage. His father, Jacob Emerson, was a Virginian, born in 1801, and of En- glish descent, but was reared in Pennsylva- nia, removing from that State to Ohio, in 1820, and settling on a farm in Wayne
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county. He was one of the early pioneers of Wayne county and in the dense woods cleared and improved a farm. In Wayne county he was married to Miss Elizabeth Merriman, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1805, daughter of William Merriman and an aunt of Dr. E. Merriman, who is given special mention elsewhere in this volume. Jacob Emerson and his wife spent the rest of their lives in Wayne county, his death occurring there in 1865 and hers in 1871. They had eight children who reached adult years, and of this number four are now liv- ing: Sarah and John are residents of Wayne county, Ohio; Milton B. is the subject of this review; William, deceased; Elizabeth, de- ceased; Harriet, deceased; Mary Ellen, of Wayne county, Ohio; and Amanda, de- ceased. The parents were earnest Christians and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the father for many years serving as Class-leader.
Milton B. Emerson was born at the old homestead in Salt Creek township, Wayne county, Ohio, June 23, 1830, and there spent the first twenty-one years of his life, his educational advantages being limited to those of the district schools. For a time he was employed in work at the carpenter's trade and in the manufacture of shingles. In 1851 he came to Whitley county, Indi- ana, and the first winter here he spent in teaching school in Washington township. At the close of his school he turned his attention to work at the carpenter's trade, which he followed until the next June. At that time he returned to Ohio and harvested a crop of wheat on the old home farm. He remained in Ohio until the fall of 1855, when he came back to Whitley county, In- diana, bringing with him his bride, whom he had married that same year. Arrived
here he settled on a tract of land in Wash- ington township, 120 acres on section 27. About six acres of this land had been partly cleared. He built a log cabin, went on with the work of clearing, and continued his residence on this place until 1875, when he bought eighty acres on section 21. On this farm was a hewed-log house, which he repaired and moved into, and here again he spent much of his time in the "clearing." Subsequently he sold out and moved to South Whitley. In 1876 he bought his present farm in section 5. Cleveland town- ship, and in the fall of that year moved to it, and here he has lived ever since. This land was improved at the time he purchased it. He at first had 205 acres, but has disposed of some of it and now his farm comprises 140 acres, all except thirty under cultivation. In connection with his farming operations, he was for some time engaged in buying and selling stock, but he is now retired from active business and is quietly enjoying the results of his years of honest and earnest toil.
February 27, 1855, Mr. Emerson mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Scott, a native of Wayne county, Ohio, born October 3, 1835, daughter of Robert and Lottie (Cun- ningham) Scott, natives of Pennsylvania and early settlers of Wayne county, Ohio. In the Scott family were eight children, seven of whom reached adult age, namely: William, deceased; James, Fulton county, Ohio; Noah, Sylvania, Ohio; John, Wayne county, Ohio; Judge Cunningham, Omaha, Nebraska; Elizabeth, wife of Mr. Emerson; and Mary, deceased. Mrs. Emerson died May 4, 1889, leaving seven children, as follows: Robert J., editor and proprietor of the South Whitley News; Franklin P., who married Ida Mcknight and has three
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children, lives near Mishawaka, this State; Noah W .. who married Chloe Hower, is a resident of Marion, Indiana; William E. is married, has one child, and lives in St. Louis, Missouri; Leander F., at home; Celestia, wife of Hugo Logan, has one child; and Sarah E., wife of Albert Naber, North Manchester, Indiana.
Mr. Emerson is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, as was also his wife. In church, educational and political matters he has ever taken an active inter- est, always exerting an influence for good in his community. All his children have been well educated and five of them have at various times been engaged in teaching. Politically Mr. Emerson has supported the Democratic party, but is decidedly inde- pendent in his views. For twelve years he filled the office of Justice of the Peace, a part of the time at Washington township and later at South Whitley, and he served six years as County Commissioner, five years of the time being chairman of the board. It was during this time that the county jail was erected. In his business life, as a township and county officer, and in whatever position he has been placed, his life has ever been such as to command the respect and esteem of all with whom he came in contact.
ETER CREAGER. - It is now the privilege of the biographer to pre- sent a sketch of the life of one of Washington township's oldest liv- ing pioneers, Peter Creager, a man well known throughout Whitley county, and as highly respected as he is well known.
Peter Creager, Sr., the father of this gentleman, was born in Frederick county,
Maryland, in the year 1777, son of Adam Creager, a native of Germany and a soldier in the Revolution, who, after the war, made permanent settlement in Maryland. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Rike, was born in 1790 in the same county as her husband, and they were married in Maryland. During the war of 1812 they moved to the Western Reserve and settled in Montgomery county, Ohio. That was at the time Hull's army was passing near Dayton. In 1835 they con- tinued their way Westward and took up their abode in Whitley county, Indiana. The journey to this county was made by wagon, eighteen days were consumed in making the trip, and their road all the way was through the woods. Arrived in Whit- ley county, they located on the north- west quarter of section 13, Cleveland township. At that time there were only four other families in the township. In- dians and wild animals were numerous, and in the children of the red men the Creager children found interesting play- mates. Here Mr. Creager senior founded a home for himself and family, and here he passed the rest of his life, his death occur- ring in 1848. The mother of our subject was his second wife. She died in 1870. The children of his first wife have been dead for many years. The family of which our subject is a member was composed of eight children, as follows: Ezra, deceased; Adam, deceased; Henry, deceased; Christopher, a resident of Cleveland township, this county; Levi, who was a soldier in the Civil war; Margaret, deceased; Peter, whose name in- itiates this article; and John, a resident of Preble county, Ohio. The parents were devoted Christians and consistent members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Polit-
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ically the father was a Democrat and took an active interest in public affairs. Hewas one of the organizers of the county, and also served as one of the early County Com- missioners of Whitley county.
Peter Creager, of this sketch, dates his birth in Montgomery county, Ohio, April 26, 1829, and at the time of the removal of the family to Indiana he was six years old. His educational advantages here were neces- sarily limited. The schoolhouse in which he conned his early lessons was a rude log structure, and the school was kept on the subscription plan; but even this primitive school young Creager was not permitted to attend throughout the terms, for much of the time, as soon as he was old enough, he had to stay at home and assist with the farm work. Thus passed his youthful days. After his father's death he took charge of the home farm, and remained at the old homestead until 1855. That year he set- tled on his present farm, eighty acres on section 16, Washington township. This land was then covered with heavy timber and was wholly without improvements. He built a little cabin, moved into it, and at once began the work of clearing away the trees; and he not only cleared his own land but he also cleared other land in order to get the money with which to pay for his farm. The result of his honest toil and careful management is shown to-day in his well cultivated fields and the substantial im- provements upon his farm. His present residence was built in 1888.
Mr. Creager was married January 1, 1854, to Millissa Jane Williamson, a native of Ohio, born May 22, 1835, daughter of Joshua Williamson; she died December 25, 1865. They had three children, two of whom are living: Lydia A., wife of C. W.
Alexander, of this township, has four chil- dren, Gilbert, George, Leon and Grace; and Joseph L., who married Thirsa Cover- stone, lives in this township. August 30, 1866, Mr. Creager wedded Margaret E. Chamberlin, a native of Perry county, Ohio, daughter of William Chamberlin, who set- tled in Whitley county about 1854, and died here; she was born July 31, 1842. Their children are Margaret Minnie, wife of Albert Smith, Washington township, this county, their children being Pearl and Marie; and Arthur Carleton, at home.
Mr. Creager and his family are identi- fied with the United Brethren Church. He has been a member of this church for forty years and has been a Trustee ever since the church was built here. In public affairs he has kept himself well posted, and has been for years an active participant in local mat- ters, affiliating with the Democratic party. For six years he was a Trustee of Wash- ington township, and for seven years he served as County Commissioner of Whitley county, his term of service in the latter office covering the period in which the court- house was built. His name appears on the courthouse plate. More might be said of his active and useful life, but enough already ·has been given to serve as an index to his character and to show that he is entitled to a place among the representative men of the county.
J AMES M. SMITH .- The subject of this sketch is a self-made man and a representative farmer of Whitley county, Indiana. His farm is located on section 29, Washington township.
Elias Smith, the father of James M., was born in Wayne county, Ohio, in the
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year 1825, son of Moses Smith, a Penn- sylvania farmer and a descendant of German ancestry. In his native county Elias Smith was married to Miss Nancy Merryman, whose birth occurred there in 1829 and whose fa- ther was Elisha Merryman. They contin- ued to reside in Wayne county for two years after their marriage and in 1849 came to Indiana and located on land in section 27, Washington township, Whitley county. At that time there were only a few families in this locality and the country was nearly all thickly wooded. Mr. Smith had been here as early as 1844 and at that time had made choice of the land upon which he settled in 1849. He entered three quarter-sections of land. Here he built his cabin, moved his family into it, and here he passed the resi- due of his life, the date of his death being 1878. He cleared the land, and all the buildings now on it were erected by him, with the exception of a residence. His widow survives and still makes her home on this farm. Following are the names of their children, all of whom are living: Mary C. Haley, James M., Basil C., Elisha T., Will- iam Albert, Harriet Keziah Raber, and Sher- man H. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Baptist Church, as also was her worthy hus- band, who was a Deacon at the time of his death. He took an interest in local affairs, helped to organize the township of Washing- ton, and was a man who had the respect and esteem of all who knew him.
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We pass now to the life of James M. Smith, with whose name we introduce this article. He was born at the old homestead above described, October 5, 1852, and was reared in a manner similar to other farmer boys, his education being received in the schools of his district. Before he was eight- een he assisted in the clearing of about thirty
acres of the home farm, and at eighteen he started out in life for himself, going first to Ford county, Illinois, where he worked out as a farm hand one year. At the end of that time he returned to his home in this county. The three years which followed found him employed in work at the carpen- ter's trade, after which he cultivated the home farm until 1875, and in the fall of that year he purchased sixty acres of his present farm. About eighteen acres of this place were cleared when he purchased it. Then another year he spent in work at the carpenter's trade, and again he settled down to farming, in connection with which he also for three years operated a threshing-machine. Since 1888 he has resided on his present farm. He now owns 120 acres, ninety-five of which are under cultivation, all the buildings on the land having been erected by him. His residence was built in 1891. Mr. Smith now devotes his time exclusively to farming.
He was married in 1880 to Miss Sabina E. Lehman, a native of this township, born in 1859, daughter of Adam Lehman, now a resident of Goblesville, Huntington county, Indiana. Mr. Lehman was one of the early settlers of this township and cleared a farm here on section 32. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of seven children, all of whom are living, and as follows: Rollie Otto, Myrtle Olive, Florence May, Amos Basil, Claude Adam, Robert Russell, and Harley Monroe.
Mr. Smith was for several years an active member of the Sugar Grove Grange and in 1 894 filled the office of Overseer in the same. His political affiliations are with the Demo- cratic party. He and his family are entitled to the esteem and respect in which they are held by the people of the community in which they reside.
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