USA > Indiana > Kosciusko County > Progressive men and women of Kosciusko County, Indiana : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography > Part 34
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81
25
COMPENDIUSE OF BIOGRAPHY.
tered eighty acres in Wayne county from and Sarah ( Lumpkin) Ball. To the union the government, a tract without a stick out two children were born : Sarah J .. who ba it and covered with an impenetrable it : . est of heavy trees. Indian trails r .... through the woods in every direction. He went to work and cleared of a spot for . rade log cabin and created it with the help ( i the few nearest neighbours. Showing the forest disappeared before the as of the farmer and crops of grain took the place of the trees. In time the old log cabin. was replaced with a better structure, and stad- fly the pioneer period became a thing of the past. He remained in that county until 1837 and then sold out and moved to Deia- ware evanty, where he entered one hundred and twenty acres from the government and again prepared to clear off the timber. He remained on this farm with his family un- til the autumn of 1851, when he again sold out and came to Fulton of unity and i might sixty acres, partly cleared, and created a substantial frame house thereon. There the father and mother passed the remainder of their days, the former dying in 1870 and the latter in 1863. The father was an hon- est. enterprising and industrious man, and had the respect of everybody. He was a member of the Dunkard church. To him and wife nine children were born, as fol- Je: John, Calvin. William, Margaret. Henderson. Mary A., Thomas. Aaron and Harriet. Only four of these are living. Henderson. Thomas. Aaron and Harriet. aged respectively seventy-nine, seventy-four. seventy-two and seventy years. Henderson remained on his father's farm until he was twenty years old. attending the district schools and working during the summers on the farm. On September 6. 1842, he married Miss Charity, daughter of James
died at the age of ten years ; and Nancy E .. who died in infancy. Upon the death of His first wife Mr. Ball married Preek Lamp- Kin and by her has thirteen children: Me- vina, burnt September 25, 18.30, die aged six years; Martha A., born November S. 1817. became the wife of WARin R. Will- Hatte; Lewis Cars, born December 12. . 8 28, is single and lives with his father: WHim I ... buth April 1, also, died in infancy; james On. born September 1. 1851. ...- ceased : Charity M. born July 19. . 853. vi- came the wife of Calvin Nover and reries in Akron. Indiana: john Milton. bora Feb- rotary 27. 1855. married Jennie Meredith and lives in Franklin township: Catherine. born December 18, 1856, is the wife of George Swick and Five Hear Akron: The en- is E. bork June 25. 1858, married Lanma Robinson and reside, in Seward township ; Laura Alec, bort May 24. 1860, became the wife of Amondo Gast and lived in Agron until her death : Diantha V .. born February 27. 1862. became the wife of Henry Mere- dith and lives in Franklin township: Jen- nie G., born Jane 1. 1864. is single and re- sides at home with her father; Robert Nei- son, born May 3. 1867. married Miss Hilda Hamtion and resides in Anderson, Indianas Henderson Ball, the subject, grew to ma- turity on his father's farm. When eighteen years of age he became impressed with the story of the gospels and began to study for the ministry. He was duly licensed in 1840 and was placed in charge of a circuit at once. his first charge being seven miles west it his present place. He remained in active service for twenty-one years. During that time he baptised about two hundred per-
282
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHIE.
sons, married about one hundred couples, must. It will probably not be disputed that filled appointments at thirty. twenty-four. twenty, twenty-one, fifteen and seven miles distance, preached in one hundred and five different houses and many times in some of the houses, traveled through all sorts of weather, at one time making a ride of thirty miles when the thermometer registered twenty-five degrees below zero at eleven o'clock in the morning. The Baptist church to which he belonged and for which he labored was greatly benefited by his learn- ing, piety, eloquence and tireless energy in the cause of the Master. He is a stalwart member of society and the friend of all re- forms. He served as notary public for thir- ty-five years, during which time he has writ- ten much of the legal work for all persons in this portion of the county. He has voted with the Republican party since its organiza- tion in 1856. He has been spoken of often in connection with the legislature, and dur- ing the Rebellion was frequently threatened by the Knights of the Golden Circle for his outspoken and loyal utterances. His son Aaron served as a private in the Federal army. Mr. Ball is specially distinguished by his honesty, firmness of character, piety and intelligence. He is widely known and has the unlimited confidence and respect of everybody.
JONATHAN P. ROBINSON.
One of the most evident things to the thoughtful farmer is the fact that life at no stage is a bed of roses. There are thorns, and many of them, along the path of farming life, and the lucky ones are they who are pierced by the fewest and avoid the
all persons should keep in view the import- ant daty of pulling out the thorns from the feet of those who are less forumate. They may thus not only lay up treasures f ; themselves, but help strew the pathway of some less fortunate mortale with roses or some other flower agreeable to sight and sindi. After a short time this Enportant daty will become a pleasure and then the whole world, in all its harshness and with. all its thorns, will begin to blossom in red earnest. The subject of this sketch is one who believes in the motto, "Live and let live." He does not care to rise if he has to walk over the bodies of others to do so. Ile believes in honest emulation and fair competition and is willing to march side by side with his fellow creatures and take his chances with the rest, giving them their dues and taking his own. He was born in Seward township, Kosciusko county, Indi- ana. December 21, 1854. and is a son of George M. and Sarah ( Luce) Robinson. The Robinson family came to this state from Kentucky in 1826 and located in Clin- ton county, where the grandfather, William Robinson, entered a tract of land from the government. He was of Irish descent and a man of much force of character, and was in all things a typical pioneer. There he resided in the deep woods until 1830, when he sold out and came to section 9. Seward township, Kosciusko county, and entered a heavily wooded tract of one hundred and sixty acres. At that time this portion of the state was a howling wilderness. filed with wild animals and scarcely less wild Indians. Immense forests stretched out in all directions and were infested with wolves, bears, foxes, panthers, etc., and it was very
283
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
indicalt to keep sheep and other shall stock. in farming with the father. We are the a He built a log cabin, placed his little Tain- by therein, and began to cheat of the trees and brush and seen to plant the crops. Tie was the first settler in this part of the cous- ty to plant out an orchard, and to this day some of the trees then planted are living and bearing. To him and wife these chil- dren were born: Henry, Willian, Robert, John, George. Samuel, James, Andrew, Anna, Bliza and Sarah. George M. the father of subject, was twenty years old when he came to this county. He took part in all the pioneer doing of the times, often met the Indians and became a good hunter. Ilis education was received at the old sub- scription schools during the winters and his work was hard and steady in the heavy woods and among the stumps during the summers. He married Miss Sarah Luce. and they became the parents of the follow- ing children: Harvey C., who married Miss Rosella Plenar, and upon her danh he married a second time and now lives in Marion, Indiana : Catherine became the wire of A. M. Black and lives in Fillmore com- is Nebraska : Jonathan P., subject. The latter grew up on his father's farm and se- cured a fair education. Upon reaching ma- turity he wedded Miss Effie F. Hosman. daughter of Charles Hosman. She is a na- tive of this county, bern April 15. 1806. and received in her youth a fair education. She has presented her husband with two children, as follows : Azadie B., born Au- ARTHUR SMITH. gust 5. 1881. who has been well educated and fitted to teach school. She has taught in this township, is a finished scholar, holds a state teacher's certificate, is unmarried and resides at home with her parents. Ray- mond M., born September 1, 1885, engaged
the education: initial the whole Ml; takes easily and naturally to learning and in- struction. At the time of his marriage -al- jeet did not have much of the world's goods, but he went to work to get what would be sufficient to support bis family and educate them, and has more than succeeded. He has a small in excellent farm, with good it- provaments. La politics he is an undinch- ing Republican, and takes great interest in die success of his party's dieket, being the of the party's best workers in this part of the county. He is often mentioned in con- nection with some of the county offices and would be a credit to any such position. The family are intelligent, progressive, moral and have the highest confidence and respect of all who come within the bounds of their acquaintance. Mir. Robinson is at present secretary of the Seward Detective Associ- ton of this township and has been since it- organization. He is also vice-president the Kosciusko Detective Union of the com- is. The purpose of the organization ist, protect its members from horse thieves. counterfeiters, and house and barn barners. Any constable of the organization is ch- powered to arrest without a state warrant. Mr. Robinson is prominent in business to politics and in all matters affecting this con :- munity.
This is an age in which the farnh; stands pre-eminently above any other chass is a producer of wealth. He simply takes advantage of the winds, the warm air, the bright sunshine, the refreshing rains, and
17
284
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
with God's help and by virtue of his own contiver 17. 1800. Vier father was all settler, having come to this county fifty-live years ago. He was a typical pioneer and saw the country at its newest. The land it that time was covered with its heavy cont- ing of forest trees, which stretched away in 1 every direction in an aunost unbroken es- phone. Here and there the rade log cabins dotted the saul clearings, and the wolves and other wild anna- contended with man. for the occupancy of the deep woods. But and sound morals despite the wildness of the early - arreadings. To the subject and Mis wie two children were born, as follows: Warden 1. born October 15. 1888, and Cleo A .. it May 22, 1801. both bright and in- teresting children. About the time of his marriage Mr. Smith became interested in a brick and the factory on the farm and chest Silver Lasse and he followed this business for seven years. He made considerable money, but in the spring of LESS he said. pout and returned to the farm, and here he has stayed ever since. In connection with his farm he has conducted several other en- terprises. He has operated a threshing ma- chine for four seasons and has made money by that venture. He now owns ninety acres of well cultivated land and has a barn, baile a short time ago, which, with his pretty rest- dence, cost him three thousand dollars. He is a Republican in politics and one of his party's leaders in this part of the coanty. In 1868 he, at the solicitations of his mu- merous friends, made the race for nomina- tion for county recorder, but after the see- end ballet in the convention withdrew his name from the contest. He is the present chairman of his precinct and is watchful of his party's interests. He is a member of the skill in handling nature's gifts he creates grain, hay, live stock and vegetables, all of which are absolute necessities to the inhab- itants of the world. The commercial sys- tem has come to recognize his importance at last and has surrounded him with many conveniences and utensils unthought of one hundred years ago. The inventor has given him the self binder, the riding plow, the steam thresher and many other labor-say- ing devices. And the farmer has not been / her father reared his family to good health. slow to take advantage of these blessed im- provements. He everywhere has utilized them and made them add to his wealth and his comfort. It has been thus with the sub- ject of this sketch, who stands among the county's best and most progressive farmers. He was born on section 10. Seward town- ship, Kosciusko county, Indiana. December 18, 1857, and is the sea of Mark and Nancy ( Garvin) Smith. He was born and reared on his father's farm and began to learn from the start the art of husbandry. ilis educa- tion was somewhat limited, but he has since made the most of his strong mind and ex- cellent judgment, reading a great deal and assimilating what he reads. He remained on his father's farm until he had attained the age of twenty-eight years, but before this, when he had reached the age of twenty- two years, he began to lay aside money for himself. He tilled a portion of his father's farm on shares and steadily contrived to get ahead in this world's goods. The most im- portant event to him up to this time, except his birth, was his marriage, which occurred March 22, 1886, the lady of his choice be- ing Miss Semantha J., daughter of G. W. and Mary ( Horn) Herald, of Franklin township, her birth having occurred De-
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHIE.
Milights of the Maccabees at Claypool and I of the Knights of Pythias of Silver Lake. He is also captain of the Seward Detective Association, an organization formed to pre- vont horse stealing and kindred crimes which affect the farmer. He is one of the strongest characters in this part of the 1
JOSEPH ULRICHL.
There are many old and experience! farmers in Kosciusko county, Incluant, but there are few who exedi in years or expert- ence Joseph Ulrich, of Jackson township, who is the subject of this biography. Ile was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, De- comber 26, 1813, and is a son of Stephen and Ann ( Christian) Ulrich.
The great-grandparents of Mr. Ulrich came from Germany long prior to the Amer- ista Revelation and settled in that part of Huntington county which has since been erected into the county of Blair in Pennsy ;- vania. There the paternal grandfather of subject married Susan French, who Inte him six children. namely: joseph. Susan, Catherine, Mary. Stephen and Samuel.
Stephen Ulrich, father of Joseph, the subject of this sketch, removed from the Keystone state to the Buckeye state sont ther his marriage and bought two hundred and eighty acres of land near the city of Dayton, in Montgomery county, but after farming there for some years sold out and ame to Kosciusko county, Indiana. In October, 1835. there had been a land sale at Fort Wayne, at which Stephen entered a large tract in Jackson township, Kosci- usko county. Joseph, the subject, and a brother, although they owned nine hundred . county.
and sixty teres, were dessert of sorties six hundred and may addisonna gers. .... on Monday, January 3. 1836, Started ... foot from Dayton, Offo, ir Lagone. 1- diana, bent og making farther parties. Their route was by the way of Wenndie, in- diante, and thence to Marina, where there were only three log houses at the time, at . thence to Lafire. At this point they were overtaken by darkness and could find a incent by which they call cross the Wa- bash giver and felt themselves to be in gues back when they found shelter in a shanty in the neighborhood for the night. two brothers had on their pers is seventeen hundred dollars and for alleng thne sat by the fire. but eventually retired to bed, but not to sleep. The following meeting the La thers crossed the river in a -kiff and Forged na to Laporte, via Manchester. They entered three hundred and twenty deres i government land in Jacks & twisty. Nos- caske curity, and then went on to Login- sport. Lafayette and ladiany dis. AM at tit the small towns. They walked all the way. a distrutte of five hundred miles, and were about five weeks on the trip, or wing sa - len streams on ligy and i wuming ton that's through the words. Finely Stehen "sich returned & Ohio.
To Stephen and Anna ( Christian, - rick was born six children. Viz .: Jose. subject of this sketch : Samuel, who martien Sarah Ulrich, It is now decasal: S .: - mon: Stephen, who first married a Mis Heeter and secondly Susan Overbaltzer. .. mative of Wabash county, Indiana: Jae . who also married a Miss Heeter and Kke- wise resides in Wabash county; and ENZa- bath, wife of Jacob lecter, of the same
286
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY.
Joseph Ulrich learned the shoemaker's trade in his early days and followed that calling for thirty-five years. He had it- tended school about nine months, and had learned to read and write, but acquired some considerable knowledge when he was united in marriage. August 9, 1838, with Miss . Elizabeth Swihart, who was bern September 21, 1810, in Ohio, Six years after mar- riage he came to Kosciusko county, Indi- ana, and in 1844 settled in Jackson township on twenty-two acres of woodland, the farm on which he now lives, which land he cleared up and improved with a comfortable dwell- ing and other necessary structures. In the winter of 1846 he taught the first school in the township and received forty-five dollars for his sixty days service in this capacity. Joseph and Elizabeth (Swihart ) Ulrich have been blessed with five children, name- ly: Gabriel. born December 20, 1830. taught school several terms, married Mary A. Kreider, and lives in Jackson township: Stephen .A., born July 22, 1842, married Rachel Bear and also resides in this town- ship: Aaron, born April 11, 1844, married Mary J. Miller and died in 1875: Anna E .. born September 2, 1847. is the wife of Levi Miller; Joseph, born Jaly 1. 1850, married Elizabeth Miller, and these two families likewise live in Jackson township.
In 1848 Mr. Ulrich built a saw-mill in which he sawed many thousand feet of lum- ber and also destroyed many thousand feet by fire, as he owned a half-section of forest land in one body and an eighty-acre trast besides.
Mr. and Mrs. Ulrich are devout mem- bers of the German Baptist church, of which they have been communicants since 1840 and which they have liberally aided in
supporting financially. This body was ps- ganized in 1837. and it will be seen that the subject and wife were among its carly men :- Lers. Stave 1800 Mr. Ulrich has been a. deacon and for over thirty years was sex- tom; he witnessed the church's many strug- gles at the earlier days, but has lived to sty it tarice and increase until the original Be River district, as it was called, had been sith .- divided into several districts, a schism hav- ing occurred for some reason in the con- gregation in 18SI.
Mr. Ulrich has never interfered wither taken any active part in politics, but his par- clivities are with the Republicans. He and wife have journeyed over the path of life hand in hand for sixty-four years and are in all probability the oldest couple in Konci- usko county: certainly nome are beter known for more highly respected for their istay amiable personal characteristics. M. Bleich has ever been a truly public-pirite : citizen and has done as much, in a monetary sense and otherwise, for Jackson township as any man living within its boundaries, and in consequence stands as one of the fore- most in public esteem.
ELIAS A. STONEBURNER.
This gallant ex-soldier, ex-teacher and capable civil official and prominent citizen of Sidney, Kosciusko county, Indiana, was born in Hocking county, Ohio, October 19. IS je, and is at son of James and Julia 1. (Sonder ) Stoneburner.
Andrew Stoneburner, paternal grandia- ther of Elias A., was born in Germany and was a single man when he came to America.
2.37
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGR. IPHIY.
m 1868 be settled in Hecking county, Ohi , 1802. While in the service Mr. SomBanner and worked by the month for some time and took part in vine regalar battie and thirty - then purchased eighty acres of woodland. which he at once began to clear up, and on which he erected a log cabin. In 18to be was united in marriage, to which union were born two boys. William and James. Of these sons, William conducted a saw mill in Ohio, and when he sold out he came to In- diana, locating in Wabash county, where he lived until 1887. when he returned to Ohio and there passed the remainder of his days.
James Stoneburner was reared on the home farm and received but a limited cou- ention. He married Miss Julia A. Souders, vi German parentage, and this union was crowned with nine children, namely : Amos, Elias. James, William, Mary, Rebeckah. Julia, Jesse and John. Of these, three are deceased. From Ohio James Stoneburner came to Indiana in isoy and located near Liberty Mills, Wabash county, purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres of land and realized a competency. In religion he was a German Baptist.
Elias A. Stoneburner was a young man of nineteen years when the clouds of civa war gathered over the southern horizon and anon burst into a deluge of devastating fire. Young Elias, seeing that every able bodied man with a particle of spirit would fly to arms to protect the flag and save the in- tegrity of the Union, and his own soul be- ing fired with patriotism, offered his own service, and life if need be. He enlisted in Company 1. One Hundred and Fourteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Captain !I. S. Beery, and was mustered into the United States service at Circleville, Ohio, whence his company was sent to Memphis, Tennes- see, to join Sherman's army, in November,
Evo lesser engagements, die thing these comber 25. 1852. the three days' fight it Arkansas Post, under fire atban Vick- burg one hundred and five days, again at Vicksburg, June 10, 1803. Indianola, Jack- soft, Champion's Mill, Grand Gali, Bruce's Lake. Magnolia Hill, in the Red River ex- position, in which he was in several skit- mishes, Mobile. April 9, 1865. during the eight days battle. He was homemaby di- charged and was mustered out at Houston, Texas. August 31. 1865, and paid of at Columbus, Ohio, long after the close of the war. His only casnahy was a slight wound in his first battle, and as a recompense he now receives a pension of eight dollars per month.
On his return from the army Mr. Sine- burner attended school a year and qualifie . himself for teaching, an ambition which hat commendably been cherished before he e- tered the army. The scoured his Hecase in Wabash county. Indiana, in 1800, and taught until 1891. During this period he was principal of the Laketon, India .... schools for eight years and the Ijam vi .... Indiana, schools three years. Am ing his first pupils was Samuel Flora, now himsen a teacher in Kosciusko county.
Mr. Stonebarner has been twice married. first April 7. 1837, to Miss Visada Arnold. and to this which were born two sons. I .- soph O. and Heary, the latter of whom die? in infancy. Joseph On whey was a telegra- pher, is married to Maggie Nealy and now lives in the state of Washington. Mrs. Visada Stonebarner was called from earth in ISTo, and Mr. Stoneburner next married
288
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGR. IPIT.
Miss Sarah M. Grisso, a daughter of Ben- ยท jamin and Catherine Girisso, of German de- scent and born in 1848. Five children have come to bless this marriage, namely : James A .. born August 20, 1882, is married to Verbal Torrence and lives in Sidney. this county ; Charles S., born April 8. USSS : thres who died when small.
Elias .A. Stoneburner came to Kosciusko county in 1889 and settled in Sidney. He is a Republican in politics and has always borne an active part in the work of the party. has been very influential in its councils and extremely popular with its rank and file. He was township assessor while residing in Wayne county, Illinois, was assistant as- sessor in Wabash county, Indiana, for two years, and was highway commissioner two years and clerk of the beard. In 1864 he was elected a justice of the peace for Kosci- usko county, was re-elected, and is still serv- ing in this capacity. During his incam- bency of this office he has performed thirty- one marriage ceremonies, and of the one hundred and fifty-seven trial cases brought before him only one of his decisions has been carried to a higher court for reconsid- eration. As a teacher Mr. Stoneburner was on active duty twenty-five hundred and six- ty-seven days and collected for his services five thousand. one hundred and twenty- eight dollars and sixty-five cents, and many of his pupils became prominent in various professions.
North Manchester, and the Patrons of The- Making in Hanois. He has been podle. usciul and prominent wherever he has to. sided and no family in Sidney stands higher than his.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.