USA > Indiana > Kosciusko County > Progressive men and women of Kosciusko County, Indiana : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography > Part 36
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In 1855 (Re- Miller married Mis La- cinda Leffel, a daughter of William and Julia Leffel. Mr. Miller had saved some . his earnings, but for the first year of his grandfather and family migrated to Ohio, wedded He lived on a rented farm, when was there married, and had born to him eight children: Frederick, Lewis, Jacob, Samuel, Polly, Catherine, Barbara and Rachael.
Cinthia. The first family Mere also German origin, while the Garst family cam inan Hofiind. Lewis Miller and wife a .: children came to Kosciusko canty, Ta- ana, in 18:0, loading in (lay (now Lake; township, where he parchased one hundred. and sixty seres of wild land, but also owned. two hundred and twenty acres in Van Wer county, Ohio. Ah angghi a mechanic. 6.1.d. more than ordinary indly with toon, he was a very successful agriculturist and die ? on his bake township farm in 1865. . me ni the most hovered of the early settlers of the township. Lewis and Susan Miller were the parents of fifteen children, namely: . \n- drew, Rebecca, Gilles, Catherine, Phoebe. Sallie, Mazy, Julia .A., Mary, Lucinda, Rich- ard. Aaron, Guilford. Delilah, Samuel an : Peter: of these there are four still living: Giles, Catherine. Salie and Richard.
Giles Maler was a youth of seventeen years when he came to Kosciusko canty. Indiana, but he even then know how is. hanche an ax and greatly aided in clearing up the new farm, all overgrown with han timber, and so continued until he was awen- ty-one years old. At this age he began working out on his own acce art, taking jobs at clearing.
he and his father bought a farm of sixty- one teres deep in the forest, of which they ook occupancy in the fall of 1856, cleared up and lived on until isog. when Giles re- turned to the dle homestead, on which he has since made his home. To Gies and
Lewis Miller was reared in Clark coun- ty, Ohio, and there married Lettie Gordon, a daughter of Richard and Susan (Garst) . Lucinda ( Leffel) Mitter have been bora
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eight children, viz .: Sarah J., who is the from the improvement of the farm and per- wife of Henry Hinkle, of North Manches- ter: George A., who married Miss In V'ance, the latter being now deceased : . 1. 1 ... who married Flora Bolin and is living in Castle Rock, Minnesota: William I ... why married Clara Butterbaugh, and live. in Seward township, Kosciusko county ; Charles 11., who married Lizzie Duke and lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota: Mary E .. still single: Sammel E., deceased twin of
haps the deadings in farias, it is protein the fact that the great majority of the wadthiest farmers have obtained all . : nearly all of their wealth from their deal- ings in live stock. Such at least has been the case with the subject di this metdir. He is a native of Frankin & anty. Oldo, hat - Ging been both there October 8. 1852, and i. the son of joseph and Elizabeth i. Hatties. The grandfather of subject was a native ni Mary E .: Esta E., born in 1880, is married the Keystone state and removed to Ono to Blanche Richard, is a painter by trade. " back in the pioneer period. He was a farm- and lives in North Manchester.
Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the United Brethren church, in which Mr. Mil- ler has been a trustee for many years. In politics Mr. Miller was for a long time a Democrat, but later became a Prohibitionist : yet he voted for MeKinley at the last presi- dential election. Ile is widely known throughout Jackson township and is highly respected wherever known.
er and in the course of his are ama-ed . large property. His son Josepin the father of subject, was reared on the farm and re- ceived the usual education in the salverip- tion schools. There was no general school fund at that time for the sapp it of schonin. and all parents who wished their chiffres to have the benefits of an instructor were required to pay so much for the term : " each could they sent to a teacher employed's others. These schools were called stacey- tim schools. Joseph was educated in the of them, which had rude slab sets and M- ROBERT HAINES. built of logs. To Jeseph's marriage these children were born: Robert, subject: Vi- It is the custom with many farmers. ney, who died in youth; joseph M. W ... even in this day of known advantage in married Miss Clara Garvin and & # Mel- wist Episcopal minister, stationed at Gar- rett, Indiana; Jane, who worked the age Godinour and lives in this township: ... who married Ida Cox and recipes in Mar- Shall county. Indiana : Amanda, who became the wife of Wesley Baton and is deceased; Isabelle, wife of Isaac Cox, a resident of Seward township: Mary, who wedded E- ward Cook and fives in Mishawaka, Trici- ana: Frank, who lives with his father in Harrison township. Joseph Haines moved putting all corn and hay raised on a firm into stock, to sell the grain which they raise and only deal to a limited extent in five stock. Time has shown that this course is unwise, and those farmers who still stick to that obsolete custom are the losers. It is found that the best results are obtained from making the sale of live stock the first con- sideration, and it is not necessary to point out that most of the successful farmers have adopted long ago this practice. AAside
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his family from Ohio to Indiana in 1872 and in bleached cattle and horses. Nonals bought eighty acres in Harrison township, ' among the latter. He is a Democrat, but being the farm where he now lives. He has i does not take mach interest in politics. He sometimes votes for the candidates of the other party on local ofces. He belongs to the Methodist church and is active in the Sunday school.
led a quiet and industrious life, and now himself and wife are among the old and faithful land marks of this portion of the state. He has been a member of the church nearly all his life and his moral character is above question. He is now seventy-two years of age and his good and faithful wife is sixty-seven years oldl. They are liked and highly respected by all who know them. Robert was reared on his father's farm and received a good education in the schools of Ohio and Indiana. When he attained the age of twenty-one years he began to learn the cooper's trade, working at the same in the winters and farming in the summers. This trade he had learned from his father, who had also learned it in his carly years. In 1878 Robert met and married Miss Alice, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Wirick, and to this marriage one child was born. Ora, who died when thirteen years of age. Ilis first wife having died in 1879. he chose for his second wife, in 1884, Miss Maggie Justice, daughter of William Justice, and they have these children : Anna, who mar- ried Harry Meredith and lives in Clay town- ship: Artie. John, Joseph. Nettic. Mattic. Edith and Walter. After his marriage Rob- ert first rented land and a little later moved back home. Soon afterward he secured a threshing machine and has followed that business for fourteen years. During this time he sold his farm, and is now engaged in farming his brother's place. He is an ex- pert stock man and has made the most of his money in that business. He ships three or four bunches of hogs each year and touches nothing but the finest grades. He also deals
REV. THOMAS WILEY, DECEASED.
The profession of the ministry is the highest that man can follow. it is thus re- gardel in all portions of the world, even am kog savages, who have their spirit doc- tog. Among all peoples of the earth the calling is the same, no matter what the re- Egion. As there is no country that does not have it religion, even though it may not Le Christian, so the minister of priest. of whatever title he may have, stands at the head of the community. His calling is re- garded as necessary as any other, and all find consolation in his expert teachings. The Christian minister gives himself up to the cause of the Master. studies his will, and Communes with him in spirit, and is thus rendered competent to counsel and tivise. Ili- judgment of living and of dying, based upon the teaching of Holy Writ, is conclu- sive to the sinner, who looks to him for a way to reach salvation through Christ. The subject of this sketch followed this holy calling and was a true servant of the and interpreter of his word. He was born in Henry county, Kentucky, February 3. 1827. and was the son of Benjamin and Patey ( Thorn) Wiley. The Wiley family were of Irish descent and natives of Kentucky. where they settled at a very early day. They
REV. THOMAS WILEY
YEJIIW ZAMONT VIN
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moved from Kentucky to Morgan county. Indiana, when that portion of the state was vet a dense woods. In Kentucky and Indi- ana the subject of this sketch was reared to manhood and educated. He was even in his vonth of a pious disposition, and upon reach .- ing years of maturity determined to join the army of the ministry and spend his life in the service of the Master. He believed that it was not good for man to live alone, and accordingly was united in marriage with Miss Sarah E. Sont, of Morgan call- ty, and som afterward came to Kosciusko county and settled in Franklin township. near Sevastopol, in 1856. He bought one hundred and nine acres on section 5 the fol- lowing year. Upon this farm he continued to reside until the day of his death. His first wife dying January 20, 1873, without . church work, and was a true companion to issue, he married, March 10, 1874. Miss Cynthia Cramer, the daughter of Sylvester B. and Elizabeth ( Dent ) Cramer. She was born November 30, 1837. The Cramer family originated in Maryland and were of Germanic descent. Sylvester B. Cramer was; born near where the city of Baltimore now common branches attended one term at the Lebanon Normal School. At the age of twenty-one years she began to teach school as a means of supporting herself and con- tinted thus until 1868 in that vicinity, when she came to this county. During this time she read a great deal, cultivated her mind and made herself proficient as a teacher. Expecting to follow teaching as a life pro- Fession, she did not spare herself and ac- quired wide and varied learning. After coming to this county the continued teach- Ging until 1873. when her hand was sought in marriage by Rev. Mr. Wiley. Upon the consummation of this union she gave up teaching and came to live on the farm, and here she has resided until the present time. She sympathized with her husband in his him in his hoty calling. They lived happily together, loving and laboring, until he was accidentally killed by a horse on August 21. Sol, at Claypool, since which melanch is event she has remained on the farm. He was a local minister of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and in 1873 was ordained stand, and when a young man was taken " local deacon by Bishop Merrill at Logans- to Belmont county, Ohio, and was there reared on his father's farm. He received a common-school education and upon reach- 1 ing manhood was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Dent, a neighbor, and to them were born two children: Cynthia .1. and George D. The latter married Miss Isabella Fulton and now lives on a farm in Belmont county, Ohio. The mother of these two children died November 8. 1839, and the father marrying the second time Cynthia was taken to raise by an aunt. She was given fair advantages and was apt and quick at her books, and after finishing the port. Indiana. He made farming his busi- i ness, but filled appointments, and was an carnest and eloquent orater. filled with the zal that belongs to those who see by faith. He married a great many couples, who came to him from many quarters. . A though he had been reared a Democrat. he became a stanch Republican and was an active worker in his party. He left the Democracy in 1856 and voted for John C. Fremont for president, the first candidate of the newly-formed Republican party. He was at all times a leader in public questions and a moulder of opinion, and his splendid
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character was everywhere recognized and that ever walked tins footstool. He comes appreciated. His widow is a very intelli- gent Christian lady and resides in her home near Mentone. On her farm live James E. Gill and wife, relatives, renting the farm and occupying part of the house. She is well known and has the highest respect of everybody. Mr. Gill is a native of Kosci- usko county, Indiana, born March 3. 1874. a son of James E. and Martha Ann (Cole) Gill. He was educated in the country schools and is an agriculturist. He wedded Miss Della Ingalls, daughter of Albert and Louisa ( Shipley ) Gill, and they have two little daughters, Ethel and Jessie. Mrs. Gill re- Land of that blood, and passed their entire ceived a good education and is an affable and genial lady, being a most fitting com- panion for Mrs. Wiley.
HENRY D. RING.
No people that go to make up our cosmo- politan civilization have better habits of life than those who came originally from the great German empire. The descendants of those people are distinguished for their thrift and honesty, and these two qualities in the inhabitants of any country will in the end alone make that country great. When with these two qualities is coupled the other quality of sound sense, which all the Ger- man descendants possess, there are afforded such qualities as will enrich any land and place it at the top of the countries of the world in the scale of elevated humanity. Of this excellent people came the subject of this brief memoir. He comes of a race that produced the famous "Iron Chancellor." the greatest statesman, all things considered, In 1854 he married Miss Catherine Hop-
of a race that is famous for its original in- vestigations in the problems of civilized life -stich men as Goethe and Heckel. The Germanic blood is found in many of the greatest men and women of this and former years, and the subject of this sketch may well be proud of his descent from such a race. He was born in Germany June 4, 1828, and is thus an old man, whose days on earth are drawing to a close. His par- ente were Henry and Caroline ( Sayder ) King, who lived at Waldeck, Germany. The parents were both natives of that country lives there. Henry D., before he had at- tained his majority, concluded to cross the ocean and find a home in America. Ac- cordingly he boarded a sailing vessel and after many weeks spent in tossing on the Atlantic was landed safe and sound at New York on July 3. 1846. having been out since May roth. He began to learn the cabinet- maker's trade, but as he could not stand that sort of work he started out and after walk- ing about one hundred miles in search of work he finally secured a job on the Penn- sylvania canal at eight dollars per month. After a time he left this work and went to Philadelphia and hired out for one year for one hundred and twenty dollars. At the conclusion of this period he hired out for fifteen dollars per month and continued thus until the fall of 1850, when he came west to Cincinnati, where he worked in a buggy factory for six months at ten dollars per month and board. It was near Tiffin. Ohio. that he first saw corn planted. He worked on a farm there for some time, clearing of the trees and stumps and tilling the soil.
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per and at that time had only one hundred dollars saved up. After his marriage he worked for three or four years at the cab- inetmaker's and carpenter's trades, first re- ceiving ten dollars and then fifteen dollars per month. In 1856 his wife died and he later married Miss Sarah Rinchold. By his first wife he had one child : Ezra, born June -. 1850. By his second wife he had five children : Mary, Ella, William, Carvin and John, all of whom, excepting Mary, are liv- ing. On the 28th day of September, 1804. Mr. Ring enlisted in the Union army and saw service for nearly a year. He partici- pated in several important movements, and was engaged in the battle of Bentonville, North Carolina. When the war ended he returned to his family in Ohio, but in No- vember. 1867, came to Indiana and bought the farm on which he now resides. It was then covered with heavy woods, which has been removed by Mr. Ring. His second wife having died, he married Mrs. Nancy Sloane in April. 1891. He belongs to the Lutheran church, while his wife is a Meth- odist. He is a Democrat, but takes little in- terest in politics. He makes his money mainly out of general farming. He is an industrious and honest man and has the re- spect of all who know him.
JAMES S. SMITH, M. D.
tive of Pennsylvania, being born in Colum- bia county, April 18, 1816. His mother, who bore the maiden name of Hannah Adams, was also born in the same county and state, March 13, 1813. In 1859 the family came to Kosciusko county, Indiana. and settled six miles west of Warsaw on the Tippecanoe river, on the farm on wisch Dr. Smith passed his youthful years uni! his enlistment, and there the mother passe ! away at sixty-seven years of age. Rev. Joel R. Smith, the father, who had been a Local preacher for over sixty years, survived his wife until he reached the patriarchal age of eighty-three, and is still well remembered by many of the old citizens of Kosciusko county. He had charge of the circuit. but was more generally known as a local preach- er and as the assessor of his township, in which capacity he served several terms, be- ing in politics a stanch Republican. He Ave. in retirement for several years, but never Cost his enthusiasm in his church work. al- though he was extremely liberal in his views of religious affairs.
James S. Smith was but fourteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to Kosciusko county, and here lived on the home farm until August 18, 7862. when he enlisted in Company K. Seventy-fourth In- diana Volunteer Infantry. Colonel Chapman commanding. Company K was from War- saw, had not yet been filled to its comple- ment when the regiment was sent tothe front and the company was left to follow. when full. to Bowling Green, Kentucky. However, on arriving at Munfordsville. where Colonel Wilder was in charge of the post, the company, with others, was cap- tured by the Confederate general, Braxton
This gallant ex-soldier and now eminent physician at Warsaw. Indiana, was born in Fulton county, Ohio, October 12, 1845. His father was the Rev. Joel R. Smith, a farmer by calling, but likewise a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, who was a na- . Bragg, but was at once paroled and sent
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home. Young Smith's seventeenth birthday was passed as a paroled prisoner of war. He' was exchanged, however, thirty days later and rejoined his regiment near Nash- ville, Tennessee.
Mr. Smith took part, as a private, in all the marches, skirmishes and engagements in which his regiment had a share until he was mustered out of the service. He fought at Stone River, Tennessee, was in the t- lanta campaign, went with Sherman on his march through Georgia to the sea, and marched all the way from Louisville, Ken- tucky, to Washington, D. C., to take part in the grand review-a sight the parallel of which has never been seen-and was mus- tered out June 9, 1865. The hottest fights that Mr. Smith was in were at Jonesboro, Georgia, and in front of Atlanta, where the men were as close together as men could get. He was wounded at Missionary Ridge . Physio-Medical Association, to which he has by a buck shot going through his throat and just grazing the windpipe, but he never left his regiment, never was in hospital, not ever in an ambulance, but came out of the army a stouter man than when he entered it. He was not yet, however, twenty years old. , contributed many valuable papers on the technicalities of the science of medicine and his clinical experience. He keeps in touch with all the advances made in medicine ami surgery, subscribes to the better class of periodicals published in the interest of the profession and is, besides, well read in gen- eral literature as well as the profound and more obstruse works on philosophy. history.
Warsaw. Dr. Smith began practice in asso- ? etc., with which his library is replete.
Mr. Smith commenced the study of med- icine about this time with Dr. II. M. Cow- gill, an old and experienced physician at ciation with Dr. Cowgill at Atwood, in his old neighborhood, and for ten years met with abundant success, and then entered the Physio-Medical College at Cincinnati, from which he was graduated with the class of 1880. Dr. Smith moved to Nappanee, Elk- hart county, in 1875. and was the second resident of the town. He secured the estab- lishment of the postoffice at that place and
was appointed the first postmaster, having already had five years' experience in this line while a resident of Atwood. The Doc- for practiced medicine and served as post- master at Nappanee until 1879, when he came to Warsaw, where he has had a re- I minerative clientele of the best citizens from that time until the present, and has won a reputation that is unexcelled by any other physician and surgem in the county .i Kosciusko. His practice in Warsaw has now extended through a period of over twenty-two years in this city alone. The Doctor also stands very high in the esteen of his brother practitioners of the city and county, the greater number of whom are al- most in daily consultation with him in or- der to avail themselves of his advice and to gain lessons from his long experience. The Doctor is also a member of the National
The Doctor was first married, in 1866, to Miss Mary A. Lutes, of Kosciusko coun- ty, and two children were born to this union. viz. : Clarence W., "Smith, the printer." and Rosae wife of E. W. Kinsey, a banker at Claypool, Kosciusko county. On Sep- tembe: 10, 1882, Dr. Smith married Miss Philena Duvall, of Claypool, but no chil- dren have come to bless this union. The
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Doctor and wife, however, have adopted a daughter, Goldie V., whom they took under their care when an infant and who is now a school girl thirteen years old.
Dr. Smith is a member of Henry Chip- man Post. G. A. R., attended the national encampments of the order at Cincinnati and Chicago, and has several times attended the reunions of his old regiment, the Seven- ty-fourth Indiana Infantry. In politics the Doctor in his earlier manhood was a Kepth- lican, but latterly has been inclined to advo- cate the doctrines of the Prohibition party. Ilis religion is based upon the Bible as in- terpreted by the Church of God, which is not a definitely organized church body, but rather a local congregational society. This society strictly complies with all the ori- nances of the New Testament, even to the washing of each other's feet. This congre- gation has its camping grounds on the shores of Yellow Creek lake, four miles south of Burket, commonly known as Cen- tral Camp Meeting of the Church of God, other meetings being at Moundsville, West Virginia ( where are also the publishing association and the Bible house), and in California. The camp on Yellow Creek lake comprises about thirty acres and is the site of a large boarding-house owned by the con- gregation, which is the resort at certain seasons of the year of many ministers and adherents of the Church of God. The regu- lar annual meetings are held from August 15th to August 20th, and these Dr. Smith never fails to attend. The grounds are very enticing and lovely. On February 4, 1902. Dr. Smith was appointed coroner of Kos- ciusko county, which position he at present fills.
MARION M. LATIMER.
Among those who have distinguished themselves in the active duties of Bie in this county is the subject of this memoir. He comes of a splendid daily, one that las al- ways been strong for right living and in- dustrious habits, for education and moral- ity, and for all that contributes to the we- fare of the commonwealth. Many years ago the grandfather of the subject crossed the ocem from England and settled in the Nut- meg state. There he resided for some time, but finally came to this county and here lived the remainder of his days. His son, Lyman L ... was reared on his father's farms, partly in Connecticut and party in this state. Upon reaching manhood he met and mar- ried Miss Susan Hartman. At first be che- tered a store at Warsaw and served as a clerk for a number of years, but then came to Palestine and went into business for hin- self. with a general stock of goods, and thus continued some years. He died December 4, 1862. His marriage had occurred June 5. 1853. The Hartmans were of German descent and originated in this country in Pennsylvania, thence removed to Ohio, and from there came to the Hocsier siste. To Lyman Latimer and wife the following chi- dren were born: Lemuel La. who weddel Miss Ace Bickle, and is now in the hard .- ware business with his brother : Marion Mi .. subject : Tillie, deceased; Norman N .. whi. married first Mollie Bybee, and, second. Una Baker and is a hardware merchant in Men- tone: Hannah became the wife of William Baker and resides in Harrison township; Sofia is unmarried and lives with her mother in Mentone. Lyman Latimer was a man
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