USA > Indiana > Kosciusko County > Progressive men and women of Kosciusko County, Indiana : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography > Part 37
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of much force of character and was a useful and honorable citizen. At the time of his death he left a comfortable estate, and also a good name which his children are using to their credit. He was a charter member of Kosciusko Lodge No. 62. 1. O. O. F., or- ganized Jannary o, 1849.
Marion M. Latimer was born in the vil- lage of Palestine. April 11, 1856, and was reared on his father's farm. He was well educated and concluded to follow farming as his life's occupation. He remained with his mother on the farm after her marriage to Christian Sarber until he was twenty-four years old, when on January 13, 1881. he was united in marriage with Miss Ready Bybee. daughter of Washington Bybee and sister of Allen Bybee. To this union two children were born: Lyndes Levi, born June 16, 1882, wedded Miss Nellie Lyon,. April 19, 1002, and Minnie Mary, born November 11, 1885. Both children have been well edu- cated. Mr. Latimer has done well since his marriage, and his wife has had not a little to do with his success, as all good women will. At present he owns two hundred and fifty-one acres of excellent land and takes much interest in the rearing of graded cattle and hogs. He makes the most of his in- come from his shipments of hogs. He has always been active and full of business life and is a fine representative of the American farmer and stock-raiser. He is a Repub- lican and is interested in his party's success, but does not take an active part. nor is he an office seeker, though he would grace any office within the gift of the county. He is a member of the National Detective .Asso- ciation, is widely known and is everywhere highly respected for his many good quali- tics.
CAPT. ANDREW GEROW WOOD
The thriving city of Warsaw, Kosciusko county. Indiana, lies been the arena is stich many a contest has been had among the gladiators of the bar: and among these in- tellectual athletes Andrew Gerow Wood is- invarial'y borne off the laure's h. alt con- tests in which he has engaged and an a head. the eminent legal firma of Wood & Bowser. of this city. Besides these divie victories. Mr. Wood was a gallant officer throughout the late Civil war.
Andrew G. Wood was born in Marys- ville. Union county, Ohio, January 16. 1835, and is a son of Dr. Ira and Margaret (Hawley ) Wood, of whom the former was born in New York and the latter near Can- ton, Ohio. Dr. Ira Wood came west when still a single young man, was married in Chio, and was called from earth at the carly age of thirty nine years, leaving his widow with five children. Mrs. Wood sustained herself and reared her children by keeping a. select boarding house, many of her patrons being eminent citizens. In 1852 Mrs. Mar- garet ( Hawley ) Wood was united in mar- riage for the second time, the fortunate man who won her being John Fleck, of New Call- fornia. Ohio, where they resided with the death of Mr. Fleck, which occurred in 1872. The disconsolate widow then returnel t. Marysville, where she passed the remainder of her life, dying at the age of seventy-iv. "in 1882, in the first frame house ever hall in Marysville, and which had been created. by her first husband. Dr. Ira Wood. She had reared three children bestie Antren Ger. w. namely: John, a dealer in drugs at Marysville: Iflas, a contractor in the same town; and Harvey, a merchant at Marys-
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ville, at Bellefontaine, Ohio, and at Knox- Carnifix Ferry and Greenbrier. For meri- ville, Tennessee. Through his mother, An- drew G. Wood is connected with the famous Rev. Hosea Bigelow, of the early Method- ist Episcopal church in Ohio.
Andrew G. Wood was a student at the Ohio Wesleyan University at the time of his mother's second marriage and was then seventeen years old. At eighteen he became a clerk in Milford Centre, Union county. and at twenty married Miss Rose .A. Reed. of the same town, and at once removed to Waterloo. Black Hawk county, lowa, and engaged in general merchandising under the firm name of Elwell & Wood, their principal trade being with the Indians, the Sioux, who were clustered around Spirit Lake. He had invested two thousand one hundred dollars in this undertaking, and in two years added two thousand seven hundred dollars to his original capital. The inclemency of the weather, which was very rigorous during the winter season, caused his return to Ohio. In 1857 he re-engaged at Milford Centre in merchandising under the firm name of Wood & Red, investing all his capital, but , one thousand dollars.
at the end of three years had lost it all. He next entered the law office of Cole & Law- rence, the leading attorneys-at-law in Marys- ville, diligently devoted himself to study, and was admitted to the bar in 1860.
At the eruption of the smoldering fires that resulted in the Civil war, Mr. Wood re- sponded to the first call for volunteers and enlisted in Company 11. Thirteenth Ohio infantry, for three months service. The regiment was assigned to the field in West Virginia under Col. Samuel Piatt ( brother . i Don Piatt), the regiment afterward be- ing under the command of Colonel Hawkins, and took part in the battles of Phillippi.
torious conduct on the field. he was pro- moted to be second lieutenant of his com- pany, and after other valant service maler Colonel Hawkins and General Buehl Was commissioned by Guverner Morton as first lieutenant. He then raised Company Il, One Hundred and Twenty-third Indiana In- fairy, at firedeburg, and with it show ser- vice at Resaca and all through the Adtinta campaign, including Jonesboro. Keneshave Mountain, and back to Franklin. Nashville, and thece to Wise's Forks and Kingston. North Carolina, and a dozen other points. during the greater part of the time having command of his company. In the Atlanta campaign also he was an aide on the staff of Gen. John C. MeQuestion, and on that of General Strickland, and in North Carolina was made judge advocate & i courts martial at Salisbury from May until September. 1865. Many grave charges were brought before him, including that of murder, and among other culprits one young lady was found guilty of manslaughter and fined
Captain Wood was honorably dis- charged from the service in September. 1865, and November 11. 1865. came to Warsaw, then the third town of any import- ance in northern Indiana, and here severs! of his wife's relatives had their abode. Here he resumed the practice of the law, first on his sole account, next as the head of the firm of Wood & Brubaker Bros., and finally formed his present ce -partnership. In each case his parter had read law under him and Had been admitted to the bar from his office. Mr. Wood practices in all the courts, state and federal, and has met with a dazzling success that has placed him among the most
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eminent legal lights of the state-a success so great that it can hardly be enlarged upon in the limited space that can be spared in these pages.
Mr. Wood has long been an active and! popular member of the Democratic party , national encampment, one at Columbus. and has at different times been its nominee for responsible positions of a legal character. such as prosecuting attorney, judge of the district court, etc., but his party was ahvays the weaker of the two dominant parties of his district. He has served as delegate in county, state, district and congressional con- ventions, and for thirty years was chairman of the Democratic county committee and also member of the state committee. In 1866-7 he was editor of the Warsaw Union the Democratic organ of northern indiana, and in this capacity wiekled a powerfal in- fluence in molding public opinion on many matters besides politics. He has served two terms as member of the city council and was the first Democrat that ever had this honor.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Wood has been crowned by the birth of four children, namely : Trella, wife of Abe Bru- baker, cashier of the State Bank: Jennie, wife of O. P. Ebersole, an attorney at Ft. Wayne: Emma, wife of O. D. Baker, a com- mercial salesman residing in Warsaw, and Nettie, wife of Otto Philpott, superintend- ent of the cemetery in the same city.
Fraternally Mr. Wood was initiated as an Odd Fellow at Marysville, Ohio, in 1857. became a charter member of Lake City Lodge at Warsaw in 1874; has passed all the chairs, has represented the subordinate lodge in the grand lodge: has been financial secretary of his lodge for seven years, and seven years a trustee. He is also a member of Hackelman Encampment No. 37. and a
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captain of Canton No. 5. Cilform Kank. and has attended the national canton. Capi. What was a charter member of Henry Chapin Post. G. A. R. in 1868, has Served is post of minister and has attended two Chio, tarl offe at Chicago, Ilinois, and is likewise a taember of the Loyal Legies Commandery of Fachesta Capa. Wood at reared in the faith. of the Presbyterian church, bat in matter year- become an Episcopalan, wife Mrs. World is a der med. alherent of the Presbyterian RAM. Mr. Wood is likewise a Daughter of Rebekah in the Odd Fellows order and a member of the Woman's Roller Corps, auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Repulile. Socially Mr. and Mrs. Wood stand very high in the best circles of Warsaw and it is the delight of the Captain and his wife to entertain their nu- merous friends at their chegam home, where a liberal hospitality and a gradiva- recep- tim are always extended to the guest and where the Captain, enjoys is the warmest a game at chess in his well-appointed Sbrary when he meets an opponent worthy of his steel.
SAMUEL S. ROBINSON.
The family of which this well-known citizen is a worthy representative came to this country originally from Ireland, his fa- ther, William Robinson, having been bwin there. The latter le cated in Kentucky. The Miller family of which the subject's mother was a representative, were from Pennavi- wania and were of German descem. In Kentucky William Robinson and Nancy Miller met and were married, for the Mil-
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Samuel & Robinson Ruhamak W. Robinson
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lers had moved to that state. This was prominent and was identified with the about the beginning of the nineteenth: cen- growth of this section of the state. He - sisted in viewing the roads, building bridges tury. To the marriage of this couple the following children were born: Henry, and in handling the affairs of the early William, Robert. John, Sarah, Anna, schools and the township. At his death he left a comfortable estate and a name which. all people respected. George, James, Samuel. Andrew, two that died in infancy, Eliza and Nancy. Will- iam Robinson was a large farmer and stock Samuel S. Robinson was born i. Frank- 'in county, Kentucky, March 24. 1824, 65d was reared upon his father's farm in the in her domestic duties, but the wife refused , woods. He received a limited education ; and was kept at work pretty steadily, clear- raiser. At one time, it is related, he brought home with him a slave girl to help his wife te have her help at all, as she was unalter-
ably opposed to slavery. The result was ting of the trees and stamps and tilling the that no slaves were owned by Mr. Robin- 'soil. He was not permitted to get tomesome son. In fact, so great became his own ob- "for want of something to do, and remained horrence of the institution of slavery that he sold out in Kentucky in 1829 and came to Indiana, leeating in Tippecanoe county. Ile entered a tract of three hundred and twenty acres of woodland, and began the with his father until he was twenty years old, when the latter gave him his tine an: hired him on the farm. About tás time the subject married Miss Eliza A. Paxton, and "by her had two souls and two daughters. task of clearing the same. He lived there . viz: Harriet E., who became the whe of until 1839, when he sold out and moved to Isaac Lyons and lives in Kansas: Wilson Kosciusko county and settled in what is . B., who died in childhood: Olive M. who now Seward township. The land is now died in infancy; Millard F., who married Miss Nettie Gison and lives in Kansas. Upon the death of his first wife Mr. R. i- inson wedded Mary .A. Graham and had by her five children: AAnson E., unmarried : Austin M. married, lives in Texas: Wird E. married Agnes Lucas and fives in Kan- sas ; Eliza S., who became the wife of Sach- de! K. Sands and resides in Triedto, 05 : Mary E., unmarried. His second wife is- ing. Mr. Robinson wedded Mrs. Ruland's W. Brown, widow of Smith Brown and daughter of Henry and Betsey ( Tappen) Clark. She was born February 23. 1835. her parents being natives of New York. She was brought west in 1843. and apon reaching womanheod married Mr. Brown. and to that wedding one child was born: owned by J. P. and S. M. Robinson and ! Benjamin F. Day. They came from near | Lafayette, Indiana, in wagons. At that time there were a few people living in and around Akron, and from that point the fam- ily were obliged to cut their way through the woods to reach their farm. It was cor- ered with dense timber and wild animals were plentiful. In 1838 the men had come here, bought the land, cleared a small patch, and created a small log cabin. Here Will- iam and his wife lived until their respective deaths. They became prominent in the township and had the highest respect of all. They were members of the Presbyterian church, as their respective families had been for several generations. William became
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Owen F. Bryan, who married Eine Same. and lives in Seward township. His secom. wife was . Miss Spangle.
When Samuel Robinson first started a for himself his father assisted him so. what in a material way, and to this he added until he is in good circumstances. the spring of 1889 he moved from the ft ... in Seward township to Silver Lake and bought the brick house where he now re- sides. This he has improved until he now bas a fine residence. He looks after his war. On April 13, 1852. he was laid away farm and takes life easier than he did for- under the sod in the sunny South, never to return to his wife and little son. The small farm was partially cleared and was encam- of events must soon pass away, but they will . lered, but his widow went bravely to work
merly. He and his excellent wife are now far advanced in life and in the natural course have the satisfaction of knowing that the world is better for their having lived. Mr. Robinson has voted the Republican ticket since the party was first organized, voting for John C. Fremont and all of the sub- sequent presidential candidates of that party down to the present. He is much inter- ested in politics and rejoices in the success of his party. Since he was eighteen years old he was a member of the Presbyterian church, but now he and wife are members of the Lutheran church, he being a deacon in the Lutheran church of Silver Lake at this time. He is a high-minded Christian citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have in their possession a valuable relic in the shape of an old parchment deed to land, dated Au- gust 10, 1837, and bearing the signature of Martin Van Buren. the president of the United States.
The following reference to Smith Browa. the former husband of Mrs. Robinson, will be appreciated by the readers of this volume : When the war of the Rebellion broke out in all its fury this man offered his services to
his country. He was filled with patriotism and felt that every man, if necessary. should go forth to fight to sustain the union of the states. At that time he resided on a forty. here farm in Dekalb county, and though he bad a wife and son, the latter only a few weeks old, he determined to enlist. This he did, and as he kissed his wife goodbye reither then thought that they would never n'est again. He entered the Fifth Indiana Battery and marched away to the neie of
to free it and also improve it. The son is now a reputable citizen and the mother is the wife of Samuel S. Robinson. She as- sisted with her own hands in clearing off the trees, burning the brush and tiling the soil. She new owns one hundred and twen- ty-four acres in Seward township, the most "of which was bought by her own earnings.
EDWARD MOON.
Edward Moon, who is well remembered by the people of Kosciusko county as the partner in business of the late Hudson Beck. his brother-in-law, came to Warsaw in Oc- tober, 1864. where he lived the remainder of this life in the commodious home which he purchased of his brother George. Som after becoming a resident of Warsaw he was elected treasurer of the county and served in that capacity for eight years. Upon retiring from office he was for several years connected with John Trish in the mantine-
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ture of wagons, the firm doing a large and profitable business and becoming widely known.
Edward Moon was born in Clarchill. County Derry, Ireland, June 28, 1821. Hle was married to Miss Isabella Heaney, at Garvah, Ireland. April 23, 1844, and dur- ing the same year they came to America and settled at Leesburg, Kosciusko county. Four sons were born to them, Daniel, George. John and William, all of whom are living except George, whose death, in 1893. was caused by an accident. After the death of his wife, September 8, 1853. Mr. Moon went to California for a few months. He was successful there, but returned that he might be with his children who were being cared for by friends, and engaged in the drug business, for about twenty years, in Leesburg. He was married February 14. 1860, to Miss Isabella Smith, and to them six sons and two daughters were born. Three of these children died in infancy, and Edward F. is also deceased; Lcolin, Isabella and Charles are still living. On February 16, 1873, Mr. Moon was bereaved by the death of his second wife, and on March 25. 1874, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Victoria Beck Smith, a lady of rare refine- ment and culture, and who is a deservedly popular lady in the vicinity in which she resides. Her unassuming manner and charming personality brings to her pleas- ant home the society-loving and literary people of Warsaw and the surrounding community.
Having become a great sufferer from rheumatism, in 1886, Mr. Moon, accompa- nied by his wife made a trip to California, hoping to find relief. Only a temporary change in his health resulted and later he
visited other famous resorts in search of benoit, bitt with small success. He had be- come so great a sufferer and moved about with such discomfort that My business was placed in the hands of his son. Howard F. For years he was a patient sufferer and at last, on November 1. 1895. peacefully gate up his spirit. The funeral services were in charge of the Lake City Of Felows and. as a mark of respect. resolutions were passed expressing the sympathy of the lodge for the bereaved family.
Mr. Moon was a strong Republican .. but a liberal minded man, beleving every other man had a right to his own opinions. He held to the good old notion that a man is made for the office, and not vice versa. His religious training began carly in youth, be- ing reared under the strict Presbyterian in- fluence, and he remained for many years a communicant of the church, but later in life united with the Christian church. He held high rank in the Masonic lodge, being a Knight Templar, and was a charter member of the Lake City lodge of Odd Fellows.
JOHN RHODES.
John Rhodes, an enterprising faruser and highly respected citizen of Monroe township, is a son of David and Anna Rhodes and dates his birth from April 30. 1857. The father, a native of Pennsylvania. was taken when about eight years old to Seneca county, Ohio, at that time a new an? comparatively undeveloped country, and there grew to maturity amid the strong in- fluences of the pioneer period. When a young man he married a German girl by the
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name of Anna Beigh, daughter of one of the beggar Mie for themselves, leaving for them. the early settlers, and immediately thereafter đức of the thơm and until hi - twenty-sixth year he remained under the parental roof looking after his father's interests. began housekeeping on a partially cleared farm where he lived until failing health in- duced him to look around for a more favor- able location in which to raise his family. . Learning that northern Indiana held out en- couraging inducements, he disposed of his farm in Ohio and in January, IS.jo, came to Kosciusko county, settling in what was then Clay township, where he parchased forty acres of woodland which he at once began to improve. In due time he cleared and had in cultivation a fine little farm upon which he lived and prospered for many years, carning the reputation of a quiet and substantial citizen whose name was always respected and whose word in any business transaction was as good as his bond. He reared a family of nine children, and de- parted this life on the oth day of February. 1899, after a continuous residence of nearly sixty years on the place where he originally located: his wife preceded him to the other world, dying in the year 1884. The follow- ing are the names of the children born to this excellent couple, viz. : Enoch, Mary, Delilah, Sarah A .. Melinda, Harvey, Jemi- mah, Ann and John.
John Rhodes first saw the light of day in the home farm in Clay (now Lake) town- ship, and being the youngest of the family was exempt from much of the hard work required to bring the place to a state of till- age. He attended of winter seasons the dis- triet schools in the neighborhood and when old enough busied himself with such labor as he could perform, growing up strong of limb and with an independence of spirit characteristic of the true son of the soil. His older brothers, reaching manhood's estate,
About 1883 Mr. Rhodes began working by the month as a farm laborer and can- tinned in that capachy for a period of five yours, lat banding las earnings with seraph- las care with the object in view of eight- ing in agriculture opra Wie wat respiri- bility when a favorable opportunity pre- sented itself. On the 17th day of February, ISy. He was united in marriage to Miss Lenora Heagland, daughter of J. K. freag- land, one of the well-to-do farmers of Non- roe township, and shortly thereafter set up a domestic establishment on the farm in Monroe township where he has since livel. His previous training and habits of ilu- try eminently fitted him for the vocation which he selected for a Wie work and it was not long until he had earned the reputation of a careful and judicious farmer, bringing his place to a high state of cultivation and making a number of substantial impr ve- ments. He now owns one hundred and twenty acres of valuable land, on which is one of the finest private residences in the township, his home leding c mi rable in its appointments as well as attractive to the eve. In addition to general farming. Mr. Rhodes raises considerable live stock, in- vesting the greater part of his income in this way and seldom falls to realize large profits from his business transactions. He is a very careful man, exercises prudence and forethought in what he undertakes and his sound judgment enables him to prosecute to successful issue any enterprise to which he addresses himself. Taking an interest in political afairs, as all good citizens skrald.
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he is rather independent in the matter of certain f yielding a compensatory return as voting, usually casting his ballot for the candidate best qualified, though in the main supporting the principles of the Democratic party.
Mr. Rhodes has the name of being an honest and upright man of the strictest in- tegrity and right nobly has he earned the wholesome reputation which is his. Quiet and unassuming in demeanor, with an agree- able personality, he is widely and favorably known and belongs to that sturdy class of citizens who by actions rather than words exercise a beneficial influence upon society and form the basis of the community's prog- ress and prosperity. He is a firm believer in revealed religion and at the present time is inclining to the belief of the United Brethren church, with which he contem- plates soon placing his membership. In his good work he is ably assisted by his faith- iul wife, a most estimable lady of many
George McConnell, of Jackson Low- ship. Kosciusko county, Indiana, is a native of Coshocton county, Ohio, and was born September 20, 1829. He is a son of - and Merey MeConnell, and, as intimated in the foregoing paragraph, never saw his in- ther, who in life was a farmer. There were twelve children in the family besides Min- seit, and of these the names of ten can be re- virtues, known and respected throughout . called, viz. : Lucinda and Marinda (twins). Margaret, Acie, Andy, Matthias, James. Daniel. Francis and Samuel.
the neighborhood for her sterling character and zeal in the cause of religion and moral- ity. Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes have one child, a daughter, Nellie Rose, whose birth occurred on the 17th day of October, 1897.
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