USA > Indiana > Kosciusko County > Progressive men and women of Kosciusko County, Indiana : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography > Part 38
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GEORGE MCCONNELL.
Agriculture has been the true source of ! Miss Elizabeth Hunter, also a native of
man's dominion on earth ever since the pri- mal existence of labor and has been the . 1830, an early playmate of our subject and pivotal industry that has controlled for the . most part all the fields of action to which his intelligence and energy have been devoted. In a civilized community no calling is so
that which is called from a kindiy soil, al- Leit the husbandman at times is surely taxed in coaxing from Mother Earth all that he desires or even expects; yet she is a kim nie ther and seklom chastens with disappoint- ment the child whose diligence and fragility she deems it but just should be rewarded. The subject of this sketch has found a betle- iactress in Mother Earth, for he was early deprived of the mother that bore him, and a father he never knew, as he was a posthu- mous child.
Young George McConnell filially aided his mother in the home place until he was fourteen years old and then went to live with his brother Francis for two years : he next worked on the farm of another brother until he decided to take unto himself a wife. He carried out this happy decision January 27. 1849, by leading to the marriage aktar Coshocton county, Ohio, born April 17. a daughter of Thomas and Nancy Altar- desty) Hunter. The father, Thomas Hun- ter, was a native of Ireland, but was a mare . lad when brought to America by his parents.
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who settled in Ohio. The mother was born, sisted by his willing and anncable wife, Why reared and died in Coshocton county. She deserves much credit for the part she has taken in advancing the prosperity of the family. in January, 1899. Mir. and Mrs. McConnell celebrated the golden anivers- ary of their wedding, upon that occasion re- their numerous friends here and elsewhere. and her husband were the parents of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, of whom four are living, as follows: Eliza- beth ( Mrs. McConnell) ; Sarah, wife of John McQuig, of Grant City, Missouri; . ceiving many hearty congratulations from Samuel, married, is a horticulturist and lives in Missouri; Pauline is the wife of John . McEhee, a farmer of Coshocton county, Ohio. Mrs. McConnell received a good
Mr. McConnell, since he became of age. has always taken an active interest in the affairs of the Republican party, wal which common-school education and later became . he is very popular personally and has an ornament to the community in which she was reared to womanhood.
To the congenial union of Mr. and Mrs. ' McConnell have been born the following named children : Lorenzo D., deceased, Harvey W., Patrick Henry, deceased. John F., Pauline, Elmore, deceased, Grant, de- ceased, William D., Lettie, Charles and Blanche.
several times represented the Republicans of his township in their county convention. He has, however, never s ught a public office nor any other reward for his devotion to hi- party. Mr. and Mrs. McConnell are devout members of the Christian church. which they aid liberally by contributing to its support from their means and the teach- ings of which they implicitly follow. The
About three years after their marriage . stand- very high in the esteem of his fellow- Mr. and Mrs. McConnell removed from stownemen and neighbors, and most de- Coshocton county, Ohio, to Whitley county, ' servedly so, inasmuch as fe ma por 'my he Indiana, where Mr. McConnell steadily has raised himself to a position of considera- tion and influence, and in this e-teem his be- loved wife and children have a full share. forged to the front and soon purchased a : farm of one hundred and thirteen acres, nearly all of which was covered with a While a distinguished ancestry may amount to much and notable family con- nections have great influence in advancing a man's career, the history of the country gives many instances of the prominence of the present generation over the obscurity ci the preceding, and when natural abilities and an unborn spirit of progress are added. success in life is almost sure to be the re- sul, and this fact has been exemplified in the career of George McConnell, who, unaided by the prestige of a brilliant ancestral his- ·dense growth of timber. This land he cleared and improved and made of it one of the handsomest and most profitable farms in the country. On this farm he lived from 1852 until September, 1882, when he came to Kosciusko county and bought a small place half a mile north of Sidney, on which he still lives and has as cozy a home as there is in Jackson township. He has, moreover, in- creased his cash capital to about five thou- sand dollars and all this property and capital result from his own labor and frugality, as- ' tory, at least as far as it is known in this,
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his native country, has made himself what he is without any such extraneous advan- tage, great as it is in the life of him who is fortunate enough to possess it.
JOHN PRISER.
John Priser, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Monroe township, was born February 9, 1844. in Montgomery county, where his ancestors had settled in an cariy day. His father, David Priser, moved to the above county and state when a small boy, and on reaching the years of manhood was married there to Miss Margaret War- ner, who became the mother of two sons and live daughters, namely: George. Mary. Nancy, Catherine. Susan, John and Eliza- beth.
David Priser died when the subject of this sketch was five years old, after which event the mother sold the farm and came to Kosciusko county, Indiana, purchasing a farm in Jackson township where she died the year following her arrival. Of her seven
broke out, young Priser, atomated by a gen- nine devotion to his country, tendered his service in behalf of it- interests, enlisting i September, 1862. in Company M. Fifth In- diana Cavalry, which was mustered at hali- inapolis and experienced its first active ser- vice while pursuing the Rebel General Mor- gan through various parts of Kentucky. Subsequently Mr. Priser took part in a num- ber of campaigns in Temesee and Georgia, participating in some of the most noted bat- ties of the war, and at the expiration of his period of calistment, in 1865, was di- charged, after giving three . i his best years to the service of his country.
White in the army he husbanded his pay with the most scrapalous care and at the close of the struggle found himself the po- sensor of quite a sang sam of money, which was judicionly wanted at a Biberal Interest. Returning home, Mr. Priser worked : " some time at farne labor in this county and later was similarly employed for nearly the years in various parts of holland, Ohio and Ilinois. In September 1874. he took himself a helpmeet in the person of Miss Amanda MePherson, daughter of Sciom n township, and the marriage was blessed with one child, Minnie, whose birth occurred in the gist of May, 1883. Some time prior to his marriage Mr. Priser purchased the farm in Monroe township where he now lives, and it was on this place that he set up his first domestic establishment and began Hie as a prosperous tiller of the soil. Since that time. by much labor and successful management. he has brought his farm to a high state . i cultivation and made a number of valuable improvements, among which are a fine and
small children all of whom were left to the . MePherson, one of the pioneer of Monte care of friends and neighbors, John was taken by an uncle, Samuel Miller, whose house he made his home until that gentle- man died, which occurred when the lad was twelve years of age. From that time until his eighteenth year the boy lived with his older brother. George Priser, who looked after his interests and gave him the advan- tages of a good common-school education. He grew up a strong, healthy youth and ser- eral years before reaching maturity could easily do a man's work at any kind of labor .on the farm. When the great Civil war commodious dwelling supplied with all the
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comforts and conveniences calculated to make rural life desirable, a large and well constructed barn and goed cutbuildings, all of which with the general condition of the place bespeak for the proprietor a spirit of thrift and progress which have won for him a conspicuous place among the county's most enterprising agriculturists.
On the 2nd day of June. 1883. the death angel entered Mr. Priser's home and took therefrom the wife of his youth and in March. 1890, he married his present con- panion, Louisa, daughter of George ani Hannah (Hickman ) Ross, a nation without issue. Mrs. Priser's parents were among the early settlers of Jackson township, the father of German and the mother of Scotch- Irish descent. They came to the county when the country was an almost unbroken wilderness and took an active part in de- veloping the country and bringing its won- derful resources to the notice of home seek- ers who at that time were traversing various parts of northern Indiana in search of favor- able location. George Ross has been gath- ered to his fathers, but his good wife is still living, having reached the ripe old age of eighty-one years. She has been a resident of Kosciusko county continuously since 1848 and at the present time makes her home with her daughter. the wife of our subject.
In all that constitutes true manhood and good citizenship Mr. Priser is a notable ex- ample and none stands higher than he in the in the manufacture of cigars. During the Civil war he was a volunteer soldier and served two years in the Army of the Poto- mac. He was taken prisoner at Harper. Ferry and held until exchanged. He took part in a number of hard-fought battles and skirmishes, among which were the second. esteem and confidence of the community. His career has been characterized by duty faithfully done and by industry, thrift and wisely directed efforts he has acquired a lib- eral share of this world's goods, besides earning a reputation which has never been clouded by the commission of a single un- battle of Bull Run. Chancellorsville and
worthy act. He is a man of god jungment and pronounced views and while keeping himself well informed upon current events and taking a lively interest in all publie af- fairs of his township and county, has never had the faintest desire to exchange the quiet and contented life on the cozy farm. for the distractions and cares which usually come a. the man who is official station. He has worked hard for that which he now pas- server, fand know - How to appreciate the true dignity of War and a place at & Fruit theate upon the value i'm sey. Neverthe- less, he is liberal in 1- bendiactions and stands ever ready to support with his influ- ence and means all measures for the material and moral welfare of his community. In politics he is a stalwart supporter of the Re- publican party and in religion belongs, with his wife, to the German Baptist church.
CHARLES B. BENTLEY.
Charles B. Bentley, postmaster of War- saw, Indiana, is a native of Massachusetts and first saw the light of day in the city of Boston. August 24. 1850. His father. Richard P. Bentley, was born in Liverpool. England, and immigrated to America is 1846, locating in Boston, where he engage.
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Fredericksburg. The subject's mother hore the name of Ann Melnnis, was a native of Ireland and came to America during her girlhood.
Charles B. Bentley was reared in the city of Boston and between the ages of twelve and fifteen served as a telegraph messenger and also dlerked in a drug store in that city. He obtained his education by attend- ing the night schools, in which he was a. apt pupil, having made rapid progress in his studies. At the age of fifteen he com- menced to learn cigar making at Dover. Massachusetts, working there seven months, and then returned to Boston, where he served an apprenticeship of a year and a half at the trade. When about seventeen he went to Westfield, where he received regular wages and subsequently worked at various places as a journeyman, but mostly in Bos- ored member of Lake City Lodge No. 430. ton until 1880, when he came to Warsaw, 1. O. O. F., also a Knight of Pythias and Indiana, and worked a year for other parties. an Elk. He was a member of the city conn- cil from 1891 to 1893. the duties of which position he discharged to the satisfaction of all and with credit to himself. In 188t he established himself in the busi- ness of manufacturing cigars at Warsaw, which he continued for about twelve years with encouraging success. For some time thereafter he was engaged in the life insur- ance and book business and subsequently be- came foreman in the Foster cigar factory at this place.
On the Ist day of October. 1883. Mr. Bentley was united in marriage at Warsaw to Miss Jeanette Jerman, daughter of Daniel and Rebecca (Findley) Jerman, of Mechanicsburg, Ohio, a umion blessed with the birth of three children, viz: Philip J .. Wilina F. and Anna C., all at home.
Mr. Bentley was appointed postmaster of Warsaw in November, 1897, and reap- pointed in January, 1902. When he en-
tered upon the duties of the position. War- saw was a third-ckos office and through his energies it has been raised to the second class, with free city delivery service, which was established in December, 1900. Five rural delivery routes have also been extali- lished, with a sixth under headway which will doubtless be established during the sin- Mer of 1902. Mr. Bentley has been hetre- memai in bringing about these results and the credit is largely due to his energie- and enterprising spirit. He is an uncompromis- ing Republican in politics and takes an active interest in his party's welfare. He was for eight years a member of the county central committee, served as president of the Young Men's Republican Club of Warsaw for two terms, and in 1896 was chosen district chair- man of the Lincoln League. He is an hon-
Mr. Bentley is one of Kosciusko con- ty's popular citizens and since becoming a resident of Warsaw has been a potent fac- tor in public affairs. While an active Re- publican, his social qualities are such that many of his warm personal friends are among those who hold views diametrically; opposed to his own. He is respected by at classes and conditions of people and as an official is painstaking and obliging, his re- lations with the public being most pleasant and agreeable. He possesses a personality that wins him friends and all who know him speak in high terms of his many fine qualities and upright conduct.
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FREDERICK MCSHERRY, JR.
There is great difference in this world of ours as to how we get our property, whether by small degrees and hard toil, or by sud- denly making it in one or a few lucky vent- ures, or by inheriting it from successful and thrifty ancestors. One important fact will not be disputed : That if a man earns it by hard knocks he is much more likely to re- tain it than if it had been left him by his honest and hard-working father. "Come easy. go easy" is literally true, but it is not to the credit of any one that it is so. People of all occupations should be thrifty enough to take care of what they have, no matter how they obtained it. for they have others to consider-children who have the right to de- mand of parents that they save the property left to them by ancestors. Such is a family inheritance which no member has the right to squander and dissipate. Thrift should characterize the efforts of every one, as it does the subject of this sketch. He knows how to take care of his property, a most valuable qualification. He was born in Ohio on August 19, 1837, and is the son of Fred- erick and Catherine ( Work) MeSherry. Grandfather McSherry was a native of the Emerald Isle, as was also his wife. They crossed the ocean to America and first set- tled in Pennsylvania, but later came on to Ohio. When the father of subject was a boy he learned the miller's trade in Pennsyl- vania and Ohio, and upon reaching maturity married Miss Work, their marriage occur- ring in Pennsylvania. Upon coming to Ohio he followed the trade of milling. In 1840 he came to Kosciusko county and en- tered one hundred and sixty acres in the deep woods on section 10, Seward town-
ship, where Frederick, Jr., now live. The built a rough log cabin and placed his family therein and began to clear the land of iss heavy coat of timber. This section was very; new at that time, there being to roads and wild animals and Indians were numeroas. The latter often came to the house to trade with the members of the family. To Frel- erick MeSherry. Sr. nine children were burn, their names being as follows: Wifi- iam. Andrew, James, Violet. Isabelle, Ron- ert, Louisa. Frank, and Frederick, subject. The latter is the youngest of the family and only one living. He was reared in the wilds of Seward township and at a very early age learned to swing the ax and the hoe. His summers were spent in clearing off the trees from the land and in planting and har- vesting the crops among the stumps this dotted the clearings. In the winters he was given a respite from hard labor, but was re- quired to take care of the stock while attend- ing school at the old log schoolhouse, heate .: with a roaring fireplace. His education was limited. but was sufficient to enable him to handle ordinary business. November 6. 1859, he was united in marriage with Mis- Elizabeth, daughter of George and Percella. (Keester ) Wilks. Her parents were from Pennsylvania, where they married and re- sided until their respective deaths. Eliza- beth Wilks came to this county when she was eighteen years ofdl and lived with her Uncle. Isaac Harbman. until her marriage. She was born July 9. 1838. To subject's marriage these children were born: Hiram C., born August 18, 1801, died April 8. 1865 : Louisa, who died in infancy : William died in infancy : Frederick .A., born August 28, 1864, married Miss Dora A. Tucker and lives near the old home in Seward town-
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Ship: Isaac Newton, born August 19, 1870, years ago from Germany, as did when the Heist family. Grandfather Heist lived in the Keystone state owned and conducted a small farm and followed the cooper's trate. Leonard Smith was reared upon a farm an 1 received a moderate education. He mar- ried Miss Mary Heist and soon afterward removed to this county and bought, in 1848. Ha truet of two hundred and twenty a res of Leonard Cutler, all of which was ovvero; died August 16, 1877. These parents rear- ed two children of their own, one James F. Scott, who was started in life by Mr. Me- Sherry. Subject now ownes a total of four hundred and fifty-eight acres in Seward township. having bought out the other heirs of his father's estate. Ile raises a great deal of stock and sells a car load of cattle annual- ly. His barn was built in 1871 and his tine brick house in 1881. Mr. Me- with heavy timber. There Me Bel air Sherry is a Republican and is greatly inter- jabored clearing the farm of its trees ani ested in politics and has represented his party in county conventions. He is one of the leading Republicans of this part of the county and is highly respected. brush and leading a usehuit and therails Hie. To his marriage these Garen were born: John C., Samuel, Danich. Jackson, Albert, George, Susanna, Margaret, Elza- beth and Mary A., of whom six are still living.
JOHN C. SMITH.
This well known citizen is another of the old soldiers who went out to fight their country's battles forty years ago. What a splendid sight it is at the present day to see a company of these old soldiers go by on Decoration day or on the Fourth of July, in their faded uniforms and with their tat- tered flags flying. But they will soon be . gone forever, and nothing will be left but a memory.' That memory should be some- thing more than a sound. Their deeds should be perpetuated in song and story, in monument and perpetual commemoration, so that future generations may draw in- spiration from their patriotism and gallan- try. John C. Smith was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, November 12, 1841, and is the son of Leonard and Mary ( Heist) Smith. The Smith family of which sub- ject is a member came to Pennsylvania many
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John C. Smith grew up on his father. farm and obtained a fair education. When Fort Sunder was fired on by the rebels i: 1861 he strongly favored crushing them at once. He did everything be contin to e .- courage enlistment and Himself finally Ch- listed when the first hurrah was over in Company 1. Seventy-fourth Indiana Infan- try, August IS, 1802, was mastered in at Fort Wayne and soon afterward was sent to the front. ile participated in the fights around Chattanooga,-Mission Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga for any bloody days, -and then in all the splen ! movements of the Atlanta campaign, being; in numerous battles and skirmishes and an- der fire for the greater part of one hundred and five days. Then he participated in the historie and famous march to the sea. when he again fought in many skirmishes an: participated in many raids on the farmers' henroosts and potato bins; thence ap through the Carolinas, fighting in many bat-
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tles, from those of a pitched character to shall county; Oscar On both November 20. small and inconsequential nature, and finally 1872, died in 1874: Kosella, both May 23. 1876, died August 3. 1900; Alphen- K., born March 30. 1879, wedded Miss Mirtic Brown : Bertha .A., bora Alay 20, 1882, mar- ried Mace Sarber; Ora .A., born September 6, 1884. The family is one of the most " prominent in the county and Mir. and Mrs. Smith are people of the highest character. He is a member of William Raber Post, G. A. R., it Ment me, the post being named for a brother of Mrs. Smith, who gave his Mie to His country. Mr. Smith is a stanch Re- publican and has the respect of a large circle vi acquaintances, while his splendid military record is the pride of his descendants and his neighbors. marched to Washington to be reviewed by the President and the great generals as they marched down Pennsylvania avenue to the tunes of "Yankee Doodle" and the "Star Spangled Banner." Then they were sent home to their happy families to take up once more the duties of peace. He served through the war without a wound, and draws a pension of ten dollars. While he was in the service of his country his father died, and after his return he rented the old farm for a time. Later he went to Mar- shall county, and farmed there for six years on land owned by his wife, and then re- turned and bought the old Smith homestead and here he has remained until the present time. When thus bought the old farm con- sisted of one hundred and eighty acres, but ANDREW J. SMITHL. now Mr. Smith owns a total of three hun- dred and thirty acres. His farm is one of This well-known citizen and farmer is a descendant of the old settler, Lomand Smith, an account of whose Hic will be found elsewhere in this volume. They were among the first settlers to come to the winds of clearing a farm and a home from the dense woods. When the family arrived here the clearings were few and far between, and the large family of boys and girls were re- quired to stir themselves to clear of the heavy timber and brush wood that cumbered the soil and kept out the sunlight. Andrews J. Smith was born April 14. 1850, and in youth had his share of work. The long summers were spent raising the crop among the stumps and the winters in going to school to the famous old pioneer schus. And as the years passed away. steadily. i. : the best in this part of the county. He has a fine brick house and a commodious barn and is in very comfortable circumstances. In 1867 he wedded Miss Silence, daughter of Jacob and Eliza (Turner) Raber. She ; of northern Indiana and undertake the task was born in Marshall county October 17, 1846, and is now the only living child of her parents. Two of her brothers were in the Seventy-fourth Regiment Indiana Infantry. one of whom died in the government hos- pital at Nashville and the other was brought back to his home only to die as the result of his hardships in the service of his coun- try. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith nine children were born, as follows: Cleanthus M., born October 12. 1868, wedded Miss Rebecca Martin and lives in Franklin township; William O., born August 4. 1870, married Miss Emma Jefferies and resides in Mar- " by foot. the land was cleared of its timber
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and the wild animals were driven off or dren were born: Mary A., bora February killed. Much more concerning the parents 2. 1872, who received a good education and became the wife of David Ingle, resides in Harrison township : La Vergne. born Decem- ber 19, 1873, is living in Minots and en- gaged in farming ; Frederick, born, May 16. 1870. died December 12. 1879: Clement. born December 31, 1878, married MES Ffa Sanders and lives in Chase county. Kanske; Biliet V., born May 20, 1800. Mir. Smith: is engaged in farming and suck raising. making a good income by raising stock horses and hugs. He is a Republican and is a broad-minded and liberal man. He has much influence in the township, has repre- sented his neighbors in the county conven- tions of his party, and served as supervisor of the township for twelve years, declining further re-election. He is thoroughly hon- est and has the unbounded confidence of all who know him. may be found in the sketches of John C. and George W. Smith, brothers of the sub- ject, seen elsewhere in this book. Andrew was reared on his father's farm and chose that occupation when he reached years of discretion. He knew what was necessary on the farm and felt himself competent to do the duty required of a first-class farmer. Hle received a fair education, but was not much interested in his books, and wouk! much prefer to chase the rabbits through the neighboring thickers than pore over some old schoolbook in a hot and stuffy school- room under the eye of some domineering and inflexible master. And he received about as much culture as the average boy of his day, as it was, and had much more sport than many of the others. The result was to give him an iron constitution and a love for the duties of the farm. He remained upon his father's farm until he had attained the age of twenty-one years, and was then united in matrimony with Miss Malinda C .. DAVID H. LESSIG. daughter of Daniel and Nancy ( Vander- mark ) Hipsher, the marriage occurring Oc- tober 1, 1871. She was born February 25. 1851. Her grandfather, Daniel Hipsher. was a native of Holland, where he grew up and was married. Soon afterward, with his bride, he crossed the ocean and found a home in the wilds of Ohio, that being a very early day in the settlement of that state. Her father was born in the Buckeye state and was reared there, but came in carly manhood to this county and settled on a farm near Palestine, where he worked at his trade of blacksmithing. He passed away in 1871 and his widow in 1876. To the mar- riage of subject and wife the following chil-
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