USA > Indiana > Kosciusko County > Progressive men and women of Kosciusko County, Indiana : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography > Part 39
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The Lake City Bank of Warsaw was er- ganized as a state bank, with sixty thousand dollars capital and with James McMurray. now retired and living in Indianapolis, as the first president. He was succeeded by Hudson Beck, who continued as president until his death in 1884. W. B. Funk, wh. still resides in Warsaw and who was a- treasurer, followed Mr. Beck, he in turn be- ing succeeded by David II. Lessig, Novem- ber 6, 1868, the present incumbent of that office. The first cashier was John HI. Lewis. who was succeeded by Albion Beck, son of Hudson Beck, about the time his father be- came president of the bank, and remained
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until after his father's death. Samuel Bit- ner, who had come into the bank as book- keeper in 1880, was elected cashier in 1885 or 1886 and continues in that place at this writing. The board of directors have been chosen from the careful and conservative business men of the community. They are J. W. Curtis, a jeweler, J. M. Bash, M. D. W: D. Wood, ex-county clerk, A. J. Thom- as, a farmer, Oscar Harding, a farmer, John Grabner, a hardware merchant, and D. H1. Lessig, president of the bank. There are be- tween twenty-five and thirty stockhoklers, all local men. The building was erected in 1870 and the bank is provided with a Hall safe. Reports of the bank show sixty thou- sand dollars stock, deposits from one hun- dred and thirty thousand to one hundred and forty thousand dollars, with a surplus of fifteen thousand dollars, dividends of from six per cent. to eight per cent. are paid semi- annually, the stock being held at six per cent. to ten per cent. premium. At the expira- tion of the old charter, in 1895, the bank was re-incorporated under the name of the Lake City Bank.
David H. Lessig was born near Goshen, Elkhart county, Indiana, September 4. 1851. His parents, Joseph S. and Elizabeth Hart Lessig, were both natives of Pennsylvania. They were married in Ohio, coming to In- diana in 1850. Joseph was a hatter by trade and upon settling at Leesburg he opened a store, soon building up a good trade. Although he suffered loss by fire at one time, he still prospered and continued to sell goods from 1856 to the time of his death, September 4. 1868. His wife sur- vived him nearly thirty years, her death ve- curring in February, 1896, at the age of , seventy-eight years. Her last years were
Aspent with her two surviving children, Har- riet, the older, why is Mrs. W. R. 1EM. ... Goshen, and David, at Leesburg. Thead- C., the older son, answered one of the first calls to war and although only a young iny. joined the first company formed in Kong- usko county. After the three-molin ser- ice he re enlisted for one year and then i " three years, his entire service being an der General Williams. After the clone of the war Thomas assisted in the store until his father's death, his own death occurring two years later at the age of thirty.
David spent his boyhood days to the age of seventeen attending school and helping in his father's store. After the death of his father he left school and one year later he was given a place under General Williams, who was then clerk of the county. He re- mained in that office two and a half years. During these years he was receiving valu- able training in the school of experience. He was next employed by railroad agent Stanley at Leesburg, as bookkeeper in the grain house, and also attended to consider- able of the railroad business. He remained in this position two years and then opene! a new store at Leesburg, continuing in this business, except for a brief interval, until he was elected county auditor, in 1894. It is interesting to note this man's steady rise. He retained the office of auditor foar year -. having been elected by the Republican party. David's father had been active in & fithe- and the son became imbued with Republica : principles early in life. He was to wishiy trustee for Plain township four years and! served as postmaster at Leesburg four years daring Harrison's administration. He has served his party as delegate to conventions and as central committeeman for a time, and
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is still active in political work. He gave his personal attention to the routine duties of his office as auditor and was the first auditor of Kosciusko county elected under the new law. That he proved faithful in public trust is shown by his being called to the presi- deney of the Lake City Bank immediately upon the expiration of his term as auditor, without solicitation on his part, as he was
Mr. Lessig is of delicate constitution, having been threatened with hereditary con- sumption, of which his brother died. He is a lover of out-of-door life and especially en- joys camping out near Tippecanoe lake.
At the age of twenty-four years Mr. Lessig was married to Miss Fanny S. Rich- ardson, of Rochester, New York, who died one year later and was buried on the first daughter. Fanny E., who is now the wife of Earl W. Conrad, of Warsaw. After nine years Mr. Lessig was again married. this time to Mary Engine Killbury, of Hornells- ville. New York, whom he met while she was visiting relatives in this county. Four children were born to them, Harriet Louise, Joseph S., Donald Killbury and Eleanor Horton. Mrs. Lessig is devoted to her fam- ily and is a capable wife and mother. She is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Lessig is a member of the Masonic Lodge No. 181, at Leesburg, in which he served as worshipful master for several
years and was for some thue an active lodge worker. He is also a member of the chap- ter at Warsaw.
JAMES WILLIAM LIGHTFOOT.
It is not often that gentilone who i. preparing to return to Leesburg, where he , how the vocation of faraling tan their foot- had business interests. Since assuming the presidency he has devoted his entire time and energies to the direction of the bank." which, due to his careful management and his knowledge of the business interests of the county, continues to be a substantial in- stitution.
steps to the east, coming from a state noted for its congenial climate and productive what and where land is supposed to be plentiful and easily obtained. Yet such was the case with those who controlled the early years of our subject: it might be said, however. that it was foreordained by that mysterious providence which leads without our knowl- edge.
James William Lightfoot is a native of the great state of Missouri and was born March 2. 1845. His early life was there spent until the death of his parents, which occurred in 1852. when he was a lad of but seven years. After the said bereavement the elder children determined to make a anniversary of her marriage. She left a home in Indiana and that year came to Kosciusko county. It was here that young James Lightfoot was reared, receiving his instruction in the common school of the district during the winter seasons, and when old enough assisted in the labor incident to the life of a farmer boy. That he was an apt pupil in both school and farm is evi- denced by his present pleasant home and surroundings, and the prosperity which at- tends him in these later years of life can be attributed to that inherent energy and de- termination which wins success, even under adverse circumstances.
On August 20. 1875. Mr. Lightfoot was
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married to Miss Hulda Elizabeth Stinson. their Groups. Bear- were witen encountered. born March 30. 1851. in this county, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah ( Wilson) Stinson. Her father, Jacob Stinson (de- ceased ), was one of the early pioneers of Indiana and a large land holder in Kości- usko county. Mr. and Mrs. Lightfoot are the parents of six children, namely : Garrett B., who married Nora Menzie, is a farmer of this county; Lester 11. is at home with his parents; Leon J. died at the age of fil- teen : Mary L., John S. and George A. are all at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Lightfoot attend the Methodist Episcopal church, and are held in much esteem by their numerous friends for their excellent qualities. Mr. Lightfoot is a Republican in politics, but gives no time to political matters beyond a proper exercise ' of his right of franchise. He is an excel- lent, quiet citizen, and enjoys the respect and confidence of his neighbors and friends, who have known him from early boyhood.
JOSEPH SMALLEY.
The family represented by the subject of this memoir moved to this state when the country was a wilderness. filled with wild animals and with Indians about as wild and dangerous as the animals. They were più- neers of the typical class, and went into the woods with Christian fortitude to carve from the wilds homes of comfort and refine- ment. They located in Noble county, Indi- ana, in 1836, when there were not a dozen families within as many miles. Deer fre- quented the clearing they made and stole
in the cornfield in roasting-ear time, and the domestic animals had to be looked atte" sharply or they fell a prey to the wolves and jones. They were required to out their homes from the dense forests which covered the land, and not a crop would be raised until the timber had been burned and the sunlight had been let in to drink up the surplus moisture of the soil. The subject was born in Fayette county, Ohio, and is the child of David and Margaret (Shobe) Smalley. David was reared on his father's farm in that county, and was taught to know what hard work meant at almost the com- miencement of his Bie. He was given such education as the subscription schools of his day afforded .. and upon reaching manhood married Miss Margaret Shobe. To this union were born four children, as follows. Melissa, born in ISgo, who is unmarried and lives with her brother in Noble county; Joseph, subject; Jacob. unmarried, who re- sides in Noble county and is engaged in farming and stock raising: one that died in infancy. David Smalley's father moved his family from Fayette county, Ohio, to Nobie county, Indiana, in 1836, and there they en- tered a large tract of wild land, all covered with heavy timber. Later the father gave each of his children eighty acres of this farm, and they settled on the same and be- gan to clear away the dease brush and that- ber. It is claimed that is that time there were only six families fying in what is now Noble county. At any rate this shots holl very new the country was and with what the settlers had to contend. The mills were scores of miles away and the store supplies were mostly gone without. A little later one of the brothers of David caught the
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JOSEPH SMALLEY FAMILY GROUP
TUONO YAIMAT YRAJAME BAMBUL
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gold fever and joined a troop of men and crossed the plains to California. His experi- ences for many years were the talk of his family and friends and would themselves make an interesting volume. David lived and died in Noble county, and was one of its foremost citizens and old settlers. This life was filled with exciting events connected with the early times. David grew to man- hood in Noble county, and received his ed- ucation at the pioneer schools, attending the old log house, with its slab seats and clap- board roof, its stone chimney and its pun- cheon floor and greased windows. His son, the subject of this memoir, was given better opportunities, as he came at a later day when the pioneer days were drawing to a close. Ile was reared on the farm and upon at- taining manhood met and married Miss Mary Bybee, November 17, 1871. To this union were born six children, as follows : Harry, born September 14, 1873, who is unmarried and resides at home: Gertrude. born February 25. 1878. is unmarried and lives with her father; Lucinda, born Sep- tember 25. 1881, is unmarried and lives with her parents ; Della, born June 22, 1875, died February 4, 1890; two others died un- named.
After marriage the subject lived in Noble county for thirteen years, and then moved with his family to Seward township. this county, and here they have since re- mained. Mr. Smalley is a strict Republican, has served his township as delegate in the county conventions, and is regarded as a citizen of high character and irreproachable life. Mrs. Smalley is a member of the United Brethren church and both are uni- versally respected.
GEORGE W. SMITHI.
This well-known citizen comes from one of the widest families in this portion of the state. They settled in this county when the land was covered with heavy timber and. when scarcely a clearing had been made in the vast expanse of wooded soft. The fat- ily is of German descent. The great-grand- father came from the Fatherhad to Aner- ica before the Revolution and settle 1 in the Keystone state when he was still a single man. Lemand Smith, Sr. was one of his sons. The latter was reared a farmer and upon attaining man - estate married MES. Bringle, and to them were born Le mand. Jr., John. Peter. Jacob. Margaret, Elizabeth and Maria. Leonard, Jr., distinguished. himself in his opposition to slavery. lie was an eloquent speaker and on all occasions made war upon the institution of slavery. He did not hesitate to disobey the infamous fugitive slave law, which require ! northern men to assist in capturing runaway slaves and return them to their masters. Instead of doing this, he did as many of the great- est men of that time did-assisted them in their efforts to escape their crad masters. He was connected with the famous "un- dergre und railroad." which was formed in secret to help the slaves escape. He mat- ried Miss Mary Heise and came to this a anty in 1848 or 1849, settling on the farm where john C. Smith, brother of subject. now resides. After a long and eventful Wie he passed away in 1805. His wiew ====- vivet until October to, 1892, when she. tto. crossed the silent river.
George W. Smith, the son of Leonard and Mary Smith, was born in Frankin
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township, this county, February 3. 1850. state, le having general charge of the affair, of the township. Upon his re-election Mr. Smith received an increased majority, an in- dication of the satisfaction felt by hi- en- stituents. When he asstated the office the township was heavily in debt, bm at the conclusion of his service the indebteines had been wiped out and a neat samt was in. the treasury. He made the effort to and did raise the standard of teaching in the town- ship. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren church in Seward town- ship. They stand high in the community and have the unbounded respect si all who have the pleasure of their friendship. and was reared on his father's farm, re- ceiving in his boyhood a fair education and learning the business of farming in all its details. He finished his schooling in the grades and in the normal schools at Warsaw and was far enough advanced to teach in the district schools, which he did for eight terms with excellent success. He held one of the highest graded certificates of that day. He thought at first that he might perma- nently follow the profession of teaching, so well did he succeed and so well was he liked, but finally he determined to leave the schoolroom for the farm, and accordingly he bought the land where he now resides, ! one hundred and twenty acres, the most of which was covered with dense woods. Pre- vious to locating on the farm he was, An- GEORGE D. ROSE. gust 23, 1884, united in marriage with Miss Rosa B. Jones, the daughter of Samuel and This gentleman is another of the old soldiers whom it is a delight to honor. They are getting fewer and fewer in num- ber and their march is not as quick and full of meaning and fire as it was nearly forty years ago: but it thrills one to see them in their old uniforms, with their tattered flags dying and their forms bent as they hobbie along on their canes at the reunions or on Memorial day or the Fourth of July. And how interesting it is to hear them tell the story of the dreadful hardships they endare .. in the hospitals or on the harassing marche -. or in the battles or skirmishes, er in the prison hells of the Southern Confederacy. But their time is short now, so all persons should join in honoring them for the sac- rifices they made when they were young and full of the love of life, but which were vi- fered free on the altar of their country. Eliza J. ( Warren ) Jones. She was born June 10, 1865. Her father served in the Union army during the Rebellion, and long after the war. in December, 1896, he was killed by a train at Burket. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Cora, born August 15, 1885, and died September 13. 1896. Mr. Smith has a fine farm, well cleared and cultivated. He is a Republican and is much interested in the success of his party in county, state and nation. He has served his party as chairman of the town- ship committee, and success usually attends his efforts. In 1884 he was elected trustee of Franklin township by a majority of thir- ty-eight votes, the township being practically Democratic, thus showing the high esteem! in which he was held. It should be borne in mind that the office of trustee is the same to the township as the governor is to the " George D. Rose, Jr., was born at Louisville.
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Stark county, Ohio, September 14, 1836, . came the wife of John McCone and is de- and is the son of George D., Sr., and Cath- erine (Zerby) Rose. The Rose family is of Germanic descent, the grandfather emigrat- ing from his native land to America in 1793, when he was a lad of two years. The family first located in Maryland and there the grandfather grew up and learned the jeweler's trade, his residence and shop be ing in Georgetown. He lived there until the day of his death. The father of the subject was reared in Maryland and when a young man was put out to learn the shoe- maker's trade. It was thought proper then that all boys should know some trade. After he had served his apprenticeship he opened a shop of his own in Fredericksburg, Mary- land, and remained there several years. While at Reading, Pennsylvania; he met Miss Catherine Zerby and soon afterward, in 1817, they were married. To this mar- riage fourteen children were born, five sons
ceased : Lucinda, who wedded Aaron Flow- ers and lives in Oklahoma: George D. J.r .: John h., who died at the age of fifteen 1 years: Edward, who died aged eighteen years : Sarah, who married Farris Whitwer, a soldier in the Union army during the Re- Milion: Rebecca, who became the wife of Willian. Varfiori, and lives in Clearwater. Nebraska. The father of the subject be- cine a prominent man in Stark county, Ohio, whither he moved at an early day. He was an active Whig, and as ach was elected sheriff . i that county. He was an auctioneer of considerable prominence. He became a member of the Baptist church, and was a man of liberal habits and of much intelligence. In April, 1840, he came with his family to Laporte county, Indiana, and five years later removed to Clay & waship. this county, and there followed his trade of journeyman shoemaker. ile and his wife and nine daughters: Elizabeth, who be- ; were worthy people. She died in 1874, at came the wife of Solomon Clingerman, and the age of seventy-four years, while he re- mained until 1880, when he, tor, passed ! away at the age of eighty-five years. after his death married Thomas Tegarder, who died in April, 1902; she is still living and resides in Wisconsin ; Susanna, who be- George D. Rose passed through the usual experiences of boys of the early days. He received a meager education. learning to read and write after he became a man. On the 27th of September, 1861, he en- listed in Company E, Fourteenth Iowa In- fantry, and after a season in the camp of instruction was sent to the scene of conflict down the Mississippi river. Mis forst serv- ice was at Fort Henry and after its capture he participated in the battle of Fort Done- sal, being engaged for four days. The moved with the army of General Grant to the Tennessee river and encamped welt Pittsburg Landing. Here on the 6th ani came the wife of Henry Horner and is de- ceased; Henrietta, who wedded Charles Rockhill and is deceased; Jacob, who died when young; Catherine, who became the wife of Richard Hatfield and resides in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska ; Josiah, who mar- ried Mary A. Flowers, was a soldier in the Union army during the Rebellion, a private in Company K, Twenty-eighth Iowa Vol- unteer Infantry: he is deceased and his widow lives in Kansas; Mary .A., born .\u- gust 8, 1829, was married in 1845 to Will- iam R. Hatfield, now deceased. and she lives in Claypool. this county : Margaret, who be-
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7th of April, 1862, he fought in the des- perate battle of Shiloh. Late in the day he was captured by the enemy, but Mr. Rose. together with a squad of others, gave them "leg bail" and skedaddled back to General Sherman's corps. After this what was left of the regiment was placed in the Union Brigade. He took part in the siege of Corinth and in the battle of that name, and there, on October 3. 1862, he was shot through the right shoulder and laid three days in the mud and rain before he was picked up. He remained in the hospital for four months and was then discharged from the service: he has never fully recovered from the effects of his wound and the ex- posure.
Previous to the war, while in Jasper county, Iowa, Mr. Rose married Miss Eliza i Dunkard University of Warsaw, where he Anderson, the ceremony taking place De- , took a special course in mathematics and. cember 3, 1858. She hore him three chil- ¿ later a higher course in a university in Ohio. dren, one girl and two boys: Emma R .. who became the wife of George Groat and lives in Trail, Oklahoma : Elmer E., unmar- ried. was a soldier in the Philippines as a member of Company H, Twenty-third United States Infantry: Thomas S. died when four years old. Mr. Rose lost his wife by death February 11, 1874. Owing to his splendid war record, Mr. Rose was chosen door-keeper of the house of repre- sentatives for the sixteenth and seventeenth general assemblies of Iowa, and was made sergeant-at-arms of the house of the eight- eenth general assembly. Succeeding this he was appointed guard of the state prison at Fort Madison for a'term of four years, but only served two years and two months, when he resigned. He served as deputy sheriff of this county for five years. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Repub-
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He and of the Knights of Pythas. He is an ardent Republican, and one of the most prominent nien in this portion of the state.
PETER SYLVESTER COOK.
Peter Sylvester Cook, a native of Har- tison township, Kosciusk , canty. Indiana, was born November 20, 1846, and is a son of John W. and Ann (Pittenger) Conk. ITis early education was obtained in the will subscription and free schools of his town- ship and the high schools of Warsaw. Nit being sausfied with the knowledge already obtained, he later entered DePauw Univer- sity, at Greencastic. Indiana, and later the He was also educated in voice culture. In the meantime he had taught foar terms is the district schools of his native county and as an educator gained considerable distinc- tion, being asked many times to continue in this direction. Having from early youth had a great desire for the palpit, he had long before this determined to enter the min- istry, which he did. He studied under the Methodist denomination and was ordained as deacon in 1878 and as elder in 18NO. Subsequently he was sent as a missionary to North Dakota, where he was located for six years, having preached in this state eight years previously, but returned to his native state, where he was found preaching the gospel for a number of years. On account of heart trouble he was obliged to abandon the ministry in 1868 and has since that time "turned his attention to agriculture. In 1899.
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not having the proper facilities for educat-
with life in the early days of Kosciusko ing his children in the vicinity of their home, county and the city of Warsaw. he purchased seven acres of land on the cast limits of the city of Warsaw, where he has a very comfortable home.
In political affairs Mr. Cook cast his first vote for the Prohibition party. Mr. Cook has been twice married. first with Margaret Watson in the fall of 1875. She was a daughter of John and Salome ( Heistler ) ! came a bookkeeper and acquired a thorough Watson. They were the parents of one child, Ocie Pearl, now the wife of Alonzo Lehman, a resident of Wayne township. Mrs. Cook died in December, 1897, and he was married to Elizabeth Balsley, a daugh- ter of Phillip and Eliza ( Elgenfritz ) Bals- ley. They became the parents of three chil- dren : Bertha, who died aged five months, Frederick M. and Gerald N. Mr. Cook is a man of wide knowledge, being a great reader, a deep thinker and a good conversa- tionalist, and withal is a pleasing gentle- man to meet.
HUDSON BECK, DECEASED.
The biographer writes with a sorrowful heart when it becomes his duty to perform the task of a necrologist and to give even but a brief record of the career and life of one who was called all too soon, in the prime of his years, from his work of useful- ness on this mundane sphere. The late Hudson Beck was a son of Metcalfe Beck, one of the pioneer merchants of Kosciusko county, but now also deceased, and of whom a full record will be found on another page of this work, and which is fraught with: many incidents and circumstances connected
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