USA > Indiana > Kosciusko County > Progressive men and women of Kosciusko County, Indiana : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography > Part 45
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At the age of twelve years Philip Chiv- ington was deprived by death of that best and most loving of all earthly friends, his mother, after which he became an inmate of an older brother's household. Reared on a . farm, he early learned to perform the sever- est manual labor, and while still a mere lad was employed by different parties in the neighborhood at monthly wages. It was lowing. in addition to those already noted.
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i- but a partial list of battles in which he was engaged : Resaca, Georgia, Knoxville, Tennessee, Dalton, New Hope Church, Big Shanty, Negro Jack Creek. Chattahoochee River. Atlanta, Cedar Bluff, Jonesboro, Lovejoy Station, Griswold. Savannah, Branchville, Georgia, Little River, Alabama, Bentonville and Raleigh, North Carolina, besides others of which no note was taken. After the fall of Atlanta and the crushing of the Confederate forces from Georgia to the sea, Mr. Chivington marched through the Carolinas to Raleigh, thence to Wash- ington, D. C., where he had the honor of tak- ing part in the grand review at the close of the war. The corps to which his regiment belonged was commanded by the gallant general and patriot, John A. Logan, and it was his privilege to follow that great chief- tain on many of the bloodiest fields for which the Rebellion was noted.
Mr. Chivington was discharged on the 8th day of June, 1865, and immediately .
thereafter returned to Elkhart county, where for some months he worked at any honor- able employment which his hands found to do. In 1867 he came to Kosciusko county and turned his attention to agricultural pur- suits, which he has since followed with en- couraging success, being now one of the substantial farmers and enterprising citi- zens of the township of Etna. Shortly after becoming a resident of this county he was united in marriage to Miss Louisa J. Felter. a union that resulted in the birth of four children : Mary R., wife of Sol. Thomas, vi Scott township: Charles F., who lives in Wisconsin : Halcie W., who married Emma Taylor, deceased: and Josephine, wife of | hood. Ed Taylor, a farmer of Etna township. Mr. Chivington is essentially a man of Mrs. Chivington's married life was not of "the people, belonging to that large and emi-
long duration, being terminated by her un- timely death in the winter of 1886. Subse- quently. March 27. 1890. Mr. Chivington married his present wife, formerly Mrs. William Taylor, but whose maiden name was Sarah Hoffer. By her former husband she had four children, namely: Cora M., Hima .S., Samuel E. and Margaret E.
In politics Mr. Chivington has always affiliated with the Republican party and there is no man sounder in the principles and traditions of Republicanista than he. He never fails to cast his ballot and, when nec- essary, expresses fearlessly the well ground- ed opinions which he entertains. A close student of political questions and a wide reader of literature bearing upon public ai- fairs, he is a forceful factor in the coun- cils of the party and as a worker has been influential in advancing the interests of the ticket in the locality where he lives. Mr. Chivington is a man of quiet demeanor, ab- solutely honest and reliable in all of his dealings, and possesses in a marked degree the esteem of the people with whom he as- sociates. For about twenty years he has been an earnest and consistent member of the Christian church, being familiar with its peculiar plea and ready at all times to make any reasonable sacrifice to the end that the Master's kingdom may be promoted and mankind won to the higher life. Frater- rally he belongs to Stephen Hamiin Post. G. A. R., of Etna Green, and on account of services gallantly rendered is now the re- cipient of a liberal pension from the govern- ment for the preservation of which he gave much of the strength and vigor of his man-
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Bently respectable class that by deeds rather than by words give stability to the commu- nity and do so much to promote the ma- terial interest of the country. Few men can boast of a military record as replete with toilsome duty faithfully and uncomplaining- ly performed, while his career in the humble sphere of private citizenship has been such as to recommend him to the favorable con- sideration of the best people of the township of which he is a resident.
B. A. THOMAS.
Success in this life comes to the desery- ing. It is an axiom demonstrated by all hmman experience, that a man gets out of this life what he puts into it, plus a reason- able interest on the investment. The indi- vidual who inherits a large estate and adds nothing to his fortune cannot be called a successful man. He that falls heir to a large fortune and increases its value is suc- cessful in proportion to the amount he adds to his possession. But the man who starts in the world unaided and by sheer force of will, controlled by correct principles, forges ahead and at length reaches a position of honor among his fellow citizens achieves success such as representatives of the two former classes can neither understand nor appreciate. To a considerable extent the subject of this sketch is a creditable repre- sentative of the class last named, a class which has furnished much of the bone and smew of the country and added to the sta- bility of our government and its institutions.
B. A. Thomas is a native of Kosciusko county, Indiana, and son of Samuel S. and
Eliza ( Beckner) Thomas. The subject, paternal grandfather, Samuel Thomas, was born in Wales of English parentage. He married into the Matthews family that moved to North Carolina many years ago: in their veins flowed the blood of a long live of Scotch-Irish ancestors. In an early day Samuel Thomas came to America an! settled in North Carolina, where he became a well-to-do planter. By reason of his t- dying hatred of the institution of slavery he quit the South about the year 1834 th moved to Union county, Indiana. Subse- quently he changed his residence to the conn- ty of Elkhart, but purchased land in this county. He reared a family of thirteen children, whose names are as follows: .!!- bert. Ellen, Jane, Matilda. Samuel, Elkanah. Andrew, Benjamin. James, Dovey, Sarah. William and John ..
Samuel Themas, Jr., dith chill of Sam ud Thomas referred to above, was reared m Rowan county, North Carolina, and Union and Elkhart counties, Indiana, and. like his ancestors for several generations be- fore him, became a tiller of the soil. He married, in the county . of Elkhart. Eliza Beckner, whose parents came to Indiana in an early day from Ohio and settled not fas from where the Thomas family located in Clinton township. Elkhart county. They were of German descent and earned the rep- utation of industrious, honest and heter- able people, characteristics which appear to have been inherited in a marked degree in their descendants. Samuel S. Thomas pur- chased eighty acres of land in Som township. Kosciusko county, From which he developed a good farm. He made man; substantial improvements on his place and was known far and wide as a successful
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farmer and enterprising man, also as a goo 1 citizen, who, knowing his duty, discharged the same regardless of fear of favor. ITis widow is still living, making her home at this time with her son, Solomon Thomas. Samuel S. and Eliza Thomas had a large family, twelve in all, namely : William, Jacob. B. A., Chauncey, Dovey. Francis, Sol- omon, Eli, Margaret. Albert. Ellen, of whom Margaret and Albert were twins. Oi this large family that once surrounded the hearthstone of their parents, five have been called to another life, and the others are to- day filling stations of usefulness in the world.
The direct subject of this review was born in Scott township. December 9. 1851. and grew to manhood on his father's farm. At intervals during his minority he attended the public schools and at the age of twenty- one turned his attention to carpentry. He som became a skillful workman and fol- 1 wed the trade until his marriage, in 188o. after which he engaged in the pursuit of ag- riculture. Miss Mary C. Phares became his wife on April 29, 1880. She was born in the township of Etna, March 20, 1857. the slaughter of Amos and Elizabeth (Minnis ) Phares, who came to Kosciusko county about the year 1852 and purchased a farm in section II. Etna township.
After his marriage Mr. Thomas moved to a small farm of twenty acres in Scott township and began cultivating the land, in addition to which he worked at intervals at his trade, finding plenty of work to do in iis neighborhood and elsewhere. His own place not being large enough to farm profit- ably, he rented ground in the vicinity and in this way was enabled, with his earnings from carpentering. to make substantial
progress, accumulating within about welve years suficient means to purchase the old Phares homestead, which came into his pos- session in the fall of 1892. This farm has been his home since that date and under his successful management has been brought to a high state of tillage, besides containing some of the best improvements in the neigh- Lottoou. Mr. Normas is a careisi Insinand- man tale cultivated His - Walter the most ap- proved methods. He works according to well devised plans, keeps everything on the premises in good condition and the general appearance of his home indicates order and good taste. His buildings are substantial and comfortable, the fences in first-class re- pair, and the golden harvests which he every year reaps attest the industry with which he prosecates his labers. In addition to general farming and stock raising Mr. Thomas. since the year 1885, has operated a steam thresher with which he does a large and lucrative business in his own and other com- munities, the enterprise proving remunera- tive from the beginning and furnishing no small part of his annual income.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are the parents of two children, the older of whom, Gladys. was born on the igth day of September, 1882. She was graduated from the com- mon schools in igor and is a young lady of good mind and much more than ordinary culture, highly respected in the community. and has before her a promising future. Samuel A .. the second, was born March 14. 1887, and died an untimely death on the 9th of March. 1889.
Mr. Thomas affiliates with the Demo- cratic party and for eleven years served as assessor of Scott township. He did not finish his last term, resigning the office upon"
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his removal in 1892 to the township of Etna. He is a zealous member of the Odd Fel- lows brotherhood, belonging to Etna Green Lodge, No. 268, and to the Rebekah degree. to which latter department of the order his wife is also a member. Religiously he ac- knowledges the authority of no man-made creed and has no use for written articles of faith outside the word of God. He sub- scribes to the plain simple teachings of the Christian or Disciple church, and for a num- ber of years has served the congregation of which he is a member as deacon and assist- ant superintendent of the Lord's Day school. He lives a quiet, peaceable life, consecrated to the service of God and to the good of his fellow man, and his words as well as his example have inspired others to noble deeds and greater activities in the work of win- ning men and women to the higher life. To say that Mr. Thomas is a good man, an up- right citizen and a devout Christian is to express a fact of which his neighbors and many friends are fully cognizant. His aim has always been to do the right and it is to such as he that our country is indebted for the stability of its institutions and for the large measure of prosperity which it enjoys.
SOLOMON SECHRIST.
Paternally the subject of this review is descended from French ancestry and mater- nally traces his family history back to the · mountains and valleys of Switzerland. In an early day his great-grandfather left the vine-clad hills of beautiful France and, with other of his countrymen, came to America and settled in Westmoreland county. Penn- sylvania. There he reared a family and
lived the Hie of a farmer. Among his de- scendants was a grandson, David Sechris :. whose birth occurred in Pennsylvania. When a young man David went to Start county, Ohio, where he purchased a fare: find became a successful tiller of the soft. He married Mis- Catherine Wens, Whose ancestors came to the United States almit the same time that the Sechriste located in. Pensylvania, and settled in Ohio. They were Swiss and, like many people from the old world, were lured to this country by the prospect of obtaining lands, which was an impossible thing to do in their native com- try by reason of the high price of real es- tate and its entailment to the wealthy and the nobility.
David Sechrist remained in Ohio und 1842. in October of which year he dispose of his interests there and moved to Marshal county, Indiana, where he purchased eighty acres of land. He also bought the same ma ... ber of acres just across the line in the county of Kosciusko, and in due time cleared and developed a good farm on which himse and wife spent remainder of their days. Hle made many substantial improvements on his place and became a noted farmer and pros :- inent citizen. Public-spirited and progres- sive. he took a leading part in the material development of the country and for many years was a local politician of the old Whig school, afterwards transferring his ale- giance to the Republican party. He and wife were also zealous church workers and the wholesome influence which they exerted in the community was largely instrumental in elevating the morals of their neighbor- and friends and leading many into God's visible kingdom. Eight sons and two daug' :- ters were born to David and Catherine Se-
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christ, namely : Jacob, Laura, Isaiah. Sol- umon. David, Samuel, George, Mary, Jere- miah and John.
Solomon Sechrist's birth occurred in Stark county, Ohio, October 22, 1833, and he was a lad of nine years old when the family moved to northern Indiana. Like all boys in a new and undeveloped country. he was early put to work on the farm, and the healthful exercise of such active labor induced strong physical vigor, productive of health, strength and long life. At the carly age of fifteen he left home and began working for himself as a farm laborer at monthly wages, receiving for his services a mere pittance compared with remuneration stich as young men of the present day are paid.
Mr. Sechrist continued to labor by the menth until 1853, on April 5th of which year he was united in marriage to Miss Eliz- abeth Hepler, who was born in Stark coun- ty. Ohio, in the year 1835. Mrs. Sechrist's parents were natives of Pennsylvania, but when young migrated to Ohio, thence. in 1838. to Kosciusko county. Indiana. Her father entered land in Scott township and be- came one of the most progressive farmers of his community, accumulating land and other property valued at over ten thousand dollars.
Mr. and Mrs. Sechrist began housekeep- ing on a forty-acre tract of land in Marshall county, which Mr. Sechrist had formerly purchased from the government. They con- tinued to live there until their house and all of its contents were destroyed by fire, a loss which embarrassed them considerably. After this catastrophe Mr. Sechrist sold! his place and bought eighty acres in Kosci- usko county, in addition to the cultivation
of which he who started a general store. which proved a paying enterprise. After making some money he again disposed of his possessions and went to Iowa, a most unfortunate move, as he encountered many discouraging obstacles in that state and failed to make any of his undertakings suc- ceed. After spending the greater part of his money in several unfortunate enter- prises Mr. Sechrist, in 1867. returned to Indiana and invested the residue of his means in forty acres of land in Kosciusko county. He did not retain this place very long, but sold it at the first favorable of- portunity and purchased the same number . i aeres in Etna township. on which he has since resided. He now has a beautiful and well improved farm, the greater part under cultivation, and by industry and thrift has recovered from his former reverses and is now well situated as far as material things are concerned.
Mr. Sechrist began life's struggle alone and unaided, and despite his many aps and downs triumphed over adverse circum- stances and earned not only a comfortable and attractive home, but also a position of honor in the community such as few attain. His intelligence and practical wisdom long ago attracted the attention of the public and at different times he has been honored with local offices, among which were those of school director, supervisor and justice of the peace. In the last named office he earned an enviable reputation on account of his fair and impartial rulings and the soundness of his judgments, many important cases har- ing been tried in his court. But few appeals were ever taken from his decisions, and as long as he held the office Htigants were per- fectly satisfied to have their matters ad-
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justed by him, and generally the wisdom of Sarah ( Montel) Butterbaugh, formerly o, his decisions was upheld.
Politically Mr. Sechrist has always affil- iated with the Democratic party. He cast his first presidential ballot for James Bu- chanan and since that time has seldom missed an election, although he is by no means an active party worker. He is a charter member of Bremen Lodge, I. O. (). F., and with his wife belongs to the Chris- tian church. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Sechrist consists of five sons and three daughters, whose names are as follows: Isaac. George, Flo, Martha, Mary, David, Catherine, Ella, Elmer, Frank and Saman- tha, of whom Ehmer and Frank are twins.
As a man and citizen Mr. Sechrist is highly esteemed in his township and few oc- eupy as conspicuous a place in the confidence of the public. He is a man of the people and a representative of the best type of American citizenship. He refuses to be cast down by any adverse circumstance and, tak- ing an optimistic view of life, has made his. presence felt for good wherever his lot has been cast. He has always been interested in every enterprise for the general welfare of the community and liberally supports every movement calculated to benefit his fellow men along the line of moral reform. Court- cous and kind to all, broad-minded in his views of men and affairs, and firm in his convictions, it is a compliment worthily be- stowed to speak of Solomon Sechrist as an honorable and upright Christian gentleman.
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WILLIAM H. BUTTERBAUGH.
This well-known live-stock breeder and farmer is a native of Lake township, Kosci- usko county, Indiana, is a son of John and
Ohio, and was born AApril 18. 1851. Hi- paternal great-grandfather was a native of Germany, was the first of his family to come to America, and on reaching this country located in Pennsylvania, whence, some year- later, he removed to Montgomery county. Ohio, where he passed the remainder of hi- life in the honorable pursuit of agriculture. lle left a family of four children, namely : George A., Susan, Samuel and John.
John Butterbaugh was reared on his fa- ther's farm in Ohio until he had attained a suitable age for entering upon an apprentice- ship at blacksmithing, in the meantime se- curing a good common-school education. About 1842 he came to Indiana and entered one hundred and sixty acres of wooded land in Kosciusko county and forty acres in. Wa- bash county, and on the Kosciusko end of his place erected a dwelling, and eventually cleared up a large part of his land and de- veloped a fine farm.
The Montel family came to Lake town- ship on the ISth of April. 1844. The head of the family, John Montel, had a son and a daughter. The latter, named Sarah, be- came the wife of John Butterbaugh, and to this union have been born eight children. all of whom are now deceased, save two. William Il. and Mahlon L., the latter of whom is married to Laura Buzzard and re- sides in Manchester, Indiana.
William 11. Butterbaugh was reared on the farm on which he still resides and ac- quired a very good education in the country schools of the neighborhood. March o. 1884. he married Miss Viola Dirck. daughter of Henry and Mary ( Lehr) Dirck, and born in Ohio November 18. 1867. her people har- ing come to Kosciusko county, Indiana, in
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RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM BUTTERBAUGH
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1.
HDUAGHETTUN MALLIIW SO BOW30183ST
1
WILLIAM BUTTERBAUGH FAMILY GROUP
SUORO YJIMAT HOUASSETTUS MALLIW
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1809. They settled in Seward township and @ by their numerous personal friends as well were among the most respected farming as by the public at large. people of this section of the county. The The following extract in relation to the death of John Butterbaugh will be of un- doubted interest to the reader : marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Butterbaugh has been blessed with two children, viz: Hazel E., born January 8, 1888, and Nellie MI., born October 24, 1890. Both of the little girls have received instruction in music and are to be given thorough public-school edu- cation. Mrs. Butterbaugh is to her husband a helpmate in the truest sense of the word and by her wise counsel and encouragement has done much to assist in the establishment of their beautiful home.
After marriage Mr. Butterbaugh rented the home place and cultivated it until De- cember, 1888, when he purchased it and en- gaged in breeding choice live stock, for which he has acquired a splendid reputation. The farm comprises two hundred acres and that part not reserved for grazing is under a fine state of cultivation. The improve- ments are complete and substantial and all things about the place indicate thrift, indus- try and general prosperity, the property be- ing now estimated as worth fifteen thousand dollars.
In politics Mr. Butterbaugh is a Repub- lican, and he has several times represented his township in county conventions. Mrs. Butterbaugh is a member of the German Baptist church. Mr. Butterbaugh is very public spirited, is in favor of the best schools and teachers the township can afford to sun- port, and is also an advocate of public im- provements generally, to the expenses of which he contributes his full share finan- cially. Mr. and Mrs. Butterbaugh have al- ways been useful members of the community in which they live, and are greatly respected
John Butterbaugh, whose home was hear Rose Hill, near the Wabash comly hne, died on Wednes- day, April 8, 1895, at the remarkable age of ninety years. He was a pioneer of that section, and one of the most highly respected men in his locality. Ile was universally esteemed by all who knew man. The was a kind and indulgent father, an affectionate has- band and a kind friend. The poor and needy were always graciously remembered by this worthy man. His daily life was as an open volume to the people. His transactions in a business sense were of the most pronounced type of honesty. The woral is better fo- the lives of such people. His remains were interred in the Frantz cemetery, Pleasant township, Wabash county.
WILLIAM H. BOWMAN.
The biographies of enterprising men, e- pecially of good men, are instructive as guides and incentives to others. The ex- amples they furnish of patient purpose and steadfast integrity strongly illustrate what it is in the power of each to accomplish. Some men belong to no exclusive class in life; apparently insurmountable obstacles have in many instances awakened their dor- mant faculties and served as a stimulus to carry them to ultimate renown. The in- stances of success in the face of adverse fate would seem almost to justify the con- clusion that self-reliance, with a half chance. can accomplish any reasonable object. The gentleman whose life history is herewith outlined is a man who has lived to good purpose and achieved a much greater degree of success than falls to the lot of the average individual. By a straightforward and com- mendable course he has made his way to a
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respectable position in the business world. winning the hearty admiration of the people of his county and earning a reputation as an enterprising, progressive man of affairs which the public has not been slow to recog- nize and appreciate.
Isaac Bowman, grandfather of the sub- ject, was a native of England and was a Quaker. He married there and shortly afterward brought his wife to the United States, settling in Stark county, Ohio. After the death of his companion he went back to his native land and married her sister, later returning to Stark county, where he en- gaged in the pursuit of agriculture. He spent the remainder of his life in that coun- ty, reared a family of five children and died a number of years ago, honored and re- spected by all who knew him; his children's names are Thomas, Richard, William, Jane and Anne.
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