USA > Indiana > Kosciusko County > Progressive men and women of Kosciusko County, Indiana : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography > Part 51
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The difference between persons is not in wis- principal of the Burket pablie schools : Viola. dom, but in art. Every intellect is mainly prospective. Its present value is its least. It is a little seed. Every truth that you acquire is a lantern which you instantly turn full on what facts and thoughts lay already in your mind, and all the mats and rubbish which have littered your literary garret be- come bright and precious. The family to which this sketch refers are fully alive to the bright things of this world. They can look beyond the dross and see the gold shin- ning in the work of mind. It has been the fixed policy of the subject to give his chil- dren something more than an education se- cured at the common schools. In this age it is necessary, unless you want your chil- dren to be clodhoppers all their lives, to fit them for the higher duties which an ad- vanced age will place upon their shoulders.
George Bruner is the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth ( Eberwine) Bruner, and was born in Stark county, Ohio, May 9, 1847. He was brought to Dekalb county, Indiana, ; about the year 1854 and there grew up on his father's farm. Possessing a fine mind naturally, but not being blessed with a good education. he made up his mind long ago to see that his children fared better than 1 he did in the schools. He became acquainted with Miss Catherine Lower and in due time asked her to become his wife, which she promised to do, and they were accordingly married on February 8, 1874. She was i born September 23, 1854, and received in youth a fair education. To this marriage the following children were born: Jesse, born April 29, 1875, who is yet unmarried, completed the common-school branches and later attended the normal school at Angola, fully fitting himself for teaching, is now the
born September 12, 1877, who also fitted Herself for teaching and attended the nor- mals both at Mentone and at Warsaw. is now the wife of William Cook and lives in Seward township: Justin, born March 24. 1878, who likewise prepared himself for the profession of teaching and attended the nor- mal school at Angola, is now teaching in this township: Maude, born April 10, 1880. who became the wife of Lewis Tucker and resides in Burket ; Gertrude, who died aged nearly five years ; Charles, born July 8. 1884: Lucile, born November 13. 1887. Mr. Bruner after his marriage rented land for about eighteen years before he could get much ahead. He finally bought seventy-six acres of George Irvin in 1892 and there he has since lived. He is a Republican, and though he does not take an active part in politics yet nevertheless never fails to vote for his party's candidates. Ile and his good wife are both adherents of the Methodist Episcopal church, and both are widely known and universally respected. They have a fine family of intellectual children and take great interest in their success in life. No people of the county stand higher in the estimation of their neighbors than do the members of this family.
JOHN BRUNER.
It is the pride of the people of this coun- try that when the great Civil war between the states closed, all the vast army of citizens soldiery quietly laid down their arms and returned to their homes and the arts of peace. It was predicted by the governments
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of Europe, not only that the country would resides in Nebraska, was a soldier in the be divided, but that after the war an enor- ¿ Rebellion and served for the period of about mous army would be kept up and a military dictatorship would be established on the fragments, perhaps in what had been every state. But foreign nations did not under- stand the spirit that animated the breasts of the American people. They themselves stood ready to pounce upon the fragments when the smoke of war should roll away. But instead of a disrupted country they be- held a spiendid sight. They saw the great armies melt away, saw a reunited country in which liberty was a fact as well as a name and saw the boys in blue return to their wives, farms and shops. The subject of this sketch was one of those boys in blue. He was born in Stark county, Ohio, January 3. 1842, and is the son of Benjamin and Eliza- beth ( Ebenwine ) Bruner. The father was a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and was of Germanic descent. Subject's grandmother on his mother's side was born in Germany. and came to this country after six months: George married Catherine Lower and lives in this township: Benjamin wedded Miss Clemmons and lives in Ne- braska : Susanna become the wife of David Huffman and is now deceased. Benjamin Braner, the father, moved from Ohio to De- kalb county, Indiana, in 1854, where he bought a farm and lived uniti 1874. when he purchased a tract of eighty acres in this township on section 2 and there continued to live until his death in 1893. His wife pre- ceded him to the grave, dying in 1879. The father was a strong Republican, a good farmer, a useful citizen and an honest man. John Bruner passed his youth on his fa- ther's farm and concluded to make that his occupation through life. At the age of twenty years he enlisted in Company .A. Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry, under Capt. E. B. Cutter. After some time spent in camp of instruction he was sent with his regiment to Louisville, Kentucky, and first she was married, crossing the ocean on a i saw service at the battle of Perryville. Sub- ailing vessel and not seeing land for nine , ject suffered greatly from disease and was home to recuperate. Late in 1803 he re- turned to his regiment and participated in the Atlanta campaigns, being present at nearly all of the battles and showing splen- did spirit and gailantry. He was also in the famous "march to the sea." and also in the campaign of the Carolinas, fighting ai- most constantly for many days. He made an excellent record for bravery and at the conclusion of the war returned to his home. He was mustered out at Louisville, Ken- not even wounded. He now draws a pen-
months. These people settled in the Key- ; discharged at Gallatin, Tennessee, and sent stone state and followed the occupation of farming. When the father of subject was a young man he came to Stark county, Ohio, He was reared as a farmer and selected that as his avocation through life. He had a fair education both in German and in English. Subject's mother also came to Stark county, Ohio, when she was a young woman. There the parents met and were married about the year 1838. To them were born six chil- dren : Mary became the wife of Samuel Wiltrout and lived in Goshen, but both are | tucky, July 15. 1865. Fortunately he was now deceased : John, the subject, is the sec- ond in the family ; Samuel, who married and "sion of fourteen dollars per month. After 25
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the war he worked on the farm by the month, and in August, 1868, he wedded Miss Sarah J. Bell, and to them two chil- dren were born : Mary R., who became the wife of Edward Winters and resides in Seward township: Catherine, who married Alfred Bartholomew and lives in Elkhart. His first wife died in 1874. and he later married Miss Mary J., daughter of Henry and Mary ( Deeds) Keller. She has borne him five children : Alice J., born April 11. 1877. became the wife of Archie Franks and
Mr. Swick's ancestors came to the lives in Waterloo, Indiana: David E .. born I United States from the romantic little coun- try of Switzerland. His paternal grandia- ther. William Swick, was born in Peansyi- vania, but early went to Ohio, where he me and married Mary Shoup, who was also of Swiss descent. They lived for some years on a farm in the latter state and appear to have been fairly successful in their worldly affairs. Thinking to better his condition in the new and fertile region of northern hu- diana, whither a number of his fellow citi- zens had preceded him. William Swick in 1860 loaded his household effects on a wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen, and, driv-
October 8, 1879. resides with his father : Lulu M .. born September 5. 1882, is unmar- ried and lives at home: William E., born April 25, 1885, lives at home. Mr. Bruner is a Republican and is prominent and useful in the councils of his party. Mr. and Mrs. Bruner are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church of Burket, he being at present one of the trustees of the church and par- sonage at Burket. He is a member of Kos- ciusko Post, G. A. R., at Warsaw, and at one time was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Waterloo. He is . an excellent specimen of the representative : ing his live stock ahead. made the journey American citizen.
PROF. J. W. SWICK.
In one of the most exacting of all call- ings the subject of this sketch has attained distinction, being recognized as one of the most successful teachers in the county of Kosciusko. He is a well educated. sym- metrically developed man, his work as an educator having brought him prominently to the notice of the public, the result of
which is a demand for his services where a high standard of professional excellence is required. He is a gentleman of scholarly tastes and studious habits, keeps abreast the times in advanced educational methods and his general knowledge is bread and compre- hensive. In connection with teaching. he is engaged in agricultural pursuits and itis beautiful farm in Seward township is more of the most attractive and tastefully ar- ranged homes in the community.
to Kosciusko county, consuming over eight days before reaching his destination. He purchased a place in Seward township, near Beaver Dam lake, and by industry and site- cessful management soon become one of the leading farmers in that part of the country. Ile accumulated a comfortable competence and had one of the most valuable farms in Seward, but later in life lost the greater part of his earnings by bearkening to unwise advice and befriending people who prove . false to their obligations. Few men in the alive township were as well known of ... highly respected as William Swick. Quiet
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and gentlemanly in demeanor and the em- has been blessed with six children, one og- b aliment of hospitality. he became popular with all who knew him and his death was an event greatly deplored in the community. ile and his good wife died on the farm which Mr. Swick originally purchased and their memories will always be cherished by their descendants and others who were for- tunate enough to form their acquaintance.
To William and Mary Swick were born eleven children, all of whom are living. it is certainly an unusual if not a remarkable fact to find so large a family from which death has not claimed at least one victim. It is also worthy of note that the sons and daughters are all well situated in life and stand high in the confidence and esteem of the respective communities in which they live. Among the sons was Henry Swick. who was born and reared in Ohio. He was a young man when the family moved to Kosciusko county and he remained under the parental roof, assisting his father on the jarm until his marriage, which was solem- aized in 1868, with Miss Elizabeth Keller. David Keller, father of Mrs. Swick. was a native of Pennsylvania. When a young man he went to Ohio, where he married Susan Malot, and in 1845 came to Indiana. being among the early settlers of the county oi Kosciusko. Mr. and Mrs. Keller experi- enced their full share of the hardships and vicissitudes of pioneer life and have lived to see the country redeemed from its wilder- ness state to a very garden of beauty and plenty where prosperity abounds and happi- ness and content reign supreme. They are row deceased. Besides Mrs. Swick they bad five other children, one of whom died in infancy.
ing in infancy and four sons and one daugh- ter living. Among the sons is the gentie- man whose name forms the caption of this review. J. W. Swick was born in Franklin township, Kosciusko county, Indiana. July 18. 1800. he being the oldest of the six children constituting his father's family. His early life was spent on the farm and the genial influence of nature in her many various moods had much to do in forming This character and shaping his Hic. Reared 1 to farm labor, he knew not the meaning of idleness in a practical sense, and, being the oldest son, upon his shoulders iel many of the duties and responsibilities of running the place and assisting to maintain the family. When old enough he entered the public schools, which he attended of winter sea- sons until completing the prescribed course of study. He was graduated with an hon- orable record in 1887. after which he at- tended several normal terms with the object in view of becoming a teacher.
From early boyhood Mr. Swick mani- fested a decided taste for books and his studious habits while in school soon enabled him to outstep his classmates. He made rapid progress and, fally appreciating the value of scholastic training and the advan- age to be derived from it, he pursued the higher branches of learning with the same zeal that marked his course in the lower die- partments. Added to this was a landable ambition to make his education sabserve . wise purpose from a business point of view ; accordingly in 1889 he successfully passei the required examination and obtained a license entitling him to teach in the common schools of Kosciusko county. Mr. Swick Henry and Elizabeth Swick's marriage ' taught his first term that year and has con-
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timed educational work to the present time, Ifor the best society circles of the neighbor- hood .
meeting with a large measure of success and. as already indicated, carning the reputation of one of the most capable and popular in- structors in a county noted for the high pro- fessional standing of its educators. He de- votes the fall and winter seasons to the school room, giving his attention the re- mainder of the year to his farm, which is well improved and bears every evidence of high cultivation and thrift.
Mr. Swick has been married twice, the first time in 1892 to Mrs. Malinda Summe, a union severed by the death of the faithinl and devoted wife on the 3d day of January. 1808. She was of Swiss-German parentage and bore her husband a son and a daughter. the former preceding his mother to the other world by a little more than one year. In the fall of 1808 Mr. Swick entered into the marriage relation with Miss Louisa Summe, a native of Switzerland and cousin of his former companion. She was brought to this country by her parents when three years old and grew to maturity in Kosciusko coun- ty, receiving a good education in the com- mon schools. She has presented her hus- band one child, a daughter, Fay, whose presence adds greatly to the brightness of the home.
his two-fold capacity of teacher and agri- "are unstable and unsettled, who ty from this
Mr. Swick has earned considerable re- pute as a raiser of high grade stock, from the sale of which a liberal income is de- rived. Ile is a good business man and in 1 culturist has earned a reputation which places him among the enterprising and pro- gressive citizens of the township of Seward. His home, within less than a mile of the beautiful little sheet of water known as Beaver Dam lake, is a well-known resort
Personally he is a gentleman of piercing presence, genial in manner and conversation. and his social qualities as well as his sterling characteristics have made him popular with a large class of people. Mr. Swick is a read- er and thinker, is well informed on general topics and spares no pains to keep him-eli in touch with the trend of modern though .. A close observer of current events, he has well defined opinions upon political. con- nomie, socialogical and kindred subjects, but neither his tastes nor inclinations have ever permitted him to become an active partisa :.. much less an aspirant for public honor -. Besides voting the Democratic ticket and occasionally giving expression to his con- victions, he takes little interest in party ai- fairs.
Mr. Swick is an honest, straightforward man m all of his dealings, conscientious in his work as a farmer and educator and it is with pleasure that this brief synopsis of his life and tribute to his worth as factor in the affairs of Kosciusko county is given a place in this volume.
LEVI H. EATON.
The people who constitute the bone and sinew of this country are not those who occupation to that, who do not know how to vote until they are told, and who take no active and intelligent interest in affairs affecting their schools, churches and prop- erty. The backbone of this country is male ap of the families which have made their
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homes, who are alive to the best interests of the community in which they reside, who are so honest that it is no trouble for their neighbors to know it, and who attend to their own business and are too busy to at- tend to that of others, who work on steadily from day to day taking the sunshine with the storm and who rear a fine family to a comfortable home and an honest life. Such people are always welcome in any country and in any community. They are wealth producers and this country is blessed with many of them, among which is that of the subject of this sketch. farm now occupied by John Jones. After living on this farm eight years he sold it and bought eighty acres a mile east, where his widow now lives. He died in the spring of 1870. He and his wife for many years were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and both were people of undoubted respectability and worth. Levi 1. was reared in this county, being only three years of age when he was brought here by his parents. He remained on his father's farm until he had attained the age of eight- cen years. At the commencement of the Rebellion he enlisted in Company C. Fifty- Levi H. Eaton was born in Wayne coun- ty. Indiana, August 11. 1843, and is the son of Caleb and Martha ( Hartup) Eaton. The Eaton family are of English descent and . Mr. Eaton was taken down with the measles came from Maryland, where they lived as iar back as they can be traced in this coun- Fry. The lartup family are from Germany originally. Upon reaching early manhood caleb Eaton concluded to visit the great . west, and accordingly came to Indiana about the year 1837. He there worked out until he was twenty-one years old, and about this time was united in marriage with Miss Martha Hartup. To this marriage thirteen . He then was united in marriage with Miss children were born, as follows: Henry, Levi 11 .. William, James, Oliver, Sarah. Thomas, Isaac, John, Monzo, Elizabeth, , dren were born : John E., born in February, Martha J. and Lewis. Sarah, Elizabeth , seventh Indiana Regiment, for three year -. and was mustered in at Richmond. Indiana. They went into camp at Indianapolis, where and lost his speech and was discharged from the service. He returned and worked on a farm for two years, and then enlisted again in the One Hundred and Thirty-second in- diana Regiment in the one-hundred-day "service. His service was mainly guard duty and at the end of his term he was honor- ably mustered out. He returned and began `to work on the farm. continuing umel 1800. Sarah E., daughter of John Lewis, a pioneer of this county. To this marriage three chil- 1872, who is an instructor in music: the and John are deceased. All the others live second child died in infancy: Jennie .... in this county except Isaac, who resides in , born August 12. 1876, became the wife of Fulton county. Caleb Eaton came from : Frank Lyons and lives at Silver Lake. her Wayne county to Kosciusko county in 1840, : husband being in the livery business there. when the country was wild and the woods Mr. Eaton is one of the substantial citizens of this part of the county. He is a Democrat and served his township as trustee for five years. He takes much interest in his party's success, and is one of the Democratic lead- dense with big trees. He rented land in this township, near Beaver Dam, and after- ward entered forty acres from the govern- ment in Seward township and part of the
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ers of this part of the county. He and his wife are highly thought of by all who come within the bounds of their acquaint- ance. Mrs. Eaton is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church.
CHARLES M. TUCKER.
it is an excellent thing to be born to great wealth, like a Vanderbilt, but it is also an excellent thing to be born to a good name. When ancestors through many gen- erations have lived useful and distinguished lives and have made a splendid name for themselves by devotion to duty and honor, it is one of the brightest inheritances that can be left to descendants. And so the fam- ilies who had ancestors in the Revolution or in the service of the country many years ago l:oast of such services and found organiza- tions of the descendants, with the record of their fathers for the foundation stone. And so descendants of families that came to the wilderness of Indiana and carved refined and Christian homes - from the primeval wikls may well boast of the deeds of their fathers and mothers who conquered the woods and made the soil blossom with the flowers of industry and peace. When in ad- dition to all this they leave behind them a name of renown and a principality in acres, their children may well rise up and call them "blessed." This has been the inheritance of the subject of this brief memoir. ( See the sketches of Horace and Albert Tucker in this volume.)
Charles M. Tucker was born in Franklin township, this county, July 10. 1870, and is the son of the distinguished citizen and old
ettler, Albert Tucker. He was reared on his father's great estate and became in- miliar at an early age with the important problems of stock raising and farming on a gigantic scale. He finished his education at the excellent schools of Mentone. Tic had a liking for farming and stock raising and under the management of his father the life was far from uninviting. He was given ad he could do to assist in looking after his fa- ther's large possessions. He was given by his father abundant opportunity to make money and show what sort of a financier he was and he made the most of his oppor- tunities. Ile now owns a total of seven hun- dred and eighty.acres in Franklin township. this county, and one hundred and sixty acres in Fulton county. He inherits his father's business qualities and knows how to make, save and invest money. He is quite a reader and takes much interest in the affairs of the county and government. On March 31. 1892, he was united in marriage with Miss Susan M. Biler, daughter of Henry and El- len Eiler. She was born in this county April 23. 1872, and was given a good edu- cation, finishing at the schools of Warsaw and securing a teacher's license to teach. To their marriage the following children were born : Nellie, born January 22, 1893: Albert Henry Tommy Mars Tacker. born May 15. 1804: Floyd La. born January 22. 1800: Cuba L., born March 16, 1808: Mary. born January 19, 1900. Mr. Tucker is one of the youngest large farmers of this part of the state, having succeeded beyond a: expectations of a few years ago. Every season now he ships from two hundred to three hundred head of cattle. His opera- tions are on a very large scale and his in- come is correspondingly large, and, barring
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bad luck, he is bound to accumulate an im- just after the Revolutionary war, and set- mense fortune. He takes time from his many duties to cultivate the newspapers and books of the day and is thus a well-read man. Ile takes much interest in the affairs of his party. the Republican, and is himself m line for the best offices within the gift of the people. Business men are the ones to place in charge of the affairs of the coun- ty, instead of in the hands of men who have made a failure of business and wish to draw sustenance from the public crib. He is young, intelligent, full of ambition, honest and clean and is bound to make his mark in any field of human endeavor.
JOHN H. SHOUP.
Notwithstanding the fact that the repub- le of Switzerland is one of the smallest countries of the world, it has sent a large number of settlers to the United States dur- ing the years that have elapsed since inde- pendence was secured. The people of that country, appreciating the blessings of liberty of which they had a bright example in their native land, were not slow to recognize the possibilities that opened out in splendid perspective before all emigrants who should locate early in this country. Accordingly. large numbers of Swiss have emigrated and How constitute some of our best and most moral communities. Of this thrifty and freedom-loving people came the subject of this sketch. He was born in Aaronsburg, Pennsylvania, February 7. 1839, and is the son of George W. and Catherine ( Cramer) Shoup. The Shoup ancestor emigrated from Switzerland about five generations ago.
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