USA > Indiana > Kosciusko County > Progressive men and women of Kosciusko County, Indiana : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography > Part 52
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tled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, the emigrant of the name being Henry Shoup. Ile became an extensive land owner and farmer of Lancaster county, and was the father of five sons, who, as they reached ma- mrity, branched out for themselves over die West. One of these sons was named John, who had a son named Henry, who moved to Union county. Pennsylvania. The latter married Miss Mary Reasor and followel the occupation of farming, becoming wealthy. They had two sons and three daughters, as follows: Christian. Hannah, Mary, one who became the wife of William Homan, and George W .. the father of sub- ject. When George W. was a young man he moved from Union county to Center county, Pennsylvania, and settled at Aaron- burg, there learning the trade of millwright- ing and engineering. He married Catherine Cramer, as before stated. She was the daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Orendor? ) Cramer, and her grandparents were emi- grants from Prussia to Center county. They were very early settlers there and became wealthy, being large land owners. Thes children likewise scattered out over the coun- try and became useful citizens of their adopted country. To the marriage of George W. and Catherine Shoup the foi- lowing children were born: John H., the subject of this memoir; Samuel married Miss Lena Warner and resides in Creston. Ohio, and is engaged in the milling busi- ness : William, who entered the Union army in 1862 and after a splendid fighting record. was killed during the Vicksburg campaign : Charles enlisted in the One Hundred and Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry under Con- onel Given, and became the colonel's private
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secretary. In one of the movements he was captured and held as a prisoner of war for six months. At the end of the war he em- barked with several thousand other troops on board the steamer Sultana to go up the Mississippi river and when that ill-fated boat blew up he was one of the hundreds that were killed or drowned: Caroline became the wite of Guy Gilbert and resides in Port- land, Indiana, her husband being a livery- man: Sarah J. married Jesse Cochran and lives in the state of Oregon. George W. re- moved from Center county, Pennsylvania, to Wayne county, Ohio, in 1858, and bought a tract of land near Congress. After a time he sold out and moved to Burbank, Ohio. where later he lived a retired life. He was a prominent politician in the old Whig party, and upon the formation of the Re- publican party joined it and ever afterward worked for the principles of Republicanism. He was as active in church affairs as in politics and was a man of the highest char- acter. He was a Methodist and gave half of what he had to the church. He died in Oregon in 1893. well advanced in years and possessing the respect of all. John H. Shoup was reared mainly in the Keystone state and learned the business of milling. When he was about eighteen years old he came with his father's family to Wayne county, Ohio. His education was obtained mainly in Pennsylvania and by the time he was six- teen years old, with no other advantages than were afforded in the subscription schools, he had mastered the common school branches. He thereupon entered the Aaronsburg Academy and took a two-years course, which greatly added to his stock of knowledge and to his culture. Upon com- ing to Ohio he applied for a teacher's cer-
tificate, which was granted, and under it he taught common schools for three years and saved up a considerable sum of money) ... Wishing to still further improve his edu- cation, Le then took a course in Baldwin University, at Berea, Ohio, taking up spe- cial branches that would best hit him for his Intare life -- mathematics and the English branches. (In 1864 he was united in mar- riage with Miss Rebecca J. Lawrence, of North Baltimore, Ohio, daughter of Martin and Elizabeth Lawrence, ber birth having occurred April 17. 1842. To this marriage these children were born: Mary .A .. born October 4, 1866, a graduate of the Warsaw high school. lives in Warsaw with her brother and is engaged. in the millinery busi- ness; George L ... born January 22. 1868. was also a graduate of the Warsaw high school in the class of 1880. he having more credits than any other student ever grad- wanting from the high school there; he is at. under graduate of the University of Mich- igan at Ann Arbor, having taken the scien- tific course of that famous institution, and is at present the superintendent of the Chi- cago Carbolite Works at Hammond. Indi- ana : John F., born July 17. 1872. graduate! from the Warsaw high school with the class of INGO, and two months after grad- uation he entered the Pennsylvania ratitoa : office at Warsaw as night ticket agent, later was promoted freight cashier at Warsaw. and now is nead bookkeeper of the State Bank at Warsaw: he married Miss Nellie Klum and by her has one daughter. Mary Catherine: Ethel J., born October 4. ISSO. well educated at the Warsaw high school. has a finished musical education and lives with her father: Penelopie, born November 6. 1886, is a graduate of the Mentone high
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1 school and resides with her parents. In ! February, 1873. Mr. Shoup moved with his family to Kosciusko county, Indiana, and located at Warsaw, and there bought the old brick mill in partnership with S. W. Old- father. They erected a new brick building. which still stands. In June, 1898, he bought his present plant at Mentone from Albert Tucker, and associated with him N. L. Yates, who had been in his employ sev- eral years. Mr. Shoup has been successful in his milling operations, and has always stood high in the community where he has resided. He is a Republican, is greatly in- terested in politics and served Warsaw as councilman. In 1871 he joined Lake City Lodge, No. 379. A. F. & A. M., at War- saw. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has been a Sunday-school teacher for many years, and he was also assistant superintend- ent at Warsaw. No people stand higher in the esteem of the general public and be- cause of this many fine personal qualities have won for themselves a large circle of warm friends.
THOMAS BALL.
It is a lucky thing in this world of ours that when health fails on one account or an- other man is not confined to one occupation, but is at liberty to pursue some business in keeping with his changed and cramped con- dition. It thus occurred with the subject of this sketch that when his health failed him. or began to fail him, he turned his atten- tion to a pursuit less confining and more in keeping with his altered condition. The fact that this could be done is one of the most
important circumstances connected with our industrial system. It has really come to pass that a man of a woman may be a hope- less cripple and still be able to make a for- tune in this world's goods of reach the high- est pinnacle in the temple of fame. But he must have the head. After all, it is brain that counts in this world. The brain that can execute as well as plan is the one that will achieve the greatest triumph. It does comes about that Mr. Ball is one of the leaders in this portion of the county. He was born in Wayne county. Indiana. Feb- rvary 3. 1827. and is thus one of the oldest citizens as well as one of the most promi- nent and useful men. His parents were William D. and Margaret ( Widner ) Ball. a sketch of whom will be found chewhere in this volume. Thomas grew up on the farm and while engaged in that necessary vecupation received a fair education at the country schools and learned all the intricate problems of farming and stock raising. and helped to clear of the heavy timber which covered the land.' In early manhood he met Miss Ovand E. Bright and soon afterward they were married, a fact very important to Mr. Ball. She was the daughter of David and Fanny Bright and a woman who pos- sessed more than the ordinary graces be- stowed upon the daughters of Eve. In ad- dition to this it may be truthfully said that she had not a little to do with the future success of her husband. Their marriage occurred on the 18th of February, 1848, and the issue of this marriage is one daughter. Martha J. horn September 10, 1850. The daughter was given a good education and otherwise qualified for pure and intelligent womanhood. She taught school in Kosti- usko county for two terms and afterward
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was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Warren O. Herendeen, taking up her residence in Silver Lake, Indiana. By him she became the mother of ten children, six sons and four daughters. Mr. Herendeen having died, she married Allen Bybee and now resides at Mentone. When Mr. Ball was first married he owned forty acres of land, all covered with heavy woods. This he cleared and fully improved. During this time his health failed, and, being a great lover of that splendid animal, the horse, as all human beings should be, he concluded to make the veterinary science his future busi- ness. Accordingly he began regularly to study the anatomy and physiology of the horse and to fit himself fully for the pro- fession. As soon as he had mastered the difficult science he began to practice and was himself surprised at the success he attained. In a short time his practice led him to travel many miles in the surrounding counties and brought him a good revenue. As a matter of fact, his success has been so pronounced that all or nearly all opposition to him has disappeared, leaving him a clear field. He is still in active practice, though seventy- five years old. He enlisted for military service during the Civil war, but was re- jected on account of defective vision. He is an ardent Republican and takes an active and prominent part in politics. He has been honored with election to several local offices and in such has shown his fitness and integ- rity. He served sixteen consecutive years as township assessor. He is a member of Fulton Lodge, No. 79. F. & A. M., at Rochester, and is among the oldest members of that organization. He is known every- where and is highly respected by all persons. Mr. and Mrs. Ball have in their possession
two valuable i'd relies in the shape of a parchment deed, dated 1841 and signed by President John Tyler, and one dated 1847.
WILLIAM F. NE.AL.
This worthy representative of two ster- ling American families is one of the highly respected farmers and citizens of Jackson township and for a number of years pas: has acquired much more than local repute as an earnest, able and faithful minister of the German Baptist church. Originally the Neals came from South Carolina, in which state the remote ancestors of the family ser- tled in a very early day, coming to this coun- try from the Emerald Isle. Subsequently certain members of the family migrated to Miami county, Ohio, where William F. Neal, the subject's father, was born and reared and where, in October, 1828, he en- tered into the marriage relation with Miss Lucinda Million. The Millions were among the pioneer settlers of Miami county and a number of their descendants are still living there, while others are scattered through various sections of the middle and western states.
William F. Neal became a well-to-do farmer and was a man of local prominence in the community where nearly all of his life was spent. After his marriage he took . charge of the old Neal homestead in Miami county and continued to occupy the same the remainder of his life, dying with the love and esteem of all who knew him. He was the father of seven children, whose names are as follows: Malinda, Phoebe, Matilda. Israel. Anna, William F. and Patrick H.
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William 4. Neal
MRS. WM. F. NEAL
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William F. Neal, whose name forms the caption of this review, was born in Miand county, Ohio, on the 15th day of April. 1841. He grew to manhood on the old home farm and remained with his father viatil twenty-three years of age, meanwhile during his minority enjoying such educa- tional advantages as the common schools al- forded. In his twenty-third year he was united in marriage to 'Miss Margaret Jen- kines, whose father, David Jenkines, a de- scendant of an old and highly respected South Carolina family, was for forty con- secutive years a justice of the peace in the county of Miami. He was also a man of considerable local prominence, intelligent beyond the average and during the greater part of his life was a potent factor in the public affairs of his part of the state. To Mr. and Mrs. Neal were born three chil- dren, the oldest of whom, Elmer K., mar- ried Rose Leek, who died March 1, 1902, and at this time he lives in Milford, Indi- ana : he has three children, Clara .A., Charles F. and Isaac H. ; Mary E., the second, died August 27, 1885, and the youngest, whose name was John O., departed this life in the year 1872. The mother of these children was a woman of sterling worth and her death, in October, 1871, was an event great- ly deplored, not only by her family and im- mediate friends, but by a large number of acquaintances who had learned to prize her for her sweet moral nature and the whole- some influence which she exerted upon all with whom she came in contact. Mr. Neal's second marriage was solemnized June 30. 1872, with Miss Magdalene Harshman, who has borne him children as follows: Effie M .. Elsworth, Stella, Etta and Elsie. Stella tied October 28, 1897, and Etta is now
taking high school work. Mrs. Neal was born in Frederick county, Maryland, April 25, 1843. and is a daughter of Jacob and Mary A. ( Ellis) Harshman. She was one of eight children, four sons and four daugh- ters, of whom two sons and two daughters are still living. The Harshman family be- came residents of Jay county in an early day, but the parents died in Ohio.
In 1881 Mr. Neal disposed of his inter- ests in his native state and came to Kosci- usko county, Indiana, purchasing one him- dred and seventy-five acres of land, which constitutes his present farm in the township of Jackson. Here he has since lived, actively engaged in the pursuit of agriculture and meeting with the financial success with which such thrift and well directed energies as his are usually rewarded. In many re- speets he is a model farmer, his place bear- ing every evidence of advanced tillage. while his residence, barns and outbuildings indi- cate the presence of a man of modern ideas and methods and who displays sound judg- ment and good taste in the management of his affairs. He is now one of the leading agriculturists of his section of the county and by industry and intelligent consecutive effort has accumulated a sufficiency of worldly wealth to place himself and family in comfortable, if not independent. circum- stances.
A number of years ago Mr. Neal united with the German Baptist church and in 1878 was officially set apart by his brethren to the work of the ministry. From that time to the present he has preached at many dif- ferent points and as a public servant of the church has accomplished much good by his clear and able presentation of the gospel, in- ducing many to abandon the ways of sin and
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seek the way to a better life here, and ever- lasting happiness in the life to come. .... an evangelist he is greatly devoted to his work and his services are in much demand by his brethren in this and other counties of Indiana. For a number of years Mr. Neal voted with the Republican party, but of late has given little attention to matters political. although keeping himself well informed upon the great questions now before the American people. No citizen of Jackson township is held in higher respect or enjoys more fully the confidence of the public. An honest man. an honorable citizen. an humble. pions, but able minister of the gospel of Christ. his life has been consecrated to the good of his kind and the future awaits him with bounteous rewards.
The following extract, referring to the deceased daughter of the subject, is here ap- pended :
NEM. In the Eel River church, Kosciusko county, Indiana, October 25, 1897, of consumption, Sister Bertha Estella Neal, aged seventeen years, ton months and twenty-one days. She was born in Miami county. Ohio, December 7, 1879. She was an earnest Sunday school worker and a devoted member of the church. Funeral services by Samuel Lechrone, assisted by Gabriel Ulrey. Text, from John 13:36 ;. "Whither I go thou canst not follow me now, but thou shalt follow me afterwards."
ELDER SAMUEL LECKRONE.
Godliness or piety, moral cleanliness of integrity, activity or industry in the work of the church, all tend toward true happiness in this world and a hopeful confidence in the life to come that is assured to the possessor of these invaluable virtues.
Elder Samuel Leckrone. of Lake town-
ship, Kosciusko county, Indiana, and a son of Daniel and Sarah ( Shrider ) Leckrone, was born in Perry county, Ohio, April 25. 1848. His father was a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, was of German ex- traction, and was taken when a boy to Ohin by his parents, who settled in Perry county. Hle was reared on a backwoods farm and had but few opportunities for an education, but had plenty of hard work and became a good farmer. The Shrider family also emi- grated from Pennsylvania to Ohio and sei- ted near the Leckrones, and thus Danie! Leckrone and Sarah Shrider became ac- quainted. They were married in Perry county March 15. 1847. the result being twelve children. viz: Samuel. Lemuel. Isaac (deceased), Alva. Mary, Elizabeth (deceased ), Almeda, Sarah R., Benjamin. George, Lamira and John S. Of these Sam- ve, Lemmel and Alva reside in Lake town- Ship. Kosciusko county. Mr. Leckrone, the father of this family, still resides in Hope- well township. Perry county, Ohio, he in his seventy-fifth year, but his wife departed this life March 22, 1902, aged about seventy- four years, the following extract being here reprinted as especially apropos in this con- nection.
Sister Sarah, wife of Brother Daniel Leekrone. died in the Jonathan Creek church, Perry county, Ohio, March 22, 1902, aged seventy-four years and two months. She was the mother of twelve children. seven sons and five daughters, of whom two preceded her. One son is a minister, Eller Samuel Leckrone. of the Eel River church, Indiana. All are members of the Brethren church except two sons. She was a faithful sister in the church over fifty-five years. She selected her own funeral text, found in Galatians 220. The funeral service was conducted by Eller Samuel Sprankel, assisted by Elder Tobias Hoover.
Samuel Leckrone assisted on the home farm until seventeen years of age, when he
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went out to work as a farm hand by the month. After he had paid for his necessary clothing he dutifully delivered to his father the remainder of his wages, and so con- tinted to do until within six months of be- coming of age. After that he retained his earnings and continued to work out until twenty-two years old.
October 23, 1870, Samuel Leckrone was joined in the holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Mary Hendricks, a daughter of Solo- mon and Lydia ( Stoner ) Hendricks, natives of Ohio. Mary Hendricks was but nine days old when her mother died, and the babe was reared by her maternal grandmoth- er, who gave her a common-school educa- tion. Mr. Leckrone was not possessed of a great deal of cash when married, so he rented a farm from his father-in-law in Knox county, on which he and wife lived about four years. In September. 1874. with his wife and little ones, he came to Kosci- usko county, Indiana, and purchased ser- enty-six acres of land in the southern cor- ner of Lake township, on which, with the exception of the barn, he has erected all the buildings, and here he still resides.
It is the custom of the German Baptist church, to which Mr. Leckrone is so de- votedly attached, to place a member of the congregation on trial as helper, and when that member has proven his worthiness and capability to advance him to the dignity and office of minister. August 24. 1876, Mr. Leckrone was put to this ordeal, and after his people became fully satisfied as to his piety and understanding he was advanced to the sacred degree in the ministry August 11, 1879, and has since performed its func- tions in the most satisfactory manner to all concerned. This office confers upon the in-
cumbent the right to administer baptism, solenmize marriage and break bread at com- munion. December 24. 1881, Elder Leck- rone was advanced to the full ministry and now has charge of three churches, one at Beaver Dam, one at Roam ( Wabash conn- (y) and one in Jackson township, and he also preaches at other places voluntarily of by request.
To Samuel and Mary (Hendricks ) Leckrone six children have been granted to bless their earthly existence. Of these the eldest, Charles, who was born August 25. 1871, passed through the common schools and attended North Manchester College : he then taught school two years, after which he attended Mount Morriss ( Minois ) Col- lege, from which he was graduated in the class of 1894 and then taught school two terms in Kosciusko county. He next en- tered the Indiana State Normal School. from which he was graduated in the class of 1897: was then appointed principal of the Brownsburg ( Indiana ) school, which he taught two years ; then entered the State University at Bloomington and was grad- uated in 1900. He attended the State Uni- versity at Ann Arbor, Michigan, after which he took a post-graduate course at the Chi- cago University. He is now professor of Latin in the Warsaw (Indiana ) high school. Hle wedded. June 18, 1901, at Brownsburg. Indiana, Miss Ethel Chloe Free. She has an advanced education and was a teacher in Hendricks county, Indiana. Lizzie, the see- and child born to Rev. Samuel Leckrone. was born March 21, 1874, and is the wife of Gilbert Hartsong, of Lake township. Martha, who was born in January, 1878. attended college at North Manchester. Cora, born August 1, 1882, graduated from
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the common school in 1901. Lina, born in December. 1885. also graduated from the common school in 1901, and is now attend- ing North Manchester College. Samuel Il .. the youngest of the family, was born in March. 1891.
Rev. Mr. Leckrone, the father of these children, holds a very high position in the esteem of the citizens of Wabash and Kos- ciusko counties, and his wife and children share with him the respect which is paid to him. He takes no part in politics and has never voted.
HENRY L. OLDFATHER.
The great task of clearing the land of its timber in early years can scarcely be realized by the people of today. Not a crop could be sown nor an orchard tree planted until the large trees had been cut down and re- moved with fire or with a team of horses. Even then the stumps were a great hindrance and it is doubtful if so much as half a crop could be raised until they had been pulled out or burn up. The amount of hard labor required to remove the timber seems almost incredible. It was a task that seemed never to end, and all members of the family were required to assist early and late and at all seasons of the year. The subject of this sketch had his full share of this work. He was born in Wabash county, Indiana, May 24. 1852, and is the son of Adam and Caro- line ( Berger) Oldfather. Both families were of Germanie descent, but came directly from Pennsylvania. where the ancestors had settled a great many years ago. The grand- father after his marriage removed to Mont- gomery county, Ohio, and to him were born
seven sons and two daughters. The seven sous lived in be over seventy years, but neither reached eighty years of age. A sin- gular fact is that they died in the order of their births. Adam Oldfather upon reach- ing maturity married Miss Berger and they became the parents of these children: Sas- anna, who wedded Andrew Knoop and live, in Clay township, her husband being de- ceased : Sarah, the wife of Daniel Bolin, die! in Illinois: Samuel T., who married Miss Libbie Messmore and now resides at North: Manchester, Indiana, served as a private soldier for eight months in the war of the Rebellion: Emma, who became the wife of George Leffel. lives in North Manchester: Henry L., subject: Melissa, who married Thomas .A. Joutz, resides in Seward town- ship: John F., who married Ellen Ohmart. lives in Silver Lake, Indiana : Irene B., who wedded Edward Bever, lives in Rochester. Indiana. Adam Oldfather emigrated 10 Kosciusko county in 1852 and entered a tract of government land. all in the deep woods. This farm he cleared and improved with the help of his family. He was a pioneer in fact and, a man of sterling qualities. The task was great, as stated at the outset of this article, but it was met with courage, indus- try and perseverance, and time worked won- ders. He was a quiet man, but, like the quiet stream of water, he ran deep and wide. After a long life he finally passed away in August, 1893. but his widow is yet living and resides in Silver Lake, aged seventy- four years. The subject of this memoir was reared on the farm and early learned the meaning of the words "hard work." He se- cured a good education and in early man- hood taught school in the country districts for five years, exhibiting excellent power-
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