USA > Indiana > Kosciusko County > Progressive men and women of Kosciusko County, Indiana : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography > Part 55
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ing been past master and has also been to- resentative in the grand lodge three time- Ile is the present treasurer of the local lodge. Mrs. Eddinger is a member of the Baptist church of Mentone. Mr. Eddinger is very highly respected and his good name is never , called in question.
This well-known farmer and stock raiser is a descendant of one of the oldest families in the county. They came from Hancock county, Ohio, in 1828, or about that time. and settled in the wilderness when there were not more than half a dozen familie- in what is now this county. It would is difficult to describe the country at that time. Dense forests covered the land and stretched away in every direction, untouched by the hand of man. The Indians were still here and were usually friendly enough, but some- times were just the reverse, and there was no telling when they might take it into their heads to dig up the hatchet and go on the war path. All species of game known to this latitude abounded, such as bear, deer, wolves, panthers, etc., and it required con- stant vigilance to save the stock from their depredations. It was not safe for people to be in the woods at night without fire. While all of the family were required to work hand in clearing off the big trees and the brush. yet the boys found plenty of time to hunt and the wild animals afforded excellent through these experiences, but the subject:
On June 19, 1886, Mr. Eddinger was ! united in marriage with Miss Rosa V., ! daughter of Milton E. Hise, of Sevastopol, and to this union three daughters were born. as follows: Tural, born June 17, 1888: Oral C., born September 18. 1889: and Helen C., born February 14. 1895. In pol- f sport. The father of the subject passed ities Mr. Eddinger is a Democrat, but does not take much interest in party affairs. Ile . came at a little later date and missed some
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of the wilder sport. He was born in Frank-
and is the son of William and Elizabeth ( Hartman ) Mollenhour. ( For sketch of the parents see the biography of Amos T. . Mollenhour in this volume. ) The old Mol- ienhour farm in part is now occupied by the thriving town of Sevastopol. It is hard to realize that this place so short a time ago was a wilderness, but such is the fact which actual observers can substantiate. The sub- ject of this memoir was reared in this town- ship on his father's farm. His father dying when he was five years old, he was put to work early to assist his mother, and thus at a tender age became familiar with hard work. As he became older he worked out and applied his wages to assist his mother. He was sent to school during the winters and managed to secure a fair education, his swimmers bengt spent at work in farming. Upon reaching manhood he met and married Miss Mary J. Morgan, daughter of John and Catherine ( Sarber) Morgan, her par- ents being pioneers of this section of the county. Griffith Morgan was born in Aus- tralia and came to this country at a very carly day, settling in Franklin township, on sections to and 11. There he lived until the day of his death. His son John, the father of Mrs. Mollenhour, was reared and married here. To him and wife were born thirteen children, as follows: Henry. Til- den. Sarah, William, George, Mary J. (sub- jeet's wife). Hiram. Rosella. Griffith. Humphrey 1 ... Jennie. Isadora and Charles. These children were reared in this county in the woods, where they helped to clear off the trees. To subject and wife were born these children : Rosa P., born June 14, 1882. became the wife of Vernon Jones and live ..
in Seward township: Minnie M. born Jan- lin township, this canty, January 6, 1800, Buary 7. 1884 ; George E., born February IS. 1886: Wilbur O., born December 19, 188; : 'Chaney O., born November 9. 1889: Har- ver H., born January 12. 1802: Lydia ( ... For October 30, 1896. When subject w> married he and his wife put together their little hoard and bought twenty-four acres of the old farm. He later became interested in the saw-mill at Sevastopol in partnership - with his brothers. John and Isaac, continu :- ing for seven years. He then bought his brothers' interests and continued in that business for a total of fifteen years. He then bought the farm of one hundred and sixty acres he now owns, of Sol Ansberger. and moved there in the spring of 1899. He made enough money in the mill business to pay for his farm and is now known as one of the substantial citizens of the county. Mrs. Mollenhour is a member of the Meth- odist Protestant church. He is a member of the Red Men's lodge at Burket. ile cast hi- first and last vote for the Republican party and stands for its principles. He is re- spected by everybody.
WILLIAM J. BLUE.
This young and enterprising farmer and stock raiser is the son of the old settler and distinguished citizen. James H. Blue, and was born in Harrison township, this coun- ty. October 15, 1864. His mother was for- merly Miss Phoebe Bloomer. His people are among the oldest settlers in this part of the state and are among the most prominent citizens. Many years ago his grandfather represented this county in the state legi-
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Jature, and his father, a man of robust and intellectual manhood, is one of the strongest characters of this county. The grandfather came here when this county was nothing but a wilderness, and in the wilds reared his family to lives of usefulness and honor. Ilis son, the father of subject, distinguished himself in all the walks of life and is today a splendid specimen of the American farmer of the twentieth century. Subject grew up on his father's farm near Mentone and re- ceived a good education and excellent moral training. The home life was pure and en- tightened and he became a man with boand- less possibilities. Desiring to see something
he went to Kansas in 1884 and remained there about eighteen months, working at farming mainly and inspecting the country generally. Upon his return from that state he married Miss Anna R. Sarber, daughter of Christian and Susan ( Hartman ) Sarber, her mother being the widow of the oldl set- tler, Lyman Latimer. Mrs. Blue was born March 8. 1870. In her girlhood she re- ceived a fair education. She has borne her husband these children: Zelda 11., born August 31, 1888; Tressa Fay, born April 4, 1890: Helen R., born December 19. 1893: Ralph W., born July 14, 1899. Mr. Blue moved upor the farm where he now resides. . one-fourth of a mile east of Mentone, in Harrison township, and in 1895 he bought eighty acres of the old Sarber farm and moved upon it. He is now conducting gen- eral farming operations and has been very successful. He is a Democrat in politics, as was his father and grandfather before him, and is one of the most efficient workers of his party in this portion of the county. He has represented his township in county
conventions and in other ways has shown his regard for pure civic administration. In the fall of 19oo he was elected assessor of Har- rison township by a majority of twenty-four in a township whose normal Republican ma- jority is from twenty to twenty-five. This shows the respect in which he is held and the confidence of his fellow citizens in his honesty and ability.
MATHIAS W. LUTES.
This well known citizen is another of the of the West before settling down in life, ! gallant boys who, about forty years ago, en- listed to save the Union. He was little more than a boy when he went out to fight his country's battles and during that ever memorable struggle he was found ready for action. He did not enter the service as soifle did, from motives of sport and frolic, but saw beneath the surface and realized that the South was determined to break up the Union for the purpose of establishing a con- federacy of slave-holding states. From his earliest years he had been taught to hate slavery and to do all he could to obliterate in from this country's escutcheon. He re- garded it as a foul blot on the old flag, so that when the rebels precipitated the con- fiet he was ready to take up arms to pre- serve the Union. Mr. Lates was born in Fulton county, Ohio, November 23. 1843. and is the son of Henry and Mary ( Donut) Lutes. The Lutes family are of German descent and natives of Pennsylvania, and when Henry was seven years old he was brought to Wayne county, Ohio, and there grew to manhood on his father's farm. He attended the pioneer schools and received a
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fair education for that carly day. Upon at- taining years of maturity he met and mar- ried Miss Mary Donut, a native of Pennsyl- vania and of Germanic descent. Shortly after their marriage they moved to Fulton county, Ohio, where he purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres of woodland and be- gan to clear off the timber. He made a small clearing and built a rude log cabin and in this was domiciled his young wife. Here they lived and labored, steadily expanding the clearing and improving the farm, which he had entered from the government, until the spring of 1859, when he sold out and came by wagon to Harrison township, this county, and bought one hundred and forty seres in section 17. This he largely im- proved. and finally gave it to his children. He bought another tract in section 15. Har- rison township, and upon that land he spent the remainder of his days. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and ac- tivity, and was among the leaders of his community. He possessed great piety, and in early manhood became a licensed local minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. Hle filled many local appointments for years and was regarded as a man of singular power in the ministry. He served many years as justice of the peace and his legal advice was often sought by the citizens. He passed away June 5. 1888, and his widow April 7. 1900. To their marriage four chil- dren were born, as follows: William D., who married Miss Mary Petticord and re- sides in Cass county, this state: Eliza A., who became the wife of Thomas Petticord and is deceased : Mathias W., subject ; Nancy E., who wedded Simon Whetsone and lives in Harrison township.
Mathias W. Lutes was fifteen years old
when his father, came to this county. llc had attended the common schools in Ohio, and continued his education after he came here. In July, 1862, when he was only nine- teen years old, he enlisted in Company .1. Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry, and was mustered at Fort Wayne, Indiana. After a season spent in camp of instruction he was sent to the field in Kentucky. A little later they were transferred to the army operating around Chattanooga, and after several movements of importance he participated in the desperate and bloody battle of Chicka- mauga, where the Union army was pierced by the rebels and sent flying back to Chat- tanooga. General Thomas, who saved the day, was ever after styled the "Rock of Chickamauga," as he was the rock against which the rebels flung themselves to com- plete the victory, though without avait. The subject was in the thickest of this fight, and this, his first important engagement, was a bloody introduction for a farmer hoy to e- counter. He participated in the Atlanta campaign and was under fire for one han- dred and five days, during which time many battles were fought and many hardships en- dured. He marched with Sherman to the sea and fought at the siege and fall of Sa- vannah. He then moved with his regiment up through the Carolinas, taking part in all the important engagements and witnessing the surrender of General Joseph E. Johns- ton. After this his tattered regiment, with torn flags flying and with martial pomp. marched to Washington to be reviewed by the President and the great generals, thence to be sent home to their happy families and their grateful fellow citizens. He was mus- tered out at Washington, D. C. June 9. 1865, after having served gallantly during
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three years of desperate fighting and harass- his retirement was presented by the tour- ing campaigns. He did not receive a wound ers with a fine rocker in appreciation of his eficient services in bettering the school. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is active in church work, and is one of the most prominent men in this portion of the state. during the war, but because of disabilities there incarred now draws a pension of six dollars per month. Two dates in connection with the military career of Mr. Entes are indelibly stamped upon his memory. The Erst. April o, 1865, was the surrender of the rebel army under General Lee, an event which caused great rejoicing among the ! "boys in blue," as well as throughout the JOHN W. DUNLAP. North. Their rejoicing was turned to mourning. however, when, on April 14. came the terrible tidings of the foul assas- sination of the beloved President. After the war he resumed farming operations on his father's farm.
In this country of ours it is necessary that some people should follow the occupa- tion of farming, some store-keeping. some milling. some medicine, etc. Vil are neces- sary to each other and form parts and par- cels of the great body of society. There was a time when cach family was amont wholly self-sustaining, when the mother made the garments and the father produced the food, but this old order of affairs has been done away with by advanced methods more in accord with our progress and insti- tutions. The farmer can not get along with- out the small store-keeper in his town at- der the new order of things. The store- keeper likewise cannot get along without the farmer to buy his goods. The dependence: is mutual and each is required to fill his - sition.
On December 24. 1865, Mr. Lutes was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Kes- ling and to this marriage six children were born, four of whom are still living: Min- nie M., who became the wife of Frank Creighton and resides in Harrison township : Dora E .. the wife of Wilson Harmon, of Clay township: Florence, who wedded Ed. Snyder and lives in Alabama; Maude, un- married, lives in Clay township with her sis- ter. The subject's first wife died August 30, 1893. and on March 25. 1895, he mar- ried Catherine J. Cook, daughter of James Cook, one of the pioneers of this county. To this union one child was born, Lillie, born John W. Dunlap was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, March 8. 1830, and is the s m of William and Susan ( White) Danay. The father was born March 13. 1812. ant the grandfather. John Dunlap. was born No- vember 7. 1780, and his wife October 18. 1789. They were married near Wheeling. West Virginia, by Rev. John Pickard Jane 13. 1811. The fall of the same year they June 14. 1896. Mr. Lutes is a radical Re- publican, and is the present chairman of the township and member of the county central committee. In 1894 he was elected trustee of Harrison township and served till 1900. While thus serving he built two schoolhouses and was the first trustee to build stone arches for the country bridges. He also did a great deal to build up the schools, and upon moved to Ohio and began farming opera-
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um. In the spring of 1812 he enlisted in the of the regiments raised in Ohio for the war with Great Britain and was soon as- Signed to the army of General Hull, operat- ing in the vicinity of Detroit. When Gen- cad llull surrendered his army to the Brit- ish Mr. Dunlap returned to his farm and re- somnel his farming operations. In the spring of 1836 he removed with his family to Coshocton, Ohio, where he resided until his death. The father of John was William Dunlap and his mother was Martha Gamble, whose ancestors were Scotch-Irish and were driven from Scotland to the northern part of Ireland during the famous Protestant re- bellion. William Dunlap was the descend- ant of one of three brothers, John, Samuel and William, who were sent out under the auspices of some society in their country. They settled near Philadelphia, and their de- ascendants are now scattered over the com- try. William Dunlap, the father of John W .. was a farmer and a resident of Ohio until 3854, when he came with his family to the farm now occupied by George W. Rickel, adjoining Sevastopol in Franklin township, this county. Upon that farm he continued to reside until the day of his death, August 16, 1901. He was a man of mach force of character and his good name was allaive reproach. He wielded in his lifetime mach influence in politics and religion. In Oblo he served as assessor, and in this coun- ty he served as postmaster of Sevastopol and as justice of the peace. He was a strict man on questions of morals and passed away with the respect of a large number of ac- quaintances. His good and faithful wife preceded him to the grave by about eight years.
The subject of this memoir was reared
upon his father's farm, and was given a common-school education. At the age of twenty-one years he enlisted in the Union army in Company K. Twenty-fourth Ohi, Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Given. and was soon afterward sent to the field in Virginia. He did duty at first in that state and in Kentucky and participated in several skirmishes. Early in 1862 he was taken sick, was sent to the hospital and remained there until April, when he was sent home for disability. Two years later he had so far recovered as to be ready for the service again, whereupon he reported and was placed on detached duty and so continued until June, 1865. when he was honorably discharged. He returned to Kosciusko county and remained until the fall of 1866. when he began clerking in a store at Seva -- topol, remaining there about one year. It I then entered the store of Hudson Beck, of Warsaw, and continued there some consil- crable time. On January S. 1871. Ke W. united in marriage with Mis- Martha ... daughter of Pierce and Mary (Shrack ; Jeffries. She was born January 1. 1843. i Richland county, Ohio, and was given in her youth a common-school education. .... children have been born to the marriage of subject and wife. Later in his business ca- reer Mr. Dunlap engaged in mercantile pur- suits in Akron, Silver Lake, and in the fall of 1886 in Mentone, and there he remained until his recent retirement ir an active busi- ness life. Ile is a Democrat in politics, but. aside from voting, does not take much part in the struggles of his party for supremacy. Hle and his wife are members of the Baptist church of Mentone. He was made a Mason in 1863 while at Rochester, Indiana, and now holds membership in Mentone Lodge.
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No. 576. He is also a member of the his trade for many years. Later in life he Knights Templar commandery at Warsaw. Hle has borne a blameless life and has the respect and good wishes of all who know him.
SAMUEL HAINES.
No agriculturist of Jackson township. Kosciusko county, Indiana, is better known or more appreciated for his personal worth than Samuel Haines, who is a son of Jesse and . Elizabeth ( Myres ) Haines, and was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, October 13. 1832. The Haines family, as well as the Myres family. were of German origin. bat for generations had lived in Pennsyl- vania, and from Lancaster county, in that state, the immediate progenitors of the fam- ilies bearing those names migrated to Ohio, whence the subject of this sketch came to Indiana. Jesse Haines was born October 21, 1794, and his wife May 2, 1817.
Jesse Haines first married a Miss Kem- per in Pennsylvania and shortly afterward removed from the Keystone state to the Buckeye state. He located in Montgomery. and there his wife died. He next married Elizabeth Myres, who bore him twelve chil- dren, as follows: Anna, born November 26, 1824: M. M., October 9. 1826: Cath- erine. October 26, 1828; John. September 12, 1830: Samuel, October 15, 1832; David, September 24, 1834: Sarah N., October 16. 1836: Rudolph. August 3. 1838: Elizabeth, October 2. 1840; Leah, January 4. 1843: Stephen, April 4, 1845 ; and Jesse, February 21, 1848.
Jesse. the father of this large family, was a shoemaker by trade, but owned a small lot and house where he worked by the day at
engaged in the making of shaker forks ant rakes, butt, owing to the large family which he was obliged to support, never acquired. more than a fair living, and both he an: wife died in very moderate circumstances. as far as this world's goods are concerned.
Sammel Haines, in consequence of the heavy expense to which his father was sy jected in his endeavor to rear a large family; respectably, was early hired out by the year. and one-half of his earnings for a long time went to his father's assistance; the other half he retained in order to provide hinset with clothes. This meager salary amounte . to but four dollars per month for the first three years of his labor ; the next two years he received five dollars per month, and der for a year earned six dollars per ment During these years he was permitted to tend school three months each year, and he- ing very attentive to his studies and as. quick to learn he acquired a very good of ucation for that early day in the backwood
In 1850, being then possessed of sixty dollars in cash, Samuel Haines came from Ohio to Indiana, driving cattle for some movers from Dayton. On reaching Jackson township, Kosciusko county, he located in section 9 and was so well pleased with the locality that he has ever since made it his home. The first two years of his life here were passed as a farm hand by the day of month. He saved some money, and then worked for "Big Sam" Ulrich for one hun- dred and forty-four dollars per annum i; four years. In this time his savings. in all. amounted to seven hundred dollars.
June 6. 1856. Samuel Haines was fiss: joined in wedlock with Miss Esther Uich. a daughter of "Big Sam" Ulrich, and : :
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twenty-two years made his residence on "Big Sam's" farm, superintending its cul- tivation and doing no small part of the labor necessary thereto with his own hands. During that period he began and continued to invest his capital in land, his first purchase being one hundred and sixty acres, his sec- ond one hundred and sixty acres and his think forty acres, so that he now owns three hundred and sixty acres, all the result of his indomitable will, industrious habits and unswerving honesty in all his transactions.
Mr. Haines was bereit by death of his first wife in 1870, and his second marriage took place in April, 1871. to Miss Elizabeth Ulrich, daughter of Samuel and Susanna ( Gripe) Ulrich. The former was a native of Montgomery county, Ohio, but both the ' bers of the German Baptist church and are Ulrich and Gripe families came from Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania.
Samuel A. Ulrich was born May 2, 1819, , and when eighteen years old came to Kos- ciusko county, Indiana, making his first ap- pearance here April 4, 1837. He saw Jack- som township at a time when its entire vot- ing population numbered only seven, and his own first presidential vote was cast for Will- sam Henry Harrison, the hero of Tippe- canoe and the first governor of Indiana Ter- ritory. He built the first bridge across Plinge creek, and in his pioneer days killed maty a wild animal, including what would imay be luxuries fit for the table of an epicure-deer, turkey, grouse, squirrels, cic .. but at that time they palled the ap- petite of the backwoodsman on account of their frequency. The Gripe family settled here in 1837. about the same time the Ul- rich family came, and hence grew the in- tinacy which resulted in the union of the ao families.
Samuel A. Ulrich was a very popular man in his day and was elected the first supervisor of Jackson township. He cut out many a rude road, which is now a graveled highway. In 1839 he assisted in constructing the first bridge across the Ec! river at this point, and this was done on a Sunday, although he was a member of the German Baptist church.
Samuel Haines, the subject proper of this biography, had born to him, by his first wife, seven children, viz: Stephen, John, Samuel .A., Joseph, Manda, Noah and Sarah. To his second marriage have been born four children, but all have passed away but one. Rosa, wife of Ora Michaels, of Jackson township. Mr. and Mrs. Haines are mem-
highly esteemed by their neighbors for their many excellent personal characteristics. In polities Mr. Haines is a Republican.
Mr. Haines' family are very comfortably situated in life, owing to the good manage- ment of Mr. Haines and the ready and will- ing aid of his amiable helpmate. His com- fortable brick dwelling is an ornament to the neighborhood in which he lives, and his sub- stantial outbuildings are unsurpassed by any in the township. The splendid reputation which he enjoys is well deserved, and it well indeed if the township had a few more residents like him.
THERON D. BUTTERBAUGH !.
One of the most active thoroughgoing and enterprising young farmers of Lake township. Kosciusko county, Indiana, is the gentleman whose name stands at the head
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