USA > Indiana > Kosciusko County > Progressive men and women of Kosciusko County, Indiana : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography > Part 56
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of this biographical notice. He is a son of I most expert farmers in Chester townlin George W. and Lydia ( Miller ) Butterbaugh Wabash county, and every thing about his premises fully justifies this reputation. and was born on a farm in Pleasant town- ship. Wabash county, Indiana, on the 18th day of June, 1872. Both the Butterbaugh and the Miller families were of German ex- traction, but the parents of the subject of these remarks were natives of Ohio, from which state they immigrated into Indiana and settled down to farming in Wabash county, where they were among the most re- spected of the agriculturists of their respect- ive neighborhoods.
George W. Butterbaugh was born in 1846, in Lake township, Kosciusko county. and was also reared in the same locality. The Miller family came from Ohio when Lydia their daughter was about two years old. The two families settled in the same neighborhood and the children were reared in close companionship. In his early man- hood G. W. Butterbaugh was a school teach- er, both in Wabash and Kosciusko counties. and this vocation he followed for seven years. Being now prepared to embark on the sea of matrimony, and having selected Miss Miller for his polar or guiding star, he wedded her in the fall of 1871. and at once began housekeeping and farming on rented land in Wabash county. Mr. Butter- baugh was industrious and frugal, under- stood his calling, and a few years later was able to purchase an eighty-acre tract just north of the William Butterbaugh place in Lake township, on which he lived until the spring of 1884, when he bought and moved upon a one-hundred-and-eighty-seven-acre tract just west of North Manchester, upon which he made the greater part of the im- provements and on which he still makes his
Theron D. Butterbaugh is the eldest of the three sons born to G. W. and Lydh ( Miller ) Butterbaugh, the two others being Abraham and Esta. Of the latter two, Abraham lives in Chicago and is married to Lulu Reed; Esta, the youngest son, is still single and lives with his father, while tak- ing a course of study at North Manchester College in Wabash county. Theron D. was early trained to farming and has acquired a : reputation equal to that of his father, tak- ing into consideration his still comparatively young years. He is active and enterprising and belongs to that class of young men uts- ually denominated, in common parlance. a. "hustlers." He was of great assistance, il. his youthful days, in cultivating the home farm, but found time to attend the district school and proved to be an apt scholar. From the country school he was advance to the high school. and then to the State Normal School at Terre Haute, where he was fully qualified for the duties of a school- master.
Theron D. Butterbaugh lived with his parents until his marriage, January 20. 1895. to Miss Mary E. Wright, who was born July 12. 1876. This felicitous unie his been graced with four children, namely : Hazel M., who was born January 23. 1800: Ruby May. April 8. 1897: Robert E., An- gust 21. 1899: and Delbert Wright. July 17. 1001.
Mr. and Mrs. Butterbaugh are members of the German Baptist church. to the sup- port of which they contribute quite liber- ally, and are much interested in promoting home. He is considered to be one of the ' its work as well as in advancing its pros-
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perity. In politics Mr. Butterbaugh is a Republican and assists his party in a quiet way at the polls, but has never in any sense or manner been an office seeker. He and wife are among the most esteemed farming people of Wabash and . Kosciusko counties, in both of which they are widely known. and no one is better thought of than Theron D. Butterbaugh, the "hustler."
WILLIAM C. THOMPSON.
This well known citizen and old settler comes of a family that settled in the wilder- ness when the Indians still roamed almost unmolested and the wild animals had things much their own way. They were not only among the early pioneers, but were among the first of the pioneers, if not themselves the first. In fact on both sides of his fam- ily his ancestors as far back as known were among the first, not only to brave the wilds of the West, but were also among the first to cross the ocean to the wilderness of America. They seem to have been adven- turous and enterprising beyond almost any of the other emigrants and pioneers. Will- iam C. Thompson was born in Lake county. Ohio, October 17. 1836, and is the son of Cyrus and Adaline ( Harper) Thompson. The father was a native of Virginia and re- moved to Coshocton county, Ohio, at a very early period, there passing the remainder of his days. Many years ago, carly in the set- tlement of the American colonies, three brothers of the name came from Ireland and settled in this country. They located in the Old Dominion, but afterward, upon the first settlement of the new state of Ohio, they
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entered that wilderness to establish homes. The Harpers were also early settlers in Ohio, John ilarper being the one from whom subject is descended. The great- grandfather Harper seems to have been an Indian fighter, or at least was one of the settlers to penetrate the western wilderness before the pioneers arrived. In one of his excursions he was captured by the red men and held as a prisoner for two years. Tic then managed to make his escape and re- turned to his family, who had given him up for dead and were in destitute circumstances. Cyrus Thompson lived but five years after his marriage, leaving. when he passed away. two sons, William C., subject, and George C. After the death of Cyrus the mother re- married and all then came to Elkhart. Indi- ana. This was in 1840, when the northern part of this state was a bowling wilderness and the Indians were still here. The dense forests which covered the soil were infested with wild and savage animals and homes had to be out from the tangled wild wood. They came out in wagons and had to cut their way very often through the brush and fallen trees. William C. remained with his step-father until he was seventeen years old and then began to do for himself. He be- gan by working out by the month and thus continued until the Rebellion broke out in all its fury, whereupon, unable to withstand the treason of the South, he enlisted in Com- pany M. Second Indiana Cavalry, or the Forty-first Infantry, and was mustered in at Indianapolis. He was sent to Kentucky and later, at Gallatin, Tennessee, was captured by the enemy and held several days. He participated in a sharp fight at Bowling Green and continued to fight in many skir- mishes and swift campaigns, serving in all
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two years and ten months. He suffered greatly from his arduous services and was honorably discharged July 7, 1864. for dis- ability, when he returned to his family in Elkhart county, and took up the burdens of peace. He now draws a pension of ten dol- lars per month.
On August to. 1852. Mr. Thompson was united in marriage with Miss Sarah J., daughter of Jacob Emery. She was born November 30. 1836, and is of German de- scent, her grandparents coming from Ger- many. To this marriage eight children were born, as follows: Two that died in infancy, George H., Josephine E., William II., ; teemed by all who knew them.
Mamie A., John H. and Austin II. Mr. Thompson's first wife died in 1873 and he chose for his second wife Elizabeth Oberly. and upon her death, two years later, he wedded Lucinda Milton, who was born in Franklin county, Virginia, February 4. 1833. When she was ten years old she was brought from Virginia to Ohio, thence to this county, arriving in 1849 and settling near Sevastopol. where they remained for some time and then removed to a farm three miles east of Mentone. She was first mar- ried to David Hubler. Henry Hubler. her brother-in-law, assisted in raising the first regiment in this county for the Union army. After she was married she lived at Palestine and by her first husband had two children, Martha Ellen and Nellie Etta. Mr. Hub- ler died July 5, 1878. Mr. Thompson is one of the substantial citizens of the county and takes much interest in public affairs. He is an influential Republican and takes prile in the splendid principles of his party. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, joining at Elkhart. and being dimitted to Mentone, and is now master of Lodge No.
576 there. He stands high as a neighbor and friend.
Mrs. Nancy J. Milton, the mother of Mrs. Thompson, died December 23. 1894. at the remarkable age of one hundred and two years. She was an carly settler of this county and was a good Christian lady and a member of the German Baptist church. She raised seven children to maturity. Her husband, Andrew Milton, was a native of Virginia, and moved to Indiana about 1849. Hle was a good man, had no enemies and al- ways spoke a good word for every one. Both Mr. and Mrs. Milton were highly es-
AMASA GARWOOD.
This well-known and distinguished farmer and stock raiser is of English de- scent, his ancestors coming from old Eng- land about four generations ago and set- tling in the state of New Jersey. Those who cante over were three brothers, and after staying here for some time two of them returned to their native country, but the other remained and from him are de- scended the people of that name in this coun- try ; at least, no other of the name is known to have crossed the ocean. This settlement must have been made either before the Rev- olutionary war or immediately afterward. At that time the West was a wilderness. So that no settlers came farther westward than did they. Even New Jersey was at that time wild. the woods covering the soil and shut- ting out the light of day. The French set- tlements and Pittsburg were about the only settlements that dotted the vast expanse of
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MRS. AMASA GARWOOD
GOUWAD ABAMA .BAX
aAmasa Garwood
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country stretching from the Alleghany mountains to the Pacific coast. William Garwood, father of the subject of this memoir, is a direct descendant of the brother who remained in this country. He grew up in New Jersey, his native state, and was reared to the life of a farmer. Upon reach- ing maturity he wedded Miss Alice Cole and to this marriage was born one child, John Garwood, yet living. Upon her death Will- iam Garwood married Miss Margaret Scott, who presented him with five children, as follows: Joshua S., who married Miss Sarah Gaskill, yet lives in Stark county, Ohio, and is engaged in farming : Alice, the eldest, became the wife of Joseph B. Cattell and is now deceased; William died when he was five years old; Amasa, subject : Abraham S., who died when he was a small boy. About the year 1832 William Gar- wood left New Jersey and started for Ohio by way of the lakes. He was taken sick at Detroit and unfortunately died, and his stricken family continued on to their destina- tion and located in Stark county, Ohio, where the mother bought sixty-five acres of land where Alliance now stands. At that time Stark county was very wild and the iand was covered with dense timber which was filled with wild and savage animals. John Garwood, the son by her former hus- band, soon after the death of his father re- turned to New Jersey. After a time Mrs. Garwood received a proposal of marriage from Jonathan Michener, and accepting the same they were married, and to this union two children were born, Jane and Hannah. Her second husband dying, she wedded again and outlived her third husband.
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Amasa Garwood remained with his mother until he was twenty-nine years old.
working in the meantime at home or when- ever he could do best for all concerned. On September 20, 1857, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary C. Brush, a native of New York, and of German descent. To this marriage six children were born, as fol- How's: Minnetta J., born .August 29, 1858. became the wife of William Nelson and live- in Fulton county; Alice L., born August 17, 1862, became the wife of Clanthus Borton. of Franklin township; Joshua, born Octu- ber 2, 1864, married Miss Matilda Baker and resides in Harrison township: Mand M., born August 14, 1873. is unmarried and lives with her father : William C. and Fannie M. are deceased. Mr. Garwood's first wife died August 16, 1886, and on September 24. 1889, he wedded Mrs. Mary E. Stuart. the widow of Charles Stuart, her maiden name having been Williamson. Eight years later his second wife died. In 1852 Mr. Garwood came to Indiana in the interest of a man who was moving out, bringing for him a load of household goods and stopping in Hancock county. In 1854 he again vis- ited this state and taught school in Turkey Creek township, this county, and two years later came again and taught a term of school in Harrison township. In 1857 he moved his family to this county and settled on eighty acres of woodland in section 35. this township, and erected a small log cabin on the same and began to clear off the timber. He afterward added to this tract and cleared in all about one hundred acres. He steadily improved his farm, cleared off the trees and I now has one of the best farms in this part of the county. He has been successful to a high degree and is one of the county's best and most progressive farmers and citi- zens. He is well known and is respected by
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every one who has the right to call him were early pioneers of Ohio, settling m friend. ile is now nearing the other shore and in the course of nature must shortly take his departure, but he rests in the as- surance that his life has been worthily spent and that the good he has done far outshines the bad. He is a sterling Republican and cast his first presidential vote for the great emancipator. Abraham Lincoln. He has oc- cupied various positions of honor and trust bestowed upon him by his fellow citizens, and always to his own credit and the satis- faction of his constituents. The county has no better citizen.
HENRY E. NEFF.
Born amid humble surroundings and ed- ucated in the rugged school of experience, Henry E. Neff never counted the fickle god- des. Fortune nor did she cast in his cradle a golden scepter. Early in life deprived of a father's wise and gentle guidance and ob- liged to rely upon his own resources for a livelihood at an age when boys most need a parent's admonitions, he manfully as- sumed the responsibility of his mother's and younger brothers' and sisters' support and that he discharged this duty well and faith- fully is attested by those who were ac- quainted with the circumstances and who well knew the superior material which en- tered into his physical, mental and moral composition.
Mr. Neff was born in the town of Win- chester, Preble county, Ohio, May 3, 1854. the son of Daniel and Susanna ( Snyder) Neff. both natives of the county of Preble. The ancestors on both sides of the family
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Preble county when that part of the state was on the very outskirts of civilization and taking an active interest in the agricultural development of the country. Daniel Neff died when Henry 1. was a small boy. lea- ing the family in such circumstances that the children were thrown upon the world at comparatively early ages. To provide for the mother's necessities and for those too young to be of any assistance in the way of procuring a livelihood, the subject worked at any kind of honest toil that he could find to do and in his own language was "kicked around from pillar to post" for several years and compelled to undergo many hardships to earn sufficient means with which to sup- ply the modest wants of the family. The deep and tender regard with which he treated his mother and the younger mem- bers of the family and the many vicissitudes he experienced for their sakes show him to have been animated by true and Lofty motives. Young Neff continued to shoulder the responsibility of the family support in his native state until young manhood, when he moved to Miami county. Indiana, thence subsequently to the county of Elkhart, set- tling in the town of Benton. Fie secured a temporary home in that place and, as for- merly, turned his hands to any kind of em- ployment he could find and continued to look after the interests of his mother until her death. From that time until they were old enough to take care of themselves he was the mainstay of his younger brothers and sisters, meanwhile earning the reputa- tion of an industrious and reliable young man and winning the confidence and respect of those who employed him.
On the 7th day of August, 1879. Mr.
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Neff was married to Miss Esther I. Harsh- ner, daughter of Isaac W. and Rachael ( Foster ) Harshner, who came to Kosciusko county in the year 1861. Mr. Harshner : best farms in the township of Etna.
bought a quarter-section of land near the perous farmer and prominent citizen of that community. He lived on the place where he originally located until his death and en- joyed the reputation of one of Etna town- ship's most enterprising and prosperous men. He served in the war of 1861 and took part in a number of battles during that struggle. Mrs. Neff was born December IT. 1858. in Morrow county, Ohio, and was a miss of three summers when brought to the new home in the county of Kosciusko. She received her educational training in the public schools and at the time of her mar- riage was one of the popular young ladies of the neighborhood in which she lived.
After his marriage Mr. Neff located at Etna Green and turned his attention to farm- ing, renting land in the vicinity of the town and prospering in his undertaking. Subse- quently he purchased a good residence prop- erty in the village and continued agricult- ural pursuits on land leased for the purpose until he had accumulated considerable money, having been a careful and judicious farmer and a skillful manager in matters of finance and business. After spending a num- ber of years as a tiller of the soil Mr. Neff sold his home in Etna Green and engaged in the mercantile business in Goshen as a gro- cer. This enterprise proved fairly success- ful, but not being to his taste he disposed of his stock after one year's experience be- hind the counter and, returning to Etna township, resumed farming, which he has since carried on with encouraging results.
He is an industrious man and has greatiy unproved his place and brought it to a pros- A perous condition, making of it one of the
Mr. Neff stands high in the estimation village of Etna Green and became a pros- got the people of his neighborhood and is never behind in enterprises having for their object the promotion of the county's ma- terial interests. In a quiet and unostenta- tions way he has labored earnestly for the moral advancement of the community, being a man whose most prominent aim has been to benefit his fellows and lead them in the direction of right living. He possesses a deeply religious nature and subordinates every other consideration to the duty he owes to God as a member in his visible king- ) dom. For a period of twenty years he has been an active and consistent Christian and a member of the church, during which time he has filled various important positions. such a class leader, teacher in the Sunday- school and superintendent of the United Brethren church at Etna Green. At the present time he is one of the pillars of the Etna Green congregation and his daily life is an eloquent exponent of the faith which inspires him to do so much to spread the truths of the gospel and impress them upon the minds and hearts of his fellow men. Mrs. Neff is also a zealous member of the church, active in general religious work and a leader in the various societies of the local congregation at Etna Green.
Mr. and Mrs. Neff have never been blessed with children of their own, but some years ago they opened their home to an orphan boy. William Worley, son of Mr. Neff's sister, and lavished on him all the i wealth of parental love. They gave him the advantages of a good education. reared him
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to a life of usefulness and at this time he is a telegraph operator at Selba, Indiana, About one year since they took into their household a young girl by the name of Madge Stockberger, whom they expect to raise to womanhood. This kindness to the unfortunate speaks louder than words in praise of the generous natures of these two sincere Christians, natures full of love for the Master.
Mr. Neff was reared a Republican and remained loyal to that party until about fif- teen years ago, when by reason of its vacil- lating course upon the liquor question he withdrew his allegiance and became a Pro- hibitionist. He is an uncompromising en- emy of the saloon and believes that the only way to successfully cope with the evils of strong drink and crush the rum power in this country is by stringent legislation to the end that the awful curse shall no longer be permitted to destroy the bodies and souis of men and entail untold suffering upon the innocent under the sanction of law. Per- sonally Mr. Neff is a clean, pure man, never having been intoxicated, uses tobacco in none of its forms, while his private char- acter has always been unassailable. His life may be safely imitated by the young and the great amount of good which he has done in the world will never be fully known until the last great day when the books shall be opened and every man receive due credit for his works, his actions and his influence.
ALBERT TUCKER.
This gentleman is a splendid example of the successful American farmer and stock raiser. With comparatively little to start
with, he has made a large fortune by shrewd and honorable business methods. He is the leading farmer and stock raiser of the county and one of the largest in the state. His farm is almost like a principality, and he is cer- tainly a prince among farmers. He is a younger brother of the old settler and farm- er. Horace Tucker, and is one of the ablest financiers of this section of the state. Hle was born February 21. 1831, and is the son of John and Mary ( Warde) Tucker. ( See record of Horace Tucker elsewhere in this volume for account of the parents. ) The children of these parents were Horace, Aurelius, Albert, Serena, Regulus and Li- vona. Albert Tucker was reared on his fa- ther's farm and received an unusually good education, for his methods from his earliest childhood were to make the most of his op- portunities. He excelled in mathematics, thus at an early day showing his readiness with figures. All his education was secured at the old log schoolhouses during the win- ters and his summers were spent at hard work on his father's farm. His last winter of schooling was passed when he was nine- teen years old. This was in Richland coun- ty, Ohio, where the old home stood. When he was about twenty years old, or in Jan- uary, 1850, he concluded to start out for himself and accordingly, in company with Abe Huston, came on foot to Kosciusko county, Indiana, but on the way the roads became something awful and the two young men stopped and took a contract to clear seven acres of land to eighteen-inch stumps in seven days. By that time the roads had become frozen and they continued their jour- ney. Horace Tucker had preceded them. and with him they found a home until they could get their bearings. Upon his arrival
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Pere Albert Tucker possessed twenty dollars . when ready for the markets. He made un- in money. His father had previously usual progress and put his money into land. At one time he was one of the heaviest deal- ers in Durham stock in the northern part of the state. His farming operations were also very large. At one time he had out four hundred acres of wheat, which yielded him ten thousand bushels and was sold. He had out as high as three hundred acres of corn. He has grazed on his own pastures as many as four hundred and twenty-five head of fat- tening cattle. This shows the enormous ex- tent of his operations. It is not necessary to say that to manage this vast and complex industry it required ability of the highest order. Mrs. Tucker is a member of the United Brethren church. Mr. Tucker is a Republican, but has never been an office seeker. He is the strongest single business factor in this county and his honesty and good name are above reproach. bought a tract of one hundred and sixty acres in Franklin township. this county, for five hundred and seventy-two dollars, and this land he gave to his son Albert. This gave the latter a fine start, but it required time and a vast amount of labor. At first he took jobs at clearing other people's land and 'when he was not thus employed he worked at his own, and in this way made his first clearing in the dense forest which covered the land. His object in working it was to get money with which to stock his farm and pay his running expenses. Mr. Tucker, as he progressed in the world, put his money as fast as made into land and at one time owned twenty-seven hundred acres. worth about sixty dollars per acre, thus mak- ing his landed possessions aggregate about one hundred and sixty-two thousand dol- lars. If to this is added his stock and other interests, it will be found that he was worth fully one hundred and eighty thousand do !- lars, all made by himself except the first one hundred and sixty acres given to him by his father. This shows what can be done by the American farmer who is governed by honesty and sound business methods. At one time Mr. Tucker was employed by the officers of the Nickel Plate railway to secure the right of way through two townships. He bought the land where the town of Men- tone now stands and laid out the lots in 1881 and offered them for sale at from sey- enty-five to one hundred dollars per lot, mak- ing considerable money at that venture. He named the town Mentone, after a city in France. Since 1897 he has resided in Har- rison township. In 1859 he began to raise stock of the better grades and ship the same
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