USA > Indiana > Kosciusko County > Progressive men and women of Kosciusko County, Indiana : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography > Part 61
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Mr. Willis has always been a friend of education and has done much to promote its interests in the community where he now lives and elsewhere. He is a gentleman of broad culture, having read much of the world's best literature, while his acquaint- ance with history, politics, economics and the leading questions and issues, both at home and abroad, is by no means super- ficial. He is a deep thinker, a close ob- server and has well defined opinions . and the courage of his convictions. Until 1896 he voted with the Democracy, but becom- ing dissatisfied with the party's policy on the financial question he repudiated the free silver idea as a specious and dangerous fal- lacy, detrimental to the business interests of the country, and that year cast his ballot for the opposition. Since then he has warmly supported the Republican party and is now one of its most earnest adherents. On matters religious Mr. Willis has read much and thought deeply. Recognizing the validity of the church's claims as a great moral and spiritual force, and supporting it with his influence and means, he has never identified himself with any ecclesiastical or- ganization, believing that religion is largely a matter of conscience and that creeds and formulated systems of theology in a great measure defeat the purposes for which in- tended. Enthused with considerable local pride, he has given his sanction and aid to the advancement of the community materi-
fluence at all times potent has always been "exerted upon the right side of every great question. Mr. Willis has led a very active life and has discharged to the best of his ability every duty that has devolved upon him as a member in the body politic. Hay- ing no aspirations beyond succeeding well in his business affairs and preparing his children for the responsibilities which in due time would come to them as independ- ent factors in the world, he has done well his part and is fully entitled to the quiet and seclusion of the retired life, which he purposes to live from now until the end of his earthly pilgrimage.
Mr. and Mrs. Willis are valued members of society and their hospitable home is a favorite rendezvous for the best social cir- cles of the town and surrounding country. They are highly esteemed by their many neighbors and friends, and possess the un- limited confidence of all who have the pleas- ure of their acquaintance. Mrs. Willis is an active member of the Methodist church, zealous in good works and popular in the local congregation which meets for worship in North Webster.
WILLIAM BANNING.
The worthy gentleman to a review of whose life the reader's attention is here- with invited is one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens of Tippecanoe township and a gallant survivor of one of the greatest civil wars in the world's his- tory. He is a sterling son of the soil, a self-made man in all the term implies, and
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as one of the brave boys that donned the blue when the safety of our government was threatened by the armed hosts of treason is entitled to the respect and grati- tilde of every true and loyal American citizen.
young man Jefferson Banning went to Ohio. where he grew to manhood as a tiller of the soil. Hle married, in Delaware coun- ty, Ohio, Miss Martha Sellers, whose peo- ple were early settlers of Ohio, and became the father of eight children, namely : Will- iam, Wilson, Williard, Lester, Mary E., Re- becca, Elizabeth and Millie. When the subject of this review was about twelve years old his father moved to Whitley conn- ty, Indiana, where he followed agricultural pursuits for some time on land leased for the purpose and later purchased a small farm which he improved and upon which he and his good wife spent the remainder of their days. He was an honest, industrious man, well known in the community where he lived and highly respected by all who knew him for his many sterling qualities and manly living. He did not leave to his descendants a very large amount of worldly wealth, but that which is of far greater value, a spotless reputation which they prize as a priceless heritage.
It was William Banning's good fortune to be reared by excellent parents amid the quiet and peaceful scenes of healthful out- door life on the farm. He was early taught habits of industry and thrift and in the com- mon schools, which he attended at intervals
during his minority, he received a fair knowledge of such branches as were then taught. He remained at home, assisting with the labor of the farm, until attaining his majority, when he engaged in the pur- suit of agriculture upon his own responsi- bility, continuing the same until Angust, 180%. He then enlisted for three years of during the war, joining Company G. One
William Banning is an Ohio man, born in Delaware county, that state, on the 21st ! day of July, 1835. His father was Jeffer- son Banning, a native of the state of Dela- ! Hundred and Forty-second Indiana Volum- ware and of German descent. When a i teer Infantry. Immediately after his enlist- ment Mr. Banning was sent to the front, reaching Nashville, Tennessee, in time to participate in the last bloody battle fought just outside the city, in which the Confed- erate forces under General Hood were de- feated and their power broken. He served until the close of the war, but by reason of sickness did not take a very active part in movements against the enemy during the last few months. For several years after his discharge he suffered considerably from the effects of the disease contracted while in the service-in fact he has never entirely recovered, and at the present time is secur- ing from a grateful government a pension of twelve dollars per month.
Returning to Whitley county after leav- ing the army, Mr. Banning and his brother. also a veteran of the Civil war. settled on a small farm which they had previously purchased near Larwell. Here they resided and jointly cleared and otherwise improved it and continued to cultivate it in partner- ship until about 1871, when his brother sold out and went west, and about one year later, in 1872, William purchased the farm where he now lives. He has operated the place with success and profit, becoming one of the enterprising and substantial farmers of his neighborhood, as well as one of the
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substantial and enterprising citizens of the township of Tippecanoe.
Mr. Banning's farm is not as large as are some belonging to his neighbors, never- theless he has brought it to a high state of tillage and by industry and successful man- agement realizes as much from his acres as many do from places of much larger area. Ilis improvements are all first class and the care and skill with which he prosecutes his labors show him to be well versed in agri- cultural science, with the ability to reduce the same to the largest practical account. As previously stated, he is a self-made man .. as he began life's struggle with no aid what- ever except such as his good strong arms. backed by a well defined purpose, afforded him. Starting at the very foot of the lad- der. he has gradually ascended until he is now in very comfortable circumstances, hav- ing accumulated a competency of sufficient magnitude to make the remainder of his days free from care or anxiety. As a citi- zen his reputation is unimpeachable and as a neighbor and friend he is widely respected. none in the county standing higher in pub- lic esteem.
Mr. Banning is a married man and the father of three children, the oldest of whom is William, who still makes the parental farm his home. Arthur, the second in or- der of birth, married Miss . Nora Needler and is a prosperous farmer of Tippecanoe township. Joseph, the youngest, is de- ceased. The mother of these children was formerly Mrs. Virginia Phares, widow of the late Riley Phares and daughter of Jo- seph and Martha ( Dunn) Light. Mr. Ban- ning is a Republican in politics, but is not an active worker during campaigns, as his health will no longer permit and his tastes
and inclinations have never led him in the direction of office seeking. He served as supervisor of his township, but has never held nor desired any other official station. preferring the quiet life of the farm and the sphere of the private citizen to any honors which the ballots of his fellow men can con- fer upon him.
Wherever Mr. Banning is known his word is as good as his bond, and his repu- tation for truth and veracity has never been impeached. It is such men as he that give stability and character to a community and although their names may not adorn the pages of history nor their deeds cause them to be numbered among the distinguished or renowned in the true sense of the word, they are great because humble, for great- ness consists largely of humility. An earn- est believer in the religion of the Bible, he has done much to advance the cause of Christianity in the community, being an humble and devout, but at the same time an aggressive member, of the Evangelical church of North Webster, to which body his wife also belongs.
CHARLES E. HARLAN.
This well-known citizen and prosperous farmer of Van Buren township was born in Kosciusko county, Indiana, June 25. 1863. the site of his birthplace being about one and a half miles west of the village of Lees- burg. His father was William Harlan, a native of Ohio, who was brought to Kosci- usko county when a lad five years old. The father of William entered one hundred and sixty acres of land west of Leesburg in an
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early day and was one of the pioneer set- "ple of his township to a marked degree and ilers of Van Buren township. The subject's will long be remembered as one of the hon- orable, upright and enterprising men of the community in which all but five years of his life were spent. father was reared on this place and when old enough to begin life for himself en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, which he car- ried on in connection with stock raising as long as he lived. He was a self-made man, having been left without a father's care when twelve years old, and from that early age he was compelled to rely entirely upon his own resources for support. He accum- ulated a handsome property, provided well for his family and at his death leit a fine farm and other valuable property. all of which was the result of his own labor and economy.
William Harlan was twice married, the first time to Miss Eliza Bogges, who be- came the mother of four children: E. J .. Mary .A., George and Sophronia. The sec- ond wife was Caroline Raker, a native of Germany, who came with her brother and sister to the United States at the age of eighteen years, the family settling in the county of Kosciusko: she was one of six children, Henry, Ludwig, Court H., Will- iam, Sophia and Caroline. Caroline Har- lan bore her husband four children, name- ly: Charles, whose name introduces this biography: Lizzie, wife of Manuel Dubbs : Mattie, who married J. W. Robinson ; and Hattie. now Mrs. W. D. Groves. The mother was born on the 3d day of Novem- ber, 1838, and is still living. William Har- lan's birth occurred on the 30th of April, 1829, and he departed this life August 17, 1897. He was an excellent citizen, a zeal- ous member of the Christian church and a pronounced Republican in politics. He en- joyed the confidence and esteem of the peo-
Charles E. Harlan attended the con- try schools during his childhood and youth and spent his early years in an meventinl manner on the home farm. He learned les- sons of practical industry while assisting to cultivate the place and remained under the parental roof until 1890, on March 29th of which year he was united in wedlock to Miss Emma A. Goshorn, daughter of George and Margaret ( Whitmer ) Goshorn, both parents natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Harlan's father came to Kosciusko county in an early day and spent the remainder of his life here as a tiller of the soil. Imme- diately following his marriage Mr. Harlan settled on the place in Van Buren township, south of Milford, where he has since lived and prospered. He owns a fine farm of eighty-two acres, all in cultivation, and has made many substantial improvements, as is indicated by the attractive appearance of his home and its surroundings. He is a model farmer in that he prosecutes his labors ac- cording to system, and carefully studies the soil and its adaptability to the different products raised. He employs modern methods, uses improved implements and machinery and seklom fails to realize abun- dant returns from his crops and from the sale of the fine live stock which he raises. Mir. Harlan pays considerable attention to cattle of the Improved Jersey breed, of which he usually keeps quite a number and also markets every year a great many Po- land China and Berkshire hogs, a business
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which he has made very profitable in con- nection with his general work as an agri- culturist.
Mr. Harlan is a good man and exercises the duties of citizenship as becomes a true and loyal American. He attends strictly to his own affairs, is prompt in meeting all of his business engagements and wherever known his word is as good as his note. A man of unimpeachable 'integrity and high sense of honor and justice, his influence has always been potent for good and as a neigh- bor and friend no one stands higher in the esteem of the people of Van Buren town- ship. He voted the Republican ticket, but has never asked for office at the hands of his fellow citizens, having no inclination in that direction. Religiously he is an ad- herent of the Christian church, as is his wife.
The following are the names and dates of birth of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Harlan: Vera L., March 24, 1892; Fred L., March 20, 1895; and Ethel Ilen, October 26, 1901.
DANIEL TOM.
The career of the well-known and high- ly respected gentleman whose name heads this review illustrates forcibly the possi- bilities that are open to men of earnest pur- pose, integrity and sterling business qual- ifications. A well-spent life and an honor- able career constitute his record and now, after long years of honest toil, he is enjoy- ing the fruits of his labors in honorable re- tirement, living in a beautiful home in the outskirts of Milford, esteemed by a host of
friends in the town and throughout the county.
John Tom, father of the subject, was born in Pennsylvania in 1816 and when young accompanied his parents to Stark county, Ohio, where he lived about fifteen years. He then moved to Kosciusko con- ty, Indiana, and settled in Van Buren town- ship, where he purchased and improved an eighty-acre farm, becoming in the course of a few years a very successful agriculturist. He added to his real estate from time to time until he owned lands amounting to about four hundred acres, nearly all of which was improved and became very val- uable. In addition to general farm work he raised considerable live stock and all of his business transactions appear to have re- dounded greatly to his financial advantage.
John Tom's wife was Elizabeth Hipsch ; she became the mother of six children, of whom Daniel is the first born. The others are Mary, who married Daniel Nine, a farmer of this county; George married Lu- cinda Nine and is also engaged in agricult- ural pursuits; Harriet, wife of Enoch Hoover, lives on a farm in the township of Van Buren ; Hamen died at the age of four- teen years and Lavina also departed this life in childhood. Mr. Tom was a leading member of the German Baptist (or Dunk- ard ) church and in politics supported the principles of the Democratic party. His wife was also a communicant of the Ger- man Baptist church and a woman of sterling qualities of head and heart. She and her husband were both of German lineage and as long as they lived were noted for their upright lives and for the good work they did in behalf of religion, benevolence and charity.
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Daniel Tom, the subject proper of this in many ways aside from the land needed .ketch, was born in Stark county, Ohio, in ; them. In his various affairs he has dis- I played excellent judgment and discrimina- i tion, all of his transactions having been con- ducted with due regard to the ethics of business, the result being a reputation for sterling honesty of which he and his many friends fully appreciate.
the year 1827. His childhood and youthful years sped away on the farm, and in the old-fashioned schools common to the period he received his first instruction in the mys- teries of book lore. He carly became ac- customed to the varied duties of agriculture and remained with his father until the age of twenty-one, assisting to clear and culti- vate the farm, meantime laying broad and deep a solid foundation for his subsequent career as one of Kosciusko county's progres- sive husbandmen and useful citizens.
On attaining his majority Mr. Tom left home and for about four years thereafter worked by the month as a farin hand, care- fully saving his earnings and perfecting his plans for the future. At the age of about twenty-five he chose a companion and help- meet on life's journey, being happily mar- ried on the 3d day of August, 1854, to Miss Rachael Nine, daughter of Jonathan and Catherine (Crow]) Nine. Purchasing a farm of one hundred and twenty acres about five miles south of Milford, he moved his bride thereto and began life's struggle un- der very favorable auspices, meeting with encouraging success from the beginning and establishing a reputation as a systematic and enterprising farmer and stock raiser. Mr. Tom made judicious investments in real estate as opportunities afforded, adding to lis land at intervals until he became the pos- sessor of a valuable tract containing three hundred eighty and a half acres, all of which came to him as the well-timed re- sults of his own labor and management. Ilis estate now numbers two hundred sixty and a half acres, the other having been di- vided among his children, whom he assisted
Mr. Tom is a broad-minded, progres- sive man, ever active in promoting the gen- eral welfare, liberal in the expenditure of his means to advance the cause of religion and morality and a strong advocate of law and order in all the terms imply. He has given his time and attention entirely to farming and stock raising and the neat and thrifty appearance of his place, its improve- ments and high state of cultivation, indi- cate the careful supervision and close ap- plication with which he has attended to his duties. Recently he purchased a beautiful plat of fifteen acres adjoining the town of Milford, on which is a neat and attractive home, surrounded by shade and fruit trees, well-tended gardens and fine lawns, where he purposes to spend the remainder of his life in the enjoyment of the rest and quiet- ude which he has so well earned.
Personally Mr. Tom is held in high es- teem by a large circle of friends and ac- quaintances and there is no more popular man in the town and township of his resi- dence. He has well and faithfully dis- charged the duties of citizenship, is a close observer of current events that shape the history of the nation and since old enough to wield the elective franchise has been a pronounced supporter of the Democratic party. While interested in the success of his party's nominees, he does not take a very active part in political affairs, though
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ready at all times to give a reason for his views and maintain their soundness. He has never been ambitious to hold office, but at the carnest solicitation of his friends some years ago he was elected trustee of Van Buren township and proved a capable and popular official ; he also served as road supervisor and as such was untiring in his efforts to improve the highways within his jurisdiction.
Mr. Tom is a member of the Progressive branch of the German Baptist church and a pillar of the congregation worshipping in Milford; his family are also identified with the same religious body, all of them being esteemed members and active workers. Mr. and Mrs. Tom have had four children : Katherine M., born September 25, 1855, is the wife of John Bartholomew and the mother of one son and one daughter, Hat- tie and Franklin ; John F. was born on the 27th of May, 1857; he married Kate Price, has one son, Earl, and carries on farming in the township of Van Buren; Mary E., whose birth occurred on the 28th of May. 1859, died December 3. 1861; James E., born March 16, 1868, is a prosperous farmer of Van Buren township; he married Della Bearinger and has a family of four children.
Mrs. Tom's parents, Jonathan and Katherine Nine, moved to Kosciusko coun- ty in an early day from Ohio .and settled on a quarter section of land in the southern part of Van Buren township, which Mr. Nine purchased from the government at one and a quarter dollars per acre. They lived for some years in a little log cabin and experienced the usual hardships and difficulties that fell to the lot of the pioneers. Mr. Nine cleared a good farm and became
one of the leading agriculturists as well as Tone of the substantial citizens of this com- munity. le reared a family of ten chil- dren, several of whom still live in Van Buren township, and died a number of years ago at the ripe old age of eighty-six years; his wife also lived to be quite old, dying at the age of eighty-eight years, six months and two days, and now rests beside her hits- band in the quiet palace of the dead whose doors do not outward swing.
JACOB J. TROUP.
Agriculture has been an honored voca- tion from the earliest ages and as a usual thing men of honorable and humane im- pulses, as well as those of energy and thrift, have been patrons of husbandry. The free outdoor life of the farm has a decided ten- dency to foster and develop that independ- ence of mind and self-reliance which char- acterize trne manhood and no greater bless- ing can befall a boy than to be reared in close touch with nature in the healthful, life- inspiring labor of the fields. It has always been the fruitful soil from which have sprung the moral bone and sinew of the country, and the majority of our nation's great warriors, wise statesmen, renowned scholars and distinguished men of letters were born on the farm and are indebted to its early influence for the distinction which they have attained.
Among the substantial tillers of the soil in Kosciusko county, Indiana, is the enter- prising gentleman under the caption of whose name this article is written. Jacob J. Troup is a native of Kosciusko county. having been born in the township of Van Buren, October 22, 1856. His paternal
JACOB TROUP RESIDENCE
ЗриЧная AVONT BODAL.
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grandfather, Benjamin Troup, was a native of Pennsylvania, but left that state in early manhood, going to Canada and settling near Fort Erie, in the county of Wellington, where, in 1820, his son John B. was born. John B. Troup was reared near his birth place and there married Elizabeth Shirk. who bore him nine children : Mary .1 .. Peter, Elizabeth. Benjamin, Betsey, Jude, Jacob J., Wilson and William H1. After living in Canada until forty-five years of age John B. Tromp moved to Elkhart county. Indiana, settling near the village of New Paris. After a short residence there he changed his abode to Van Buren township, Kosciusko county, where he engaged in ag- ricultural pursuits, a vocation which he fol- bowel throughout the remainder of his life. He subsequently returned to Union town- ship, Elkhart county, and thence to Mar- shall county. In connection with farming Mr. Troup worked at the carpenter's trade and for many years was accounted a skill- tul mechanic. He was also noted as a hunts- man in early life, having spent considerable time in the woods and killed much game both in sport and as a means of varying the family's bill of fare. As a man he was highly esteemed and for a number of years tas an active and zealous member of the German Baptist church.
Jacob Troup spent his early life in Union township and during his minority attended the country schools of winter seasons, de voting the rest of the time to the rugged duties of the farm. He became familiar with all kinds of manual labor required of country boys and remained at home until the age of twenty-one, meantime bearing Lis share of the family's support. November 16, 1880, he was united in marriage to Miss
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Zona Funk, danghter of George and Maria (Sparkling) Funk, after which he settled on a farm west of Milford and cultivated the same about one year, moving to his present home at the expiration of that time.
Mr. 'I roup owns a farm of two hundred acres, which, in point of fertility, general productiveness, improvements and all that constitute a prosperous country home, is not excelled by any other of its size in the coun- ty of Kosciusko. He cleared about twenty- live acres of land himself and by systematic work and successful management has brought the entire place to the high state of enitivation for which it has long been noted. Hle is a man of progressive ideas in all that pertains to agricultural science, a reader of the best literature relating to farming and possesses the ability to reduce all worthy theories to practical tests. In connection with tilling of the soil he is largely inter- ested in live stock, giving special attention to blooded shorthorn cattle and Chester White and Poland China hogs, in the rais- ing and selling of which he has been remark- ably successful.
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