USA > Indiana > Kosciusko County > Progressive men and women of Kosciusko County, Indiana : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography > Part 69
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The Tillotson family, of which Mrs. Ruth Warner is a direct descendant, is closely traced back to a period prior to the Revolution. The chronological record dates from the carly settlement in the prov- ince or colony of Connecticut, where three
brothers of English descent settled and reared families. All of them were active participants on the patriot side in that memorable struggle. On the Warner side the same conditions are traced, three broth- ers, Ichabod, Nathan and one younger, coming to America from England, and set- thing respectively in New York and Penn- sylvania. They took an active part in the war for independence from English rule, and later in the war of 1812. It will be seen therefore that the late Mr. Warner and the estimable lady who bears his name both sprang from that grand type of Amer- ican stock which became famous in his- tory and whose heroic struggle against the I greatest and most powerful nation of the world added a new nation among the pow- ers and opened a new continent as an asy- lum for the oppressed of every land. Dur- ing the Civil war of 1861-5, which so thor- oughly tested the enduring power of Amer- ican government on the basis of govern- ment by the people, the successful issue of which insured the perpetuity of our form of government and its ennobling institu- tions, Mr. Warner was as earnest in his support of his heritage from Revolutionary ancestors as were they in its establishment. Physically disabled to such an extent as to prevent his entering into active service, his heart and soul were in the cause, and what- ever aid he and his estimable wife could give was given cheerfully and gladly.
Mrs. Warner still retains the original one-hundred-and-sixty-acre homestead, the management of which is under her immedi- ate supervision. She has about one hun- dred acres under cultivation and the excel- lent appearance of everything about the place shows a careful and thrifty method in
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every detail. Pleasantly located about two and a half miles from the town of Pierce- ton. her delightful, roomy residence always attracts the attention of those who pass that way, and the sense of comfort and pleasure it imparts is but the reflex of that refinement which dwells therein. . Mrs. Warner is ever doing something which shows her innate nobleness of purpose, and her benefactions are innumerable. The last to know her as a mother was Miss Blanche Wilt, whom she raised from a child. She first married Edward Pocock : her second marriage was to Joel Perkins, .. and their home is now in North Dakota.
HIRAM ULREY.
The subject of this sketch is a grand- son of Joseph Uirey. Sr., whose biography appears elsewhere in these pages, and was born in Jackson township, Kosciusko coun- ty, on the 21st day of July, 1867. His par- ents were Aaron B. and Mary .A. Ulrey, both well-known and highly respected people who figured in the early growth and devel opment of the part of the country in which the Ulrey family originally settled. The subject spent the years of his childhood and youth on the farm where he first saw the light of day, and when a small boy was de- prived of his father, after whose death he went to live with his grandfather, Joseph Ulrey. With the latter he found a good home and during his stay under his grand- father's hospitable roof was the recipient of many kindnesses, being regarded with especial favor and pride by every member of the household. His educational train-
ing was such as the common schools of the neighborhood could impart, this being sup- plemented by one term in the high school at North Manchester, and two terms at Logansport College. When a lad in his 'teens he learned, under the direction of his grandfather, the shoemaker's trade. at which he soon became quite a proficient I workman.
From an early age Hiram exhibited a willingness to learn and his decided indus- try and energy won the love and admira- tion of his grandfather, who did all with- in his power to implant in the lad's mind the principles of honesty and integrity. So that he would grow up an honorable man and be of some use in the world. After his mother's second marriage he returned to her home and assisted his stepfather on the farm until his eighteenth year, after which he returned to his grandfather. with whom he stayed until the spring previous to his marriage, when he bought a half interest in a hardware store in the vil- lage of Sidney, but shortly afterward. by the advice of his grandfather, he traded it for a small farm near the village. Shortly after arriving at man's estate he formed the acquaintance of an estimable young lady of Monroe township by the name of Dencie Noggle, born May 15, 1868, to whom, after a brief courtship. he was uni- ted in wedlock on November 20. 1892. Mrs. Ulrey was reared on a farm and after obtaining a good education engaged in teaching, a work in which she developed great efficiency, earning an enviable repu- tation during the several years she was em- ployed in the public work in Kosciusko county. Inmediately following his mar- riage Mr. Ulrey moved to a forty-acre farm
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about one mile north of the village of Side : throughout Jackson and neighboring ney. Jackson township, where he continued 1 to live for a number of years, meeting with success as an agriculturist and winning for himself a conspicuous standing among the intelligent and enterprising citizens of the community. He followed husbandry until the continued ill health of his wife obliged him to turn his attention to less arduous la- bor. Accordingly he left the farm and, moy- ing to Sidney, opened a harness shop. in connection with which he also carried on shoe repairing, doing a good business in both lines. Subsequently he opened his house for the accommodation of the traveling public and has since kept a neat and well- appointed hotel, which from the beginning has had a well paying patronage and is now one of the most popular places of the kind in the county. Mr. Clrey still carries on shoe repairing and the harness business. doing all kinds of general repairing in both i townships has brought him to the favorable notice of all classes of people. He is a cred- itable representative of one of the oldest and most honorable families of Kosciusko coun- ty and, inheriting many of the sterling ! qualities of his honest and sturdy ances- tors, has devoted his life and energies to the general welfare of the community, de- porting himself in every relation as a man who unselfishly tries to make the world bet- ter by his presence. Politically a strong Republican, he takes no very active part in party affairs further than keeping himself well informed on the leading questions be- fore the people and using his influence to get good men into office and elevate the standard of public morals. The German Baptist church, of which he is an humble and zealous member, embodies his religious creed and for a number of years past he has been one of the pillars of the congrega- tion worshiping in the village of Sidney. His wife is also identified with the same communion and in a quiet and unostenta- tious way has aided much to promote the good work which the church carries on. Mr. and Mrs. Ulrey are without children, the only issue of their marriage dying some years ago.
lines of work besides dealing directly with the general trade in hand-made harness and appliances connected therewith. meeting with encouraging results in all of his un- dertakings. The industry and thrift which marked his early years are still among his most prominent characteristics and, fully appreciating the true dignity of honest toil, he believes that man should earn his bread by the sweat of his brow and looks upon willful idleness as being almost criminal in its nature and results. In all the essential elements of true and upright manhood he is easily the peer of the best citizens of his village and county, and his aim always has been to so do his duty as to benefit himself and society at large.
Mr. UTrey is held in high esteem by all who know him and his large acquaintance
AARON MILLER.
Aaron Miller is a native of Indiana, hav- ing been born in Kosciusko county, January 18, 1845. His father, Stephen E. Miller. was a native of Ohio and was a son of Stephen E. and Anna ( Rodabaugh ) Miller. who were among the early pioneers of that state. He was married in Montgomery
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Aarons meller
Avolannat Miller
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county, Ohio, to Elizabeth Landis. She was a native of Pennsylvania and from thence emigrated in an early day with her father. David Landis, to Ohio. In 1834 Stephen E. Miller, the father of our subject, moved to Elkhart county. Indiana, and about one year later came to Kosciusko county. He entered land in Jefferson township on which he set- tled and resided there until death. He and his wife were both members of the German Baptist church, in which he was also a min- ister for a number of years, and during the latter part of his life for more than twenty years he served as elder of that church. He died in July, 1873. at the age of sixty-two years, and his wife died in April, 1898, at the age of eighty-seven years. They were the parents of nine children, viz: Anna, de- ceased : Catherine, deceased ; John 11. is an elder in the German Baptist church and re- sides at Goshen, Indiana: Henry, deceased : Mary A. is now Mrs. Samuel Riggle and re- sides at Portland, Oregon : Aaron is the sub- ject of this review: Daniel D. is a farmer and lumberman of Petoskey, Michigan : Jonas B. resides at Michigan City, Indiana ; David E. deceased.
Aaron Miller was reared on a farm and received his first knowledge of books in an old log school house in Jefferson township in his native county. He was an apt scholar and lost no time in his endeavor to gain a goal education. He applied his evenings and what spare time he had at home to his books and today is one of the best-posted men on all subjects in Kosciusko county. He also has the best library in the county and is a great friend to education. In the spring of 1871 Mr. Miller settled on a farm in sec- tion 12. Jefferson township, which he still owns. Here he resided until 1881, in which
year he moved to Milford, where he now resides. He concluded to retire from actual ! business, though he still conducts his farm and engages somewhat in stock raising. A feature of Mr. Miller's farm worthy of men- tion is his barn, one of the finest and best constructed barns in Kosciusko county. which was erected at a cost of about three thousand dollars. It is built in the form of an L, one hundred and ten feet by one hmm- dred feet. the two ends being respectively thirty feet and forty feet in width with twenty-six-foot posts. It was constructed without purlin, plate, purlin post or beam, and is so constructed that the strain and sup- port is equal in all directions. The floor, which comprises six thousand six hundred square feet, is laid with Portland cement, and is divided into compartments for differ- ent kinds of stock. the partitions being so arranged, however, that all may be thrown into one room. The building is fitted throughout with water pipes, thus reducing the labor of caring for the stock to the mini- mum, the water being conducted from a water system located within the building.
Mr. Miller was married in Kosciusko county, March 17, 1870, to Miss Susannah Leatherman, and to his marriage five chil- dren were born. viz: Rosella, who died when about five months old: Mary E., who married Charles Shinnebarger and resides on the home farm; Anna, who is still under the parental roof unmarried, and two that died in infancy, not named. Miss Anna has taken the full high-school course in Milford and will enter the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, in the literary and musical department in 1902. She is a young lady of great ambition and personally super- intends the culture of eight acres of onions
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on her father's estate, a fact of which she is proud, and she wishes to be self-supporting. Mrs. Miller was born in Kosciusko county. Indiana. December 20, 1845. the daughter of Joseph and Mary ( Brumbaugh ) Leather- man. Joseph Leatherman was born in Tus- carawas county, Ohio, about 1819. and died in Kosciusko county, Indiana, about 1872. Ile received a good common-school educa- tion, and was a pioneer of this part of Indi- ana, having entered land from the govern- ment. His vocation was that of farming. and in his community he was highly es- teemed by all. Politically he was formerly an old-line Whig, but affiliated with the Repub- lican party after its organization. Relig- iously he was a member of the German Baptist church. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Brumbaugh, was born in Ohio about 1829 and died about 1886. She also was a member of the German Baptist church, and she and her husband now lie buried in the Brumbaugh cemetery. They were the parents of six children, four sons and two daughters, of whom the following are living : William is a resident of Jeffer- son township, this county : Mary, Mrs. Mil- ler: Conrad, a farmer, is married and re- sides on the old homestead in Jefferson township: Franklin, who is connected with the oil industry, is married and lives at Whiting, Indiana ; David, a shoe manufac- turer, is married and resides at Anderson, this state.
Mr. Miller is in politics a Republican and while not an aspirant for public office, he was elected in 1892 to the office of commis- soner of Kosciusko county and was re- elected in 1804. serving two terms of three years each. A few noteworthy facts con- cerning Mr. Miller's administration as com-
missioner are here presented : When he en- tered the office in 1892 the tax rate of the county was fifty cents per one hundred dol- lars, but before the close of his term it had been reduced to twenty-eight and a third cents. The number of bridges in the county in 1892 was fifteen, but during Mr. Miller's official term there were built ninety-three bridges and twenty-one stone arches. Dur- ing his incumbency the county infirmary, one of the finest in the state, was erected at a cost complete of forty thousand dollars and the county court house and jail were entirely refurnished on the interior in the way of papering, plumbing, heating and carpeting. all these improvements being made in spite of the marked reduction in the tax rate. A large saving was made in the cost of con- struction work, as follows: The price for- merly paid for bridge construction was twelve dollars per lineal foot, including wooden joists, and five dollars per cord for stone, while the cost of laying the latter was seventy-five cents per perch. Mr. Miller succeeded in reducing these prices as fol- lows: The price of fifty-seven bridges per lineal foot was eight dollars, with steel joists, a saving to the county of thirteen thousand, six hundred and eighty dollars. while in the thirty-six others which were built at the former price steel joists were used instead of wood, as had been the cus- tom. The reduction in the price of three thousand, eight hundred and seventy cords of stone amounted to seven thousand. seven hundred and forty dollars, and the de- crease in the cost of laying the same. twenty- seven thousand perch, was eight thousand dollars, making a total saving to the county in these three items alone of twenty-nine thousand four hundred and twenty dollars.
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Another progressive move was in the direc- tion of good roads. When Mr. Miller took the office of commissioner there was not a rod of public road owned by the county, but during his incumbency roads were estab- lished and constructed in five townships. Jackson, Washington, Plain, Wayne and Franklin.
Mr. Miller is a splendid example to the youth of today of what may be accomplished by one who started out in life with no re- sources upon which to rely aside from his own determination and boundless ambition and energy. These qualities, however, have been the secret to many successful lives and to them Mr. Miller owes his present high standing among his associates. He is a friend to all movements that tend to the bet- terment of his community and in educational matters especially he is deeply interested.
WILLIAM ELMER GERARD.
William E. Gerard, the affable propri- ctor of the livery and feed stables at Pierce-
born in Plain township, Kosciusko county, Indiana, July 7, 1864. He enjoyed the advantages of our present excellent com- mon-school system in his native township and that of Tippecanoe township. Laying aside his text-books at the age of seven- teen he began his struggle for self-main- tenance and future prosperity as a rail- roader, working for the Pittsburg. Fort Wayne & Chicago railway, with which he remained for three years. He then turned
huis attention to farming, but disposed of his farming interests and went to Fort Wayne, where he entered the service of the traction company as conductor and driver. When the old system of power was superseded by the electric system, Mr. Gerard had charge of and was conductor of the first car run over the road. He remained with the con- pany for two years, and then accepted a position with the Centliver Brewing Con :- pany of Fort Wayne, remaining with it for one year and a half. Returning to Kosciusko county, he again engaged in farming, locating in Tippecanoe township. which he followed for six years. He then moved to Marshall county and in 1931 moved to Pierceton and purchased a half interest in the livery business conducted by his cousin, Cary Gerard. Believing that the business could. be better conducted alone, he purchased his cousin's interest and is now sole proprietor. He has seven head of good horses, two sample wagons, and other vehicles necessary for a complete liv- ery and in sufficient quantity to meet the requirements of business, and, being cen- trally located, is quite prosperous.
On January 11, 1885, Mr. Gerard led 1011. Kosciusko county, Indiana, is a son of . to the hymencal altar Miss Elizabeth Isaac and Louisa ( Kirkpatrick) Gerard, ' Coons, a daughter of Moses and Sarah (Hamlin) Coons. They are now the par- ents of three interesting children: Clara Lora and Olia, all at home. Mrs. Gerard was born at Etna Green, this county. March 4. 1867, and was there educated in the public schools. Both parents of Mrs. Gerard are deceased, passing away at their - home in this county, the father in 1885 and the mother in 1880.
Mrs. Gerard had five uncles on the ma- ternal side who served in the Civil war.
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The father of Mr. Gerard died in Eina township in 1882: his mother passed away in Plain township in 1864.
MILTON HL. BRINDLEY.
In many respects the career of the sub- ject of this review is peculiarly instructive in that it serves to show what a well defined purpose, supplemented by correct princi- ples and high ideals, can accomplish in the face of discouraging circumstances. It is an example of triumph over obstacles, the winning of success by honorable methods, and as such may.be safely followed by those
Milton H. Brindley is a native of Etma township, Kosciusko county, Indiana, and dates his birth from the 15th day of Feb- ruary, 1857. In his childhood he lived in Etna Green, but as a youth made his home whose life work is yet to be accomplished. Ton a farm a short distance south of the The Brindley family in America had its . town and grew up to be an increasing help origin in Ohio, where the subject's ances- to his parents, meantime pursuing his tors settled in an early day, coming to this . studies at intervals in the public schools. country from Scotland and Ireland. James He was reared to habits of industry, bit Brindley, father of Milton 11., was born and ; by reason of the straitened circumstances reared in the above state and when a young "of his mother, his father having died when man was there united in marriage to Sarah the was young, was obliged to begin the Shanholts, whose people were among the struggle of life with no capital save his carly Scotch pioneers of Canada, The own hands and a well-founded purpose to Shanholts were also early settlers of the "' make the most of his opportunities. Por- county in Ohio where the Brindleys orig- inally located and the names of both fani- ilies are still familiar in the local annals of the community where they lived.
James Brindley was a man of diversi- fied occupation, but devoted the greater part of his attention to farming and trad- ing. In 1856 he left Ohio and migrated to Kosciusko county. Indiana, settling in the town of Etna Green, where he was en- 1 gaged in merchandising until the breaking out of the late Rebellion. When the Pres- ident issued a call for troops he closed his business and. leaving a wife and five chil- . to Miss Margaret A. Halterman, of Ohio.
dren, went to the front as a private in Company C. Thirteenth Indiana Infantry, and gave a little over two years to the sery- ice of his country. He died a short time after his return from the army and is re- membered as a man of intelligence and strict integrity and a true patriot. Of his seven children the following are living : Frank, Milton H., Effie A., Arthur and Norman, those deceased being Martin and Charles.
erty is exceedingly uncomfortable, as many people can testify, but in nine cases out of ten the best thing that can happen to a young man is to be, figuratively speaking, tossed overboard and be compelled to swim for himself. Young Brindley was early obliged to buffet the waves of adverse for- tane, but, animated by inborn strength, his resolution never wavered and in due time he had gotten a sufficient start to justify him in asking a young lady of his acquaint- ance to travel life's pathway with him. In October. 1880. he was united in marriage
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who came with her parents to the county of Kosciusko the same year in which her name was changed to the one she now bears. After his marriage Mr. Brindley took charge of his mother's little farm. which he cultivated until 1891, when he purchased the place near Etna Green where he now lives. In the spring of 1888 he was c'ested on the Republican ticket township trustee and served as such until 1800, when he was chosen his own successor for another term of four years. During his incumbency he did as much if not more for the township than any of his predecessors, among the improvements being several substantial bridges, three school houses and four or five highways, besides work of lesser mag- nitade.
Not being favored with a finished edu- cation himself, Mr. Brindley has always ap- preciated the great value of schools and while trustee gave the matter of public in- struction special consideration. He spared no expense in the buildings erected for school purposes, although judicious in the expenditure of the people's money, and used his best endeavors to secure teachers vi recognized intellectual ability and pro- fessional training he managed so as to have two terms a year in each district, one in the winter and one in the spring and summer, thus making it possible for the smallest child of school age to receive its allotted amount of training. He is an un- tiring political worker and while serving as a member of the county central commit- tee his township always came up with its old-time Republican majority and during the last two or three years as committee- man the vote was increased to a much higher standard than theretofore. In the
year 1901 Mr. Brindley was appointed postmaster of Etna Green, the duties of which he has since discharged in a highly creditable manner, being a kind and oblig- ing, as well as an able and judicious, of- ficial.
Mr. and Mrs. Brindley have two chil- dren, both daughters: Nellie Golden, born December 4. 1883, is a graduate from the county schools and a stenographer and typewriter, being equally proficient in both; Roxie Van Orman was born September 6, 1892, and, with her sister, still lives under the parental roof. Fraternally Mr. Brind- ley belongs to Etna Lodge No. 268. at Etna Green, and Maccabees Tent No. 135, in both of which he has been honored with important official stations, being a charter member of the latter society. While not identified with any church organization, Fe has profound respect for religion and is a liberal supporter of the Methodist congre- gation, to which his wife belongs. He is a reader and keeps himself well posted on current events and general topics, taking a lively interest in the great political, indus- trial and religious questions of the day, on all of which he has decided opinions. As a neighbor and citizen he has always stood high in the esteem of his fellow men, he and wife being widely acquainted and moy- ing in the best social circles of the town and surrounding country.
The above salient facts of Mr. Brind- ley's history light the retrospect of a life of usefulness, graced by a noble tone of manhood and consecration to duty whose influences are and will continue to be a blessing to society and a contribution to the best inspiration of onward and upward progression. .
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