Progressive men and women of Kosciusko County, Indiana : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography, Part 70

Author:
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Logansport, Ind. : B. F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1350

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JOHN GAWTHROP.

and when he began life for himself chose agriculture as a vocation. He was married For many years an esteemed and hon- ored resident of Van Buren township, Kos- ciusko county, Indiana, the subject of this review is entitled to special mention with the successful and representative men of May 19, 1847, to Sarah Egbert, cleared a great deal of land and became one of the well-to-do farmers of his neighborhood. He was a man of excellent parts, indus- trious and thrifty, and wherever known the county of Kosciusko. His name has ; his word was as good as his bond. He was long been inseparably connected with the : one of the leading citizens of the county agricultural and industrial growth and de- " in which he lived, and until the breaking out of the great Civil war was a Demo- crat in his political belief. Being a stanch and uncompromising friend of the Union and disagreeing with his party upon the matter of slavery and its policies generally, he severed his connection therewith and be- came a Republican, continuing such to the end of his days. velopment of the county and in the equal- ly important matters of education and pub- lie morals he has also taken a leading part. While primarily attending to his own large and varied business interests, his life has been largely devoted to his fellow man, hav- ing been untiring in his efforts to inspire a proper respect for law and order and ready at all times to uplift humanity and make the world better. His is a noble spirit and his life has been upright, as well as successful in the accumulation of material wealth. His career contains few mistakes and abounds in much that is hon- orable and of good report, containing the record of an untarnished name and a char- acter above reproach, which is much more to be desired than great riches.

John Gawthrop is a native of Kosci- usko county, Indiana, and dates his birth from the 25th day of March, 1848. His father, Amos Gawthrop, a native of Ohio, 'was born October 9, 1820, and when a young man came with his parents to Kosci- usko county, Indiana, settling on what is known as "Little Turkey Creek prairie," Van Buren township. The subject's grand- father entered a quarter section of govern- ment land and was among the early pio- neers of Van Buren township. Amos as- sisted to clear and develop the home farm

Amos and Sarah Gawthrop were the parents of six children, the subject being the oldest of the family. Florence C., the second in order of birth, married Henry Gibson, a farmer of Van Buren township, and has two daughters, Lena and Mabel; Mary M., the third in succession, died in childhood: Egbert, who comes after Mary M., is a citizen of this county ; he married for his first wife Dicy Long, who bore him two children, Jackson, who died young, and Sarah E., a teacher in the public schools of Milford : by his second wife, whose maiden name was Eleanor Woods, he has five chil- dren, Karl, Ellen and Emma (twins ), Amos and Charles ; Victor, the fourth of the family, married Ellen Thompson, who died May 1. 1902, leaving two children, Per- melia and Victor H. He is a farmer of Van Buren township and looks after 'the interests of his widowed mother, who makes her home with him. Charles, also a resident of Plain township, married Ellen

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Beatty, the union resulting in one child, well-cultivated farm, which produces Chester, who died in infancy. Amos R ... the youngest of the subject's brothers, is engaged in the dairy business at Milford. his wife, who was formerly Miss Emma Rippy, has borne him one child, Charlie.

abundantly all the grains, vegetables and fruits grown in this part of the state and the general spirit of thrift and prosperity everywhere present on the premises indi- cates the interest the owner has taken in Jeha Gawthrop was reared on a farm and the period of his childhood and youth passed aneventfully, having been unmarked his work and the success with which he manages his affairs. The large and elegant modern residence which his family now oc- by anything of especial importance. He fenpies was erected in the year 1895; the grew to the full stature of vigorous man- . building is beautiful in architectural de- hood. developing his bodily powers by , sign, attractive in appearance and sur- healthful outdoor labor and by coming in [ rounded by trees and lawns, is one of the chose touch with nature in its varied forms. most imposing farm dwellings in the town- ship. early having learned to appreciate and value at their true worth the blessings and Mr. Gawthrop has met with most grati- fying success in his business affairs and is now the possessor of a fortune of consid- erable magnitude, owning, in addition to 1 his fine farm and other property in Kosci- usko county, lands to the amount of seven hundred and sixty acres in Michigan, all devoted to cultivation and pasture except a quarter section of valuable timber land. From the latter Mr. Gawthrop expects to realize a considerable sum of money, for at the most conservative estimate it is claimed that the hundred and sixty acres contains at least one million feet of fine saw timber. besides ether of less value. Live stock has occupied much of Mr. Gawthrop's at- tention during the last six or eight years and as a raiser of fine cattle, hogs, sheep and horses he has no superior in this part of the country. Of late he has given less of his attention to sheep than formerly. de- voting the greater part of his time, aside from farming, to other stock, especially horses, of which he keeps a number of very fine animals, including a valuable brood mare whose colts have already advantages of rural life. Being the oldest sen, to him naturally fell much of the labor and responsibility of the farm and until his twenty-fourth year he remained at home and contributed to the support of the fam- ily. On the 1st day of October, 1872, he was united in the bonds of wedlock to Miss Minnie Gibson, daughter of William K. and Nancy ( Kennison) Gibson, and for two years thereafter farmed as a renter in the township of Van Buren. At the ex- piration of the above time Mr. Gawthrop purchased one hundred and twenty acres of partially cleared land in section 30 and dur- ing the following sixteen years lived on the same, bringing the place to an excel- lent state of cultivation. He did much hard labor in the way of ditching his land, us- ing plank for the purpose until drain tile was introduced. In 1890 Mr. Gawthrop moved to Milford and purchased property there and in 1894 disposed of his former farm at a good figure. He continued to reside in Milford until purchasing his pres- ent place in 1894. He has a beautiful and

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brought him the sum of eighteen hundred dollars. He is an excellent judge of horse flesh and takes pride in this noble animal, which in all ages has been man's most use- ful and faithful friend.

Mr. Gawthrop is a Democrat and has done his party valuable service in a number vi campaigns, both local and general. He is well read on the issues which divide the great political parties and has the courage of his convictions, being a man of pro- nounced views and with the intelligence and ability to maintain them. Although not ambitious to possess office or aspire to publie distinction, he was for five years elected trustee of Van Buren township, his continuous retention in the position speak- ing well for his capability, faithfulness and popularity. Religiously he and family are Methodists and for a period of four years he held the office of trustee and treasurer in the local church to which he belongs.

Mr. and Mrs. Gawthrop had three chil- dren, namely: Mabel, born August 27. 1873, died when one year old : William G., born September, 1875. married Lily Price and is the father of two offspring, Thelma and Zelda : Lulu S. was born April 2, ISSI. and is still with her parents. Mrs. Gaw- throp's parents, William K. and Nancy Gib- soh, inut a nunily of children as follows ! Margaret is the wife of Henry Bowser and they have five children, William Morris (re- sides in Elkhart county, married Setta Cart and has three children ), Hattie (the wife of Henry Neff. of St. Joseph county, Indi- ana, and the mother of four children). Ag- les ( married Daniel Neff, of Milford. In- (Bana and they have one child). Charles F. and Luella, both at home. Amanda, wife of Edward Moore, is the mother of eight chil-

dren, four dying in infancy ; the others are Jesse, Samantha, Kittie and Bret. Davis, the third of the family, married Hattie Blough, who has borne him one son, Will- iam K .. a farmer of Harrison township. this county. Henry, who married Florence Gawthrop, a sister of the subject, is a re- tired farmer living in Milford. Harlan. the next in succession, has been twice mar- ried, first to Mary Dewart, who bore him two children, Minnie and Samuel C .; the second wife, whose maiden name was Rilla Waldron, is also the mother of two off- spring. William K. and Victor. Clark mar- ried Ida Chrowl. his family consisting of two children, Treva and Gerald. The youngest son. Charles, a resident of Goshen. Indiana, married Hattie Pinkerton, a union blessed with two children whose names are Bert and Murriel.

ANDREW E. SARBER.

Andrew E. Sarber, son of Thomas B. and Martha A. (Timmons) Sarber, is a na- tive of Seward township. Kosciusko county, Indiana, and was born the 19th day of De- cember, 1868. He was the youngest of three children, the others being Edson B., whose biography appears elsewhere in this history. and Louisa C., who died in infancy. His carly life was spent on the farm, helping with the farm work during the summer sea- son and attending district school during the winter. After completing the course of study in the district school. he spent two years in the Burket public schools, prepar- ing to be a teacher. He began teaching in the autumn of 1886 and has taught contin-

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aously ever since. In 1893 he assumed the principalship of the Beaver Dam public schools, which he held for seven years, when he resigned to accept a similar position in the Burket schools, which position he still holds. The greater portion of his vacation is spent in preparing himself for higher and better work. He has spent several terms in the Northern Indiana Normal and Business Institute at Valparaiso, Indiana, and at the present time is taking the scientific course in that institution. His highest ambition seems to be to excel his present self and attain ' greater excellence in the various lines of pro- 1 iessional work.

Mr. Sarber takes a real genuine inter- est in the pupils with whom he comes in con- tact and hence has built up an enviable repu- tation among those with whom he has la- bored. While interested in the welfare of all his pupils, he has always taken a special interest in those less fortunate boys and girls who get so little encouragement from the world at large. Nothing, he says, gives him greater pleasure than the knowledge of the fact that a number of boys and girls have, due to his counsel, remained in school and completed the course of study who otherwise would have dropped out.

going to be a farmer. When he was four years of age his grandfather Sarber gave him two sheep, the increase from which now numbers one hundred and forty. He lets them out on the shares, is assessed, pays his own taxes, and this year took one of his fa- ther's and one of his uncle's horses and went out on the road and hauled gravel to the amount of his road tax. This lad seems to have made a fair start to become that which he desires, an honest tiller of the soil. 1

LANDON C. MALCOLM.

The gentleman to whom the biographer now calls the reader's attention has for over two decades been a resident of Jefferson township, Kosciusko county. Indiana, and though his life has not been altogether one of ease, yet today he can look back with sat- isfaction as he recalls the arduous toil per- formed. the many obstacles overcome and the victories won in his struggles to gain the independent position which is now his. But those sturdy traits of his Scotch and English ancestors were inherited by him and exemplified in the determination and perse- verance which characterized him. The coun- try is largely indebted to the sturdy and in- defatigable class of citizens of which our subject is a conspicuous example.

Andrew E. Sarber was united in mar- ringe, October 16. 1888. to Etta Estella, daughter of ex-County Superintendent Sam- uel D. and Axsa ( Boggs) Anglin, whose genealogy appears elsewhere in this record. Landon C. Malcolm is a native of West Virginia, having been born in Hampshire county, January 2. 1835. His parents, Charles B. and Priscilla ( Seiton ) Malcolm, were both natives of Virginia and of Scotch and English extractions. Charles B. Mal- colm was a son of William Malcolm, who, This union has been blessed with two bright children. Earl Fennimore Cooper, aged iwave, and Beulah May, aged four. Earl began attending school at the age of six and for the past four years has been neither tardy nor alment. While he has kept pace with his class in his school work, he says he is "a native of Scotland, emigrated to the United 34

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State- with his father. James Malcolm, in a very early day. They settled in Virginia where James, the great-grandfather of the subject. afterwards resided until death. He was a farmer by occupation and was the fa- ther of three sons, James, Peter and Will- iam. The latter, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was reared on a farm and followed that vocation during his entire life. He was mar- ried in Virginia to a Miss Burris and by her had nine children, viz: James. William. Charles B., Mariah. Ann, Nathan. George. Lucy .A. and Isaac.

Charles B. Malcolm, father of the sub- ject, was born in Hampshire county. Vir- ginia, in 1867. He was also reared on a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits all his life. He was married in Hampshire county. Virginia, about 1829. to Priscilla Seiton, who was born in Loudoun county. Virginia, in 1812. After his marriage he settled on a farm in Hampshire county, Vir- ginia, which he had previously owned. Here he remained until 1844. in which year he moved to Shelby county. Ohio, where he purchased land and resided until 1864. He then removed to Elkhart county, Indiana. where he purchased land and resided until 1800. then moved to Kosciusko county. where he died in 1871. His wife died in Elkhart county in 1868. They were the par- ents of ten children. viz: Edward V., de- ceased : Samuel B., deceased, was a soldier during the Civil war in the Fourth Ohio Cavalry and served three years and seven months: Landon C., the subject of this re- view : William was also a soldier in the Fourth Ohio Cavalry and was killed while on chiity: Catherine, now Mrs. Joeb Sharp. resides at Gravelton. Indiana: Horace H. was a sollier in the Thirty-eighth Ohio Vol-

unteer Infantry and served three years, be- ing an inmate of the Andersonville prison I seven months, and is now a resident of Goshen, Indiana : Jane married David Shive and resides in Iowa; Phidelia, now Mrs. John Malcolm, resides in Kosciusko coun- ty ; Araminta died in infancy, and John Q. lives in Miami county, Ohio.

Landon C. Malcolm. the subject of this review, came with his parents to Ohio in 1844 and from thence to Elkhart county. In- diana, in 1864. He was married in Elkhart county. October 6, 1866, to Lucy A. Pierce. who was born in that county. June 24. 1844. a daughter of Luther and Harriet ( Clyde) Pierce. The latter were both natives of New Hampshire and moved from thence to Elk- hart county, Indiana, about the year 1833, where they resided until their deaths. They were the parents of four children. viz: George and Clora, both deceased. Jane, and Lucy A., the youngest of the family.

After Mr. Malcolm's marriage he first settled in Elkhart county, and in 1878 pur- chased and settled on the farm on which he now resides, and has since lived. He owns one hundred and twenty acres of fine and well improved land. He has had born to him eight chil:Iren, viz: Alpharetta. now Mrs. George Hatfield, of Nappanee. Indiana, was 'a teacher in Kosciusko county: Minnie B., at home: Harriet. Mrs. Edward Tindal. of Muncie, Indiana, a teacher : Charles ; Myrtle is a teacher: Earl is in the high school at Milford, and is fond of mathematics: Pearl and Mary. Mr. Malcolm is a good farmer and makes a business of general farming, giving some attention also to stock raising. He has always had a keen interest in the wel- fare of his community and because of those sterling qualities of character which he has

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evinced in his daily life he has won and re- tained in a high degree the respect and ad- miration of his community. Politically he is a Republican. He is a member of the Pro- gressive German Baptist church and Mrs. Malcolm belongs to the German Baptist church.

OMAR F. GROVES.

Occupying a prominent place among the representative farmers of Jefferson township is found the gentleman whose name initiates this sketch. During his life span of a little over thirty-six years has he been a resident of Kosciusko county, his birth having occurred here on the 28th day of September. 1866. His parents, Desken B. and Sarah ( Brown) Groves, na- tives of Ohio and Indiana respectively, were among the early settlers of the coun- ty of Elkhart. where their marriage was solemnized a number of years ago. Short- ly after being united in the bonds of wed- lock they moved to Kosciusko county and located on a tract of land in Van Buren township which Mr. Groves had purchased some time previously. Desken Groves cleared and developed a good farm and be- came one of the leading men of the com- munity. To his first marriage, noted above, one child was born. the subject of this sketch. Sarah Groves died in June, 1867, and Mr. Groves was again married, the second union resulting in three children. Arbie, Vida and Cora M. He subsequent- ly contracted a third marriage, which was without issue.

Omar F. Groves' childhood and youth- ful experiences were similar to those of

most boys born in the country and reared amid the active scenes of the farm. While . at home his time was spent in the fields, except of the winter season when he at- tended the district schools, and he contin- ued thus until the death of his father, which occurred when the lad was but thir- teen years of age. This sad event was the means of changing very materially his fu- ture plans, as it threw him upon his own resources and compelled him to face the future alone and unaided. He earned his first money as a common laborer and con- tinved to work among the farmers of his neighborhood until attaining his majority, meanwhile attending school as opportunity admitted. On the 15th of March, 1888. he was united in marriage to Miss Chloe J. Whitehead. daughter of John W. and Catherine ( Brumbaugh) Whitehead, early settlers of Kosciusko county. Mrs. Groves was born June 8, 1868. in Jefferson town- ship and has spent all of her life in the county of her nativity.

After his marriage Mr. Groves moved to a farm in Elkhart county and continued to live there about four years, meeting with encouraging success in his business affairs and accumulating by thrift and economy sufficient means to purchase a fine farm in Jefferson township, to which he changed his residence in 1892. His place, which consists of one hundred and thirty acres, is under a high state of cultivation and con- . tains many valuable improvements, the buildings, fences and other accessories be- ing in first-class repair and the entire prem- ises bearing evidence of the well-directed thrift and successful management of the proprietor. Mr. Groves is a progressive farmer, a judicious business man and a

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striking example of the exercise of those 1 charms. He is still a young man, in the correct principles which win success. This | prime of physical and mental manhood, youth was beset with many adverse cir- and. with the past as a criterion, it is rea- sonable to predict for him a long and use- ful life. cumstances, not the least of which was the lack of a mother's tender care and a fa- there's wise advice and guidance at an age The home of Mr. and Mrs. Groves has been made bright by the presence of two promising sons, Ralph J. and John D., aged twelve and eight years respectively. Po- litically Mr. Groves is a Democrat. when boys most need the influence of pa- rental control to direct them into the prop- er channels of life. That he successfully withstood temptation and pursued the right course shows him to have possessed moral stamina and a well-defined purpose to rise superior to his environments and become of some use in the world, a determination FREDERICK A. KRULL, DECEASED. which has actuated him from his youth to the present time. Few young men situated To a great extent the prosperity of the agricultural sections of our great country is due to the honest industry, the sturdy perseverance and the wise economy which so prominently characterizes the foreign element that has entered largely into our population. By comparison with their "old country" surroundings. these people have readily recognized the fact that in America lie the greatest opportunities for the man of ambition and energy. And because of this many have broken the ties of home and native land and have entered earnestly upon the task of gaining in the new world a home and competence. Among this class may be mentioned Frederick A. Krull, who. by reason of years of indefatigable labor and honest effort, not only acquired a well- merited material prosperity. but also richly ¡ earned the highest esteem of all with whom he was associated. as was Mr. Groves in the beginning of life, without capital of assistance which influen- tial friends could exert in his behalf, would have accomplished as much as he has in removing the obstacles from his pathway and winning not only a competence but the esteem and confidence of his fellow cit- izens. Upon attaining his majority he in- herited eighty acres of land and two thou- sand dollars in money. Ile occupies a conspicuous place in the community, has a large number of friends and is popular with all classes of people. Courteous and kindly in manner and of unassailable in- tegrity, his career has been that of a typical American gentleman whose prominent aim has been to help others while building up and establishing his own success in life. He has a beautiful and attractive home, which is the center of a free and hearty hospitality. Here, surrounded by family Frederick A. Krull, whose name forms the caption of this sketch, was a native of the kingdom of Netherland, having been born in the province of Friesland, January and friends endeared to him by kind deeds, he finds that solace and repose in the inter- change of neighborly offices, without which Hie would be divested of many of its 24. 1832. His parents, Albert F. and Tena

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(Swert ) Krull, were also natives of the same province and resided there during their entire lives. They were the parents of eight children. named in the order of their birth as follows: John A., Federick A., Ane A., Isaac A., Gertrude A., Anna A, and Piche A .. all of whom grew to maturity, and one daughter, Doratha .1 .. who del in infancy.

Federick A. Krull was reared in his native country and attended school until about seventeen years of age, receiving a good education. Upon the conclusion of his studies he determined to make farming his vocation, and consequently hired out to a farmer in his native country by the yor. In 1854 he, in company with his brother, Ane A .. emigrated to the United Same-, his uncle, Klaas Swart, and family being also in the party and all came over together. They landed at New York city in july of that year and a few days later came to Elkhart county, Indiana. His uncle purchased land near Paris and the subject and his brother made their home with him for some time, working at what- ever they could get to do.

That same fall Frederick A., in partner- ship with his brother. purchased forty acres of land. About four years later they erected a house and rented the property to a married couple and then made their home with them. In 1858 the brothers made a trip through Michigan with the exception of purchasing land, having been informed that it was cheaper in that state than in In- diana, but they did not like the country and consequently soon returned to Indiana. In the came fall they went to California, where they purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land and engaged in the dairy

business and vegetable raising, in partner- ship with Cornelius Young. The subject and his brother also did considerable team- :ing across the mountains, from Sacramento to Carson valley, Gold Hill, Virginia City and other points in Nevada territory. In 1865 the subject sold his interests to his brother and returned to Indiana.

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Progressive men and women of Kosciusko County, Indiana : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography, Part 70

Author: Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Logansport, Ind. : B. F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1350

Author:
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Logansport, Ind. : B. F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1350