USA > Indiana > Kosciusko County > Progressive men and women of Kosciusko County, Indiana : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography > Part 71
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On March 15, 1866, Frederick .A. Kruil was united in marriage to Miss Simkjen B. Rystra, of Friesland. Netherland, Au- gust 20. 1841. Her parents. bonke W. and Margaret J. ( Smid) Rystra, were also na- tives of the same place and emigrated from thence to the United States in 1853. settling near Paris, Elkhart county, Indiana, where they resided until their deaths. They were the parents of six children, viz: Tetje, Jitske, John, Aike, Simkjen B .. and a son that died in infancy not named.
After the subject's marriage he settled on the forty-acre farm in Elkhart county which he and his brother had previously purchased. He subsequently purchased his brother's interest and resided there until the spring of 1881, at which time he moved to Kosciusko county and settled on the farm on which he resided during the remainder of his life. The home farm in Jefferson township comprises two hundred and three acres, all of which is well improved and in high state of cultivation.
Mr. and Mrs. Krull had born to them eight children. viz: Albert F., born January 14, 1867: John F .. born April 29, 1868: Ane F., born December 25. 1869. died No- vember 3. 1870: Ane F., born October 5, 1871; Harry F., born June 9, 1874: Mar- garet F., born April 2, 1876: George F., born July 30, 1878: Isaac F., born October 19, 1882. Religiously Mr. Krull was a
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faithful and consistent member of the Mennonite church, to which the family also belongs; the latter because of their many fine qualities are held in high regard by all in their community. Politically Mr. Krull was a Prohibitionist. His death oc- curred on the 3ist of March, 1902, and his remains were interred in the Whitehead cemetery. He was a kind friend and good neighbor and his death was a distinct loss to the community. Mrs. Krull and two of her children now reside on the old home- stead.
ULRICH WELTY.
parents of ten children : John, Anna B., Peter, Fannie, Matthias, Christina, Fred- erick, Elizabeth, Ulrich and John N.
Ulrich Welty, to a brief resume of whose career the remaining lines of this article are devoted, was born in the canton of Berne and spent the first nineteen years of his life in the country of his nativity, in the schools of which he received his educational training. He accompanied his parents to the United States in 1854 and lived with them for some time in Ohio, assisting his father with the farm labor and occasionally earning money for himself by working for some of the people of the neighborhood. When a young man he left the parental roof and went to Adams county, Indiana, where he hired to his uncle, Samuel, Baumgartner, a well-to-do farmer, in whose employ he remained about one year and then returned to his home in Ohio. For some time thereafter he worked at carpentering. a knowledge of which he obtained in his native country, and earned the reputation of a skillful and energetic builder. He fol- lowed the trade in Putnam county until 1857 when he went to Elkhart county, In- diana, where he was similarly engaged un- til about 1863.
In the romantic little republic of Switzerland, the country of freedom and cradle of liberty, the subject of this sketch was born on the 28th day of May, 1835. Ilis father, John Welty, was also born among the mountains of the same country and his mother, Christina Gerber, first saw the light of day not far from the capital city of that historic republic. These parents were married in the canton of Berne and lived there until 1854, when they took pass- age on a sailing vessel for America, which country they reached after spending thirty On the 7th of January, 1862, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Welty and Miss Anna Bare, the latter born in Putnam county, Ohio, October 10, 1844. Mrs. Welty's parents, Christian and Esther ( Shank) Bare, were natives of Virginia, but in an early day went to Ohio and settled in the county of Columbiana, where their marriage afterwards took place. Subse- quently, about the year 1857. they moved to Elkhart county, Indiana, and settled in days upon the ocean, landing in May of that year in the harbor of New York. From New York city they proceeded westward as far as Putnam county, Ohio, where Mr. Welty purchased land and engaged in farming. a vocation he followed with varied success until his death, about two years later. His widow survived a number of years, dying in Putnam county at the home of one of her sons after reaching a good old age. John and Christina Welty were the | Union township where they still reside,
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Loth being advanced in years and widely known in their community. Their family consists of the following children: Ben- jamin. Mary, John, Anna, Rebecca, Cather- ine and Susan.
After Mr. Welty's marriage he located in Elkhart county, but one year later !
changed his abode to the county of Ko- ciusko, settling on a part of a farm in Jeffer- son township which he purchased a short time previously. By industry and well- directed thrift he subsequently increased his place until it comprised one hundred and fifty acres, its present area, adding to his improvements from time to time as well as developing the productiveness of the soil. At this time he has one of the finest and best-arranged private residences in the township of Jefferson, while his other build- ings, fences, etc., compare with the best in this section of the county. Ilis farm in mamy respects is a model of neatness and good taste and the evidences of thrift and prosperity are manifest in every part of the place. Mr. Welty made nearly all of his improvements himself, as there were but few acres in cultivation when he took pos- session of the farm. He replaced old build- ing's with new ones as soon as circumstances would admit, and has continued to add to the attractiveness and value of the farm until it is now a home of which any one might feel proud. Mr. Wehty does general farming, making specialties of no particular kinds of grain. By careful attention to the soil he has retained its original fertility, and by judicious rotation of crops has always been awarded with largest possible returns. He enjoys a liberal income and is recog- nized as one of the most enterprising and successful men of his township, having ac-
quired sufficient means to place him in in- dependent circumstances as far as pecu- niary affairs are concerned.
While progressive in worldly matters, Mr. Welty is not neglectful of the impor- tant concerns which pertain to man's rela- tion unto the Author of his being. He is and long has been a devoted Christian and as such is a power for good in the commun- ity, both by his kindly admonitions and a life singularly free from the faults that usually prevail among men. He belongs to that branch of the church of Christ known as Mennonites, a body long noted for the piety of its membership as well as for their good works. He exemplifies his faith by his actions, which are quiet and un- ostentatious, and gives according to the scriptural admonition, not to let the leit : hand know what the right hand doeth. . \1- though considerably advanced in years, Mr. Welty's mind retains much of its carly vig- or and for one of his age his bodily powers are still strong and active. Firm, positive and correct in his ideas, pleasant and agree- able in manner, and devoted to what he considers the right, his life has been emi- nently successful and to-day he occupies a conspicuous position among the leading farmers and citizens of his township and county. Mrs. Welty is a woman of high moral and religious standing and for a num- ber of years has been an humble and devout communicant of the church with which her husband is identified. She is the mother of eleven children, whose names are as fol- lows: Ephraim. Emanuel, Levi, Hettie ... Christina, Noah, William H., Minerva, Mary E., Salome and David, a large family from which death claimed but a single vic- tim, Salome, the tenth in order of birth.
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JOHN BEST.
"Agriculture is the noblest of all alche- my." says a distinguished writer, "for it turns earth and even refuse into gold and confers upon its cultivator the additional re- ward of health." This oldest of human vocations, and noblest of them all, has been honored by the successful career of the sub- ject of this sketch. John Best is a native of Ohio and son of John and Mary ( Cooper ) Best. the father born in Maryland and the mother in Pennsylvania. The Bests and Coopers were among the early pioneers of the Buckeye state and it was in the county of Stark that the parents of the subject met and were married. Shortly after uniting their fortunes they took up their residence in Carroll county where they lived for a number of years and later moving to the county of Putnam. John Best. Sr., was a farmer and appears to have been reason- ably successful in his chosen calling : he and his wife spent the latter years of their lives in: Putnam county and both died there at ad- vanced ages. They reared a family of seven children, six sons and one daughter, namely, George. Jacob, Jolin, Abraham, Isaac, Sarah A., Joseph and William.
John Best, the third son, was born Au- gust 10. 1823. in Carroll county, Ohio, and remained on the home farm until his eight- eenth year. He then went to the town of Pekin and entered upon a three-years ap- prenticeship to learn blacksmithing, at the end of which time he started a shop of his own in Carroll county. Being an efficient workman, he soon built up a large and lu- crative business and was thus engaged in that county until about the year 1852, when he moved to the county of Putnam.
Mr. Best remained in Putnam county working at his trade until 1865, at which time he disposed of his interests there and with a wagon and two horses, moved his family to Kosciusko county, Indiana, con- suming one week on the way. The trip was long and tiresome, made doubly so by poor roads, some of which led through a new and sparsely settled country and others being so deep with mud as to render traveling al- most impossible. On reaching his destina- tion Mr. Best purchased the place in Jeffer- son township on which he now lives, al- though he has increased its acreage since taking possession. Since becoming a resi- dent of Kosciusko county he has devoted his time and energies to agricultural pur- suits and at the present time owns a beauti- ful farm of one hundred and thirty-seven acres, of which eighty-five are in cultivation. He has made many valuable improvements on his place, including a commodious dwell- ing, a good barn and ont-buildings and fences, and has, in places, put in a successful system of drainage by means of which much valuable land has been reclaimed.
Mr. Best was one of the leading agri- culturists of Jefferson township as long as he continued actively engaged in farming. but having accumulated a sufficient amount of worldly wealth to render further labor unnecessary. he turned his place over to other hands and is now living a life of hon- orable retirement. He still manages his business affairs, but by reason of advancing age spends the greater part of his time in the enjoyment of the rest and quietude which he has so nobly earned by a long life of patient industry. Mr. Best served his township as justice of the peace for a period of more than twenty years and discharged
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the duties pertaining thereto with an ability that brought him to the favorable notice of a large number of people in all parts of the county. The wisdom of his decisions and the soundness of his judgment caused many important matters to be brought to his court and during his incumbency he passed upon more cases and adjusted more difficulties, perhaps, than any other justice of the peace in the cvanty of Kosciusko.
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Politically Mr. Best is a Democrat and as such has rendered valuable service during a number of campaigns. His religions views are in accord with the Evangelical Lutheran church, of which both himself and wife are faithful and consistent member .. He has a profound regard for sacred things and ever since uniting with the church has ived a life consistent with his profession. hi- action- speaking louder than words as to the sincerity with which he discharges every conscious religious duty. He is a liberal supporter of his own denomination. but his benefactions do not end there, all charities and benevolent objects sharing the means which he dispenses.
Mr. Best is a good man and no one stands higher than he in the esteem of the public, all who know him respecting him for the purity of his daily life and for his ster- ling Christian character: his integrity has never been questioned and wherever he is known his word is as good as his written obligation with the best of indorsement.
On the 16th of April. 1848, Mr. Best was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Young, whose birth occurred in London- derry, Ireland, on the 28th day of April. 1829. Mrs. Best's parents, William and Martha ( Russell) Young, left their native country in 1839 and started for the United
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States, but before reaching their destination the father died and was buried at sea. The mother and five children finally landed in the harbor of New York and proceeded thence to Philadelphia, from which city they afterwards moved to Carroll county, Ohio, where the mother purchased a farm near the town of Waynesburg. She managed her farm well, lived to see her children well pro- vided for and departed this life a number of years ago. The children were Mary J .. James B., Robert R., Sarah A, and Isa- bella J. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Best number thirteen children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Mary M .. April 1, 1849: Sarah M., October 31, 1851; Amanda J., August 5. 1853: James M., August 19, 1855: Susan A., August 18, 1857: Robert R., January 13, 1860: Arta- missa A., November 12. 1861 : John W., De- cember 18, 1863: Isaac W .. April 1. 1866; Sylvanus B., December 17. 1867: Cora B., June 4, 1869, and two that died in infancy before being named.
SIMON HEPLER.
The name of Simon Hepler is familiarly known throughout the township of Jeffer- son, of which he has been a substantial and enterprising citizen since the year 1889. I lis paternal ancestors were among the early settlers of Westmoreland county, Pennsy !- vania, and on the mother's side he is de- scended from an old family of Stark county, Ohio. His grandfather, Daniel Hepler, was born and reared in Pennsylvania and there married Catherine Kline, a native of the county of Westmoreland. About the year
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1823 this worthy couple migrated to Car- infancy, David, Simon, Elizabeth and Ma- roll county. Ohio, where the husband and | tilda. father purchased a tract of government land from which he cleared and developed a farm. He remained in that county until his death, which occurred in 1841 at the age of sixty years. Subsequently his widow came with certain members of the family to Kos- ciusko county. Indiana, where she made her home with her children until summoned to join her husband in the great beyond. Dan- iel and Catherine Hepler had thirteen chil- dren. nine of whom grew to mature years. namely : Samuel S., Jacob. Barbara, Eliza- beth. Hannah. John D .. Catherine, Mary and Daniel, the others dying young.
John D. Hepler, fifth of the family, was born December 18, 1821, in Westmoreland county. Pennsylvania, and when less than three years of age was taken by his parents to Ohio. He grew to manhood's estate in Carroll county and in 1841 was united in marriage in the county of Stark to Miss Catherine Bortz. a native of Ohio, born March 22, 1822. She was the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth ( Cressman) Bortz. of Stark county, where the antecedents on both sides of the family settled in an early day. In the year 1844 John D. Hepler disposed of his interests in the Buckeye state and came to Kosciusko county, Indiana, settling in Scott township, where he has since made his home. ITe is one of the substantial old citizens of the township in which he lives and is well liked by a large circle of friends who have learned to esteem him for his many sterling qualities of manhood. He is the father of a large family, namely: Al- pheas ( deceased ). Samuel (deceased). Jonathan. Franklin, Sophia. James ( de- ceased ). Lucinda, a daughter that died in
Reverting to the life story of the direct subject of this sketch, it is learned that Simon Hepler is a native of Kosciusko coun- ty, Indiana, and that his birth occurred in Scott township on the 4th of November. 1851. His childhood and youthful experi- ences were pretty much like those of the majority of boys reared in the rural districts and, like them, he spent his time alternately at work on the farm and in district schools preparing himself for life's future duties. He was his father's faithful assistant until reaching an age when young men are ex- pected to start in the world as independent factors: he then selected agriculture for a vocation and has since pursued that honor- able calling with sufficient success to win for- himself a respectable standing among those of his township similarly engaged.
Mr. Hepler was married in Henry coun- ty, Ohio. January 3. 1889, to Miss Susie E. Hoover. whose birth occurred in that county on the 25th day of August. 1866. She is the daughter of Abraham and Catherine Hoo- ver and the third of nine children, the names of her brothers and sisters being as follows, Mary, Elizabeth. Cordelia M., Jennie E., Joseph D .. George W., Ellie, and an un- named infant. Mr. and Mrs. Hepler's home is brightened by the presence of one child. a daughter by the name of Blanch N., a young lady in whom are centered many fond hopes for the future.
Shortly after Mr. Hepler's marriage he settled on the farm in Jefferson township which came into his possession a short time previous to January, 1889, and on which he has since lived and prospered. The place contains eighty acres, of which sixty are in
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cultivation, the soil being remarkably pro- ductive, the original fertility having been retained and in places greatly strengthened by drainage and artificial fertilizing. Mr. Hepler has a good, convenient .house. a sub- stantial barn and other outbuildings. all of which represent his own labor and capital. His other improvements are good and in first-class repair and the fine condition of the fields plainly bear evidence to the care and pains which have been devoted to the soil by the energetic and progressive owner. The farm in its present fine condition, with buildings and all improvements, including a : great deal of ditching, is a monument to ; Mr. Hepler's industry and thrift. The place was originally a thick woods, filled with a dense growth of underbrush. To bring it to its present state required much work, nearly all of which has been done with Mr. Hep- ler's own hands or by his direction. While not as large as some other farms in Jeffer- son township, his place is highly cultivated. produces abundantly and yields much more than a living, his income being such as to place him in comfortable, if not independent. circumstances. Mr. Hepler is an energetic. go-ahead. up-to-date farmer, familiar with agriculture in all of its details, and takes ad- vantage of every opportunity to keep his acres at their full productive capacity. He stands well as a citizen and has always sus- tained the character of an honest. upright man. In politics he supports the Democratic party. and, being a reader and in touch with current thought. is able to give an intelligent reason for his convictions and opinions. He contents himself with working for his party and voting for its nominees, having no am- bition to gratify in the way of public office. He lives a quiet, contented life and does all
the good within his power to promote the general welfare; he is also an advocate of all measures for the general welfare and uses his influence on the right side of every moral issue.
MILTON WOODS.
A gentleman true to the duties of cit- izenship, faithful to every trust reposed in him and well worthy the high regard in which he is held-such is the well known resident of Kosciusko county whose brief life story is herewith presented. Milton Woods is the son of John and Mariah ( Moore) Woods, who were among the early settlers of Turkey Creek township. the father coming to this county from Ohio when a young man and spending the re- mainder of his life where he originally lo- cated. He died in the prime of life, but his widow still survives, having reached the ripe old age of eighty-five years. John Woods was a farmer and a local minister of the Methodist church. He preached at places where there were no regularly or- ganized congregations, officiated at wed- dings and funerals, but was never engaged as a settled pastor, giving his services freely wherever and whenever they were re- quested. He was a sincere Christian. did much for the cause of the Master by his public ministrations and always exerted a strong influence for good by the blame- less character of his_every-day life. He was the father of five children, the subject of this sketch being the only one living : the others were Caroline, Joseph, William and Elizabeth.
Milton Woods was born January 3.
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1842, in Kosciusko county, Indiana, and aims to crowd into his own and the lives of spent an uneventful childhood on his fa- those dependent upon him all the pleasure and satisfaction that can possibly be ob- tained. ther's farm. He was a pupil in the public schools until his fifteenth year, at which early age he began life for himself as a farm hand and continued in that capacity the greater part of the time until his mar- riage in 1851. For some time he was ent- ployed by a well-to-do farmer by the name of Samuel Baker, between whose daughter Josephine and himself a tender attachment sprang up, which finally led to marriage, the ceremony being solemnized on Decem- ber 20th of the above year.
After taking to himself a companion and helpmeet Mr. Woods rented a farm in Sparta township. Noble county, where he lived for a short time, subsequently return- ing to Kosciusko county and purchasing the place in Turkey Creek township on which he has since resided and prospered. As a farmer he has been enterprising and progressive, but of recent years he has de- pended largely upon live stock as the chief source of his income, being recognized as one of the most successful cattle raisers in the county. At the present time he has a herd consisting of ninety head of fine ani- mais in prime condition, in addition to which he keeps quite a number of high- bred swine, also several valuable horses, the general appearance of his stock indicating the care and attention he has devoted to this important branch of industry.
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Mr. Woods has a beautiful home and has not been sparing of his means in supply- ing it with the comforts and conveniences calculated to render agreeable the house- wife's duties and make the place the dearest spot on earth to all the inmates. He believes in utilizing the good things of this world and
As before stated. Mr. Woods was united in marriage. December 20, 1861, to Miss Josephine Baker. She was born in Sum- merford, Madison county, Ohio, April 13. 1842. Her father, Samuel Baker, was a na- tive of Virginia, born in October. 1809, and died May 23, 1864. He received a good practical education, and in his early life he took up the vocation of baking. Later, how- ever, he followed farming. Politically he was first a Whig and later a Republican. . 1 member of the Church of God, he was of a religious make-up and one time considered seriously the question of entering the active ministry. His wife, Nancy, also was a na- tive of Virginia, born April 6. 1813, and her death occurred about 1895. She was twen- ty-two years of age when she left her na- tive state and located in Ohio, where she was . married. She possessed fine traits of char- acter and impressed upon her children the indelible stamp of her own high qualities. Mr. and Mrs. Baker were the parents of six children, Abigail, deceased : Mary, the wife of Amos Berninger, of Lancaster. Illinois; Ann; Josephine, wife of the subject : Linna and Commodore. Mrs. Woods was a child of but seven years when she became a resi- dent of Kosciusko county. She was edu- cated in the public schools and for a time was a teacher in the schools of Noble county. She is a member of the Church of God at Syracuse, Indiana, and is active and zeal- ous in all good works. She takes a deep in- terest in, the temperance movement and is affiliated with the Woman's Christian Tem- perance Union. She was president of the
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branch of this society at Ligonier and has amid such pleasant and agreeable condi- delivered a number of lectures before differ- ont bodies and distributed much literature. She acted as organizer of the woman's home missionary work in five counties in northern Indiana and is eminently fitted for leadership. As hostess of the Vawter Park hotel she has displayed to advantage her Ane business qualifications and her efforts to please her patrons and contribute to their comfort have been notably successful.
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