USA > Indiana > Kosciusko County > Progressive men and women of Kosciusko County, Indiana : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography > Part 80
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tist church, the plain simple teachings of county of Kosciusko, born January 1, 1843. which he exemplified in a life devoted to the the daughter of Jacob and Susan (Bowser ) Brumbaugh, who were among the earliest pioneers of Jefferson township. service of God and to the bettering of the condition of his fellow men. He was suc- cessful in the accumulation of worldly wealth, but that was by no means the stand- and by which he measured the success of any man. In his estimation the individual who entertained noble aims and lived up to them to the best of his ability achieved true sie- ces, regardless of the value of his earthly estate. Twelve children were born to Lewis and Rebecca Whitehead: Cather- ine. John W., William, Susan, Mary Ann. Valentine, Elizabeth, Hester, Jane. Lewis M. Jacob and Ellen, the majority of whom grew to years of maturity and became use- ful in their spheres of life.
For a short time after the marriage Mr. Whitehead lived with his father-in-law. but in the spring of 1862 rented land in Van Buren township, where he continued the pursuit of agriculture until taking charge of the Brumbaugh farm, two years later. He made his home on this place until 1873. when he purchased and moved on a farm in Jefferson township on which he now resides, and which he has developed from a forest to its present prosperous condition. With Mr. Whitehead, industry and consecutive effort have been the touch-stones of success and today he ranks with the most progres- John W. Whitehead, the second child and eliest son of this worthy old couple. was born while the family lived in Mont- gunnery county, Ohio, July 28, 1839. He was but an infant when his parents moved to the new home in Elkhart county, Indiana. and his early years were spent amid the routine of farm labor, the winter seasons being devoted to the duties of the school room. He received a fair education and when did enough to start upon an independ- ent career, decided to become a farmer, a resolution which he has since carried out with most gratifying pecuniary results. He remained at home assisting his father to sive and well-to-do farmers of the commun- ity in which he lives. He has spared no pains or reasonable expense in making his home a model one and the condition of his buildings and other improvements, and the well-cultivated fields, attest he labor and care which he has expended upon them. His residence is an imposing brick structure of beautiful design, surrounded by a well- kept yard, in which are trees that yield fruit and grateful shade, the whole presenting an attractive appearance and impressing the passerby as the dwelling place of a man of taste and progressive ideas. As a farmer he plans his work with care, prosecutes it clear and devolop the farm until his twenty- with great industry and seldom fails to real- third year, at which time he chose a life , ize large returns from the bountiful har- partner in the person of Miss Catherine E. vests which he every year garners. He has keeping therewith, pays much attention to the condition of his live stock and manages his work and business according to the most systematic methods. Brumbaugh, to whom he was united in the erected good barns and other buildings in holy bonds of wedlock on the 16th day of January. 1862, the marriage being cele- brated in Jefferson township. Kosciusko county. Mrs. Whitehead is a native of the 1
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Not as a farmer only has Mr. Whitehead credit for which the township of Jefferson is noted. become widely and popularly known throughout the township of Jefferson, but as When a young man, Mr. Whitehead united with the German Baptist church and has ever since continued a faithful and con- sistent member, devout in his daily life and active in the affairs of the local congrega- tion to which he belongs. For a period of twenty years he has held the important office of deacon, in which capacity he has been instrumental in strengthening the church numerically and making its presence a potent factor for good in the community. He is a recognized leader among his coreligion- ists, many of whom look to him for advice, his opinions and counsel always carrying weight and conviction. a public-spirited, enterprising man of the people, he has long taken a leading part in promoting the material development of the Country and advertising its advantages to the world. Possessing business abilities of a high order and discriminating judgment. the people of his township have several times called him to fill positions of respon- sibility and trust. In 1887 he was elected trustee of Jefferson township, the duties of which he discharged worthily for one term, and in the fall of 1900 he was appointed to the same office to fill a vacancy caused by the death of John Mitchel. At the expira- tion of this term of service, he was triumph- In the sphere of private citizenship the subject of this sketch has long been an influ- ential member of the body politic. He reads much, is well informed upon the great polit- ical and international questions of the day and uses his influence in behalf of the man or measure which he considers right, regard- less of party ties or personal friendships. In his community he is universally esteemed antly elected his own successor. In his last ciection, partisan politics cut no figure as he was the almost unanimous choice of his constituents, running on what was known as the People's ticket. His last incumbency covered a period of five years, which with the time he had formerly served made a total of eight years in one of the most responsible and important local offices |and no man in Jefferson township enjoys a within the gift of the people. Mr. White- : larger measure of public confidence. head's administration proved eminently brief, he is a representative of the best type satisfactory to all concerned, as he proved a .l most capable and faithful official, exceed- ' ingly careful in looking after the people's in- terests and conservative in the matter of pub- lie expenditures. He never was known to het in an arbitrary spirit, but always took counsel of the wisest of his fellow citizens. Guided by this and his own better judg- ment, he devoted his energies to the good of the public and the results of his able man- agement of affairs are now seen in many substantial improvements and the splendid
In of intelligent, progressive American man- hood, a devout Christian, a citizen without pretense and an upright, honorable gentle- man in every relation of life.
Mrs. Whitehead had been her husband's colaborer and counsellor and her advice and judgment have been influential in no small degree in bringing about the success which is now his. She is also an earnest, pious member of the same church with which he is identified and her influence has had great weight in forming the characters and shap-
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ing the destimes of the children with which she has been blessed. Mr. and Mrs. White- head have had three children, the oldest of whom. Mary E .. was called to the better life at the tender age of two years: the other two are Tazewell D., who married Vida V. Groves and lives in Kosciusko county, and .Chloe. wife of Omar F. Groves, who is also a resident of Kosciusko county.
GEORGE W. HOLLAR.
The subject of this sketch is regarded as one of the public-spirited citizens of Jeffer- son township and as a farmer and stock dealer ranks with the leading men of the community in which he lives. He is a younger brother of Joseph and James E. Hollar, whose biographies appear elsewhere and has been an honored resident of Kos- ciusko county since the year 1879.
riculturist. Mr. Hollar assisted his parents until his twenty-second year, at which time he severed the ties that bound him to home and started into the world to make his own way and, if possible, acquire a fortune. Meanwhile, while a lad in his 'teens, he be- gan working at the shoemaking trade under the direction of an older brother, Harvey, a practical workman, and after acquiring a knowledge of the trade continued the same of winter seasons until 1876. In that year Mr. Hollar concluded to try his fortunes in northern Indiana, whither his two brothers had preceded him : accordingly he arranged his affairs and, bidding adieu to his old Vir- ginia home. came to Kosciusko county. Shortly after his arrival he found employ- ment as a farm laborer at remunerative wages and after working thus for some months engaged with a man to make staves and other kinds of work in woodcraft. He continued variously employed until the spring of 1881, when he began carpentering under his brother. James E., one of the most skillful builders in the county, and after be- coming a proficient workman was hired at mechanic's wages, first by his brother and afterwards by other parties. Mr. Hollar de- voted about ten consecutive years to his trade. during which period he built a num- ber of dwellings, barns and other edifices in various parts of Kosciusko county, nearly all of which are standing as monuments to his efficiency and skill as a master of one of the most important of mechanical pursuits.
George W. Hollar dates his birth from the 11th of September, 1858, and he first saw the light of day on the family homestead in the historic county of Shenandoah, Vir- ginia. When a lad he attended school taught in a building on his father's farm and the training thus received was afterwards supplemented by a course in the graded schools of Edinburg, Virginia, where in ad- dition to completing the common branches he obtained a knowledge of some of the more advanced studies. When old enough he was put to work on the farm and then be- Miss Lydia J. Bright, daughter of John and Sarah ( Pittman) Bright, was born in Elkhart county, Indiana. November 6. 1865. She was reared and educated in the counties of Elkhart and Kosciusko and on the 22d came inured to life's practical duties, learn- ing the lessons of industry and economy and developing a strength of character which has served well as a foundation for his subse- quent career as a successful artisan and ag- . day of January, 1885, became the wife of
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the subject of this sketch, the marriage re- sulting in the birth of five children, whose names are as follows : Jesse J .. William II., Vallie V. Lillie M. and George W., all liv- ing but the first born.
Shortly after his marriage Mr. Hollar purchased forty acres in section 16, Jeffer- son township, on which he erected a house and then set to work to clear and otherwise develop his farm. He prosecuted his labors industriously and successfully and in a few years had the greater portion of his land in ' judgment in his business transactions and cultivation. Subsequently he bought forty acres adjoining the original purchase, the two tracts constituting the present area of bis farm. In 1898 he moved his dwelling to the second forty and about the same time, or perhaps a little later, erected a fine barn, one of the best buildings of the kind in the neighborhood. His other outbuildings are comparatively new and in first-class repair and on every part of the farm a spirit of prosperity obtains. Mr. Hollar's experience as a mechanic has been the means of de- veloping good taste and minute attention to details, both of which are plainly apparent in all the buildings and other improvements on his piace as well as in the inviting appear- ance of his dwelling and its attractive sur- mmmdings. The home to substantial and comfortable in all of its appointments and impresses the passerby as the dwelling place of an enterprising and thrifty family.
Mr. Hollar has seventy of his eighty acres in cultivation, while the entire farm is enclosed with strong fences of the latest and most approved design. He prosecutes his labors systematically, manages his affairs with judgment and caution and, as stated in
cessful Jefferson township farmers. In ad- dition to tilling the son, he deals quite exten- sively in live stock, in which his success has. been of the most satisfactory character. Mr. Hollar began buying stock in 19oo for the Iffert brothers, of Elkhart county, and has. continued in their employ ever since, his. operations taking him over all parts of Kos- ciusko county and into several other coun- ties of northern Indiana. He is a fine judge- of all kinds of live stock, exercises discreet probably has brought and shipped more cat- tle and hogs since he engaged with the above- firm than any other man in this part of the state. In financial matters he is easily the peer of any of his fellow citizens, his experi -- ence in buying and selling giving his opin- ions weight and causing his ideas to receive due consideration. He has sound business qualifications and decision of character,. which, with other meritorious characteris- tics, have won for him an enviable standing among the leading business men of his town -- ship and county.
Mr. Hollar sprang from sturdy moral ancestors and he has endeavored to shape. his life according to the correct principles that were instilled into his mind when a youth under his father's care. He and his brothers have done much for the material welfare of the community in which they live and the example of each is worthy of imita- tion.
P. G. FERMIER, M. D.
Although a comparatively recent arrival the initial paragraph, occupies a conspicuous in Leesburg, having located here in 1894, place among the most enterprising and suc- Dr. Fermier has already taken a prominent
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Place an try the feeling and influential citi ful men of the state of Indiana. Hle mar- zens of the county of Kosciusko and has won y ried in the county of Dearborn, reared a iam- match more than local distinction in the line of his profession. He is numbered among the native sons of the commonwealth of In- diana, born in Dearborn county on the 2nd day of September, 1866. His father. Dr. P. G. Fermier, was born in Germany and his mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth iliter, was a native of the United States. but of German descent. Originally the Fer- miers were French Huguenots. To escape the cruel persecution to which that faithful and devoted people were subjected, the sub- jeet's great-grandfather many years ago fled from France with a number of his co-re- ligionists and took refuge in Germany. where he reared a family and spent the re- mainder of his days. ily of seven children and departed this life in 1897. his wife dying the same year. The children are briefly mentioned as follows: Effie, the first born of his children, married Aaron Keller and lives in Dearborn com- ty : Cordelia, the next in order of birth, also lives in Dearborn and is unmarried : P. G .. the subject of this review, is the third of the family: George, deceased. was an ensign in the Pacific squadron during the late Span- ish-American war and was with Admiral Dewey at Manila : Emile J., a single man, is master mechanic at La Fayette, he has a fine technical education, having attended differ- ent colleges and institutes and has rapidly risen to distinction in his chosen calling : Alma is a teacher in the public schools of Dearborn county, making a specialty of kindergarden work; Richard, the youngest, is a married man at the present time, en- gaged in the undertaking business in the city of Chicago.
Dr. P. G. Fermier, the subject's father. after receiving a classical education, took up the study of medicine in his native country and later was graduated from the medical department of Munich and Heidelberg Uni- versities. These are considered the finest medical schools in Germany, if not in the world. and while prosecuting his studies therein Dr. Fermier was under the direction of some of the most distinguished professors of the age. In the year 1849 he came to the United States and located in Mansfield. Ohio, where he had an office next door to the law office of the late Hon. John Sher- man, one of the leading statesmen of Amer- ica. After practicing his profession in the above city for some time, the Doctor changed his location to Dearborn county. Indiana, where he carried on a large and lu- crative practice for a period of forty-five years. He became widely and favorably known among the most learned and success-
When a youth the subject of this sketch enjoyed the advantages of the public schools of his native county, after which he took a select course in the Northern Indiana Nor- mal College at Valparaiso. He attended that well-known and popular institution from 1883 to 1885 inclusive, and after com- Hleting the prescribed course taught for six years in the public schools, meanwhile prose- euting his medical studies at intervals under the efficient instruction of his father. In 1892 he entered the Indiana Medical Col- lege. Indianapolis, where he continued four years in patient study and laborious re- search, graduating with a creditable record in 1894.
In looking around for a favorable loca-
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Bon, Dr. Fermier decided to begin his pro- fessional labors at Leesburg: accordingly just one month after his graduation he opened an office here, swinging his shingle to the breeze and announced himself a can- didate for a portion of the public patronage. Itis reputation as an exceedingly well- learned and capable physician soon won for him a lucrative practice and from the date of his arrival to the present time he has steadily come to the front and now occupies a prominent place among his professional brethren of Kosciusko county. His business has increased very largely, his practice tak- ing a wide range, and among his patients are many of the leading people of the town and surrounding country all of whom are lavish in their praise of his efficiency and skill as a physician and surgeon.
Dr. Fermier's ability to trace the devious paths of disease throughout the human sys- tem and to remove its effects is widely rec- ognized and a mind well disciplined by se- vere professional training and strengthened by the saintary counsels of a father who was second to none of his compeers in medical science, together with a natural aptitude for close investigation and critical research, have peculiarly fitted him for the noble call- ing in which he is engaged, and thus far his career has been all and more than his most sanguine friends predicted. He is a careful reader of the best professional literature and keeps himself in touch with the age in the intest discoveries pertaining to the healing art. These qualities of mind and heart that do not pertain to the mere knowledge of medical science, but greatly enhance the true worth of the family physician, are not wanting in him. He possesses the tact and happy faculty of inspiring confidence on the
part of his patients and their friends and in the sick room his genial presence and conscious ability to cope successfully with disease under treatment are factors that have contributed much to the enviable standing which he has attained. He is a member of the county, state and American medical as- sociations, holds the office of secretary to the board of health of Leesburg, and at the pres- ont time is local medical examiner for the New York Life, Mutual Life and Equitable Life Insurance companies. He also holds similar positions with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Maccabees and Knights of Pythias fraternities at Leesburg and his du- ties have been discharged in such a manner as to win the praise, not only of the local membership, but of the authorities of the several societies as well.
Dr. Fermier is a married man, his wife being formerly Miss Lula May Rowley, of Indianapolis. She is an accomplished stenog- rapher and typewriter and has held several very lucrative positions in the capital city and elsewhere. He first met her while prosecuting his professional studies in In- dianapolis and the marriage which followed the acquaintance was solemnized on the 20th day of June. 1805.
Additional to the fraternal orders already mentioned. the Doctor is a member of the Masonic brotherhood. belonging to Lees- burg Lodge No. 181. in which he is now serving as senior warden. Politically he is a Republican : with no ambition to excel in anything but his profession, he devotes com- paratively little time to matters political. preferring to use the best of his energies and powers to the noble work of ministering to suffering humanity. The Doctor is a be- liever in revealed religion and a deep student
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of the holy scriptures. He subscribes to no formulated creat . # articles of faith outside the word of God, taking the latter alone as his only rule of faith and practice. He holds membership with the First Christian church of Warsaw, as does also his wife, both be- ing recognized as among the most valued members of that congregation.
JOHN REED.
John Reed, one of the most enter- prising and prosperous farmers of Scott township. Kosciusko county. Indiana, and an ex-sokler. is a native of Ashland county, Ohio, and was born October 28, 1842. His parents. Charles M. and Eliza- beth ( Harper) Reed, natives of Pennsyl- vania, were both young when their parents migrated from the Keystone state to the Buckeye state. They were married in Ash- land county. Ohio, and thence, in 1844. brought their little family to Indiana and located in DeKalb county. The total num- ber of children that crowned their union, all, with one exception, born in Indiana, was ten, namely: William Il., Jacob, Eliza J .. Charle- M. Rebecca G. Mary, John (sub)- ject). joseph S. Daniel and Nancy E.
nearly three years Mr. Reed pined with longing heart to join the patriotic host of volunteers who rose in their might to crush the nefarious rebellion. At last the opor- tunity came, and November 5, 1864. he en- listed in Company D, Thirteenth: Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until September 5. 1865. when he was honor- aly discharged at Goldsboro. North Caro- lina, and returned to his home in Elkhart county.
August 8. 1867. Mr. Reed was united in marriage, in Elkhart county, with Miss Har- riet R. Huldread, who was born in Ohio November 5, 1849, and is a daughter of Frederick and Rosanna ( Bowers ) Huldread, who came from Ohio in 1850 and settled in Elkhart county, Indiana. In the autumn of the year of his marriage Mr. Reed settled on a farm of forty acres in Jefferson township, Kosciusko county, which land he had pur- chased a year previously for the small sum of four hundred and fifty dollars. This land he cleared up, improved and resided on until he had an opportunity of disposing of it for one thousand. six hundred dollars. when he sold it and bought a farm of eighty-eight and one-half acres in Scott township for three thousand one hundred dollars, upon which he removed and resided until 1881. when he settled on his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres, for which he paid three thousand two hundred dollars. This is now one of the best-tilled. besi-stocked and best-improved farms in Kosciusko conn- ty, and Mr. Reed is recognized as one of the enterprising agricultorists of his township.
John Reed, whose name opens this re- view, was reared on the home farm and farning has been his Hife vocation. His edu- cation was acquired in the old school-house situated in the neighborhood in which his parents settled after coming to Indiana, and he remained until his twenty-second year at To the marriage of Mr. Reed with Miss Huldread have been born six children, in the. following order: Joseph W .. November 6, the home of his parents, who had settled in Elkhart county in the spring of 1861. The same year the Civil war burst forth, and for , 1868; Ellzina E., September 21, 1872 : Rosa
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B .. . August 6. 1878: Any M., November 19. (deceased), May 21, 1847; Sarah J. (de- 1880: Albert C. January 30. 1884, and Laurence M .. April 22. 1891.
Fraternally, Mr. Reed is a member of Nappanee Lodge No. 560, F. & A. M., and Burken Post No. 402, G. A. R., of Nap. pance. fle has all through life maintained a character of the strictest integrity and no ! iandig in Scott township is more highly re- spected than his. Mr. Reed has in his pos- session an old parchment deed which was executed during the administration of Presi- dent Martin Van Buren and bears the date of August 10, 1837.
REUBEN BYRER.
The agriculturists of Scott township. Kosciusko county, Indiana, are generally men of thrift, but no farmer in this favored locality has merited greater praise in this re- gard than Reuben Byrer, who has made a perfect success of all his undertakings as a cultivator of the soil. He is a native of Stark county, Ohio, and a son of Albert and Rosanna ( Burket) Byrer, who were born in Pennsylvania and were of German descent. Alber: Byrer had his nativity on the 26th day of February, 1813, and his wife was born January 3, 1826. From Pennsylvania they migrated to Ohio in an early day and fest located in Stark county, whence they removed to Summit county, and in 1865 came to Kosciusko county, Indiana. Here Mrs. Rosanna Byrer passed away March 22. 1875, and Albert Byrer, February 5, 1889. Their eleven children were born in the fol- towing order: Margaret A., March 28, 1844: Edward J., July 10, 1845; Louisa
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