USA > Indiana > Kosciusko County > Progressive men and women of Kosciusko County, Indiana : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography > Part 81
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ceased ), May 14, 1850: Lydia, June 9, 1852: Almira, October 29. 1854: Reuben (of this biography), September 21, 1850; Jeremiah, October 7. 1859 ; Linea, O., July 5. 1862: Jonathan .A., March 23, 1865, and !
Peter W., October 16, 1868.
Reuben Byrer came to Koscinsko county with his parents in 1865 and was here reared to manhood. His education was acquired in the common schools and in the normal schools of Warsaw and Pierceton, and in 1877 he began teaching, a vocation he fol- lowed seventeen consecutive years in Kos- ciusko county, seventeen terms in one dis- trict, a fact indicative in itself of his supe- rior qualifications as an instructor and of the favor in which he stood with his patrons.
The marriage of Reuben Byrer was cele- brated in Marshall county, Indiana, Septem- ber 9, 1883, with Miss Emma E. Ringgen- berg, who was born in Kosciusko county, October 7, 1863, and is a daughter of John and Mary A. ( Berger ) Ringgenberg, early settlers of Kosciusko county, but now prom- inent residents of Bremen, Marshall county, and the parents of fourteen children name- iy: Peter, Sarah, Lydia, all deceased : Peter (second) : Sarah. Caroline, Lucetta, Dan- iel, Ella, also deceased; Emme E. ; John H .: Edward S., deceased; Susannah E. and Clara V. In 1890 Mr. Byrer purchased his present farm of eighty-six acres and in 1895 erected his buildings and moved'upon the place. He has now sixty-five acres in a fine state of cultivation and has made his farm one of the most profitable in the township. To Mr. and Mrs. Byrer have been born five children, namely: Dorey G., April 26. 1885: Dora E., September 13, 1886: Eben R., July 24, 1888, died December 23, 1892 :
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Floyd W. April to, 1800: Harvey J., De- cember 23, 1804. Mr. and Mrs. Byrer are members of the Evangelical church, have live fully up to its doctrines, and no family in the township enjoy or more deservedly have gained the high esteem in which Mr. Byrer's family is held by the people of Scott township. In politics the subject affiliates with the Republican party.
SAMUEL C. HEPLER.
Scott township, Kosciusko county, In- diana, has within its precincts no more de- serving resident than Samuel C. Hepler, who is what is usually designated a "self-made" mian, or, in other words, a man who, through his own efforts and good management, has made his own fortune. Scott township is Mr. Hepler's place of nativity, his birth having here taken place February 26, 1848. His parents, David C. and Magdalena (Yaulky) Hepler, were born in Pennsyl- vana and were of German descent. David. C. was born in 18th and when a mere boy was brought from the Keystone state by his parents, who settled in Stark county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. Ile married Magdalena Yaulky, who was born in 1807 and was a young girl when taken to Ohio by her parents.
On marrying, Mr. Hepler first located on a farm in Stark county, on which he lived until about 1838, when he came to Koscius- ko county, Indiana, and entered land which he improved and resided upon until called from earth. At the time of his coming here the country was a wilderness and he had to hew a way through the forest for many miles
to reach his prospective farm, but he suc- ceeded after much hard labor in making for himself and family a first-class home of two hundred acres. To David C. and Magda- lena Hepler were born eight children, name- ly : Elizabeth, Daniel ( deceased), John, David (deceased ). Samuel C., Jacob, and Isane and Hiram ( deceased ). The parents of this family are also now deceased, the mother having died in 1870 and the father in 1880.
Samuel C. Hepler has passed his entire life in farming, and his only education was acquired in the old-fashioned log school- house of his childhood. He assisted his par- ents on the home place during the summer season, all through his schools days, and afterwards aided them throughout the year until about twenty-seven years old.
May 12, 1870, Mr. Hepler united in mar- riage, in Kosciusko county, to Miss Aman- da C. Britton, who was born in Holmes county, Ohio, April 27, 1842, the only child of Lewis and Druscilla ( Stifiler ) Brit- ton. The father of Mrs. Hepler died at a comparatively early age, and Mrs. Britton was next married to Jacob Wyman, and by him became the mother of five children, viz: Henry, George, Rachel, Michael and Am- brose.
At his marriage Mr. Hepler began house- keeping on rented land, which he occupied two years, and then, in the spring of 1873. purchased and settled upon the farm he now occupies. At that time this farm was im- proved with only a few log structures, such as were necessary to make it habitable, but Mr. Hepler has converted it into one of the best farms of its dimensions in Scott town- ship. It comprises one hundred acres, of which Mr. Hepler has placed under cultiva-
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tion manety-two. It is all fenced, and the old log shanties have been replaced with a line modern, two-story frame dwelling, a sub- stantial barn and all necessary outbuildings. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hep- ler eight children have come to brighten the home, namely: Urene, born February 27. 1871: George, January 7. 1873: Salome, October 24. 1874: Charles, April 1. 1870: Magdalena, May 22, 1878; Marion, Janu- ary 23. 1880 : Francis, October 10, 1881, and Henry, April 23. 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Hep- ler are members of the Lutheran church, to the support of which they liberally contrib- ute financially and the teachings of which they implicitly follow. By their consistent and upright walk through life they have won the unfeigned respect of their neighbors and the untiring labor of Mr. Hepler, with its accompanying reward, has been a matter of general congratulation among his many friends. Mr. Hepler is a Democrat in poli- tics, He possesses a parchment sheepskin deed. executed July 1. 1845, and bearing the signature of President James K. Polk.
S. HEPLER.
The subject of this sketch is a native of Ohio, born in Stark county, November 3. Land earned the reputation of an honest, in-
IN31. His parents were Sammel S. and Mary M. (Frick ) Hepler, both born in Pennsylvania, the father April 17, 1806, and and the mother on the 14th day of March, 1805. They were carly settlers of Stark, county and lived there until 1840, at which time they came to Kosciusko county, Indi- ana, settling in Scott township, where they spent the remainder of their days, the mother
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dying June 23, 1873, and the father January 22. 1880. Samuel and Mary Hepler had ten children, namely: Sarah, Joseph, Hannah, Catherine, George, Solomon, Mary, Eliza- beth, Lucinda and Samuel, of whom Joseph, Solomon and Sammel are living.
Solomon Hepler was a lad nine years old when his parents came to Kosciusko county and from that time to the present he has spent his life within its limits. He was reared to agricultural pursuits and has al- ways followed farming for a livelihood. meeting with success in his chosen vocation. When twenty-one years of age he began life for himself. entering forty acres of land in Jefferson township. Subsequently Mr. Hep- Jer purchased an additional forty acres of his. father, and being now in a fair condition to make more substantial headway in the world he took to himself a wife in the person of Miss Margaret Bortz, the ceremony being solemnized on the 4th day of March. 1852. Mrs. Hepler was born in Stark county. Ohio, November 23. 1834.
After his marriage Mir. Hepler moved to his farm in Jefferson township and continued to reside on the same until 1900, when he retired from active life and changed his resi- dence to the town of Milford, where he now lives. He was a progressive farmer, made many valuable improvements on his place
dustrious, upright citizen whose integrity was unassailable and whose word was as good as his bond. He owns one hundred and sixty-one acres of as fine land as the county of Kosciusko contains and his home in Milford is one of the beautiful and attrac- tive private dwellings in the town. By dili- gent attention to his business affairs he has placed himself in independent circumstances
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and is how enjoying some of the fruits of his the lakes to Chicago, thence to Lake county, of in a life from which all care and anx- iety have been eliminated. He is highly esteemed by a large circle of friends and by his upright course has made himself worthy the respect and confidence of his fellow citi- zens.
J. A. Quackenbush was born on the old heth and Rosie. The father and mother are a home place in Chenango county, New York.
Mr. and Mrs. Hepler are the parents of seven children, whose names are as follows : Catherine (deceased ). Mary (deceased ). Hladinah (deceased), Andrew, John, Eliza- members of the Progressive branch of the German Baptist church and the children have been reared in that faith.
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J. A. QUACKENBUSIT.
This substantial farmer and worthy citi- zen has had a varied and interesting career as a business man, successful tiller of the soil and a traveler, having been the latter at an age when most boys are still at home in- der the watchful care of their parents. The Quackenbush family is of German origin. the subject's ancestors coming to America a great many years ago and settling in the state of New York. Hiram Quackenbush, father of J. A., was born in the Empire state and there grew to maturity, marrying, when a young man, Cornelia Mowers. By occu- pation he was a farmer and appears to have been successful in his business affairs, accu- marketing a sufficiency of this world's goods to purchase a good place in his native state, which he cultivated for a number of years. Thinking to better his condition further west. he finally sold his possessions in New York and made a trip by way of canal and
Indiana, where he purchased a half section of land. the place being near the city of Crown Point. This move was made in 1846 and after living on this land for about three years he moved to St. Joseph county, Mich- igan, where he had previously bought one hundred and twenty acres on the St. Joseph river in what was then known as the Burr Oak opening.
November 16, 1838. and was a lad of eight years when the family moved to Indiana. Tle remained with his parents in St. Joseph county, Michigan, until after his mother's death, when he was about seventeen years of age, and then left home to face the world and make his own fortune and carve out his own destiny. Impressed with a desire to see the far west, a land which at that time held out many glittering promises to the young and ambitious, as also the adventur- ous, he made his way in 1861 to Denver, Colorado, where he remained variously em- ployed until the spring of the year following. Determined to see more of the great western domain, he proceeded the latter year overland to California, where for the next three years he engaged in farming, teaming and general. freighting in which he was quite successful. saving his earnings with serupulous care. In December, 1864, Mr. Quackenbush de- cidled to return east, and taking a steamer from San Francisco, by way of Panama to New York city, and from thence to De- Kalb county, Indiana, where he engaged in mercantile business, at Waterloo City, about two years. He subsequently effected a co- partnership with his brother, J. A. Wilson, in the marble business at the town of Ligonier,
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Noble county. After following that line of trade for some time, he disposed of his in- terest in the business and obtained a govern- ment license to engage in the broker's busi- ness, buying and selling notes and other papers, and also at the same time buying and shipping grain and produce. This he followed until investing his means in a piece of land in the county of Elkhart. Mov- ing to his farm, Mr. Quackenbush turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and after living in Elkhart county three years sold his land there and invested the proceeds in the farm on which he now resides in Tippecanoe township, county of Kosciusko.
Unlike the majority of men who move from place to place and lose with almost every change of residence. Mr. Quacken- bush was successful in his various enter- prises and made few changes that were not in the end for the better. Since coming to this county he has improved a fine farm, adding greatly to the fertility and value of his land, and he is now considered one of the substantial and progressive husbandmen of the community in which he lives. He knows how to take advantage of opportuni- des, as his contact with the world in differ- ent capacities proved of great educational value in developing and strengthening a naturally strong mind, making him not only a close and intelligent observer, but matur- ing his judgment to a very marked degree.
Mr. Quackenbush inherits much of the tenacity and perseverance characteristic of his descent and his industry and manage- ment have been of a very persistent type. Ile has come in contact with all classes and conditions of men and obtained thereby a large fund of practical knowledge which en- ables him to take views of the world and
give proper advice to young men whose his- tory is still in the future. He enjoys the reputation of an honorable man and worthy citizen, capable in his business affairs, con- scientious and upright in all his dealings with his fellows, while his high place in the public esteem has been well earned by correct conduct and right living.
Mr. Quackenbush's wife was formerly Miss Helen Mayfield, daughter of Samuel Mayfield, of Noble county. She bore her husband three children, and departed this life on the 6th day of May, 1901. The old- est son, Farmer J., married Myrtle Philpott. and lives in Tippecanoe township. He is a well educated man and for some years past has been one of the county's most successful and popular teachers. He has also studied law and will ultimately devote his life to that profession. Madge E., born February 5, 1883. is also a teacher in the public schools and has earned a wide reputation for skill and efficiency in her work. Laura R., the youngest, was born September 28, 1885. and. like the other two, has enjoyed the ad- vantages of superior educational training. Mrs. Quackenbush was a devoted member of the Christian church and carly impressed upon the minds of her children the prin- ciples of religion by which her own life was directed and controlled. Not identified with any church organization himself. Mr. Quackenbush is a believer in revealed re- ligion, and has been a liberal contributor to the church with which his wife was identi- lied. He was made a Mason in 1805 and has been an enthusiastic worker in the fraternity since that time. He formerly held member- ship with Chapter No. 44. R. A. M., in Noble county, in which, as in the blue lodge, he has held various official positions from
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habe o thre. Politically he is a stanch sup- beter of the Republican party, taking a my interest in political questions and in oumpaigis rendering effective service both a p amer and worker in the ranks.
Personally Mr. Quackenbush is quiet and antestiming, but withal genial and compan- Minable, and has many warm friends broughout the county of Kosciusko. He is to all interests and purposes a self-made nan, as he started in life with no capital but energy and industry and the education ob- tained principally by his own efforts, and his career in the main has been successful.
WILLIAM HECKMAN, DECEASED.
The subject of this memoir was for a number of years an enterprising farmer and popular citizen of Scott township. He was born in Marshall county, Indiana, May 28. 1850, the son of Jacob and Elizabeth
(Shearer ) Tieckman, natives of Pennsyl- vania and Ohio, respectively. These parents were among the early settlers of Marshall county, moving to that part of the state when the country was new and spending the re- mainder of their days where they originally Ir cated. They had a family of eleven chil- dren. namely: John, Sarah, Mary, Samuel, Emanuel. Rachel, Philip, William, Jacob, Margaret and Adam.
( Shafer ) Burgner, the former a native of Switzerland and the latter of Germany. John and Christena Burgner came to the United States with their respective parents when young and grew to maturity in Ohio, where they were married a number of years ago. Subsequently they moved to Indiana, in which state the remaining years of their earthly pilgrimage were spent. They reared a large family, consisting of fourteen chil- dren, namely : Henry, Christena. Catherine, Michael, William, Elizabeth, Philip. Will- iam, Mary. John, Peter. Catherine, Charles and Ella.
For some time after his marriage Will- iam Heckman followed agricultural pursuits in his native county, leasing land for the purpose, and about five years later changed his residence to the county of Kosciusko. where for a period of about one year he also farmed as a renter. He then purchased the farm in Scott township where his widow now resides and continued to cultivate the same with a large measure of success until his death, which occurred on the 28th day of January, 1891.
Mr. Heckman was a prosperous man and a most exemplary citizen. His nature was truthful, and proving worthy of trust he was always trusted with unquestioning reliance. Among his marked characteristics were a clear. intelligent and thoroughly practical judgment, a strong and active will, untiring industry, frugality, and energetic public spirit and a manner genial and kind, which won for him the unbounded confidence of all with whom he came in contact. Within the sacred precincts of home, where he had gar- nered up the treasures of the heart, his vir- with which he illuminated the domestic cir-
Willian: Heckman was reared on the homestead in Marshall county, and choosing farming for a vocation, followed the same with. success and financial profit to the end of his days. Mary Burgner, who became his wife on the 4th of July, 1872, was born in the county of Marshall February 13, 1854. , tues shone with peculiar luster and the life She is the daughter of John and Christena
COMPENDIUM OF BIOGRAPHY. 641
de vas reflected me all of his relations with bis fellow men. He accumulated a liberal Share of this world's goods, including a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres, and left His wife and children in comfortable cir- Constances. For a number of years he had been in earnest and zealous member of the Evangelical Association and cheered by its teachings and sustained by an unfaltering trust in Him who doeth all things well, he Fearlessly entered the valley of shadows, as-
sured of a welcome on the other side from the Savior whom he had so faithfully served here.
To Mr. and Mrs. Heckman were born the following children: Rosa E ... wife of George Carl, of Nappanee: Anna E., mar- ried Noah Rhinchart and also lives in the town of Nappanee: Lenora, the wife of Edward Hepler, lives on the home farm; Clarence, Ira . and Loutrella, the last three still under the parental roof.
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