USA > Indiana > Adams County > Standard history of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : An authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and country, Volume II > Part 60
USA > Indiana > Wells County > Standard history of Adams and Wells counties, Indiana : An authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and country, Volume II > Part 60
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In politics Mr. Snow is a democrat, and in 1898 he was a candidate for the position of joint state senator for the district composed of Adams and Allen counties, Indiana. He received the entire democratic vote of his home county, but the Fort Wayne democracy gave the senatorial nomination, and credit, to one of her own citizens. As a descriptive writer, Mr. Snow has produced many worthy articles for publication; one of which is found in this volume under the title of "Educational Development.". He is also the author of "Indiana Biographies" and "Snow's History of Adams County, Indiana." He is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and a conservative, conscientious citizen.
Dr. Barton B. Snow was born in Pennsylvania. His parents were James and Eleanor (Tate) Snow. The mother was of Irish parentage, and the father's parents were of English ancestry and lived near Oldham, in Massachusetts. Mrs. Rebecca H. (McDonald) Snow was a daughter of David and Polly (Ball) McDonald who were of Scotch-Irish parentage and resided in eastern Ohio; later they removed to Indiana, and Mr. McDonald became county sheriff and state representative of Adams County. Of a family of nine children born to Dr. Barton B. and Rebecca H. (McDonald) Snow but three are living: John F., Adda V. and Loretta G.
Sadie A. (Hoskinson) Snow, wife of John F. Snow, was born on the 11th day of November, 1857, in Licking County, Ohio. She was a daughter of Andrew J. and Mary (Foster) Hoskinson, whose parents were also residents of Licking County. In 1865 they removed to Indiana and settled on a farm in Blue Creek Township in Adams County ; they subsequently removed to Ceylon at which place she was united in mar- riage on the 21st day of August, 1881, with John F. Snow. She received a good common school education and special instruction in music, for which she had a particular aptitude. Her father, Andrew J. Hoskinson, was a carpenter by trade, and a successful instructor in vocal music. He was the son of Andrew and Sarah ( Baerd) Hoskinson, who were residents of Virginia before removing to Ohio. Andrew Hoskinson was a farmer and a soldier in the second war with England, the War of 1812. Mrs. Snow's mother, Mary (Foster) Hoskinson, was a daughter of Dan and Miranda (Umphry) Foster; she attended the public schools of Newark, Ohio. Miss Umphry's father was a prominent attorney of Cambridge in Guernsey County, Ohio. Mr. Foster was of English ancestry and resided in the State of Vermont before he came to Licking County, Ohio, where he engaged extensively in stock-raising and dairy farming.
Mr. and Mrs. John F. Snow are the parents of two sons-Edwin E.,
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who was born September 3, 1882, in the town of Ridgeville, Indiana, and Horace H., who was born November 11, 1886, in Decatur, Indiana. These sons were educated in the public schools at Decatur and sub- sequently learned the printer's trade, at which vocation they are now profitably engaged. When eight and twelve years of age, they began the publication of a small newspaper, known as the "Star News." a bi-monthly folio, which attained a good circulation and appeared reg- ularly for about ten years without missing an issue.
On the 15th day of April, 1906, Edwin Earl Snow was married to - Miss Myrtle Miller, a daughter of Charles T. and Ceretha A. Miller of Anderson, Indiana. To them have been born three children, Eleanor K., Carolyn C. and Mary Elizabeth Snow, all of whom are living. Horace H. Snow was married on the 12th day of April, 1909, to Miss Agnes Mylott, daughter of Thomas and Margaret Mylott, of Decatur, Indiana. To them have been born two children, Kathleen M. and Billy T. Snow, both living.
The eldest son, Edwin E., is a local staff correspondent of the Chicago Examiner, the Indianapolis News and the St. Louis Post Dis- patch-in addition to his duties in a first-class printing office. The younger son, Horace H., is an expert linotype operator, who has served with credit in the offices of the Legal News and the Chicago Inter Ocean.
RUSSELL R. LONG represents the thrifty and progressive element of the agricultural citizenship in Wabash Township of Adams County. He has a good farm, one well tended, productive, and has made himself a factor in that rural community for many years.
Mr. Long was born on the old Long homestead in Wabash Township June 28, 1871, a son of Lewis and Mary A. (Blair) Long. His father, now deceased, was for many years one of the most useful citizens of Adams County.
Lewis Long was born in Union County, Indiana, in 1831, son of Rob- ert and Mary (Kyle) Long, the former born in 1787, and the latter in 1790 in Pennsylvania. The Long family were pioneers. The nineteenth century had hardly dawned when they set out from Pennsylvania and pioneered in Ohio, and in 1816 they moved still further west to Indiana, where Robert Long died July 8, 1855. His widow died in Ohio Febru- ary 3, 1871. They were Presbyterians and Robert Long was a cabinet maker by trade, but for many years cultivated 160 acres in Union County. He and his wife had ten children, six sons and four daughters.
Lewis Long grew to manhood in Union County, had a common school education, and at the age of twenty-two went to work at the carpenter's trade. More than half a century ago he came to Adams County and located on a farm in section 16 of Wabash Township. This land had originally been purchased by Robert Long. On May 29, 1862, Lewis Long married Mary Blair, who was born in Ireland in 1841 and was brought to America by her brother and sister. Lewis Long by many years of good management accumulated a farm of 240 acres. He was a democrat in politics and for a number of years filled the office of justice of the peace. He and his wife had eight children, Charles, the oldest, being deceased, and the others are: George B., of Pittsburg, Pennsylva- nia ; William J., of Crestline, Ohio: Eva, unmarried and living at Pitts- burg ; Russell R .; Alonzo, nnmarried; Daisy, of Los Angeles, California ; and Leona. Leona and Alonzo live on the home farm.
Russell R. Long grew up on the farm in Wabash Township and besides the district schools attended high school at Ceylon. On March 29, 1902, he married Miss Viola E. Burke, who was born in Jay County,
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Indiana, and was reared there. Mr. and Mrs. Long have five children : Gladys C., who graduated from the common schools when only fourteen years of age; Harold C., Morris Wendell, Lowell and Robert L. The family are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Ceylon, and Mr. Long has done much to support the activities of that church, is one of the church trustees and has served as superintendent of the Sun- day sehool.
Mr. Long owns a body of sixty acres of land, and is using his farm as the home of some very good livestock. He is a breeder of Duroc and Poland China hogs and keeps good grades of horses and eattle. He is a member of the Farmers Equity and in polities he is a democrat.
WILLIAM FARLOW learned his business as a farmer and stockman when a boy in Adams County, and having added to knowledge and experience the other qualities of industry and prudence, he has been getting steadily ahead in the world sinee he began his independent career fully forty years ago. The Farlow home is one of the generously proportioned and improved rural estates in the county located two and a half miles east and a quarter mile south of the village of Berne in Wabash Township.
Mr. Farlow was born in Jefferson Township of this county June 13, 1856, a son of Jacob and Sarah (Garber) Farlow. His father was born in Pennsylvania February 8, 1817, of a Pennsylvania German family, and during his youth no language was used in the home except the German tongue. It is said that he acquired his knowledge of English after his marriage and from his wife. His wife was born in Butler County, Ohio, July 17, 1821. After their marriage they settled at Col- lege Corners, Ohio, and for some years Jacob Farlow followed his trade as a cabinet maker. In pioneer times he came to Adams County and entered 160 aeres in Jefferson Township. This was land upon which man had plaeed no improvement, and the heavy task of clearing and developing it was the produet of his own industry and long continued toil. He and his wife spent their last years there. He was a member of the German Reformed Church, while she was a Methodist, and in polities he was a staneh republican. They had eleven children, three of whom are still living, William, Jacob and David, the latter a resident of Carroll County, Indiana.
William Farlow grew up on the farm in Jefferson Township, but on reaching the age of sixteen, when his mother died, he started out to make his own way in the world. He took with him only $3 in money, and going to Van Wert, Ohio, he found employment in a factory. Somewhat later he returned to Adams County and entered the service of a farmer and stoekman whose daughter he afterwards married. He and his father-in-law then entered a partnership in the stock and lumber busi- ness, the firm name being Rawley & Farlow. Six years later the firm was dissolved, and Mr. Farlow then engaged in the grocery business at Geneva for eighteen months, and sinee that time has given his energies chiefly to farming and stock raising. He has also bought and shipped many earloads of livestock out of this part of Indiana.
June 7, 1884, Mr. Farlow married Effie May Rawley, who was born in Blue Creek Township of Adams County, daughter of Abram and Mary J. (Crawford) Rawley. Mrs. Farlow is a granddaughter of one of the finest citizens Adams County ever had, Josiah Crawford. He was one of the first settlers here. Ile was born at Waynesburg, Greene County, Pennsylvania. April 21, 1821, had a good common sehool educa- tion, became associated with his father in merchandising, but in October, 1839. came to Adams County and took possession of the 520 aeres of
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land which he and his brother had entered and purchased the year pre- viously. It is said that these brothers were the first to bring livestock into Adams County in large numbers, driving 140 head from Ohio. They also introduced the first Shorthorn cattle to this part of the state. They were specialists in stock raising, and became highly successful men. Josiah Crawford was a democrat and cast his first vote for Gen- eral Jackson in 1832, was a member of the Board of County Commis- sioners from 1856 for a period of eighteen years, and in all respects his life was most exemplary and successful. He married in 1841 Rosanna Abnet, who was born in Virginia in 1816. Her parents Jacob and Sarah (Baker) Abnet settled in Jefferson Township of Adams County in 1839. Josiah Crawford and wife had only one daughter, Mary, who was born January 1, 1842, and died December 10, 1881, and by her marriage to Abram Rawley became the mother of Mrs. Farlow.
After his marriage Mr. Farlow settled on the farm where he now lives, and is now proprietor of 520 acres. He is a director of the Bank of Geneva and is an active republican in politics.
Mr. and Mrs. Farlow have seven children : Jennie; Arthur, a farmer in Wabash Township; Crawford, a farmer in Wabash Township; Lizzie A., unmarried ; Gladys, wife of John R. Ludy; while Sampson and Eugene are the youngest.
LEANDER L. DUNBAR has for many years been one of the substantial figures in the industrial and civic life of Adams County, was county commissioner for nine years, and has largely developed the manufac- turing interests which are centered at Linn Grove.
He was born in French Township of Adams County September 6, 1850, a son of Lucien and Philena (French) Dunbar. Lucien Dunbar, a native of Oswego, New York, and of English ancestry, came when a young man to Adams County and located in French Township, where he married Philena French. Her father Joseph French was the first settler in that township and the locality was given its name in his honor. Joseph French was also from Oswego, New York. He had come to Adams County in early days, entered land in Hartford Township, and spent the rest of his years there. On coming to Adams County Joseph French had both entered and bought large tracts of land, and he became extensively interested in milling both as a lumber manufacturer and flour miller. Late in life he divided his extensive possessions among his children. Lucien Dunbar and wife had five sons: Byron, a resident of Wisconsin; Jefferson of French Township; Lewis C. of Bluffton ; Leander L. and Lorenzo of Indianapolis.
Leander L. Dunbar grew up on his father's farm in French Town- ship and lived at home until he was eighteen years of age. In the mean- time he had attended the public schools. On leaving home he went to Wisconsin for a year, but with that exception his life has been spent in Adams County. Many years ago Mr. Dunbar engaged in the manu- facture of wagons and carriages at Buena Vista in Hartford Township, and with various modifications and improvements has kept that business going to the present time. He is a man of original mind and resources, and has developed some successful inventions. In 1886 he was awarded a patent on the Excelsior Road Cart, which he proceeded to manufac- ture in his own shop, and he is also patentee of a post hole digger. In his plant at Linn Grove his principal output at present is upholstered chairs.
In February, 1875, he married Miss Mary Moeschberger, a native of Adams County and daughter of Jacob Moeschberger, one of the early settlers here. Mrs. Dunbar died December 11, 1913, the mother of four
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children, Minnie, Carrie, Merlin M. and Cleo. Minnie is a graduate of the high school and was a teacher before her marriage to George Schlag- enhauf; Carrie, who also finished the work of the high school and is now the wife of Dr. Harry Emick. Merlin M. Dunbar has made a notable record in scholastic affairs, is a graduate of the local high school, of the State University both in the scientific course and in law, and has taken advanced work at Chicago and in the University of Wisconsin. He has a life certificate as a teacher in Indiana, and is now superin- tendent of the Hartford City, Indiana, schools. Cleo, the youngest child, is the wife of Fred Steiner, a farmer in French Township of Adams County.
Mr. Dunbar has been one of the leading members in the democratic party in Adams County for over forty years. His first important office was as justice of the peace of Hartford Township, to which he was elected in 1876. In 1878 he was appointed county commissioner to fill a vacancy and he was continued in that office . by re-election for nine years.
A. D. BUCKMASTER is cashier of the Bank of Linn Grove. He is a native of Adams County and a large number of the younger people in this section recall with special gratitude his services to them as a successful teacher. Mr. Buckmaster left school work to enter business at Linn Grove, and five years ago became connected with the bank. The Bank of Linn Grove was established in 1910 and has enjoyed a prosperous existence. It has a capital of $17,500 and is one of the well managed smaller banks of Adams and Wells counties.
Mr. Buckmaster was born in Jefferson Township of Adams County December 4, 1877, a son of David and Sarah (Hutchinson ) Buckmaster, the former a native of Coshocton County and the latter of Holmes County, Ohio. Both the Buckmaster and Hutchinson families came to Indiana in early days, locating in Adams County, where they improved farms in Jefferson Township. David Buckmaster was married in that township and after that lived on a farm until his death in 1881. His widow survived him until September 1, 1915. Her children were small when David Buckmaster died, and she courageously took up double re- sponsibilities caring for the family and managing the farm. Of the five children A. D. Buckmaster was the youngest. Four are still living, the oldest being Jesse, a teacher in Jefferson Township; W. V., who was formerly a teacher and now a farmer in Jefferson Township and also a road building contractor ; and Rebecca, wife of J. L. Yaney, the present trustee of Jefferson Township.
A. D. Buckmaster grew up on the farm with his mother, and at an early age began doing what he could toward self-support and to help along the family affairs. He attended the district schools and also the Tri-State Normal School at Angola, and from that he went into school work as a teacher, which he followed in Adams County for a period of eight years. Later for a time he was a farmer and he also conducted a general store in Jefferson Township. In 1910 Mr. Buek- master came to Linn Grove and began building up a good business in insurance and real estate. In July, 1912, he went into the bank at Linn Grove as assistant cashier and in October of the same year became cashier. The president of the bank is L. O. Bears, and the vice president O. V. Huffman. These three executive officers are also directors, the other directors being A. W. Sours, A. S. Kindel, Michael Miller, A. G. Brigg and Moses Angsberger.
Besides his stock and interests in the bank Mr. Buckmaster also owns a small farm of forty acres in Jefferson Township. Politically he is a
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republican, is past noble grand of Berne Lodge No. 838 of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, a member of the Christian Church, and has done much to support Sunday school work, in which he is deeply interested. For the past three years he has been superintendent of the Christian Sunday School and was formerly teacher of a Bible Training Class, which had the distinction of being the only class in Adams County to complete the four years' course.
Mr. Buckmaster married Pearl Ramsey, who was born at New Cory- don in Jay County, Indiana. They have five children, Kenneth, Sarah, Leota, Delno and Wright.
DAVID STUCKY is one of the men whose lives have been of construc- tive endeavor and of quiet but good citizenship in Adams County. For years he has enjoyed the proceeds of his labors as an agrieulturist in Wabash Township and has reached a place in life where he can sur- vey his own labors with satisfaction and take pleasure in the fine family of sons and danghters who have grown up around him.
Mr. Stucky, whose home is in sections 18 and 19 in Wabash Town- ship, on Rural Route No. 3 out of Geneva, was born in French Town- ship of Adams County March 10, 1857, a son of Christian and Fannie (Mosure) Stucky. His father was a native of France and the Stucky family has been identified with Adams County since pioneer times. The mother was born in Wayne County, Ohio. The parents married in Adams County and began housekeeping in French Township. The father bought a farm there and was engaged in its labors until he retired and moved to Linn Grove, where he spent his last years. They had thirteen children, two of whom died in infancy, and of the eleven that reached maturity six daughters and four sons are still living: David; Christ, in Michigan; Abraham of Decatur, Indiana; Henry of Toledo, Ohio; Leah, wife of Abraham Egby of Hartford Township; Catherine, wife of Peter N. Mosure; Mary, wife of J. Shindler of Berne; Rosa, wife of Sam Klopenstein of Michigan; Rachel, wife of Levi Klopenstein of Woodburn, Indiana ; and Fannie, wife of Adam Augsburger.
Mr. David Stueky grew up on the old homestead in French Town- ship, and had to be satisfied with a district school education. As far baek as he can recall he was doing some of the duties on the farm and he kept up that labor until he was twenty-one. He then worked out by the month and finally invested his modest capital in a threshing outfit and a wood saw, and the operation of those two outfits kept him busy the best part of the year.
October 19, 1884, Mr. Stucky married Miss Barbara Rich, a native of French Township. After his marriage Mr. Stucky located on the farm he now owns. At that time nearly all the land was covered with timber. His own home was a log cabin, and he and his wife put up with its meager comforts some years. The individual labors of Mr. Stucky have been responsible for the present condition of the farm, which is one of the best in the township. Ile now owns 200 acres, and has ex- cellent improvements.
Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stucky, ten of whom are still living, two dying in infancy. Ida is the wife of Joel Augsburger of Wabash Township; Elmore is in the hardware business at Wood- burn, Indiana ; Noah is a merchant at Linn Grove; Christ and Joseph, twins, are in the hardware business at Woodburn; Albert is assistant eashier of the Bank of Geneva : Lillian, Eli, Selma and Ivan, the younger children, are all at home, Ivan still being in school. The family are active members of the Defenseless Mennonite Church of French Town- ship, and Mr. Stucky is one of the trustees of the church. He is also
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a trustee of the Salem Orphanage located near Flanagan, Illinois. Mr. Stucky acknowledges no partisanship in politics and he has been con- tent to exert his influence through his ability and success as a farmer, through the rearing of a family of honorable and hard working chil- fren, and the building up and maintenance of good influences around his home community.
DANIEL P. SHOEMAKER, whose farm home is four miles west of Geneva in Hartford Township, is a member of that great body of in- dustrions and thinking producers who earn every cent they get by add- ing honestly to the wealth of the world. He has been a farmer forty years or more, all the time in Adams County, and his own work and example have contributed to the fair reputation which Adams County enjoys among the best agricultural sections of the state.
Mr. Shoemaker was born on a farm in Adams County about a mile and a half east of where he now lives. His birth occurred June 7, 1854. He is a son of Jacob M. and Mary (Pontius) Shoemaker. Both parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and the Shoemaker and Pontius families were among the pioneers of Adams County, Indiana, where Jacob and his wife married, then locating on a farm three miles west of Geneva. They were numbered among the industrious and thrifty people of their generation, and the efforts of Jacob Shoemaker resulted in the clearing up and ditching and general improvement of one of the good farms of Hartford Township. He finally removed to Geneva, where he and his wife died. While living in Hartford Township they attended the Methodist Episcopal Church, but at Geneva worshipped in the United Brethren Church. Politically Jacob Shoemaker was a democrat, but in local affairs was strictly independent. He and his wife had ten chil- dren : John P., Daniel P., Amos P., Lydia, who married John Heller. These four children were by Jacob Shoemaker's first marriage. By his second wife he was the father of George, Abe, Noah, Wilson, Rachel and Emma.
Daniel P. Shoemaker grew up on the old farm in Hartford Town- ship and there he learned the value of honest toil as a means of earning and securing those things which his ambition eraved. Even while at- tending the district schools during the winter terms he was making his services worth something on the farm, and during the summer he was one of the most dependable workers in the fields. He lived at home until he was twenty-one, and then for three years worked out by the month. He began his active career as a renter and continued in that way for five years, until his marriage.
April 9, 1882, Mr. Shoemaker married Miss Belle Taylor. She was born in Wells County, Indiana, daughter of Theodore Taylor. After his marriage Mr. Shoemaker continued renting for another three years, and then bought the land on which he lives today. It is difficult now to reconstruct the general appearance and condition of this farm when Mr. Shoemaker first bought it. Much of it was covered with brush and woods, and there were a number of years in which he had to divide his time between cultivating the crops and clearing away and ditching the soil for more extended cultivation. At first he lived in a log cabin, and when this was outworn he and his family moved into a commodious briek strneture, which is one of the substantial homes of the township. Mr. Shoemaker's farm comprises a 121.6 acres. Good livestock has always been a feature of the Shoemaker farm and he has made some- thing of a local reputation as a breeder of Shorthorn cattle. Ile now has seven thoroughbreds. headed by a fine bull No. 39145. He has also bred Belgian horses. Mr. Shoemaker is a stockholder in the Farmers
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and Merchants Bank at Geneva and in politics is independent. Mrs. Shoemaker is a member of the Disciples Church.
WALTER L. THORNHILL of Wabash Township, Adams County, is one of the active farmers and stockmen who are responsible for the "get together movement" in Adams County, and are seeking to break down the old isolation of farm life and improve at every possible point the conditions as well as the efficiency of the agricultural community. Mr. Thornhill has conclusively demonstrated his individual ability as a farmer, and for a number of years has taken an active part in the Farmers Institute, has filled the office of inspector, and has been a leader in institute work both in his own and adjoining counties of Indiana.
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