USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > The pictorial history of Fort Wayne, Indiana : a review of two centuries of occupation of the region about the head of the Maumee River, Vol. II > Part 76
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
where the father obtained a tract of wild land and instituted the arduous task of reclaiming a farm from the virtual wilderness. He cleared and improved his land, became one of the prosperous farmers of the county and lived a life of signal honor and usefulness, both he and his wife having continued to reside on their old homestead until their death and their names meriting place on the roll of the sterling pioneers of the county. Benjamin Snider was reared to the sturdy discipline of the pioneer farm and has been significantly one of the world's earnest and productive workers, his early educational advantages having been those offered in the pioneer schools. He has never severed his allegiance to the fundamental industry of agriculture and his is one of the well-im- proved farms of Jefferson township, the place being about five and a half miles distant from Monroeville, which is his postoffice address. Mr. Snider has been an enterprising and progressive farmer and the most of the permanent improvements on his homestead have been made by him. Though now venerable in years he is still alert and vigorous and gives a general supervision to the affairs of his farm, with secure status as one of the honored and well-known citizens of his native town- ship. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party, his religious views are in harmony with the tenets of the Episcopal church, and he formerly maintained active affiliation with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The first marriage of Mr. Snider was celebrated, Jan- uary 21, 1869, when Miss Elizabeth Seibert became his wife. She was a daughter of Barney and Elizabeth (Warheim) Seibert, both of whom were born in Virginia, of German ancestry, and they were early settlers in Allen county, where they continued to reside until their death. Mrs. Snider was summoned to the life eternal on March 26, 1890, and her memory is cherished by all who came within the circle of her kindly influence. Of the seven children the first was Maggie May, who died when about thirty years of age, and the names of the others are indicated in respective order of birth : George Ellsworth, Oliver B., Mabel Gray, Dora W., Grace and Edith, the last two having died in infancy. For his second wife Mr. Snider wedded Mrs. Ellen Erbine, and she presides most graciously over the attractive home.
Preston H. Snider .- As a farmer and a member of the directorate of the Hoagland State Bank Preston H. Snider has come to occupy a leading position in his community, in which he has spent his life. He was born in Marion township, November 28, 1859, a son of Philip and Elizabeth (Snider) Snider, natives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively. Philip Snider was born on August 18, 1818, and came to Allen county, in 1848, buying land and devoting himself to farm life. He was married in 1852 and lived quietly and prosperously in his chosen community until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he promptly enlisted for service and passed through the war. His children were Lulu Maud. May Kansas and Preston H., of whom brief mention has already been made. Mr. Snider married Tilla Felger and they have one son, Frank Boyd Snider.
Edmond J. Somers has been the author of his own success in the farming world and such accomplishments as have been his are the results of his own well-directed efforts and energies. He is a native of the Hoosier state, born in Wells county, April 8, 1873, son of William Henry and Maggie (Pierce) Somers. They were born of German parents in Adams county, Indiana, and spent their lives in devotion to the
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farming industry in Wells county. They were staunch members of the Methodist Episcopal church, good citizens and neighbors, and were the parents of a family of nine children, most of them coming to years maturnity and taking their places in their respective communities where they are living useful lives. They are named here in the order of their birth : Lula died in 1901. Park is a resident of Ossian, Indiana. Edmond .J. was the third born. Gurden is a resident of Wells county. Chauncey lives in Fort Wayne. Ora is the wife of William Sherer, of Allen county. Florence is married and lives in Fort Wayne. Minnie married Calvin Bea, and they also are residents of Fort Wayne. Ira is the youngest. Edmond J. Somers had the usual country school education and spent his early life in association with his father in the working of the home farm. When he married he settled on his present farm, a well-appointed place of one hundred and seventy acres, to which he later added fifty- three acres adjoining. He has farmed energetically and profitably and takes his place among the foremost agricultural men of his community today. He is a leader in his township and is identified with the Masonic order in a fraternal way. His politics are Republican and with his family he has membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. He was married on March 5, 1900, to Martha Felger, daughter of Christ Felger, who was an early settler in Allen county, and who bought land there when it might be had in any quantity for six dollars the acre. They were among the substantial people of their community as long as they lived. Mr. and Mrs. Somers have two children-Walter and Albert-bright boys who are growing up in the freedom of rural life, and attending the local schools, which are vastly improved in comparison with the district schools their father attended not so many years agone.
Harley H. Somers has become one of the representative business men of the younger generation in his native county and is secretary and treas- urer of the Farmers' State Bank in the village of Sheldon, Pleasant township, where he is also associated with his brother-in-law, Charles E. Clark, in a successful contracting business. He is progressive both as a business man and as a loyal citizen, and was prominently concerned in the organization of the substantial banking institution of which he is now a valued executive. The Farmers' State Bank of Sheldon was or- ganized July 22, 1910, and with Mr. Somers forty-one other substantial citizens were associated in the establishing of the new institution, which was incorporated with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars and which initiated active business on October 22, 1910. The official or executive corps of this well ordered bank is as here noted: Charles F. True, president; George Fogwell, vice-president; and Harley A. Somers, secretary and treasurer. In addition to the president and vice-president, the directorate of the bank includes also the following representative citizens : George F. Buskirk, Peter Sorg, J. F. Springer, William Brindle, Simon W. Somers, Andrew Neireiter, and Nathan Snider. The brick building occupied is owned by the bank and was erected and equipped for the purpose, the attractive structure of one story being twenty by forty feet in dimensions and being up to approved modern standard in appointments and equipment, with a fire and burglar-proof vault and with time-lock safe of the most approved type, the building having been erected at a cost of five thousand dollars. The substantial and consecu- tive expansion of the business of the bank are indicated in the following record of its resources on the 1st of January of each successive year up
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
to January 1, 1916: 1911, $38,251.37 ; 1912, $66,244.85; 1913, $90,745.61; 1914, $117,068.33; 1915, $121,685.71; 1916, $153,673.67. Within the six years of its operation the bank has paid nine thousand dollars in divi- dends to its stockholders, and its surplus and undivided profits at the close of the year 1916 are represented in the sum of $2,200. Harley H. Somers was born in Marion township, this county, on January 26, 1883, and is a son of Simon W. and Mary E. (Smith) Somers, who still reside on their fine farm in Marion township. Simon W. Somers is not only one of the substantial farmers and influential citizens of his home town- ship but is also a stockholder and director of the Farmers' State Bank of Sheldon, as the foregoing list has indicated. He was born in Adams county, this state, but was reared and educated in Allen county, his wife having been born and reared in this county and having completed her education in the Methodist College at Fort Wayne. Both she and her husband are zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Poe, and he has been a trustee of the same since 1901, his politcial support being given to the Republican party. Of the two children, Harley H., of this review, is the elder, and the younger, Lucius V., continued to be associated with his father in the work and management of the home farm. Harley H. Somers acquired his early education in the district schools . of his native township and supplemented this discipline by a course in the high school at Middletown. Thereafter he taught in the district schools for nine years, during which he made a record of success as a representative of the pedagogic profession, but his predilection for busi- ness activities led him to assume the position of assistant cashier of the bank in the village of Hoagland, this county, where he remained eight months and gained valuable experience, so that he was well fortified for executive service when, at the expiration of the period noted, he effected the organization of the Farmers' State Bank of Sheldon, of which he has since served as the efficient and popular secretary and treasurer. In politics Mr. Somers maintains an independent attitude and gives his support to the men and measures meeting the approval of his judgment. He is affiliated with the Scottish Rite body of the Masonic order and both he and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church in Poe. On May 12, 1907, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Somers to Miss Etna Trenary, daughter of John and Ellen (Snider) Tre- nary, of Poe, this county, and the two children of this union are: Byron T., who was born June 27, 1912; and Mary E., who was born July 21, 1914.
Simon W. Somers was born in Marion township, Allen county, Indi- ana, on January 17, 1857, son of Harrison and Elizabeth (Roe) Somers, who came as young married people from their native state, Virginia, to Allen county, in 1856. The father was a cooper by trade, and gave some attention to that work after locating in Marion township, later buying a farm and turning his energies to the cultivation of his land. He was a renter for many years, and only lived seven years after he came into possession of a place of his own. He was a good citizen and a man highly esteemed in his community all his days. He and his wife were members of the Church of the Disciples. Their children numbered seven. John lives in Aboite township; Oliver is located in Angola ; Elmer calls Fort Wayne his home; Charles lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Pres- ton is living in Fort Wayne; Anna is in Williamsburg, Ohio, and Simon W. is the eldest of the family. Simon W. Somers had his early education
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FORT WAYNE AND ALLEN COUNTY
in the public schools of his community and worked on the home farm for some years, later finding employment on neighboring farms for some few years. In 1883 he bought a place of his own. It was small, com- prising forty acres, but it was ample to begin independence with, and he later added one hundred and four acres of excellent farm land, so that he has today as much land as he can comfortably work. He was married on February 23, 1882, to Miss Mary E. Smith, daughter of Wilson and Catherine (Glock) Smith, who came from Germany and settled on land in Allen county in pioneer days. Mr. and Mrs. Somers have two children-Harley and Lucius. Both are married and Harley has two children-Byron and Mary, while Lucius has one daughter, named Eliza- beth. Mr. Somers is Republican in politics and with his wife has mem- bership in the Methodist Episcopal church of their community.
Edward A. Sordelet .- The consistent and progressive policies main- tained in connection with the government of Allen county have in recent years been exemplified in no more important and beneficent way than in the recent purchase of the Allen County Farm, a fine estate that is already well equipped in many departments but upon which the best of improvements are being made, so that it shall be made a model demesne for the varied uses to which it is applied. Special wisdom was shown in selecting Edward A. Sordelet as superintendent of the farm, and his administration of affairs is proving full justification of his preferment in this official line, the exactions and responsibilities of which are many. He is a scion of the third generation of the Sordelet family in Allen county and the name has been worthily linked with civic and industrial progress in the county since the middle-pioneer period of its history. Edward A. Sordelet was born in Jefferson township, this county, July 7, 1871, and is a son of Jacques and Armonce (Dupont) Sordelet, who were born in France and who were children at the time of the immigration of the respective families to America. Both families came to Allen county in an early day, and the Sordelets settled in Jefferson township, while the Duponts located in Perry township, both becoming successful exponents of farm enterprise. Jacques Sordelet engaged in farming and with the passing years he developed a fine estate, on which he continued until his death, which occurred November 15, 1910, his loved and devoted wife having passed to the life eternal on the 9th of the preceding June, both having been lifelong communicants of the Catholic church. He whose name initiates this review was reared under the sturdy discipline of the home farm, made good use of the advantages of the public schools of his native township, and in earlier years followed work as a carpenter as well as giving effective service in connection with farm enterprise. Prior to accepting his present office, that of superintendent of the county farm, he had been for thirteen years superintendent of a fine estate of six hundred acres in Eel River township, and the diversified service given, with incidental administrative experience, rendered him specially eligible for the important office of which he is now the incumbent. He is the owner of a well improved farm of eighty acres, near Wallen, Wash- ington township, and on the same he is giving special attention to the raising and feeding of fine Aberdeen-Angus cattle and a large type of Poland-China swine. He has made many improvements on this farm, including a fine barn and modern silo. At the time of this writing, in the summer of 1917, Mr. Sordelet is giving special attention to dividing and systematizing the work of the various departments of the county
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farm, as well as to the construction of fences and drainage ditches and to the remodeling of buildings, his determination being to make the place self-supporting and relieve the county from taxation to maintain it. Since he assumed office he has constructed six miles of fence. Mr. Sorde- let is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America, at Churubusco, and the Fort Wayne lodge of the Loyal Order of Moose. Reverting to the family history it may be noted that the father of Mr. Sordelet was twice married, and the one surviving child of the first union is Mrs. Mary Rorick, of Jefferson township. The children of the second marriage are: Frank; Jacob, deceased ; Charles; Mrs. Louise Haines; Mrs. Ida Pio; Edward A., of this sketch; John; Mrs. Ailene Biskel. July 16, 1895, occurred the marriage of Mr. Sordelet to Florence, daughter of John W. and Jennie (Cartwright) Holmes, who were born and reared in Allen county and who now reside near Plymouth, Marshall county. Mrs. Sordelet was summoned to the life eternal, and is survived by three children : Isabelle Marie holds a position in the offices of the Fort Wayne Electric Light Company, her birth having occurred March 9, 1897; Florence May, who was born November 8, 1898, resides in the home of Mrs. William Clutter, of Fort Wayne; and Florence Lucile, born April 17, 1901, lives at the home of her father's sister, Mrs. Pio, at Hobart. On April 25, 1906, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Sordelet to Jessie A., daughter of Horace and Clara (Geiger) McDuffie, who reside in Eel River township, Mrs. Sordelet having there been born March 15, 1881. Mr. McDuffie is of Scotch-Irish ancestry, has been a resident of Allen county all his life and is one of the extensive farmers and influential citi- zens of Ecl River township. Mrs. Sordelet received excellent educa- tional advantages and prior to her marriage had taught seven terms of school in her home township, an experience that has proved of much value to her in connection with her present effective service as matron of the Allen county farm. Mr. and Mrs. Sordelet have no children.
Mrs. Mary J. Sorg, the widow of the late John George Sorg and daughter of Lambert and Theresa (Bush) Raund, was born in Orange county, New York, August 7, 1856. She has been a resident of Allen county since she was an infant, the family having left New York state, in 1857, and located in this district. Lambert Raund, the father, was a stone-cutter by trade, but when he came to Allen county he bought forty acres of farm land and settled down to agricultural life, in which occupation he spent the rest of his days. He was a successful farmer and added considerably to his original holdings during his active years of farm life. He died in 1884, still a leader in his community, and left three children. George and Joseph are deceased, and Mary J. is the immediate subject of this brief family review. She had her education in the public schools of Allen county and was eighteen years old when, on November 4, 1874, she became the wife of John George Sorg, son of Michael and Theresa (Bower) Sorg, German people who came from their native land in early life and settled on a farm in Marion township, Allen county. They were industrious and steady people, who eventually came to own land in the township to the extent of several hundred acres, and were among the foremost citizens of their community. The father was twice married. By his first marriage there were seven chil- dren, named Joseph, John George, Theodore, John, Peter, Anthony and Julia. The second marriage took place in 1851, Barbara Laurer becoming his wife, and their five children were Katherine, of Fort Wayne; Charles,
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of Marion township; Minnie C., living in Wisconsin, and Michael and Henry, both residents of Milan township, Allen county. J. George Sorg, who became the husband of the subject, was educated in the public and parochial schools of Allen county and was for some time employed in the carpenter's trade. He eventually inherited a tract of one hundred acres from his father, and so withdrew from that work, thereafter devoting himself exclusively to farming, in which he enjoyed a very pleasing measure of success. He died on the home farm on December 17, 1904, leaving a widow and twelve children to mourn his passing. He was a devout Roman Catholic all his life and a Democrat in politics. His children briefly mentioned as follows: Theresa, the eldest, is the wife of Frank J. Steinacker; John M., Bernhard, Anthony, Lambert, Catherine M., Ferdinand S., Daniel, Francis M., Andrew G., Roman H. and Robert F. Ferdinand died at the early age of fourteen years. Andrew and Roman still live at home with the mother, but the others have found their places in the world and are engaged in their respective callings. Mrs. Sorg has twenty grandchildren. Her eldest child, Theresa, is the mother of George and Venita. John M. has eight children, named Alfred, Irene, Edna, Oscar, Stella, Agnes, May and Edith. Bernhard is the father of Sylvester G., Marion and Walter. Anthony's children are Antoinette, May, James, Harold and Gerald (twins), Alice and Arthur. Mrs. Sorg carries on farming operations successfully, aided by her two sons who still share the old home place with her, and hers is one of the fine places in the township, where she enjoys the confidence and undivided allegiance of a large circle of old friends.
Frederick B. Sorgen .- The Sorgen family is distinctly German in its origin, and the branch represented by the subject came to America as late as 1858. Jacob and Mary (Helbling) Sorgen came from their native land soon after their marriage and settled in Hardin county, Ohio, where they passed the remaining years of their lives. They gave their attention to farming and were successful in their work, as German farmer folk are reasonably certain to be, given a fair chance. They reared a fine family of twelve children, eight of whom are now living, and they died on their Hardin county farm when fairly advanced in years. Frederick B. Sorgen, their eldest son, was born on September 26, 1855, and was reared and educated in his native county. In early manhood he married Miss Ruth Fertig, of Ohio birth and daughter of Samson and Rebecca (Swain) Fertig, both natives of the Buckeye state, who in later life moved to Kansas, where the father died some years ago. Mrs. Fertig, however, still makes her home in Kansas. Mrs. Sorgen was one of eight children born to her parents, all living but two. After his marriage Mr. Sorgen took his bride to Indiana and they settled in Allen county, locating, in 1891, on their present home in Monroe township. It is a fine farm of eighty acres and the twenty-five years they have spent on it have brought many changes in its general appear- ance, due to the policy of continuous improvement that Mr. Sorgen rigidly adhered to during his lifetime, and which his widow carried out after his death. Six children were born to them, briefly mentioned as follows: Effie M., the wife of Warren Allison; Clarence G .; Ruth I., married to Charles Myers: Carl C .; Olga L., married John Hart, March 7, 1917, and is living in Ohio, and Elmer D. The husband and father died April 8, 1899, and is buried in Stevenson cemetery, Monroe township.
C. A. Spanley .- (See Paragon Cooperage Company.)
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
Alvin A. Sprunger .- The efficient and popular young postmaster of the village of Woodburn, Maumee township, has been a resident of Allen county since his booyhood, but reverts to the Sunflower State as the place of his nativity, his birth having occurred on a farm in Reno county, Kansas, October 29, 1888. He is a son of Christian J. and Mary Anne Sprunger, the former of whom was born in Switzerland and the latter in the fine Swiss colony in Adams county, Indiana, where their marriage was solemnized and where they continued their association with farm industry until their removal to Reno county, Kansas, where the father continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits for seven years. He then returned with his family to the vicinity of Berne, Adams county, Indiana, but about a year later came to Allen county, in 1893, and purchased a farm in Maumee township. Here he continued his successful enterprise as a progressive farmer for the ensuing fifteen years and is now living virtually retired in the village of Woodburn-a sterling cit- izen who commands unqualified esteem, his devoted wife having passed to the life eternal in 1912, a zealous member of the Missionary church, to the faith of which the family closely adheres. Of the eleven children, all of whom are living, the subject of this sketch was the eighth in order of birth, and the names of the others are here recorded: Edwin, Joseph- ine, Salome, Frederick, Huston, Franklin, Alberta, Elizabeth, Elam and Aldo. The present postmaster of Woodburn was a lad of about five years at the time of the family removal to Allen county and here con- tinued his studies in the public schools until he had completed the work of the freshman year in the Fort Wayne High School. Thereafter he was for three terms a student in the Tri-State Normal College, at Angola, this state, and after leaving this institution devoted eight years to suc- cessful pedagogic service, as a teacher in the schools of Maumee town- ship. In 1914, after a successful civil-service examination, he was appointed postmaster at Woodburn and is giving a most effective and satisfactory administration. The fact that he was appointed under the regime of President Wilson indicates that he is a staunch supporter of the cause of the Democratic party, in the ranks of which he has given effective service in his home county, both he and his wife being zealous members of the Missionary church at Woodburn, of which he is serving as secretary and treasurer at the time of this writing, in 1917. In 1914 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Sprunger to Miss Sylvia Lochner. a daughter of Samuel and Leah (Neuenschwander) Lochner, of Allen county, the father having been born in this county, near the village of Leo, and the family having been founded in the county in the pioneer days. Mr. and Mrs. Sprunger have one child, Meredith, who was born April 16, 1915.
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