USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > Valley of the upper Maumee River, with historical account of Allen County and the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Volume I > Part 36
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Cornelius Gearin, of Lake township, was born here, May 1, 1843, son of John and Catherine (Shonchron) Gearin, natives of Ireland, who
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came to Allen county in 1837. The father is a farmer by occupation, and is still living at the advanced age of seventy-seven in Marion county, Ore., Cornelius was educated in the public schools and worked on his father's farm until the breaking out of the late rebellion, when he volunteered with Company L, First Michigan cavalry, and served three years. He participated in the following engagements: Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Sheridan's raid to Richmond, Petersburg, Winchester, Fisher Hill, Cedar Creek and the battle of the Five Forks, where he received a grape shot wound in the left shoulder. He was sent to Thunderville Station, then to Petersburg, then to Point of Rock hospital, Hampton general hospital at Fortress Monroe, and finally to Detroit, where he received an honorable discharge. He returned to Allen county, but soon afterward went to Oregon, remaining two years, after which he again came to Allen county and engaged in farming and stock-raising, which he has followed up to the present time, with a marked degree of success. He was married to Lucy A., daughter of William and Mary Manning, of Whitley county, October 2, 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Gearin are members of St. Patrick's Catholic church, of Arcola. Politically he is a republican.
John Grosjean, a well-known manufacturer of Lake township, was born September 14, 1851, son of John B. and Mary (Pirson) Grosjean, both natives of France. His father, John B. Grosjean, at the age of fourteen, left France, his native land, and landing at New York, came direct to Fort Wayne. Here he worked for one year on the canal and then engaged in farming, entering land from the government. He mar- ried Mary Pirson, a native of France, and both are now living on this old homestead. Their son John received an ordinary education in the common schools, and worked on his father's farm until twenty-one years of age, when he, with two of his brothers, embarked in the saw-milling business near Wallen. They prospered in this business until the mill burned, seven years later, causing a loss of about $3,000. They rebuilt at Wallen, and continued the business until July, 1888, when John Gros- jean sold his interest to his brothers. Owing to the great demand for tile in 1882, they engaged in its manufacture in connection with milling. In 1885, they established a branch tile factory at Arcola. Mr. John Gros- jean has done the buying and selling in the lumber business and been general manager of the tile factories. September 8, 1888, Mr. Grosjean, in partnership with Joseph Sallier, became owners of a general store at Arcola, purchasing the stocks formerly owned by Victor Cavalier and by William Rockhill. They are at present doing a large business. He was married October 16, 1873, to Mary, daughter of James Hud- son, and they have had two children: Edgar and Abbie, the latter deceased. This lady dying February 14, 1880, he was in IS82, mar- ried to Mary, daughter of Jacob Cook, and they have one child: Ernest. Mrs. Grosjean is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politi- cally Mr. Grosjean is a republican.
William Tracy, of Lake township, is a son of the pioneers, Thomas
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and Mary Dugan Tracy, who came to this township at an early day, and had the experiences of old settlers. The Indians frequently put up with them for the night, wolves would howl at the door, and deer were so plenty that some unusually inquisitive ones would occasionally look in at the cabin window. William Tracy died in 1861, but his widow sur- vives at the age of eighty years. Their son, above named, was born at Bristol, Penn., April 16, 1837. He availed himself of the pioneer schools to the extent of a three months' term each year, and worked with his father until he was twenty-five. Since then he has been engaged in railroading, and also farming and stock-raising, and is doing well. He is a member of St. Patrick's church, and politically is a democrat.
Benjamin Jones, a prominent farmer of Lake township, was born November 12, 1819. His father, John Jones, son of Benjamin and Sarah (Cadwallader) Jones, was a native of Montgomery county, Wales, and a weaver by trade; he married Mary, a daughter of Edward and Ann (Evans) Humphreys, of the same county. Grandmother Jones lived to be of great age yet never wore glasses. She was frozen to death at the age of ninety-five. John Jones came to this country in 1841, and settled at Tarrytown, N. Y., where he resided two years. In 1843 he moved to his present home and there died April 10, 1876. His wife passed away August 18, 1855. Benjamin Jones came to the United States in 1839, and at New York city engaged in various occupations for the period of four years. He then came with his father to Lake township. He is one of six children, four of whom survive: Benjamin, Mary, wife of Albert Garrison, of Fort Wayne; Anna, widow of Will- iam Darby; John, a mechanic in the Wabash shops at Fort Wayne. The latter served in Company C, Eighty-eighth regiment, which went into action in August, 1862. He served during the remainder of the war, being promoted to sergeant. Benjamin Jones was married May 18, 1872, to Sarah C., daughter of Joseph and Caroline (Ayers) Car- roll. She was born June 18, 1844, near Zanesville, and came to Indiana with her parents in 1846. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have one child, Mary A. They have a well improved farm of forty acres, on which is built a good house and barn. He has served as township clerk, supervisor, school director, etc. Politically he is a republican.
George W. Grayless, a leading citizen of Lake township, was born in Alice county, Iowa, November 14, 1848, the son of Charles and Jane Grayless. The father is a farmer by occupation, and is still living. The mother died in California, May 22, 1854. George W. was edu- cated in the common schools of Allen county, and worked on his father's farm until twenty-two years of age, when he began farming for him- self, which occupation he has continued to the present time, together with stock-raising. He was married June 18, 1871, to Barbara A., daughter of Nathan and Barbara Smith, of Churubusco, Ind. Their union has been blessed by two children: Cora L. and Warren. Mr. and Mrs. Grayless are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of Churubusco lodge, I. O. O. F. Politically he is a republican.
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B. S. Butts, a prominent citizen of Lake township, was born April 25, 1825, in Monroe township, Licking county, Ohio. He is the second of ten children of Samuel and Fanny (Bruff) Butts. The father, a native of Virginia, settled in Ohio in 1799, participated in the battle of Tippe- canoe under Gen. Harrison and Capt. Jake Baker, and died in 1845, at the age of seventy-four. The mother is, at the advanced age of eighty- five years, in good health and in full possession of her mental faculties, being able to relate many early incidents. Their son, B. S., was edu- cated in the common schools of Ohio, and at the death of his father, began farming for himself, in which occupation he continued. In 1850 he came to Allen county, purchasing the farm on which he now lives, settling in the woods and opening up what is now a very rich farm. He was married September 14, 1846, to Hannah Larimore, and they have had eight children: Sarah (died in 1869), Alonzo, Allen D., William W., A. J., James D., Annie B. and Mary N. They also raised a grand- son, Harry B. Young. Mr. and Mrs. Butts are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church and he is a member of Wayne lodge, No. 25, F. & A. M.
William W. Butts, son of the above, was born in Lake township, October 16, 1854. He studied in common schools and worked on his father's farm until eighteen years old, when he began work on the rail- road, which he continued for three years. Resuming farming in 1877, he moved to Arkansas where he remained one year. Returning to Indiana, he was employed on the railroad two years, and was then engaged in saw-milling for three years. Then he purchased the farm on which he now lives, and has successfully followed farming and stock- raising to the present time. He was married on October 6, 1877, to Allie, daughter of Simon and Mary I. Harshbarger, old settlers of Whitley county, Ind. Her father, born May 23, 1832, served three years in the late rebellion. The mother was born October 22, 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Butts are the parents of two children, both deceased.
George Kronmüller, a prominent and wealthy farmer of Lake town- ship, was born August 1, 1828. His parents, Leonard and Wilhelmina (Shaffer) Kronmüller, were natives of Germany, where the father was a farmer by trade and owner of a large tract of land. They had eleven children, eight of whom are living: John, residing in Wittenberg, Ger- many; George, Jacob, Gotlieb, residing at Huntington; William, a well- to-do farmer near Huntington; Wilhelmina, and Mary, wife of Gotlieb Kaine, of Peru, Ind. George Kronmüller came to this country in 1852 and after living a few months in Erie county, Penn., he went to Ken- tucky, and came to Fort Wayne a short time afterward. After spending about eight years as a laborer in a saw-mill he bought the handsome farm on which he now resides, which is well improved and has a large frame residence and a spacious barn. He was married December 28, 1856, to Mary, a daughter of Jacob and Catharine (Sagar) Weller. Her brother, George Weller, now resides in Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Kronmüller have six children: Mary, wife of Charles Byer, of Churubusco; George,
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of Goshen, Ind .; Wilhelmina, wife of William Sutter; John, Catharine, wife of James Butts, of Churubusco; William C., of Goshen. John is associated with his father in cultivating their farm of 120 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Kronmüller are members of the Lutheran church and are active Christian people. Politically he is a democrat, having voted that ticket all his life.
Wilson R. Stirling was born July 26, 1826, son of Samuel and Delilah (Craig) Stirling, natives of Westmoreland county, Penn., who moved to Ohio in 1830, and remained there until their deaths in 1864 and 1868, respectively. Wilson R. Stirling received a common school education, and worked with his father until twenty-two years of age. In '1852 he came to Allen county, and purchased the farm in Lake township, on which he now lives, and engaged in farming and stock- raising, paying especial attention to Durham cattle, Berkshire hogs, and Southdown sheep. His farm consists of 163 acres. He was married November 30, 1848, to Rachel Harrison, who died September 30, 1849. His second marriage, to Cynthia Grayless, took place January I, 1852, and they had three children: Josiah, Allen and Alfred, all living. This lady died in April, 1857, and he was married October 5, 1857, to Rebecca Vanmeter, by whom he has four children: Florence, Hattie E., John G. and Clara B. Mr. and Mrs. Stirling are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. He is a member of Wayne lodge, No: 25, F. & A. M.
William W. Madden, a well-known farmer of Lake township, was born December 3, 1853, the son of William and Rachel (Taylor) Madden, natives of Ohio. He was educated in the common schools and worked on the farm with his father until nineteen years of age, when he began farming for himself. This occupation, together with dealing in stock, he still follows on an extensive scale, cultivating a valu- able farm of 160 acres. He was married on August 15, 1878, to Edith A. Hire, daughter of Elisha Hire. They have had four children: Joseph W., Jesse B., William A. and Bessie H., of whom William A. is deceased.
Octave Boœuf was born in the province of Jura, France, May I, 1818. He is the son of Jacob and Joanna Boœuf, who both lived and died in France. He worked on a farm with his father until 1853, when he left his native land and landing in New York, came directly to Fort Wayne. Here he remained for two months working on the canal and then worked on the railroad for two years. Subsequently he rented a farm and engaged in agriculture, living on rented lands for seven years. At the expiration of that period he bought the farm of eighty acres on which he now lives. He now owns 200 acres in all. Mr. Boæuf fol- lows stock-raising in connection with farming. He was married in France, September, 1847, to Gustine Outier, and have six children: Henry, Mary, August, Eugenie, Josephine and Julian. Mrs. Boœuf died December 29, 1887. The family are members of St. Patrick's church at Arcola. Mr. Boœuf is one of the enterprising citizens of
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Lake township, and by industry, integrity and economy he has gained quite an extensive property.
Luderick Welsheimer, of Lake township, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, February 22, 1829. His parents, Philip and Catharine (Duley) Welsheimer, were natives of Virginia. They died at their farm home in Ross county, Ohio, the mother in 1850, the father in 1868. Mr. Welsheimer was educated in the common schools of Ross county, and worked on his father's farm until twenty-four years of age, when he moved to Allen county. He has engaged in the occupation of farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of short-horn cattle and Poland China hogs. His farm consists of 224 acres, and is one of the best in the township. Mr. Welsheimer has served his township as jus- tice of the peace, and is the present assessor. He was married in 1851, to Elizabeth Lucas, and they have had nine children, seven of whom survive: Laura, Ezra L., Otto, Frank L., Nettie G., Jesse A. and Will- iam. Mr. and Mrs. Welsheimer are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church.
Thomas Larimore, of Lake township, was born June 12, 1827. His father, Thomas Larimore, a native of Pennsylvania, married Hannah Young, and moved to Licking county, Ohio, where he was killed by a falling tree, in March, 1832. The widow and youngest son moved to Sparta township, Noble co., Ind., in 1849, and eight years later came to" Lake township, where Mrs. Larimore died in March, 1866. Thomas was bound out after his father's death, but the master's wife dying a short time afterward the family broke up, and young Larimore was left among strangers. From the age of eight he led a life of hardships and was self-supporting. In 1848 he was married to Mahala Evans, and in the fall of 1850 he moved to Lake township, Allen co., bought eighty acres of land, and with his wife, child and a bound boy, began life in this state without a cent in his pocket nor a cabin on his land, and winter before him. But he was possessed of industrious habits and determina- tion. In November, 1881, he moved to Churubusco, and took charge of the Larimore house, having purchased the property the previous May. Besides this Mr. Larimore owns 400 acres of land in Lake township, and valuable property in Fort Wayne. He is a well-known breeder of short-horn cattle. Mr. and Mrs Larimore are the parents of twelve children, of whom Lydia, Cynthia, Thomas J., Hannah M., Levi B., Eli, Mary, Howard and Charley are living, and Alexander, William F. and Norris are deceased. Mr. Larimore is a member of Churubusco. lodge, 515, F. & A. M., and he and wife are members of the Baptist church. He has held the office of justice of the peace four years, and a number of minor offices. He is devoted to church work and has been active in the Sabbath school since 1851. His home is a very pleasant one, and he has the largest barn in Allen county, in dimensions 88x53, and perfectly equipped.
John Rapp, a prominent citizen of Lake township, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, July 16, 1849. Five years later his parents,
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John and Margaret (Wendlenger) Rapp, with their family, left their native land, and arriving at New York came directly to Fort Wayne, where they lived a short time. They afterward resided in Whitley county ten years, and then moved to Lake township. The father died January 10, 1889, and the mother May 10, 1883. John Rapp was edu- cated in the common schools and worked on his father's farm until twenty-one years of age, when he rented the farm and engaged in agriculture and stock-raising for himself. In 1874 he purchased the farm on which he now lives, of 157 acres. He was married March 14, 1875, to Mahala E., daughter of William and Rachel Barrett, and they have had six children, five of whom are living: John W., Harry H., Agnes, Gertrude and Katie. By industry and economy Mr. Rapp has accumulated considerable property.
Jacob Colter, a prominent manufacturer of Lake township, was born in Bavaria, May 4, 1848. In 1851 he was brought by his parents, Jacob and Caroline (Teppla) Colter, to America, but in forty-two days after landing at Canal Dover, Ohio, the father died. Subsequently his mother married again and he had a home with his step-father until he was twenty-one years old, receiving a common school education. After teaching school one term he removed to Indiana, and settling at Coesse, engaged in the manufacture of hoops and staves in partnership with William Smith. Three years later he removed to Arcola, and with P. W. Smith, established the firm of Colter & Co., which by good busi- ness methods, has prospered. Mr. Colter has accumulated a consider- able property, and has won the esteem of his associates. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in politics is a republican. In 1878, he was married to Sarah Crawford, and of their six children, five are still living: Olive B., William H., John H., Maud B. and Louise E. The family are members of the Methodist church.
Sebastian Keller, born in Bavaria, Germany, December 10, 1831, son of Sebastian and Magdaline Keller, who both lived and died in their native land; the father was a carpenter by trade. Mr. Keller was edu- cated in Germany, and learned the trade of stone cutter, at which he worked until twenty-one years of age. He then left his native land and arrived at New York, October 12, 1852; after remaining there for two years working at his trade, he moved to Seneca county, Ohio; and two years later came to Fort Wayne, where he followed his trade for twelve years. Subsequently he engaged in business for himself, at which he continued about seventeen years. Selling out, he bought a farm in Lake township on which he has been engaged in agriculture very successfully, having one of the finest farms in the township, consisting of 233 acres. He was married to Miss Mary Shields in 1861, and of their ten children eight survive: Mary, Andrew, Frank, Cecile, Annie, Edward, Harry and Charles. The family are members of St. Patrick's church.
Daniel Keim, a worthy citizen of Lake township, was born in Holmes county, Ohio, July 30, 1839, son of Solomon and Elizabeth (Hostettler) Keim, both natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer by occu-
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pation. He died August 16, 1853, and the mother followed July 2, 1868. Daniel was educated in the common schools of Ohio, and sought work at the age of fourteen, being variously engaged until eighteen years of age when he served a two years' apprenticeship at the tanner's trade. At the end of this time he rented a tannery and followed the business for three years. In 1862 he moved to La Grange county, Ind., and started a tannery the following spring, and continued in the business for twelve years. While there he purchased forty acres of land and engaged in farming. In 1881 he moved to Allen county and purchased the farm on which he now lives, which consists of 205 acres. He was married October 6, 1859, to Phobe Arnold, and they are the parents of nine children, eight of whom are living: George W., Solomon D., Rosette C., Emma G., Clara E., Charles F., William D. and Ada A. Mr. and Mrs. Keim are members of the German Baptist church. Mr. Keim takes a great interest in educational matters, and two of his sons, George W. and Solomon D., are teachers in Lake township.
Jarvis Smith, a prosperous farmer of Lake township, was born June 26, 1844, in Gallia county, Ohio. He is the son of E. J. and Ma- hala Smith, natives of Ohio. The father, a farmer by occupation, is still living, but the mother died in Lake township in 1867. Mr. Smith was educated in the common schools of Allen and Whitley counties, and worked on his father's farm until twenty-two years of age. He then took up agriculture as his own business, and in this and stock-raising has been notably successful. He was married August 26, 1865, to Katie, the daughter of George Smaltz, of Aboit township, and they have three children: Franklin, Clarence, and Chester. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
EEL RIVER TOWNSHIP.
This township, so-called from the stream which drains it, received its first settlers in 1828, when William Kellison and his brother, from Darke county, Ohio, settled on section 32. They erected small cabins and made a deadening, and then in 1830, sold out to Adam Hull, sr., and went on westward. Mr. Hull was well-known throughout the county, and in the many rough and tumble encounters which gave zest to days in town, generally held his own. He built the first bridge over Eel river, at his own expense, and established a private toll to which travelers sometimes unreasonably demurred. For several years his was the only cabin in the neighborhood, and was the stopping place of many immigrants going through. In the fall of 1832, one stranger, who was traveling on foot, shared the cabin over night, but being taken sick died the next morning. A few weeks afterward a family stopped, and the children being sick with scarlet fever, two of them died here, and their bodies, with that of the stranger, were the first to be laid in the old graveyard south of Eel river. Such instances as these, though very briefly narrated, reveal much of the hardships of the lives of those who
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were making new homes in the wilderness. In 1834, Mr. Hull was ap- pointed postmaster, there being a considerable settlement by that time on the Goshen road, to the south. He held the place until his death, September 1, 1838. About 1833, Peter Heller settled, and his name is perpetuated as the title of the neighborhood and postoffice, Heller's Corners. In 1834 Mr. Hull, aided by his neighbors, cut a road from that neighborhood to the east line of the township, which was the first highway. In this year, Joseph and John R. Johnston settled on sec- tions 21 and 28, and on June II, John Valentine, from Ohio, as were all these early settlers, made his home on section 33. In the spring of 1836 there was a considerable settlement made in the east, in the direction of the Lima road, including John P. Shoaff, from Miami county, Ohio, who settled on section 13, and became justice, trustee, and from 1862 to 1868, representative in the general assembly. Others who came at that date were F. C. Freeman, Samuel Hillegass, Benja- min Mason, Joseph Jones, Henry Bossler who established the pioneer smithy, and Samuel Kniss. In April of this year the first election was held, and the result was as to justice, for which Messrs. Hull and Bond were candidates, a tie. The judge decided the matter by drawing one of the ballots from the hat, and Mr. Hull so won the election. Later, in 1836, Abram Taylor came from Cuyahoga county, Ohio, to the Hull neighborhood, and William Anderson settled in the east. In 1837 William F. Mooney and Uriah Chase settled, and between 1837 and 1840, came R. D. Baird, Solomon Bennett, John Bennett, Caleb Ben- nett, John McKee, John Hathaway, Mr. Schilling, John R. Mayo, on whose land the first " Hickory school-house" was built and used in 1837, and William Madden. In 1838, Joseph Jones opened a store at his house, on what was afterward known as the Charles Hanna farm. In 1852, Smith & Diffenderfer established a saw-mill on Eel river, and for a number of years supplied lumber for the houses built about that time to replace the log cabins, but it finally went to decay. Near it a steam grist-mill was built by Peter Heller, in 1855, and he operated it successfully until it was destroyed by fire. Mr. Heller had in 1837, succeeded to the postinastership, and the office was afterward called Heller's Corners. In October, 1835, Asa Miller laid out on his land in the southwest corner of section 32, and an adjoining portion of Lake township, the village of "Kraco," the main street of which was 132 feet wide. A circular tract in the center was reserved as " Miller's Park." The town did not materialize.
The first school was taught in a cabin erected for that purpose in 1837, which as it was built almost entirely of hickory logs, was called the "Hickory" school-house. Among its pupils were Thomas and William McKee, John M. Taylor and his sister, Mrs. Altha Hull.
Adam Hull, son of the Adam Hull above mentioned as the first perma- nent settler of Eel River township, is now the oldest settler of that town- ship living. He was born May 8, 1812, in Pendleton county, Va., and thence emigrated at the age of twelve years to Ohio with his parents,
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