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 45
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Sarah, Alice, Clara, Charles H. and Willis A. He and wife are mem- Protestant Methodist church. He is the present parsonage trustee, and has served as class leader, steward, etc. He was a member of the Regu- lators during their operations. He is one of the leading citizens of his township and well respected.
James A. Henderson, of Springfield township, is a native of Ohio. His father, John Henderson, was raised to manhood in Pennsylvania, and his father dying when he was quite young he was bound out, and never had the advantage of much education. He was married in Pennsyl- vania to his wife Elizabeth, and several years later they emigrated to Ohio and settled in Mahoning county. In 1850 he sold his little farm of twelve acres and came to Indiana and bought eighty acres in Milan township, all wooded except twenty acres. Five years later he sold and bought forty acres in Springfield township, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1870. He and wife were members of the Lutheran church, and he was one of the leading citizens. James A. Henderson was born while the family resided in Mahoning county, Ohio, July 8, 1840, and came to Indiana with his parents when ten years of age. In 1871 he married Mary Richards, born in 1839, by whom he has two children: Earl and Willard B. He and wife are members of the Lutheran church, of which he has served as deacon, elder and trustee. In 1861 he enlisted in Company E, Thirtieth Indiana regiment, under Capt. Silvers, and served three years and eleven days, being honorably discharged at Indianapolis, October 11, 1864. He began the battle of life as a day laborer, and so accumulated $700, with which he bought a half interest in a saw-mill which he ran about eleven years. He then traded his interest in the mill with other property for eighty acres of land in Springfield township, where he now has a pleasant home.
George W. Nusbaum, a prosperous farmer of Springfield township, was born in Frederick City, Md., September II, 1822, son of William and Susannah (Devilbiss) Nusbaum. At twelve years of age he went with his parents to Ohio, and settled in Seneca county. Here he rented a farm for three years and accumulated enough to buy a farm in Springfield township, where he now lives, in 1850. He served an apprenticeship at the pump-maker's and carpenter's trades, which he followed in this county in connection with farming. March 25, 1847, he married Mary Fry, born in 1825. Of their five children, four are living: James W., Alice V., Emma C. and Alva A. Mrs. Nusbaum was a member of the United Brethren church, and died in 1864. In 1865 he was married to Sarah C. Sanders, by whom he had three children, of whom one is living, Nettie. He and wife are members of the United Brethren church. When Mr. Nusbaum first came to Allen county, he bought 160 acres of wood-land, which he cleared and converted into a farm, and he has now 280 acres. He is one of the leading citizens of his township, and has served as trustee one year.
Henry Cummins, one of the early settlers of Springfield township, was born in Vermont, February 23, 1816, son of Linden and Maria
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(Wilkerson) Cummins. He came with his parents to New York when seven years of age. Thirteen years later they removed to the western reserve of Ohio, and remained about fifteen years, when he came to Indiana and first bought ninety-one and 54-100 acres of wild land and afterward sixty-four more, which was all covered with a dense growth of timber, which he cleared away. In 1838 he was married to Matilda Kilborn, and first settled at Circleville, Ohio, where he worked at the carpenter's trade until he came to Indiana and settled in his little log cabin. Here he spent his golden days, as he was fond of hunting and many a deer fell before his unerring rifle. He has often followed the track of deer nine miles from home when it was almost sundown and no roads led him through a trackless forest. On his last hunt he killed ten or eleven deer in little less than two weeks and sold them at Fort Wayne for about $60. His marriage was blessed with eight children: Mary A., born July 16, 1839; Joseph D., May 12, 1841; Isabel, March .29, 1843; William F., November 29, 1844; Richard A., April 27, 1847, died 1875; Robert M., August 13, 1849; Estella, July 6, 1852; Charles E., Decem- ber 6, 1854. Mrs. Cummins was born November 17, 1814, and departed this life February 10, 1881. He served as supervisor of the road in an early day when they had to cut the roads through the woods. He now Owns II9 acres of good land besides his home property in Harlan, and is one of the respected old citizens of Allen county.
Joseph D. Cummins, son of the above, is a native of Brown county, Ohio, born May 12, 1841. Being the oldest boy of the family, he had experience in pioneer life. In 1862 he enlisted in the late war in Com- pany D, Eighty-eighth Indiana volunteers, under Capt. Scott Swan, and participated in the following battles: Perryville, Stone River, Chick- amauga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge (being with the Fourteenth army corps that made the charge that broke the rebel line and gained the victory), Ringgold, Altoona, Peach Tree Creek, Burnt Hickory Atlanta, Jonesboro, and was with Sherman in his march to the sea. At Perryville he received a wound in his right ankle which disabled him about eight weeks, and with the above and the exception of thirty days at home while sick, he was always at his post of duty. In 1865 he received an honorable discharge at Indianapolis. He served in the cam- paign from Savannah, December 1, 1864, through Georgia and Carolinas, and served in the battles of Averysborough and Bentonville, N. C., then to Galesboro and into camp until April Io. From there they chased Johnston and captured him near Raleigh, N. C., and then marched via Richmond to Washington on foot. When he went to return to his com- pany after his furlough he started via Nashville, but could not get through and went via New York city, taking the steamer Ajax, which was chased by the rebel gunboats and narrowly escaped sinking. When he returned home he was engaged in the blacksmith business at Harlan about three years, and then started for the Black Hills, but was stopped at Fort Kearney, Neb., by the Indian outbreak. On April 20, 1873, he married Orsia Daniels, born June 28, 1852, by whom he has four chil-
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dren : Bernice, born January 25, 1874; Otis, March 9, 1875; Ethel, October IS, 1881, and Mildred, August II, 1888. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is district steward and trustee. She was a teacher in the schools about ten years. He has been engaged in the saw-mill business about twenty years and now owns the saw-mill and planing-mill and band saw and does all kinds of wood work. He has a handsome two-story house in Harlan with all the modern improvements.
W. O. Oberholtzer, the leading blacksmith of Harlan, was born in Ohio, February 15, 1851. His parents, Jacob and Mary (Bickhart) Oberholtzer, are both natives of Pennsylvania. The father was born May 20, 1821, the mother June 14, 1825. The father came to Ohio with his parents when a small boy, and there grew to manhood, and became by occupation a farmer. In 1851 he removed with his wife and two children and settled in Springfield township. He bought eighty acres of uncultivated school lands, and soon added another eighty acres. This he began to clear, but sickened and died, November 2, 1855, leav- ing his wife and three small children. His wife, a true mother, cared for the family, and improved their new home with a house and barn. Here Mr. Oberholtzer grew to manhood, and being the oldest boy the bulk of the work fell to him. His mother died January 29, 1873, and he began to work at the blacksmith trade, never serving any apprentice- ship, but he has mastered the trade. On November 20, 1873, he was married to Sarah M., daughter of Solomon and Harriet (Garman) Mvers, both of Pennsylvania, of German descent. This union was blessed with six children: Moses, Birdie, William E., Rolla E., Elnora and Zula Edith. The mother was born September 27, 1853. He and wife are members of the Lutheran church. He is a member of the Masonic order. In connection with his trade he manages his farm of sixty-nine acres, two miles north of Harlan.
Gilbert Starr, an old settler of Springfield township, was born July 20, ISII, son of Comfort and Abigail (Barnum) Starr; the latter was a cousin of the great showman P. T. Barnum. The parents were natives of Connecticut; the father born June 3, 1776, and was married October 27, 1796. They moved to Patterson, Dutchess Co., N. Y., where Gil- bert was born. Here the father became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Thence they moved to Canfield, Ohio, in June, 1817, and the father was one of five who organized the first Methodist class at that place, July 6, 1848. Gilbert came with his parents to Ohio, when about five years of age. At the age of eighteen years his father gave him his time and he bound himself out to Edmund J. Benton, until twenty-one years of age, and he made this his home about nine years. On December 22, 1836, he married Sarah, daughter of George and Susan Flick, by whom he had seven children: Emory L., born Decem- ber 17, 1838; Susan E., June 23, 1841; Charles A., February 12, 1843; Comfort W., October 13, 1848; Mary M., February 16, 1851; Sarah A., March 31, 1854; Willis C., November 8, 1858. The mother was born
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I. F. Heller
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November 21, 1817; she was a devoted member of the Methodist Epis- copal church. On October 15, 1865, he was married to Nancy A., daughter of Jedediah and Jane Mills. This union was blessed with three children, twins, who died in infancy, and Gilbert A., born June 2, 1869. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. About eight years after his first marriage he left Ohio and went to Michigan, but after about eighteen months he returned to Ohio and remained until September, IS51, when he came to Indiana and settled on the farm where he now lives, which was at that time all in the woods, but three families between him and Spencerville. He never served an apprenticeship at any trade, but was a fair carpenter and got out the timbers and made all the shingles for his house and barn. Mr. Starr was one of the leading farmers of his township until 1876, when he had the misfortune to lose his eyesight. Of the children born to Mr. Starr's first wife all are liv- ing but two: Willis C., who died in childhood, and Comfort W., who died March 22, 1889.' Comfort removed from Ohio September 19, 1850, and married Martha Cope, February, 1872, who died a year later. November 21, 1873, he married Hannah Reichelderfer, who survives. In 1876 he united with the Methodist Episcopal church at Maysville, and was chorister and a teacher in the Sunday school about ten years. At sixteen years of age he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Forty- second Indiana infantry, under Capt. Robert Swann, and became corpo- ral. He served until the close of the war and received an honorable discharge at Indianapolis. He was a member of D. K. Stopher post, G. A. R., at Maysville. He was a lover of music and for many years a singing teacher and a leader of the cornet band at Maysville, and was a teacher of the bands at Payne, Ohio, Leo, Ind., Harlan and Chamber- lain. He was a member of the I. O. O. F. C. A. Starr, the genial pro- prietor of the Starr house in Harlan, is one of the leading citizens. He came to Indiana with his parents when nine years of age. He was mar- ried to Eliza J. Lillie, daughter of Thomas and Julia A. (Wakeland) Lillie; she was born February 29, 1844. After marriage he farmed and teamed until April 6, 1874, when he embarked in the hotel busi- ness. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of the K. of P. lodge at Fort Wayne. He is a prominent republican, and has been chairman of its committee since 1880. He was appointed postmaster at Harlan, Ind., in July, 1889.
John Peters, an early settler of Springfield township, is a native of Pennsylvania, born near the famous battlefield of Gettysburg, July 24, 1816. His parents, Abram and Christina (Teters) Peters, emigrated to Ohio when he was seven years of age, and settled in Columbiana county, where he grew to manhood. His father being a poor man and a black- smith, he was put in the shop when quite young. In 1843 he was mar- ried to Sidney A. Mason, who was born July 7, 1843, and they have had four children, three living: Anna, Joseph A. and John A. He remained in Ohio until 1852, when he came to Indiana, and bought and settled on eighty acres of wild land in Springfield township. This he cleared and
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converted into a farm. He is now a highly esteemed citizen. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Anthony Snyder, of Springfield township, was born in France, March 15, 1839, son of George and Mary (Stick) Snyder. The parents emi- grated with their family to America in 1848, first settling in Pennsyl- vania, but after a short time, removing to New York state. Four years later, they removed to Fort Wayne where they remained until 1857, when they came to Springfield township and settled on the farm, where they remained the rest of their lives. Anthony remained with his parents until their deaths. In 1868, he married Elizabeth Reichelderfer, daughter of John D. and Hester (Markle) Reichelderfer. This union gave them four children: John, George, Charles and William. The mother, who was born in 1848, died November 16, 1884. She was a member of the Lutheran church. In 1885, he married Margaret John- son, by whom he has one child: Sophia. He is a member of the Catho- lic church. He began the struggle of life without money, and when he and his brother bought the eighty acres where he now lives, they went into debt $1,200, and the land at that time was covered with a dense growth of forest. He now owns 125 acres of good farming land in Springfield township and substantial buildings, and is one of the repre- sentative farmers.
George Haifley, a prosperous and industrious farmer of Springfield township, was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, December 29, 1837, son of Israel and Sarah (Baker) Haifley, both of German descent. The father was born in Maryland, April 10, 1811, and the mother was born in Kentucky. Israel Haifley, when about twenty-four years of age, emi- grated west and settled in Mahoning, Ohio. In 1852 he removed to Indiana and settled in Springfield township, where he remained until his death, July 25, 1871. About a year before coming to Indiana he bought eighty acres of wood-land in Springfield. Having a family of four children, and being a poor man, and settling in the woods, he and family suffered all the hardships known to a pioneer life. He and wife were both members of the English Lutheran church, of which he served as one of the elders about fifteen years. He was a leading citizen. His wife was born May 24, 1808, and died September 24, 1882. Their son, George, was raised in Ohio until about fourteen years of age. He received a common school education, and served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, which he followed in connection with farming sev- eral years. June 25, 1863, he married Martha E., daughter of Jonas, sr., and Sarah A. Astry. Of their eight children, six are now living: Joseph B., born May 3, 1864; Clarissa J., born October 13, 1865; Flora B., born July 30, 1869; Nettie May and Perry W. (twins), born February 10, 1877, and George S., born March 25, 1883. The mother was born August 6, 1843. He and wife are both members of the Lutheran church. He was formerly a member of the Masonic order at Mays- ville. He began for himself by working at his trade, and soon accumu- lated enough to buy a threshing machine, which in connection with
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farming and his trade, he ran for twenty-one years. He first bought forty acres, and added to that until he now owns 125 acres, and has. become a prominent citizen.
John B. Haifley, of Springfield township, is a native of Ohio, born February 28, 1846, son of Israel and Sarah (Baker) Haifley, above mentioned. He came to Indiana with his parents when about seven years of age, and received a common school education such as could be obtained in the log school-houses of his day. On May 7, 1868, he was married to Martha E. Walter, born May 5, 1846, daughter of Jefferson and Margaret (Whan) Walter, both natives of Columbiana county, Ohio. This union was blessed with two children: Harry J., born October 18, 1868; Myrtle, May 21, 1882. Mr. Haifley and wife are members of the Lutheran church. Hehas prospered in life, and has a valuable farm of 130 acres, with good and substantial buildings. He is a leading citi- zen and highly respected.
Absalom Sapp, one of the prosperous farmers of Springfield town- ship, was born in Bedford county, Penn., December 14, 1822, son of Adam and Mary M. (Larbarger) Sapp. When he was seven months old, his parents removed to Ohio, and settled in Knox county, where he grew to manhood. When twenty-three years of age he went to his native state and remained one year, and returning to Ohio, settled in Wayne county. On January 13, 1848, he married Elisabeth, daughter of John and Catharine (Fightner) Flickinger. This union was blessed with nine children, five of whom are living: Rachel A., born April 17, 1852; Daniel M., born January 9, 1856; Samuel W., born November 10, 1857; Elizabeth A., born October 18, 1862; Luther F., born October 18, 1865. The mother was born December 26, 1822. After marriage they began on a rented farm, but one year later he embarked in the hotel business at Smithville, Ohio, at which he continued until he came to Indiana in October 1852, when he settled on the eighty acres where he now lives and which he bought the April previous. He built his log cabin, and began to clear the land. In his young days in Ohio, when his father settled, there were not families enough in one neighborhood to start a subscription school, but in time there were eight or ten families got together, who built a log school-house with stick chimney and pun- cheon seats, in which he went to school when there was no work for him to do on the farm, as in those days they had to tramp out their wheat and clover seed with horses, an occupation where he was always counted in. He and wife are members of the Lutheran church. He has 113 acres of good farming land in Springfield township, with substantial buildings. He is in politics a democrat. He is one of the leading farmers of this progressive day, but still preserves his old log cabin and stable to com- memorate the golden days of the past.
Christopher Zeis, a venerable citizen of Allen county, is a native of Germany, born May 3, 1818. His parents, Martin and Christina (Stross) Zeis, natives of Germany, came to America with their family in 1819, and settled in Maryland, where they remained ten years, then
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to Seneca county, Ohio, where they remained until death. Christo- pher remained with his parents until the father's death, in 1852, when he came to Indiana and bought eighty acres with seventeen acres cleared. On October 23, 1845, he married Henrietta E. Nusbaum, and this union was blessed with eleven children, seven of whom are living: Bar- bara E., Melissa J., Rufus H., Laura V., George W., Joseph F. and Charles F. The mother was born August 21, 1827. She was a mem- ber of the German Reformed church, formerly, but before her death, united with her husband in the Lutheran church, of which he was elder and deacon. November 8, 1887, he married Mrs. Ellinor Miller, widow of George Miller. She is a member of the Protestant Methodist church. He accumulated an estate of 220 acres, which he has divided among his children, except that he has a life lease on the homestead farm.
John W. Fry, a prominent farmer of Springfield township, was born in Seneca county, Ohio, June 30, 1839. His parents, James and Martha (Gilham) Fry, natives of Virginia, came to Ohio about 1837, and located in Seneca county, Ohio, where they remained until the father's death in 1847. He started out just after the treaty with the Indians, with the intention of settling in Indiana, but on arriving in Ohio, was persuaded by his brother to remain. The family remained in Ohio after the death of the father about five years, when John came to Indiana, his brother being his guardian having previously purchased eighty acres of unculti- vated land in Springfield township. At the age of fifteen years, he began working at the carpenter trade, which he continued until 1883, and there is many a good and substantial building in Allen county to-day to witness to his industry and workmanship. On January 16, 1862, he was united in marriage with Sarah, daughter of John D. and Esther (Markle) Reichelderfer. This union was blessed with six children, only five now living: Charles E., John W. D., Emma E., Dolpha, and James R. The mother was born June 17, 1838. He is a member of the United Brethren church, his wife of the old Lutheran church. Just after marriage he located on a farm in the northern part of Springfield town- ship. Two years later he removed to the farm where he now lives, and built his house in the dense forest. On April 30, 1883, he had the mis . fortune to be crippled by the explosion of dynamite, while blowing out ·stumps, so as to be disabled for work of any kind. In 1875 and 1876 The built a nice frame dwelling. His valuable farm embraces 130 acres, with good and substantial buildings of his own work.
Jacob Friedt, a leading German citizen of Springfield township, was born in Westmoreland county, Penn., April 11, 1824. His parents, John and Lydia (Zimmerman) Friedt, both natives of Pennsylvania, of Ger- man descent, emigrated with their family in 1827 or 1828 and settled in Wayne county, Ohio, where they bought eighty acres of uncultivated land, which they converted into a farm with the assistance of their son Jacob. There the latter was raised to manhood. He was never appren- ticed, but was what might be called a natural carpenter, learning by himself to make many things which he had never seen made, such as
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panel doors, etc. In 1844 he married Sarah, daughter of Samuel and Mary Snyder, born April 1, 1823. This union was blessed with eight children, five now living: Samantha, Mira, Lizzie, John and Agnes. He and wife are members of the Lutheran church, of which he has been elder about twelve years. He served as one of the trustees of his township in an early day and was treasurer of the board two years. In 1874 he was elected justice of the peace and served twelve years in succession. After his marriage in Ohio, he worked at his trade until 1852, when he came to Indiana and bought eighty acres of land in Springfield, so overgrown that he had to cut out underbrush to find a site for his log cabin. He began clearing in connection with his trade. But having studied diligently, in 1854 he was able to teach one winter, and about five years later taught another term. There stand now in the township several houses and barns, the mark of his industry in early days. He has a handsome farm of eighty acres.
Samuel Betz, a venerable citizen of Allen county, was born in Col- umbiana county, Ohio, February 1, 1816, son of George and Susannah (Sommer) Betz. The father and mother were pioneer settlers of Col- umbiana county, Ohio. There Samuel grew to manhood, and received a common school education. In 1851 he married Rebecca Best, born October 4, 1834, and they had thirteen children, of whom ten are living: Alice, Samantha A., Joel, Jeremiah F., Samuel, George, John, Elizabeth, Sarah and Nettie. After marriage he rented land and worked on the railroad for about two years. In 1852 he came to Indiana, and bought 160 acres of wood-land, built his cabin, and in 1853 moved with his family to his new home. He and wife worked hard and soon the forest yielded to their perseverance. He never learned a trade, but being raised on the farm adopted agriculture as his vocation. His beautiful farm of 163 acres is one of the best in Allen county, and he and family are highly respected by all who know them.
Hiram Houk was born in Starr county, Ohio, November 25, 1841, the second of seven children, born to George and Mary (Shilling ) Houk. The father was born in Pennsylvania, the mother in Ohio. George Houk came to Ohio while a youth, and after driving team about a year, learned the miller's trade. He followed milling more or less until 1852, when he settled in DeKalb county, where he now resides. When he began work for himself he had only 50 cents capital, but he saved nearly all he made and when he came to Indiana, was able to pay $3,500 for 160 acres of land where he first settled. To this he added from year to year, until he had over 600 acres. He has been a consis- tent member of the Lutheran church about fifty years. His wife was formerly a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, but after mar- riage, she also joined the Lutheran church. He has always donated liberally for the erection of new churches. Hiram Houk received his education mainly in Ohio while a child. In 1863, he was married to Caroline Clemmer, born September 4, 1843, and they have had six chil- dren, of whom are living: Clara, Alice, Della and Mary A. Mr. Houk
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