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 46
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and family are among the leading people of his vicinity, and are highly respected.
Smith Richards, one of the substantial farmers of Springfield town- ship, was born in Wayne county, Ohio, June 13, 1840, sixth of a family of nine children born to Soloman and Matilda (McIntire) Richards. The father was born in Steubenville, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and married. He was a blacksmith by trade. Beginning life a poor man he bought forty acres of new land which he soon sold and bought eighty near Wooster, which he converted into a beautiful farm, and at one time owned 160 acres in Ohio. In 1853 he came to Indiana and settled in Milan township, where he bought eighty acres. After two and one-half years he returned to Ohio and remained until 1857, when he went to California with the view of making money enough to buy homes for his children. He remained two or three months and started home, but was lost at sea in a storm which lasted three days and nights. The captain of the vessel was the father of the wife of President Arthur. At thirteen years of age Smith came with his father to Indiana and after the death of his father he moved to Indiana, in 1862. He traveled a great deal, going to Iowa twice, also to Missouri and other states, until 1864, when he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Sixty-sixth Ohio regiment, and served' until the close of the war. He received an honorable discharge at Cleveland in 1865. After the war he traveled several years and finally, fourteen or fifteen years ago, he settled on the farm where he now lives. His fine farm of eighty acres is within one mile of Harlan. He is one of the leading citizens of Allen county. His brother John, who was a captain in the war, is now county judge of Atchison county, Mo., and is worth about $100,000.
Samuel Mills, a worthy farmer of Springfield township, was born in New York state, October 21, 1837, son of Jedediah C. and Jane (Forsythe) Mills. The father was a native of New York and the mother a native of Ireland. She came to America when a child, settled in Pennsylvania where she grew to womanhood, and removed to Jefferson county, N. Y., where afterward she was united in marriage with Mr. Mills. In 1853 they came west and settled in Allen county, Ind., where he bought 100 acres of land where Samuel now lives. There were about thirty acres cleared without buildings. He erected buildings and there they remained until death, the father dying in 1857, and the mother in 1881. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a school teacher while quite young and took a great interest in schools all his life. Samuel remained with his parents until their death, and cleared and improved most of the farm. In 1861 he was married to Martha Brown, and this union was blessed with seven children: Charles, Sam- uel C., Abbie, Carrie, Alice, William and Jesse. The mother was born in August, 1838. He and wife are members of the United Brethren church. He possesses 270 acres of as good farming land as there is in Allen county, with . good and substantial buildings. At one time he owned 310 acres of fine land. When his father died he with three
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others inherited the farm of 100 acres, but he bought out the others, and with this and $100 from his grandfather, he has made all he has. His brother and sisters living are: Mary, Nancy and William.
John Swaidner, an old settler of Allen county, was born in Colum- biana county, Ohio, January 13, 1827, the oldest son of Jacob and Bar- bara (Goodbrake) Swaidner. His father moved to Richland county when John was about twelve years of age. In 1848 he married Eliza- beth Raby, by whom he had five children, of whom four are now living: Mary E., Jacob N., John S. and Simon L. The mother was born in 1831, and she died in 1863. She was a member of the Protestant Methodist church. After paying the justice of the peace at his mar- riage, he only had 75 cents left with which to begin housekeeping. He first farmed rented land with a yoke of oxen, and in five years accumulated about $500 with which he came to Indiana, in 1853, and bought eighty acres of land in the woods. They lived for six months on corn-bread and coffee, then his means ran out and he was indebted to a kind old groceryman for the necessaries of life. In 1864 he was mar- ried to Anna Files, born in 1839, by whom he had four children, three now living: Nettie V., Edith A. and Arthur Garfield. He and wife are both members of the Protestant Methodist church. Mr. Swaidner has prospered by honest hard work until he owns 310 acres in Spring- field township, one of the best improved farms of Allen county. His second son attended college at Adrian, Michigan, about three years.
Dr. C. F. Swift, a prominent physician of Allen county, was born in Bryan, Ohio, October 11, 1850. His father, Philetus H. Swift, a native of Ohio, born 1820, grew to manhood in his native state, amid all the difficulties of the then pioneer country. In 1848 he was united in marriage to Caroline Cutts, and to this union six children were born. In 1854 he removed to Indiana with his family and bought 115 acres of new land, which he cleared. He remained in Springfield town- ship ten years and then removed to DeKalb county, but two years later settled in Milan township where he remained until his death. He bought ninety-three acres of good land in one body and twenty acres of wood-lands near his home place, and cleared about thirty acres, built a two-story frame dwelling and good barn, and after he had lived in his new house but six weeks he was taken sick and died. He was one of the leading and representative farmers, was trustee of Springfield township two terms, and held the same office in Milan when he died. Dr. Swift attended the country schools of this county, and attended Fort Wayne college three years and Carleton college, Minnesota, one year. Going to Huntington, Ind., he entered the office of Dr. W. C. Chaffee and read medicine one year. He then entered the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and gradu- ated three years later. He began the practice of his profession at Harlan amid old friends, and has now a large and lucrative practice. In 1878 he married Nanna A., daughter of William and Mary (Scott) Alderman, and they have had three children: Clarence, who died in 1887;
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Lyle and Eugenie. Mrs. Swift was born October 9, 1852. He is a member of I. O. O. F. at Harlan. In 1888 he was elected by the repub- lican party as trustee of Springfield township, succeeding a democrat. He is independent and progressive, and as trustee he does what he thinks best for his township. Although there is considerable opposition to the erection of a new school-house at Harlan, he is about to build a two- story brick building with four rooms. The doctor taught school three years in Springfield.
William H. Harter, of Springfield township, is a native of Ohio, born February 2, 1833, the seventh child born to George and Sarah Harter. He was raised on the farm until five years old, when the family moved to Navarre, Ohio, where his father embarked in the hotel business. William H. received a common school education and attended commer- cial college at Fort Wayne three months and graduated. At the age of twenty-one he removed to Indiana and settled at Fort Wayne where he accepted a clerkship in the store of J. W. Townley & Co. Six weeks later he was the first person to begin the machinist's trade in the shops of Cooper, Bass & Co. He remained in the shops until 1857, when he went on the road with John H. Bass, and traveled mostly in Iowa, set- ting up the saw-mills that Mr. Bass sold. He then went to Monroeville, Ohio, and after working at his trade four or five months, returned to Fort Wayne and was sent to Springfield township to repair and take charge of a saw-mill near where he now lives. In 1859 he bought twenty acres of land which he farmed about ten years, and then bought forty acres; to this he has added until now he owns 220 acres of as fine land as there is in the township. He has the largest and best bank barn in the county. August 11, 1859, he married Lorinda Hall, born in 1835. Of their five children, four are now living: Olive Esther, Arthur, Milly and Isaac. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian church at Hicksville. In 1866 he was elected trustee of Springfield and served nine years in succession, and in 1880 was again, elected for four years without any solicitation from him. He has been president of the Hicks- ville fair association for ten years. On two occasions he was nominated as a candidate of the republican party for county commissioner, and in his own township and Scipio, where he is well known, he ran ahead of his ticket, and in his own township ran about three to one ahead of his opponent. Mr. Harter is a leading stock-raiser and makes a specialty of short-horn cattle and thoroughbred Poland China and Chester white hogs.
Jesse Greenawalt, of Springfield township, was born in Montgomery county, Penn., January 16, 1822, son of John and Elizabeth (Connor) Greenawalt. The father was born in Montgomery county, Penn., about 1788, and died about 1872. The mother was born in 1795, and is still living, but has been an invalid several years. The father emigrated with his family in 1835, and settled in Columbiana county, where he remained. He died at a good old age, having gained a comfortable home and 131 acres of good land in Ohio. He and wife were mem-
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bers of the Lutheran church. ' He served in the war of 1812, and drew $8.00 per month pension a short time before his death. Jesse came with his parents to Ohio, when in his fourteenth year, and learned the trade of a cabinet-maker and joiner, which he followed fourteen or fifteen years, and built all his own buildings. In 1846 he married in Ohio, Susannah Shimp, who was born in Franklin county, Penn., February 6, 1826; of their five children, four are living: John E., George L., Oliver J., and Samuel E. He and wife are members of the Lutheran church, of which he is the present elder. He served as assessor of his town- ship twelve years, and has been solicited to accept other offices, but always declined. In 1854, he bought eighty acres of wood-land in Springfield, and in 1855, moved on the same with his family of three children. Prosperity has come to him through toil and he now has 13I acres of well improved lands, and is esteemed as one of the leading citizens, well respected. His youngest son is a Lutheran preacher, and all his children are well educated.
Lewis Zeis, one of the prominent farmers of Springfield township, was born in Seneca county, Ohio, January 10, 1840, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Lower) Zeiz. He was raised in Seneca county, on the farm, and received a limited education. At the age of twenty-one years he began working out by the month. In 1855 he came to Indiana with the inten- tion of learning the blacksmith trade, but being sick all the time he returned to Ohio, and remained until 1860, when he came again with his family and settled on the farm of forty acres, where he now lives. To this he has added 120 acres. He started in a poor man but has done well, and has one of the best improved farms in the township. January I, 1860, he married Barbara Baltz, who was born January 1, 1843, and they have had seven children, of whom four survive: Jacob H., Bar- bara E., Oliver M. and Perry F. Mrs. Zeis is a member of the Protest- ant Methodist church. He is a member of the Masonic order at Harlan.
Henry Horn, of Springfield township, is a native of Pennsylvania, born February 22, 18II, son of George and Louisa (Cramer) Horn. He was raised on his father's farm in Pennsylvania, and at seventeen years of age was apprenticed at the wagon-maker's trade which he fol- lowed thirty-three years. In 1836, he settled in Ashland county, Ohio, where he followed his trade until 1855, when he removed to Indiana, and on the 16th day of May settled on the farm where he now lives. He continued working at his trade in connection with farming. When he first came to Indiana he bought eighty acres of uncultivated land in Springfield township; he had previously bought eighty acres in La Grange county, which he afterward sold and bought seventy-one and 40-100 acres joining his home farm. May 7, 1840, he married Mary A. Kohler, who was born July 8, 1818, and of their ten children six are liv- ing: Uriah K., Walter S., Ezra H., John L., George A. and Frank A. He and wife are members of the English Lutheran church, in which he has been elder over forty years. He has prospered through unremitting
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toil, and has a fine farm with good improvements in Allen county, and forty-six and 34-100 acres in DeKalb county, upon which he has a good dwelling.
James William Hood (deceased), a prominent and enterprising man in his day, was born in Mercer county, Penn., October 9, 1838. He remained at his birth-place with his parents, James William and Susan Hood, until 1856, when he came to Fort Wayne and began work as a carpenter, which was his occupation until the outbreak of the rebellion. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the Eighty-eighth Indiana volunteer infantry, and remained in active and faithful service until the close of the war. Then, returning home, he engaged in agriculture on the " old Jackson farm" near the city. In 1871 he removed to Maysville, and there lived until his death November 11, 1882. Though cut off in early manhood, he left a valuable estate, comprising 217 acres of fertile land. He was a member of the Masonic order, having joined Harlan lodge, No. 296, in 1863. He was a brave soldier and a worthy citizen. August 15, 1865, he was married to Julia E. Johnson, who was born in Springfield township, daughter of Ira and Melinda May Johnson, natives of New York. To this union four children were born: Frank, Febru- ary 20, 1867; Lilly, December 25, 1869, who married Elwood George, November, 1888; Florence, October 3, 1873; James William, April 20, 1876. Mrs. Hood is now a resident of Fort Wayne. She is a member of the Methodist church and is highly esteemed. In the settlement of her husband's estate as administratrix, she displayed business abilities of a high order.
Peter Repp, one of the leading citizens of Springfield township, was born in Pennsylvania, December 28, 1837, son of John and Hannah J. (Omwake) Repp. When sixteen years old he emigrated to Seneca county, Ohio, and in 1860 came to Indiana. He bought forty acres of wild land which he cleared and kept twelve years, and then he bought where he now lives. He served an apprenticeship as a painter, a trade he has since followed in connection with farming. He received a com- mon school education. In 1857 he married Elizabeth Baltz, daughter of Jacob and Barbara Baltz, and they have seven children: Jacob F., Alonzo E., Viola V., Charles E., Lillie, Lulu and Barbara. The mother was born June 27, 1837. She and husband are members of the Lutheran church. His valuable farm includes 16312 acres of good land, well improved.
George Hoffman, sr., a native of Germany, was born November 23, 1815. He is the oldest child of Adam and Elizabeth (Sprau) Hoffman. In 1848 he left his native country and settled in Ohio where he bought sixty acres of land, thirty of which he cleared, and remained there until 1864. He then sold this farm and removed to Indiana and settled on the farm where he now lives. In 1839 he was married to Elizabeth Weber, and this union was blessed with eight children, four of whom are living: George, Elizabeth, Sarah and Henry. Mrs. Hoffman was born in 1820 and died November 3, 1885. She was a member of the
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German Reform church, of which Mr. Hoffman has been deacon about twenty years and elder about ten years. He has prospered in his affairs and now owns 156 acres of well-improved land. He is one of the sub- stantial farmers of his township and well respected.
Milton Crall of Springfield township, was born in Seneca county, Ind., March 8, 1840, son of Henry and Melinda (Butler) Crall. In 1844 the family moved to Franklin county, Ohio. There Milton received a good common school education. At the age of twenty years he hired out by the month. In 1864, he married Matilda, daughter of Alexander and Hannah McCauley, born December 25, 1842. To this union were born twelve children, ten living: Samuel, Henry, Geary, Hannah, Arthur, Amos, Clinton, Rosa, Olive and Grover C. He. and wife are members of the United Brethren church, of which he was class leader one year. After marriage he first settled on thirty acres of land he had previously bought near the center of Springfield township. Here he remained until 1875, when he sold this and bought fifty acres where he now lives. He is one of the leading citizens and well respected.
Emanuel Hettinger, one of thriving farmers of Springfield town- ship, is a native of Pennsylvania, born January 13, 1832, son of Jacob K. and Elizabeth (Schreffler) Hettinger, both natives of Pennsylvania. The father lived to the good old age of ninety-one, and the mother is now alive in her eighty-eighth year. Emanuel was taken to Ohio by his parents at the age of two years, and his father bought eighty acres of wild land in what is now Ashland county. Here Emanuel grew to manhood and received a common school education. At the age of twenty-three years he removed to Medina county, Ohio, and in 1855 he married Salome Merrifield, by whom he has one child, Carrie, born in 1857. He and wife are members of the Congregational church. In 1861 he enlisted in Company G, Forty-second Ohio infantry, under Capt. Jewett, and was with his company in all its engagements until 1863, at Thompson Hill, where he was wounded in the left ankle. He remained in the hospital four or five months, was home on furlough four or five months and then returned to Camp Dennison, where he was dis- charged in 1864, and now draws but $6 per month for his injury. His eighty acres in Springfield township is one of the best improved farms in the township. He cleared about thirty acres and has a good and substantial two-story dwelling house. He is a member of . O. O. F., at Harlan, and Stopher post, No. 72, G. A. R. His first wife departed this life in 1869, and in 1871 he was united in marriage with Mrs. Emily Monroe, daughter of Samuel and Catharine Walker, born in Summit county, Ohio, in 1827. This union was blessed with one child, Louie E., born October 17, 1872. All the family are members of the Lutheran church.
George W. Hoffman, of Springfield township, was born in Ger- many, on the Rhine, October 31, 1840, son of George and Elizabeth Hoffman. He came with his parents to America in 1848, and settled in Crawford county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. In 1861 he
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removed to Canada and remained four years. On his return to the United States he settled with his parents in Springfield township. In 1869 he married Catherine Eidt, who was born in 1847, and died in 1871, leaving one child, Gideon. In 1876 he married Mrs. Anna Weicker, born in 1855, by whom he had two children: Edward and John. He and wife are members of the United Brethren church, of which he served as steward one year, also trustee three years. When he first mar- ried he embarked in the saw-mill business, which he followed about five years, and then he bought eighty acres of uncultivated lands, which he cleared and now lives upon. In connection with farming he still runs his mill in the winter season. He also owns ninety-five acres in Maumee township. He is a leading and esteemed citizen.
William Bauman, of Springfield township, was born in Germany, September 5, 1829, son of Peter and Elizabeth Bauman, both of Ger- man descent. In 1839 his parents came to America and settled in Ohio, where he grew to manhood on a farm. In 1854, he married Margaret Lauer. Of their five children, four are living: Melissa, William H., now in Colorado mining, Susanna and George, who is at home with his parents. The mother was born March 14, 1835. She was a member of the Presbyterian church in Ohio, and joined the Albrights in Indiana, while he is a member of the German Reform church. When he was first married, he worked his father's farm for two years, then rented two years, and at the end of this time his father gave him $200, which with his savings, partly paid for the forty acres which he bought in Allen county, and settled upon in 1869. He has increased his land to eighty- eight acres, and has lately built a two-story frame dwelling. His work in early life was so severe that four years ago he had a slight stroke of paralysis which has impaired his health. His wife aided him in every way, and she is also almost broken down by their efforts to make a home for themselves and family.
John S. Lemon, of Springfield township, was born in Dauphin county, Penn., August 19, 1819, son of Simon and Jane (Sweigart) Lemon. He was raised in his native state, and received a common school educa- tion. In 1848 he went to Union county, Penn., and worked at the. blacksmith's trade about four years. In 1850 he was married to Mary A. Omro, who was born December 31, 1827. This union was blessed with eight children, seven of whom are now living: Anna M. D., Mary A., Margaret E., John W., Joseph L., Simon F. and Ella. He and wife were formerly members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1870 he moved with his family to Indiana, and settled on the farm where he now lives, June 22, 1870. His farm includes 120 acres of well improved land.
Latham Moore, a substantial citizen of Springfield, is a native of Ire- land, born April 5, 1825, son of William and Margaret (Mahafa) Moore. At the age of twenty-one years, he emigrated to America, and first settled in South Hampton, Long Island. Here he was engaged in oyster fishing, until 1866, when he came to Ohio and bought forty acres for
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$4,000. He paid down $1,000, and went in debt $3,000, which he paid in six years. In 1881, he sold out and removed to Indiana, buying eighty acres in Springfield township, where he now lives. In 1850 he married Ellen McGee, who was born in 1834. Of their eleven children, nine are living : William, Matthew, James, Moses, David, John, Robert, Nanny J., and Margaret E.
Amariah Johnson, an industrious farmer of Springfield township, is a native of Indiana, born March 19, 1852, son of Amariah and Jane Jolinson. The father came from Ohio to DeKalb county in an early day and there the son was born and raised. He received a very limited education, his father being crippled and needing his work. March 18, 1876, he was married to Mary M. Morr, who was born January 8, 1852, and they have five children: Lillie G., Edna M., Charles C., Clyde H. and Maude A. Mr. Johnson began farming by renting land in DeKalb county, and remained there until March 15, 18SI, when he settled on the farm where he now lives. He has 100 acres of good land in Spring- field township, and is well liked by all who know him.
Isaac Hilbert, of Springfield township, is a native of Harrison county, Ohio, born June 5, 1831, son of Daniel and Catherine (Young) Hilbert. At about fifteen years of age he moved with his parents to Defiance county, Ohio, and remained until twenty-two years of age. He then came to Indiana and settled in Springfield township; two years later he returned to Defiance, but in two years came again to Indiana and bought sixty acres of new land. The father of Mr. Hilbert was born in Mary- land, April 27, 1785, and departed this life December 31, 1877, and the mother, who died on the same day of the month fifteen years before, was a native of Pennsylvania. They were both devoted and consistent members of the Lutheran church. On October 23, 1852, Mr. Hilbert was married to Mary J., daughter of Daniel and Sophia C. (Omo) Hassenpflug, born November 26, 1836; the father, a native of Pennsyl- vania, was born March 21, 1812, and died March 20, 1882; the mother, born in Pennsylvania, May 19, 1815, died January 1, 1883. They were married February 19, 1835, and were members of the Lutheran church. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hilbert were born six children: Maria E. A., born March 9, 1859; Rosabelle C., April 29, 1861; Elmer D., August 28, 1864; Edward G., July 2, IS66; Anna J., December 19, 1871; Elsie L., August 7, 1873. Edward G. and Anna J. died in infancy. He and wife are members of the Lutheran church in which he served two years as deacon and two years as elder. He began without a dol- lar of capital when he first settled in Allen county, but made himself a nice little farm where he remained until 1883, when he removed to Hicksville, Ohio, intending to rest from work, but after five years he removed to his farm one mile east of Hicksville. He has forty acres of fine land, and house and one-half acre lot in Hicksville. He is the youngest of ten brothers and sisters among whom the first death occurred in September, 1888. His sister Rosabelle is one of the successful teach- ers in Allen county, and has taught in Indiana and Ohio about nineteen terms.
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