Source: NMHS Newsletter, August 1994
Wabash County History- Chester Township
Materials in this issue are taken from History of
Wabash County Indiana 1884,
T. B Helm Author & Editor. Everything in this issue
comes from the section on Chester Township which was
prepared by Mr. L. H. Newton.
Chester Township is situated in the northeast corner of
Wabash County and comprises an area of about sixty-six
square miles. Kosciusko County bounds it on the north.
Whitley and Huntington Counties on the east, Lagro
Township on the South, and Paw Paw and Pleasant
Townships on the west. . . .In the southeast portion of
the township, a large tract of land was returned by the
surveyors as "swamp land" and for many years was passed
by ... by those in search of homes, under the belief
that it was comparatively worthless; but after the more
eligible tracts had been taken up, this locality was
settled by an industrious, energetic colony, mostly of
German birth, who, by a system of artificial drainage,
have transformed the "Bear Swamp" into a beautiful and
fertile region.
Eel River is the principal water-course of the township.
Entering at the north part, it flows in a southwesterly
direction, passing on its way the towns of Liberty Mills
and North Manchester .... Its confluent streams inthis
township are Simonton Creek in the northern part, and
Pony Creek, which flows from the southeast part, joining
the river near Manchester. Bear Grass Creek has its
source in the southern portion of the township, and,
flowing west, forms a confluence with the river in
Pleasant Township.
Pony Creek perpetuates by its name a legend of the early
days, though in later years it almost lost its identity
in the name "Ogan's Creek," which was attached to it in
memory of the man who built the first mill upon its
banks, and as a kind of compromise it now bears both
names -- "Ogan's Creek" extending from Manchester for
several miles up stream, and "Pony Creek" being
recognized as the correct name from that point to the
source. The legend runs to the effect that in the very
early years, when there were but few white settlers in
this portion of Indiana, and the lands of Chester
Township were still roamed by their original possessors
- the Miamis - a band of white desperadoes organized
under the leadership of one Wicks, to steal the ponies
of the Indians. Their plan was successful for awhile but
in the end the band was dispersed, and their leader, it
is supposed, met the well-merited reward of his crime.
Knowing of a place to which the ponies were attracted by
luxuriant vegetation, they constructed a trap,... from
which it was next to impossible for the animals to
escape after once entering, and after securing them the
robbers would seclude them in a pen constructed for that
purpose ... until they could dispose of them. The
outlaws, it is said, had their headquarters in a hut on
the farm (later owned by Lewis Dailey in Section 20).
Within a few years, however, the pioneers, good and
law-abiding citizens, began to make this an unfavorable
locality for such nefarious proceedings, and to add to
the discomfiture of the gang, the Indians finally
discovered their mode of operation, and on several
occasions pursued them very closely, though it is
believed they never came upon them.
By a treaty with the Miami Indians the lands south of
Eel River passed to the possession of the U.S.
Government and were made subject to entry by settlers in
1828 or 1829. Capitalists, with an eye to the future
appreciation in values, entered large tracts of these
public lands at the nominal price established by the
Government ($l.25 per acre). and held them unimproved
until the demand of later years would enable them to
realize a handsome profit upon their investment. These
men, while their names are coupled with the earliest
dates on the record of entries, were never settlers, and
as a matter of fact retarded the settlement of the
township to some extent.
Persons in search of land would visit this locality,
and, upon finding the tracts they desired already
entered, they would purchase and locate where land was
still to be obtained at the government price. Thus,
while there were a few who settled in the township prior
to 1836, the majority of pioneers came after that date.
Probably the first white settler within the present
limits of the township was a man by the name of Brewer
who came in December, 1833, and located near the present
site of North Manchester. He remained here during that
winter, but in the following spring removed to Wabash,
where, it is said, he kept a boarding house for the
accommodation of the workmen on the Wabash & Erie Canal,
then under construction.
The real settlement of the township began with the
advent of Col. Richard Helvy, in March, 1834. His was a
lonely life, notwithstanding the fact that his family
was with him in his isolated home. He had no neighbors
but the Indians and wolves, with either or both of whom
he would have parted without regret had his own
inclinations been consulted. And as far as his eye could
reach, a dense growth of timber confronted him, reaching
almost to the very door of his little cabin.
In September, 1834, he was joined by a neighbor, James
Abbott, whose name is quite as prominently linked with
the settlement and improvement of the township as that
of its first settler. Not a great distance intervened
between their respective locations. Col. Helvy located
on the bank of Eel River about a mile northeast of North
Manchester, and Mr. Abbott located on the same stream
about two miles above the present site of Liberty Mills.
In that period of sparsely settled neighborhoods these
few miles were thought little of, and the Helvys and
Abbotts were intimate friends as well as "near
neighbors". Together they undertook the task of hewing
out farms from the surrounding wilderness, and for years
afterward they were hand-in-hand in the public
improvements of the township.
Col. Helvy was a native of Virginia, but removed to
Indiana at an early day, locating near Indianapolis. In
1831 or 1832, he removed to La Gro in Wabash County and
was engaged in agricultural pursuits at that point until
his removal to Chester Township. Here he cleared and
improved a large farm of more than a hundred acres, and
for a number of years was devoted to its cultivation. In
later year, however, he removed to North Manchester and
kept hotel on the corner of Main and Walnut streets. He
died at a ripe old age, having lived to see the forest
transformed into a thriving farming community, and to
witness the many changes and improvements that followed
in the tread of the pioneer army.
James Abbott was a native of South Carolina, and a man
whose early life developed within him those qualities of
self reliance and energy which are so essentially a part
of the "make up" of the true pioneer. Left an orphan at
a tender age, he was bound out to a slave-holder, from
whom he afterward escaped, on account of severe
treatment, and made his way to North Carolina.
From that time he knew he must depend upon himself
alone, and through various vicissitudes he fought his
way to manhood. About the year 1800, he removed to Ohio,
and was subsequently a soldier under Gen. Wayne in his
campaigns against the Indians. In August, 1834 he came
to Wabash County, and entered a tract of land on Eel
River, upon which he located. Here he cleared and
improved a large farm to the cultivation of which he gave
his attention for many years. He died in 1867 at the age
of ninety- one years.
Before the close of 1834 two other settlers, with their
families, joined in the work of improvement, and both
were prominently identified with the history of the
township. These were John and Peter Ogan. The former
located on the south side of Eel River, not far from
North Manchester and erected a rude corn mill on the
bank of the creek which bears his name. Peter Ogan
settled within the corporate limits of North Manchester.
He erected a flouring and saw mill on the bank of Eel
River and was engaged in various enterprises during the
period of his residence in this community. In later
years, however, he sold his interests here and removed
to another locality.
Early in 1835, John Simonton came to unite his fortunes
with those of the little colony in the woods. Pushing
his way up Eel River in a boat that contained himself,
his family and his household goods, he disembarked
and proceeded to the place which he had settled for a
home. He cleared and improved a large farm, and was long
identified with the history of the township. Henry
Strickler came in February, 1836, and located on the
south bank of Eel River about a mile below North
Manchester. He cleared and improved a fine farm, and
lived to a ripe old age.
In September, 1836, Joseph Harter came from Montgomery
County, Ohio, and located within the corporate limits of
North Manchester. He purchased a large tract of land,
comprising several hundred acres. Upon that portion of
it lying along the river, and within thirty yards of the
later Strauss and Shock Flouring Mill, he erected a
little grist mill in 1839. Mr. Harter was a prominent
citizen, and up to the time of his death was
conspicuously identified with the material interests of
the township. His sons, Jacob and Joseph B. were later
representatives of the mercantile interests of the town.
Mr. Harter was followed, in the fall of 1836, by his
son, Eli Harter, Daniel Swank and Michael Knoop. Eli
Harter located in North Manchester, and erected the
second house in the town. Daniel Swank located about two
and a half miles north of North Manchester, where he
cleared a farm, and was engaged in its cultivation until
his decease. Mr. Knoop located near the line of
Kosciusko County, in the northeast quarter of Section
20, and cultivated his farm until death. He was a
prominent and highly respected citizen, and was
identified with many of the improvements of his day.
During the years of 1837 and 1838, immigration
progressed rapidly, and many new families joined the
settlement. Among this number were William Willis, Asa
Beauchamp, William Thorn and Mahlon Frame, all of whom
settled in North Manchester and were associated with the
early mercantile interest of the town. William Bickel
and Michael Kircher located southwest of North
Manchester, and Rudolph Krisher about a mile south.
Anthony Clever came about the same time, and cleared a
farm south of town, but in later years returned to his
former home in Pennsylvania.
Allan Halderman came in 1838 and settled on a tract of
land adjoining the town of North Manchester on the east,
and Abram R. Switzer came in the same year and located
in North Manchester where he established the first
cabinet shop in the town. Gabriel Swihart came in 1839
and located two miles north of town where he cleared and
improved a farm. He served one term as Representative in
the Legislature of Indiana and was a prominent citizen.
He died in Kosciusko County.
While North Manchester and its immediate vicinity were
being rapidly settle, a similar colonization was taking
place about two miles up the river. The land upon which
the town of Liberty Mills now stands was purchased by
James Abbott, who shortly afterward sold that portion of
his estate to a Mr. McBride, it being stipulated that
Mr. McBride should erect therein a grist mill. In 1836
John Comstock came to the township, and McBride sold the
land to him, transferring with it the obligation which
he had failed to fulfill.
Perhaps none of the early settlers of the township were
more widely known or more prominently identified with
its interests than Mr. Comstock. He was a man of great
enterprise and fine business qualifications and the
history of Liberty Mills and its various interests bear
the impress of his identity. He was at one time the
proprietor of a saw mill, a grist mill, a distillery,
store, carding mill, giving his personal attention to
each, and at the same time serving as President of the
North Manchester & LaGro Plank Road. The saw mill was
erected in 1837, with the view of sawing and preparing
the timber for the framing of the flouring mill which
was erected the following year. About ten years later,
he erected the woolen or carding mill, five rods south
of the present race bridge and about the year 1839
erected the distillery. Of these enterprises more will
be said in another part of this chapter.
In 1837 Mr. Comstock laid out the town of Liberty Mills
and upon one of the lots he erected a frame house in
which he placed a stock of general
merchandise and was engaged in mercantile pursuits until
1861. During his life he was identified with nearly all
of the public improvements and was frequently chosen to
fill positions of honor and trust. In 1846 he was
elected Probate Judge and in 1858 was the Representative
from this county in the State Legislature. About the
year 1855 he introduced the first herd of short-horn
cattle into the county and in the years that followed
was actively engaged in the breeding of fine stock. At
his death $5000 were realized from the sale of his herd
at public venue, from which an idea of their
superiority may be gained. Mr. Comstock came to the
township when its entire population was perhaps not more
than half a dozen families. But he lived to see it grow
into a populous and wealthy community and died in a good
old age.
Among his neighbors who came shortly after the date of
his own arrival, were John W. Stephens and Lewis J.
Long. Mr. Stephens was the first Justice of the Peace
elected in the township and Mr. Long served later in
that capacity holding the office by repeated elections
for well-nigh forty years. Bryant Fannin was also among
the settlers of 1837, and Maurice Place, Isaac Place,
John W. Williams and Clark Williams came in the same
year.
The settlement of the southern and southeastern portions
of the township began at a later date from the fact that
much of the land in those localities was owned by
speculators and it was not until after the Government
land remaining unsold had all been taken up that these
lands began to find purchasers. Among the first who
located in this portion of the township was Andrew
Freshour, who came in 1840 or 41. Shortly afterward Mr.
Hoffman settled near him and Peter Wright located in
Section 27 in 1845. In 1847, Jacob Misener located in
Section 27 and during the next two years came William
Ensley, John Shippen, John Hogan, John Bush, Rankin
Hoover, Peter Honius, William Honius, Samuel Mowrer
Jacob Wright and others. Curtis Pauling located on a
farm in1853 but had been a citizen of the township for
ten years engaged in mercantile pursuits in North
Manchester.
Among the early settlers locating in the "Bear Swamp"
and its vicinity prior to 1836 were Caleb Antrim and
George Dillon. In October, 1837 came Jesse Jenks; also
Fleming and James Ayers and their widowed mother; Thomas
Gilmore, too, at the same time settled on Section 18.
Soon thereafter came Michael Burk, who located about one
mile east of the Jenks settlement and in 1838 Payton
Daniels located about two miles south of said
settlement. Jonathon Hamilton and Stephen Jenks came
together in 1840. Following these came Alfred and Enos
Hornady who about 1841 located respectively on Sections
19 and 25.
Samuel Ridgley came about two years later and Cornelius
Wilson came about1849. Nathan Hiland, Henry Howenstein,
Hiram Filson, Enoch Harter and Lewis Harter came during
1850 and 51. Jacob Scheerer came in the fall of 1854,
andlocated in Section 30 and Frederick Rickert came in
the same season and located on the land adjoining
Scheerer on the north. John Burkhart, Frederick Walter,
Mr. Fishley and Xavier Sell came during the late fall of
1854, while Justus Gemmer and others came in 1855.
Thus within a period of but little more than twenty
years the settlement which began along the banks of Eel
River had become diffused over sixty-six square miles of
territory, and in every quarter of the township was
heard the ring of the pioneer's ax mingled with the
sounds of the giant trees as they fell to give place to
the cleared fields that everywhere blossomed in the
heart of the wilderness. Game of all descriptions still
ran wild in the forests and venison was the most popular
meat on the daily bill of fare. So plentiful were the
deer at that time that the problem of meat was not a
serious one to a good marksman. Wolves made night
hideous by their howls, to such an extent that the
settlers were often robbed of their much needed rest. A
war of extermination was decided upon and, at first,
carried on singly. But afterward concerted action was
taken and the settlers from miles around would join in a
wolf hunt and surround a swamp or other known rendezvous
of the marauders, sending in men and hounds to "beat the
bush" and scare the game from its lair. It was pretty
sure to run within range of a trusty rife in the hands
of a deadly foe, and by frequent repetitions of this
sport the settlers were ultimately rid of their
disagreeable neighbors and their sheep and pigs slept
undisturbed. At one of the hunts in 1849, seven wolves
were killed in one afternoon.
To be continued....
Source: NMHS Newsletter,
November 1994Wabash County History-
Chester Township
Continued from August 94
Materials in this issue are taken from History of Wabash
County Indiana 1884
T. B Helm Author & Editor. Everything in this issue
comes from the section on Chester Township which was
prepared by Mr. L. H. Newton.
During the first twenty years succeeding the period at
which the settlement of this township began, great
changes took place in the general aspect of the country
and important public improvements were instituted and
carried out. The nearest grist mill was forty miles
distant on Turkey Creek, in Elkhart County, and to this
point the first settlers were compelled to carry their
grain to have it ground into flour or meal. It was
probably in the year 1837 that John Ogan erected a
little mill on the bank of Ogan's Creek, but it was a
small affair and in all its appointments it was
primitive in the extreme. He did not attempt to make
flour, and his mill did not rise above the dignity of a
"corn cracker." Still, while it was the only mill in
this region, it served a very useful purpose.
In 1839, Joseph Harter erected near the later site of
the Strauss & Shock Mill, the first flouring mill in the
neighborhood. Originally it had but two run of buhrs,
one for wheat and the other for corn, while the corn
buhrs were simply large boulders...taken from the river
and dressed down. In 1843, however, Mr. Harter remodeled
his mill, increasing its capacity, and making it equal
to the best mills of that period.
Saw mills were among the industries early established,
and filled an important place in the community. The
first was erected about the year 1838 by Peter Ogan,
very near the later site of the Clapp & Jacobs Saw Mill,
in the south part of Manchester, and on the bank of Eel
River. Some time subsequently, Mr. Ogan added a run of
buhrs and conducted a limited gristmill trade. In later
years, after several changes of ownership, this mill was
purchased by J.B. & J. Harter and soon afterward ceased
to exist. Damages were entailed upon surrounding
property by the dam at this mill k, and it was purchased
by the brothers Harter with the express intention of
abating the nuisance peaceably.
Another saw mill was that built in 1839 by Anthony
Clever at the mouth of a small creek about half a mile
west of John Heeter's residence. At Liberty Mills some
time in 1837, John Comstock erected a saw mill, and at
this place sawed and dressed the lumber for a large
flouring mill which he erected at that point in the
following year. A carding mill and distillery soon
followed and the incipient town of Liberty Mills began
to wear a look of industry and importance. The flouring
mill drew its trade from a radius of sixty miles around
and enjoyed a lucrative share of the public patronage.
In 1850, Mr. Comstock erected a new mill building,
removing the carding machinery to the former flouring
mill building, and conducting a profitable trade in the
carding of wool for his neighbors within a circuit of
forty miles or more. Latterly, however, the woolen mill
was destroyed by fire and was never rebuilt. The
flouring mill stands about twenty rods south of the
building originally erected for that purpose. Until 1866
Mr. Comstock continued to operate it, but in that year
sold it to C. T. Banks and Co.
The distillery was erected in 1839 and, in the language
of one of the sons of the proprietor, "it was a
flourishing and damnable enterprise." He would send his
sons with wagon loads of whisky to surrounding towns as
far as Mishawaka, Warsaw, and other places. As the boys
grew up, however, each begged to be released from all
connection with the distillery and its products, a
request which was promptly granted. Gradually, Mr.
Comstock became impressed with the idea that the traffic
was of questionable propriety, and said: "I will let
that distillery rot!" He had repeated offers for it, and
could have sold it to splendid advantage; but to all
these propositions his answer was a decided negative. So
the distillery remained inoperative until, in the
natural course of events, it crumbled to decay.
Early Residents of Chester Township
Source: NMHS Newsletter Feb 2005. The greater number of
the early residents of Chester Township were farmers but
some were not. It is interesting to note the variety of
occupations recognized in
Helm's History of
Wabash County.
Jesse
Arnold, banker, North Manchester. Mr. Arnold is
President of the Manchester Bank, which was established
by himself and his brother, John, in 1871. He was born
in Darke County, Ohio, October 24, 1831 and is the son
of William and Margaret (Folkerth) Arnold. He was reared
on a farm and educated in the common school. In March,
1852 he removed to Whitley County, Ind. And engaged in
mercantile and milling pursuits and still owns large
flouring mills in South Whitley and at Huntington, Ind.
He was married in October, 1858 to Miss Sarah Thompson…
Mr. Arnold is a successful business man and by his
integrity has gained the confidence and esteem of all
who know him. He was the Representative from Wabash
County to the Fifty-first General Assembly of Indiana.
Franklin
H. Bloomer, M. D. Pleasant View. Born in Fayette County,
Ohio, May 6, 1847. His father, Elijah Bloomer, was born
in Greene County, Ohio and his mother, whose maiden name
was Nancy Hopkins was born in Virginia….Dr. Bloomer was
reared on a farm and received a liberal education. He
graduated at the Medical College of Ohio, at Cincinnati,
and has since been engaged in the practice of medicine
with marked success. On the 17th of November,
1875 he was married to Miss Eliza McIlvain, a native of
Champaign County, Ohio. In 1877 He located at Pleasant
View, Chester Township.
He is a
member of La Fountaine Masonic Lodge, Wabash Medical
Society, and himself and wife are members of the
Christian Church. In the fall of 1863 he enlisted in the
Seventy-third Ohio Regiment, and took part in the
Atlanta campaign and was with Gen Sherman on his march
to the sea. He is now very pleasantly located in the
village of Pleasant View, and enjoys an extensive,
lucrative practice.
J. H.
Butterbaugh, harness maker, North Manchester, was born
in Ohio July 14, 1848 and in 1850 came with his parents
to Wabash County, Ind., locating in Chester Township. He
learned the harness maker's trade, at which he has ever
since been engaged. In 1871 he engaged in business for
himself, by an close attention and industry has built up
a good trade sufficient to keep three workmen constantly
employed. In December, 1873, he was married to Miss
Buzzard. Her father, Jacob Buzzard and he mother, Betsey
(Aster) Buzzard were both natives of Maryland. Mr.
Butterbaugh and wife are members of the German Baptist
Church.
Benjamin
F. Clemans, attorney and Justice of the Peace, North
Manchester. Benjamin F. Clemans was born in Preble
County, Ohio, December 19, 1843. His parents, Cornelius
and Saloma, removed with their family to this county in
1853. During the war, Benjamin enlisted in Company B,
Forty-Seventh Indiana Volunteer Regiment and served two
years as Quartermaster Sergeant, remaining in the army
until the close of the war. On the 10th of
June, 1870 he married Miss Emma Benson, who died July 4,
1875. On the 25th of December, 1879, Mr.
Clemans married Miss Etta Travelbee. He was elected in
the spring of 1878 to the office of Justice of the Peace
and the following fall was admitted to the bar, and is
now practicing law at North Manchester. He is a member
of the Knights of Honor and both himself and wife are
members of the Lutheran Church.
John J.
Cowgill, boot and shoe dealer, North Manchester. John L.
son of Benjamin W. and Rebecca Cowgill, was born in
Clark County, Ohio, January 18, 1826. When but a boy he
learned the shoemaker's trade with his father, who was
engaged in that occupartion. He was married in 1843, to
Miss Catherine Crill, … In 1845, Mr. Cowgill located in
Wabash County, Ind., and in 1852 he left his family here
and went to California, where he remained until 1860,
returning to Wabash County in that year. In 1862, his
wife died and in 1863 he wedded Miss Elizabeth Simpson.
… Mr. Cowgill has a first-class boot and shoe
establishment in North Manchester, and is a successful
and popular business man.
J. J.
Martin, artist, North Manchester, was born in Ohio June
20, 1841. His father, Samuel Martin, was a native of
Pennsylvania, and his mother, who maiden name was Louisa
Eckman was a native of Ohio. … Mr. Martin came to Wabash
County with his parents at the age of four years and has
resided at North Manchester ever since. He served the
Union cause as a member of the Forty-seventh Regiment
Indiana Volunteers. He participated in the siege of
Island No. 10 and was honorably discharged from the
service on account of disability. He was married in
November, 1866 to Miss Mary E. Williams, native of
Indiana and daughter of Clark and Eliza Williams. . .
They are
both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr.
Martin is a member of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows and the Knights of Honor; recently joined the
United Order of Honor and was a member of the Town
Council of North Manchester during the year 1881. For
the past eighteen years he has been the proprietor of a
photograph gallery at North Manchester. He is an
extensive dealer in photographer's stock, and carried a
large supply of pure chemicals, apparatus, albumen
paper, velvet frames, mats, molding, chromos, etc.
J. P.
Noftzger, marble works, North Manchester, was born in
Wayne County, Ohio, May 18, 1839 and came to Wabash
County, Ind. In 1842 with his parents, Joseph and
Amelia. He acquired a common school education and in
young manhood he taught school and, at other time,
clerked in stores. In 1867 he was married to Miss Anna
C. Carson. … He was elected Trustee of Chester Township
in 1878. Prior to this, he owned the bookstore in the
post office, but sold out in 1879. He then engaged in
the stone and marble trade in which business he is still
engaged. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and
also a member of the Knights of Honor.
Eli C.
Ohmart, M. D. physician, North Manchester, is a son of
Joel and Phebe (Frantz) Ohmart and was born May 6, 1859
in Pleasant Township… At the age of fourteen years the
subject of this sketch began teaching school. Later he
entered the Normal College at Valpariso, Ind. Where he
graduated. He also attended the college at Oberlin, Ohio
one year. He studied medicine with Dr. Winton and
graduated from the medical college at Ann Arbor, Mich...
He was married Sept. l, 1878, to Miss Minnie E. Dixson a
native of La Porte, Ind.. Dr. Ohmart is the descendant
of German ancestors….Dr. Ohmart is very pleasantly
situated in the city of North Manchester and enjoys a
large and lucrative practice.
Rufus A.
Schoolcraft, dealer in pelts, North Manchester. Rufus A.
Schoolcraft was born in Huntington County, Ind. April
l6, 1841. His parents were both natives of Indiana…
During the late war the subject of this biography
enlisted for three years in the Forty seventh Indiana
Regiment and took part in the battles of Champion Hill,
the siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss. And other
engagements of minor importance. He located in Wabash
County in 1872. For the past eight years he has been
engaged in buying and selling hides, furs, pelts, etc.
In June, 1867 he was married to Miss M. J. Sickafoose
whose parents, Samuel and Betsy Sickafoose, were both
natives of Ohio…
James
Wallace, Postmaster, North Manchester, was born in
Randolph County, Ind., June 17, 1850. He is the son of
Thomas and Lydia (Cowgill) Wallace. He came to Wabash
County with his parents in 1856 and was reared and
educated in North Manchester. His father died in 1874;
his mother still resides here. Mr. Wallace was appointed
Postmaster at North Manchester in May, 1880 by President
Hayes, and has discharged the duties of the office with
entire satisfaction to the public.
J.W.
Williams is a prominent druggist and successful business
man of North Manchester, Inc. J.W. Williams was born in
Clark County, Ohio, February 7, 1824. His paternal
grandfather, Enyon Williams was of Welsh descent and
moved from North Carolina to Highland County, Ohio
during the pioneer days of that section of the country.
Enyon William was the father of eight children of whom
Peter, the father of J. W. Williams was the oldest.
Peter Williams was born in North Carolina and
accompanied his parents to Highland County, Ohio, where
they died.
During the
year 1812, Peter Williams was married to Nancy Willis
and they had five children, the youngest of whom was
John W. J.W. Williams remained in his native county
until reaching his thirteenth year, when he came to
Wabash County, Ind. And located upon the present site of
North Manchester although no town existed there at that
time. Mr. Williams received a good common school
education and during the years 1839 and 1840 attended a
school in the village of Richmond, Ind. Upon his return
from school he accepted a position in a general store at
North Manchester owned by Asa Beauchamp.
In 1856,
Mr. Williams began the drug business in North Manchester
and has since succeeded in securing a large and
lucrative trade. He has always been an energetic
business man and although he had a profitable drug
trade, during the years 1863 and 1864 he was a partner
in a dry goods store in North Manchester owned and
conducted by himself and D.B Wendell. From 1866 to 1869
Mr Williams was associated in business with Marshall and
Tillman but since the latter firm was dissolved he has
given his attention to the sale of drug.
Mr.
Williams has been twice married. His first marriage
occurred in 1844, the bride being Charity J. Kirk, a
native of Virginia. They were the parents of five
children, only one of whom survives, viz', Jirah Barlow,
who has been associated in the drug store with his
father since 1872. The first Mrs. Williams having died
in 1856, Mr. Williams was again married April 5, 1857 to
Miss Elizabeth Kohser, born near Strasburg, Germany, By
the latter marriage, they had three children, two of
whom survive.
Mr.
Williams has served in the capacity of Justice of the
Peace twelve years and also acted in the capacity of
Township Clerk several years. He is a member of the
Encampment and I. O. O. F. and has passed all the chairs
of the Subordinate Lodge. To none of the many
enterprising residents of North Manchester is that city
more indebted for substantial encouragement than to J.
W. Williams. Through a life of honest industry he has
advanced from moderate circumstances to opulence and has
dispended his bounty for the improvement of the town and
to ameliorate the condition of those to whom fortune had
been less kind than to himself instead of hoarding his
gains and adding to a fortune already ample.
By the
course he had pursued in life he had endeared himself to
all who know him and his record as a business man, a
friend and a Christian gentleman is stamped indelibly
upon the memories of all while the advancement of public
enterprises, to which he has lent encouragement is felt
and appreciated by all his many acquaintances.
Since
the above was prepared Mr. J. W. Williams has been
summoned to surrender the enjoyments of this life. He
died of dropsy February 14, 1884.
Dr. Horace
Winton, physician and surgeon, North Manchester. This
gentleman is of Welsh ancestry. His great grandfather,
Matthew Winton, was a native of Wales and came to the
United States at an early day, locating at Cincinnati,
Ohio. He cut a road through the heavy timber which is
still known as the "Winton Road." He also erected the
first two story house in Cincinnati, and this building
was used as a hotel - the first in the town. William R.
Winton was the father of the subject of this sketch. He
was one of the pioneers of Portland, Fountain Co., Ind.
Where he located in 1828, and lived for one year amid
the privations of border life. He acted as postmaster at
Portland on a weekly salary of $1. He subsequently
located at Crawfordsville, Ind. And was one of the first
Trustees of Wabash College and one of the most liberal
patrons of that institution.
He was a
very able and successful physician. He removed to Wabash
in 1850 and died there in 1873. His wife died in North
Manchester in 1884. Dr. Horace Winton, the subject of
this sketch was born in Crawfordsville, in June, 1831.
In boyhood he was the private pupil of Dr. Thomas, then
of Hamilton, Ohio, now deceased. Later he attended Miami
University at Oxford, Ohio for two years and completed
his educated with a four years' course at Wabash
College, Crawfordsville. He read medicine with his
father and subsequently attended Rush Medical College,
Chicago and Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia
graduating for the latter institution in 1865.
He entered
upon the practice of his profession at North Manchester
in 1856 and has built up a very satisfactory practice in
the meantime. He is successful and skillful and has
gained the confidence of all. In 1857 he was married to
Miss Mary E. Boggs and they are the parents of four
children. Both the Doctor and his wife are members of
the Methodist Church. He is also a member of the Masonic
fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and
the Knights of Honor. He has twice filled all the chairs
in the Odd Fellows Lodge and was Prelate of his
Commandery in the Knight Templars' organization. He is
associated with his brother, Dr. Charles Winton, in the
practice of his profession.
Dr.
Charles H. Winton, physician and surgeon, North
Manchester was born in Dayton, Ind. July 20, 1814 and is
the son of the late Dr. William R. Winton. He was
educated in the academy at Wabash, Ind., and Wabash
College at Crawfordsville, Ind. Graduating from the
latter institution in 1865. He then read medicine with
his father at Wabash, Ind., and afterward attended
lectures at the Ohio Medical College. He subsequently
engaged in the practice with his father and in 1869
located in the neighboring town of North Manchester and
entered into partnership with his brother, Dr. Horace
Winton.
In
November, 1868 he was married to Miss Inez Lamoreux.
This union was blessed with five children. Dr. Winton
and wife are both members of the Lutheran Church and the
Doctor is identified with the Masonic fraternity, the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Knights of
Honor. As a physician he has been very successful and
enjoys the confidence and esteem of the community in
which he resides.
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