MOSES BARNETT, county commissioner, was born in Cass County, Ind., March 18, 1833. Mr. Barnett is a son of Harrison and Sarah (Lamar) Barnett. His father was a native of Kentucky, and a son of Robert and Nancy Barnett, who were also natives of Kentucky. Robert Barnett was a pioneer settler in Cass County, and the father of ten sons and two daughters. The Barnetts are mainly of German origin. Harrison Barnett was a young man when he came to Cass County with his parents. In that county he married Sarah Lamar, who was a daughter of John Lamar, of French origin. He was an early settler in Cass County. His daughter was born in Ohio. Unto Harrison Barnett and wife three sons and five daughters were born. He died when thirty-five years of age. His widow lived many years afterward and died some eight years ago aged seventy-two years. Moses Barnett was reared on the farm, and his educational advantages were poor. He was fourteen years of age at the time of his father's death, and at that early age Mr. Barnett began the battle of life for himself. He learned plastering and followed the trade many years. He was married in 1857 to Bessie E. Fish, a native of Cortland County, N.Y. After his marriage Mr. Barnett went to housekeeping in Logansport and lived there until he took up farming. He first farmed in Cass County. In 1880 he purchased a farm in Wayne township, Fulton County, and since that date he has resided on this farm. Beside farming Mr. Barnett has dealt largely in stock. He has been a successful business man, and has gained the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens, who honored him by an election tothe office of county commissioner in 1894. He has always been a staunch republican in politics. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Unto them have been born five children, viz.: Harry, Nina D., Lizzie E., Davy D., deceased, and Minnie, deceased.

"Pictorial History of America, The Fulton County Edition" by Elia Peattie - published in 1896


HENRY A. BARNHART, editor and proprietor of the Rochester Sentinel, was born in Cass County, Ind., Sept. 11, 1858. His parents were Jacob and Mary (Fisher) Barnhart, natives of Franklin County, Va. The father was a son of Abram Barnhart, a native of Pennsylvania, whose paternal parent was a native of Germany. In an early day he settled in Pennsylvania. Mr. Barnhart's maternal ancestors were also of German origin. The marriage of Jacob Barnhart and Mary Fisher was solemnized in Miami County, Ind., and soon after the marriage they settled in Cass County. Such toil as pioneers of those days experienced, fell to the lot of Jacob Barnhart and his wife. Farming was his vocation throughout his long and exemplary life. He was a devout Christian. He and his wife were members of the German Baptist church, and for the last thirty years of his life he was a minister of the gospel, and during the latter half of that period he was presiding elder of the Eel river district of the church. He was of strong brain power, a wise counselor and recognized leader. He died in the year 1894, at the age of seventy-three years. His widow now (1896) resides on the old homestead in Cass County. Unto Jacob and Mary Barnhart were born ten children, six of whom are living. Henry A., the subject of this sketch was reared amid the scenes of farm life. His richest heritage was that of excellent parentage. His early scholastic training was received in the country schools. At Amboy college he took a preparatory course. He taught several terms of school, and then took up the study of law. But six months' work on Blackstone and Kent revealed to him the vast amount of labor and research necessary to become a lawyer, and necessity compelled him to turn to a vocation promising earlier financial returns. Fate and force of circumstances often direct men's lives into strange channels, and such is true of Mr. Barnhart. In 1881 he came to Fulton County and again tried farming. Subsequently he was elected county surveyor an din 1885 moved to Rochester, where he has since resided. Soon after coming to Rochester, Mr. Barnhart purchased the Sentinel and finding its management the most satisfaory vocation of his experience, the years of dreamy ambitions to acquire fame and fortune at the bar, or wealth and independence on the farm, were supplanted by the attractiveness of newspaper work, in which he has been very successful. The Sentinel he has made a first-class county paper, and his rank as an editor is suggested by the fact that he has held the honorary position of chairman of the Democratic State Editorial association. He has also served as a member of the executive staff of that committee. He has also held the responsible position of director of the Northern Indiana prison, and while serving as such was president of the board. In every sense of the term Mr. Barnhart is a man of progress. He was secretary and director of the construction company for the Rochester water works plant, is now president of the Rochester telephone company; president of the auditing committee of the Grand Camp of the Knights of the Maccabees of Indiana, and is also a member of the order of Knights of Pythias. Mr. Barnhart married Louretta, the daughter of Arthur and Nancy Leffel, and unto the marriage two sons have been born, namely, Dean and Hugh. They also have a foster daughter - Glen Howell-Barnhart.

"Pictorial History of America, The Fulton County Edition" by Elia Peattie - published in 1896


DAVID O. BARR, a successful and progressive farmer of Newcastle township, and familiarly known as "Oliver" Barr, was born in Richland County, Ohio, March 9, 1857. His father left the Buckeye State in 1858 and cast his fortunes with the people of Franklin township, Kosciusko County, Ind. The industrious, prosperous farmer was born in Pennsylvania in 1826. His father, Samuel Barr, emigrated to Richland County, Ohio, and died there. He was a Jefferson democrat, and his son was a follower of the same political faith. George, the father of Oliver Barr, married Susan a daughter of David Smith, formerly from Bedford County, Pa. Mr. Barr died in 1878, outliving his wife six years. They left three sons - Oliver, Samuel O., and John R., ex-county treasurer of Fulton County. Oliver Barr was educated in the common schools. He began life as a farmer on his father's farm at nineteen. He was married about this time April 16, 175, to Martha L. Clingenpeel, and settled on his present farm, consisting then of less area than now and being unimproved with the exception of a log house and same kind of stable. Mr. and Mrs. Barr laid up a little each year and began beautifying their premises as they felt able. The forest has receded almost to the farm lines, a pretty substantial brick residence has taken the place of the log cabin and the log stable has been superceded by a large modern barn. Mrs. Barr's father was Jacob Clingenpeel, who came to Kosciusko County from Virginia very early. Mr. and Mrs. Barr have one child, Maud, born April 2, 1877.

"Pictorial History of America, The Fulton County Edition" by Elia Peattie - published in 1896


W.H. BAUGHER, justice of the peace of New Castle township, who stands in the front rank among the public-spirited and enterprising citizens of Fulton County, manifested his loyalty to the nation by an honorable service in defense of the Union during the late war. He was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, July 13, 1846. Just ten years previous his father, Henry Baughre, a native of Bavaria, Germany, came to America, a vigorous and ambitious yound man of twenty years, seeking a home in the new world. He began work at the wagon-maker's trade in Strausberg, and there met and married Mary e. Kline, also a native of Bavaria. For some years they resided in that place, and then emigrated farther westward, to take their part in the development of a newer state. In 1863 they located in Bourbon, Marshall County, Ind., where they are still living, in the enjoyment of good health, and the father may still be found at his trade, as he was half a century ago. Their eldest child, Mary E., became the wife of Daniel Martin, and died in Marshall County, leaving eight children. The second, John, is in Golconda, Ills. Julia is the wife of John Silvius, of Marshall County. Philip is in Bourbon, and George in Valparaiso, Ind. Matilda is the wife of R. Cecil, of Plymouth, Ind., and Theodore is in Ellwood, this state. Our subject was the third of the family, and during his earliest childhood he spent the greater part of his time in his father's shop, so that when only ten years of age, he could hew out spokes, handle the auger, and do many primary things to be learned in a wagon shop. He had mastered the business when the bugle sounded the call for loyal men to take up arms and defend the flag of our nation. He enlisted February 12, 1862, at Canal Dover, Ohio, in Company C, Eightieth Ohio infantry, and with his command went to Cairo, Ills., to Paducah, Ky., and on to Corinth, Miss. After participating in the siege of that place, he took part in the battle of Iuka, and aided in driving the rebels from the fortifications of Corinth. This was followed by the engagements of Hooly Springs, Oxford, Grand Junction, Memphis and Helena, Ark., and after the Yazoo Pass expedition the regiment returned to Helena, and went down the Mississippi river to Young's Point, participating in all the battles around Vicksburg. Returning to Memphis, they then went to East Tennessee, and took part in the battle of Missionary Ridge, where Mr. Baugher was struck by a ball that necessitated the removal of a part of his skull. Later he went with his regiment to Huntsville, Ala., and in the spring was ready for the Atlanta campaign. He saw that city captured, and went with Sherman's invincible army to the sea, then north to Fayetteville, N.C., when he was honorably discharged, his time having expired. Returning to Indiana, Mr. Baugher psent a year in school in order to prepare himself for business life, and then worked at the wagon-maker's trade in Bourbon for four years, when he came to his present home in New Castle township. His farm of fifty-five acres is the best improved in the township, and indicates the enterprise and progressiveness so characteristic of the owner. In politics he is a democrat, and is now serving his second term as justice of the peace. Socially he is a Mason, and belongs to McClung post, G.A.R. Mr. Baugher was married July 4, 1869, to Amanda, daughter of Alba and Delilah (Greer) Baylor. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania, and in his family were the following children: George, of Plymouth; W.F., of Texas; Rachel, wife of James Jordan; Mary, wife of John Devers; David, of Purdy, Mo., and Celeste, wife of W.H. Goodnight. Mr. and Mrs. Baugher had three children, but Howard died at thea age of four years; and George W. at the age of eighteen months. Mary M., the second child, aged twenty-two, is an accomplished musician, and is the joy of the parent's home.

"Pictorial History of America, The Fulton County Edition" by Elia Peattie - published in 1896


HON. GEORGE RUSSELL BEARSS. -- One of the most progressive farmers and stock raisers of Indiana, is the gentleman who name introduces this biography. In 1834 Mr. Bearss was born at the old village of Miamiasport, where the city of Peru now stands, and is a son of Hon. Daniel R. Bearss, who during his life was one of the distinguished men of Indiana. He was born in New York state in 1808, and died at Peru, Ind., in 1885. In boyhood he came to Indiana and for some time was a clerk in a store in Logansport and then went to Fort Wayne and later to Goshen, and in the fall of 1834 settled in Miami County. For twenty years he was a leading merchant in Peru, and then invested in town property in that city and farm lands in Miami and adjoining counties. He was a man of agressive spirit and in many ways contributed to the best interests of his adopted city and county. In politics he was a lifelong republican, and for about twenty years represented his party in the Indiana general assembly, either in the house or senate. He was in fact one of the leaders of the republican party of Indiana. The bone poorest man found in him a friend, and the cases are numerous in which he helped the less fortunate to attain success in life. The mother of George R. Bearss - Emma A. (Cole) Bearss - was born in Zanesvile, Ohio, in 1815, and now resides upon the old homestead in Peru. The subject of this review is the eldest of eight children, of whom five are living. He first attended the public schools, and at twelve years of age he was sent to Kenyon college at Gambier, Ohio, where he continued for six years. The school days over, Mr. Bearss spent two years in California, and then returned to Peru, where he remained until 1864, when he came to Rochester and for four years was engaged in the walnut lumber business in partnership with Edwin E. Cowgill, under the firm name Cowgill & Bearss. Mr. Bearss then bought 120 acres of land in Rochester township, where the house of Thomas Lovatt now stands. A short time later he bought 1,040 acres more. About thirteen years ago he removed to his present place of residence, an easy distance southwest of Rochester. He now has about 700 acres of fine land. He has spent about $30,000 in the improvement of his farm, which is considered one of the best farms in Northern Indiana. He has always given much attention to stock interests and has upon his farm some of the best blooded stock in Fulton County. The republican party has the earnest support of Mr. Bearss. His first presidential vote was cast for John C. Fremont at the convention held in Musical Fund hall in Philadelphia, which nominated him for the presidency. In 1874, Mr. Bearss was elected to represent Fulton County in the Indiana legislature. He was united in marriage in 1860 to Miss Mary Troost, who died in 1884, leaving one son, Daniel R. Mr. Bearss was married again in 1885, to Miss Jessie McBride, who was born in the same neighborhood where she now resides. To this marriage three children have been born, of whom only one is now living, Albert Gresham. Mrs. Bearss is one of Fulton County's leading citizens.

"Pictorial History of America, The Fulton County Edition" by Elia Peattie - published in 1896


FRANK L. BERRY, farmer and teacher, was born in Pulaski County, Ind., March 22, 1858. His parents are Aaron and Caroline Berry. His father was born in Sandusky County, Ohio, March 31, 1830. In that county he married and in the year 1857 moved to Pulaski County, Ind. In 1861 he came to Fulton County, and settled in Rochester township, where he resides at present. His wife's parents were natives of Virginia, but she was born in Ohio. Unto Aaron and Caroline Berry were born six children, viz., Mary, deceased; Charles, Ellen, Frank L., James C., and Alpharetta. Frank L. was reared on a farm and was given an opportunity to attend the district schools in winter seasons, and at the age of seventeen years began teaching and for six years thereafter both taught and farmed. During the six years following he did not teach, but he resumed teaching and for the last eight years he has both taught and farmed. He was married Dec. 25, 1880, to Miss Jennie, a daughter of Harvey and Martha Conner. The marriage has given issue in the birth of two children, viz., Earl C. and Otto. Both Mr. and Mrs. Berry are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of the fraternal and mutual benefit order known as the Knights of the Maccabees, and in politics he is of the democratic party. Both as a teacher and farmer, Mr. Berry bears an excellent reputation. His efforts at both have been attended with very satisfactory results. Much of that which he has accomplished in the way of success has been due to individual effort.

"Pictorial History of America, The Fulton County Edition" by Elia Peattie - published in 1896


J.E. BEYER, of Rochester, was born in Hessen Castle, Prussia, March 6, 1858. He attended the schools of his native land and at the age of fourteen emigrated to America, locating at Goshen, Ind., where he secured employment. Realizing the necessity of further educating himself in English, he attended school in Goshen three winters, defraying the expense of schooling with earnings from his summer employment. In 1874 he secured employment with George Freese, a produce dealer of Goshen, in whose employ he remained until 1877, at which time Mr. Beyer and his brothers, J.F. and C.C. Beyer, embarked in the produce business at Warsaw, Ind., doing business under the firm name of Beyer Bros. Success followed the business adventure, and the firm has now been in business nineteen years, and has gained a wide and favorable reputation. They now have business houses at Warsaw, the home of J.F. Beyer; at Kendallville, the home of C.C. Beyer; at Rochester, Goshen, Logansport, Monticello, North Manchester, Huntington, Kewanna, Monom, Brookston, Delphi and other points in Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio. They do an annual business of about one and three-quarters of a million doolars, and rank among the largest produce firms in this country. Some years ago the firm of Beyer Bros. purchased property at Eagle Lake, Ind., their purpose being to make the place a summer resort. They beautified the grounds, erected costly buildings, employed a landscape gardener and provided such means of entertainment as rendered Eagle Lake a popular summer resort. The Chautauqua people held a few of their meetings there and were much pleased with the place. In 1895 the grounds and improvements were purchased by the Presbyterian National Chautauqua assembly, now known as the Winona assembly and Summer School Association, of which Mr. J.E. Beyere is a director and advisor. Mr. Beyer's businss career has been one of phenomenal success. His active business course has placed him in acquaintance with a wide circle of people, and in all his business dealings his sagacity, wisdom and integrity have won for him the esteem of many friends. He holds several responsible business positions, among which may be named the presidency of the Rochester Electric Light company and the position of director, both in the Farmers' Building and Loan association and the Citizen's bank of Rochester. He stands as a representative citizen, a man of progress, an example of what gratifying success may be accomplished by worthy ambition, by energy and integrity, even though one may begin the struggle for wealth and station in life under adverse circumstances, as was the case with Mr. Beyer. Mr. Beyer was fortunate i securing in marraige the hand of Irena B. Oldfather. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Beyer has been blessed by the birth of one child, a son named Earl E. Mr. Beyer is a member of the order of Knights of Pythias, and in social circles both he and wife sustain pleasant relations.

"Pictorial History of America, The Fulton County Edition" by Elia Peattie - published in 1896


PETER BIDDINGER, a well-known real estate dealer of Rochester, was born south of Wabash, Ind., on the Mississiniwa river Aug. 16, 1844. He came to Fulton County in 1861, with his parents, who located near Leiters Ford. Peter was reared to hard work, and was but sparingly educated. He was hired out by his father from nineteen to twenty-one and his wages were appropriated to the use of the parental treasury. He earned the money that bought his first overcoat after he became of age. He engaged in independent farming as soon as his circumstances enabled him to equip himself for it and continued it with varying degrees of success and with rare interruptions until 1891, when he removed from Richland township to Rochester, and the next year engaged in the real estate business. He owns farms in both Rochester and Richland townships, beside valuable residence property in Rochester. Mr. Biddinger married in this county Nov. 23, 1865, Samantha Jane Fribbett, daughter of the late William Fribbett. The children of this union were: Orpha Bell, who died 1892, aged twenty-three and William H. Mr. and Mrs. Biddinger have an adopted daughter, Blanche Young. Peter Biddinger is a son of Mathias Biddinger, born in Pennsylvania. He moved to Ohio with his father and was married there to Sara, a daughter of John Enfield. He came to Indiana in 1843. He was killed by an Erie tain at Leiters Ford in 1890. His living children are Jonas, William, Elizabeth, who married Rev. James Walls, Peter and Jesse. The Biddingers ar staunch republicans and are among Fulton County's best citizens.

"Pictorial History of America, The Fulton County Edition" by Elia Peattie - published in 1896
Note, Norman H. Tribbett says the Fribbett here should be Tribbett.


FRANKLIN PIERCE BITTERS, M.D., was born at Bloomsburg, PA., Oct. 25, 1852. His parents were William and Elizabeth (Kuhn) Bitters. The father was born in Pennsylvania, the mother in Fulton County, Ind. William Bitters was a brick mason by trade, and in 1856 he came to Peru, Ind., and there worked at his trade for awhile. Subsequently he came to Fulton County, where he met and married Elizabeth C. Kuhn, with whom he settled in Rochester in 1858. Their son was given a common school education. He learned the brick mason's trade under his father, but at the age of seventeen he began teaching school. In June, 1876 he graduated from Northern Indiana Normal school, at Valparaiso, completing a scientific course. Immediately he went to Louisville, Ky., where he entered the Kentucky school of medicine, whence he graduated in June, 1879. He began the practice of his profession at Claypool, Ind., but remained there only a short time. January, 1880, he located at Rensselaer, Ind., where he successfully practiced for eleven years. At West Lafayette, Ind., in 1883, he married Anna May Stockton, a lady of intellectual and moral culture, and of strong force of character. She bore him three children, but, alas, death called the wife and mother and children away, in the years 1890-91. Having been sadly bereft of his family Dr. Bitters felt the loss so keenly that he became discontented with living in Rensselaer, the scene of his loss, and in 1891 he became a resident of Rochester, where he has continued to practice his profession.

"Pictorial History of America, The Fulton County Edition" by Elia Peattie - published in 1896


MAJOR BITTERS. -- During the month of roses, in 1820, John Bitters, the son of a German soldier, who chose death rather than subserviance to George IV., was united in marriage at Martin's Creek, Northampton County, Pa., with Miss Sarah Ann Major, a young lady of Scotch parentage, to whom were born eleven children, Major Bitters, the subject of this sketch, being the eighth child and fourth son, born Sept. 21, 1835. When but eleven years of age Major Bitters went forth to earn an independent livelihood, and unti 1854 when he took an apprenticeship at the Gazette office, in Berwick, Pa., he paid his parents over three hundred dollars out of his very meager earnings. In less than one year's time he was advanced to the foremanship of the office and at the commencement of the Buchanan campaign, in 1856, published a campaign paper at Bloomsburg, Pa., with Frank Snyder as financial partner. Before election day the "Campaigner" suspended for want of patronage and the material was moved to Orangeville, Pa., where the publication of the Orangeville Democrat was established by the same firm, but the revenue was not sufficient to prevent a treasury deficit, and Major resolved to accept the advice just offered by Horace Greeley - to go west and grow up with the country. As foreman of the Democrat (which was a republican paper) at Danville, Pa., he earned sufficient means to carry him to Indianapolis, Ind., where he served a few weeks on the Journal, and thence to Peru, about Christmas time in 1856, where he resided until the 6th of October, 1873. During his residence in Peru, on the 4th day of March, 1858, he was united in marriage to Miss Maria Rose, to whom were born three sons and one daughter. Two sons died in childhood. Albert and Maggie are yet living, both married and residents of Rochester. Major enlisted as a private soldier in Company K, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Indiana volunteers, which was mustered in at Indianapolis in February, 1865, and mustered out at Dover, Del., in August of the same year. But most of his time in the ary was given as second leader of a regimental brass band. Under his skillful services the Peru Republican developed from an insignificant country paper, printed on a hand press, to its present proud proportions. The purchase of the Rochester Union Spy was a venture that no one with a less degree of adhesiveness would have undertaken, but the debt incurred was paid in due time and the office and the paper very much improved. Three years later he sold the Spy office and purchased the Union office at Rensselaer and changed the name to Rensselaer Republican. In July, 1880, he sold out and returned to Rochester, engaging in the real estate business with A.C. Elliott. In 1882 he established the Rochester Tribune, which he sold to W.I. Howard & Son a year later. In November, 1884, he repurchased the Spy office, which under the management of W.H. Mattingly & Bro., had been rechristened the Rochester Republican. On the 5th day of February, 1886, he added the publication of the Rochester Daily Republican, now in its eleventh volume, of which, together with the Weekly Republican, M. Bitters & Son are sole proprietors. In 1892 they purchased the Rochester Tribune and consoldiated it with the Republican. Major Bitters is a successful editor and publisher, but the principal qualification he possesses is adhesiveness. Early and late he is engaged in looking after the welfare of his paper, and largely through his progressive ideas Rochester has developed from the usual old-time conditions of a country village to an admirable little city, well ordered and beautified with elegant residences, commodious churches, school houses and other metropolitan advantages of which the people are justly proud. Politically Major Bitters was born and raised a democrat, and remained such until the democratic attempt at the extension of slavery, which aroused him to the support of John C. Fremont and soon after he identified himself with the republican party. Religiously he was born and raised a Presbyterian, but a maturity he united with the Methodist church and was an active worker for twenty-five years. In 1880 he commenced the study of evolution as pressented by Darwin, Huxley, Spencer and others, and this knowledge is steadfastly maintained.

"Pictorial History of America, The Fulton County Edition" by Elia Peattie - published in 1896


Deb Murray