Pulaski County Biography Ref. Page

JOHN STEIS is a native of Bavaria, German, was born December 11, 1822, and is the next eldest child in a family of six children, five yet living, born to Henry and Elizabeth (Conrad) Steis, both of whom died in the old country, aged respectively seventy-six and sixty-four years. John Steis was reared a farmer, and in March, 1849, married Mary Rothermel, and together they emigrated to the United States in 1850. They took a sailing vessel at Havre-de-Grace, arrived in New York after being on the ocean thirty-two days, and from the last named city went to Toledo. They there took the canal to Logansport, Ind., and then moved their goods by teams to Pulaski County, where they had acquaintances living. Mr. Steis purchased eighty acres of woodland near Monterey, paying for the same $250. He grubbed a clearing sufficiently large in which to erect a cabin into which he moved, and the improvements he made on the place in two years enabled him to sell it for $800, in gold. He then bought 160 acres of unimproved lad, for which he paid $1,000, selling it ten years later for $4,000. In 1870, he purchased eighty-two acres adjoining Winamac, and since 1879 he has operated the grain elevator entirely on his own responsibility. He is a hard working, shrewd business man, and one of Winamac’s progressive citizens. He cast his first vote with the Democratic party, and is yet one of its supporters. He and wife are adherents of the Catholic Church, and the parents of the following named children - Mary, now Mrs. Frank Vurpillat; Joseph, Recorder of Pulaski County; Elizabeth, a sister in the Convent at Notre Dame; Samantha, now Mrs. Henry Rouston; Matilda and Henry.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - City of Winamac" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883

JOSEPH M. STEIS, County Recorder, is a native of Tippecanoe Township, this county, and was born February 16, 1854. He is a son of Joh Steis, a grain merchant of Winamac. Joseph M. Steis was reared to manhood in Pulaski County, and it has been his home chiefly through life. He received a good common education in youth, finishing at a Roman Catholic school in Logansport. For two years, he was employed as clerk in Winamac, then entered the employ of J.P. Barnett, station agent. He remained in Mr. Barnett’s employ three years, and the last year learned telegraphy. In June, 1872, being then only eighteen years old, he was made night operator at Winamac, and he retained this position four years and eight months. He was then sent to Washington Heights, Ill., and made day operator for the two roads crossing at that place. Wishing to be in business nearer home, he resigned his position at the end of a year and a half and became a clerk in the store of Keller, Bouslog & Co., of Winamac. In 1880, he was the Democratic nominee for the office of County Recorder, and the same fall was duly elected. He served as Deputy County Recorder for two months after leaving the employ of Keller, Bouslog & Co., and May 25, 1881, took full charge of the office. Mr. Steis was married November 28, 1876, to Miss Mary Behm, of Tiffin, Ohio, and to their union have been born three children - Albenia, born November 3, 1877; Albert, January 14, 1879, and John, May 8, 1880. The parents are members of the Roman Catholic Church of Winamac.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - City of Winamac" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883

GEORGE P. TERRY, deceased, was one of the first to hear the hardships and inconveniences of a pioneer’s life in Pulaski County. He was a native of the State of New York; was born July 26, 1810; was reared on the farm of his parents, and during his youthful days received a good business education. Shortly after leaving the home of his parents, he found employment in the ship yard of a neighboring town, but soon abandoned this to learn the stone-cutter’s trade. He emigrated to Cass County, Ind., at a very early day, and from there made his settlement in Pulaski County in 1838, a period in the county’s history when but a very few white settlers were within its borders. He engaged in farming in what is now Monroe Township, and in 1841 was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Jenkins, who was born in Miami County, Ohio, October 9, 1812, and who came with her parents to Pulaski County, Ind., in 1840. Three children have been born to their marriage - Huldah (Mrs. W.W. Agnew, of Winamac); Thompson (a resident of Columbus, Tex.) and Horace, a farmer of Pulaski County. Mr. Terry was quite prominent in the early affairs of the county, and was the first Sheriff, having been appointed until one could be elected. Besides this, he held various other positions of trust, and, at the time of his death, which occurred March 25, 1848, he was serving as Justice of the Peace. His widow yet survives him, and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Huldah Agnew, in Winamac.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - City of Winamac" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883

DR. F.B. THOMAS, a native of Baltimore, Md., and one of the earliest settlers of Winamac, was born March 10, 1820, and in 1834 emigrated West with his parents to Fayette County, Ind. Under the tuition of his father, he read medicine, and in 1845 located in Winamac for the practice of his profession, in partnership with a brother. For thirty-five years, Dr. Thomas has been an active practitioner of the county, and in this time has become acquainted with almost every family in the county. In 1853, he was elected to represent the counties of Pulaski and Jasper in the Indiana State Legislature, but never allowed his name to be used in connection with any other office. In 1861, he raised Company H, was elected their Captain, and was mustered into the service with the Forty-sixth Indiana Volunteers. At Riddle’s Point, on the Mississippi River, he was compelled to leave the service on account of rheumatism. He returned home, became editor of the Winamac Democrat, having also acted as editor before going out in the service, and for a period of twenty-six years has been the life of that paper. He is the only person in Winamac, except one man, who has resided here since his first location.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - City of Winamac" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883

W.H. THOMPSON, M.D., a representative man of his profession in Pulaski County, began at the foot of the ladder of life, but climbed step by step, through every adverse circumstances, until he reached the top-most rung, which placed him among the prominent physicians of Northern Indiana. His parents, Paynter and Sarah (Cary) Thompson, were natives of Delaware, and came to Cass County, this State, in 1843, and there engaged in farming until 1872, when they moved to Royal Centre, where Mr. Thompson is now in the mercantile trade. In 1874, Mrs. Thompson died. In 1882, Mr. Thompson married his present wife, Mrs. Sarah Hollenbeck, of Pulaski County. Dr. W.H. Thompson was born in Cass County, Ind., May 29, 1844, and is the third in a family of six children, five of whom are yet living. In 1860, he entered the seminary at Logansport, and in 1866 began the study of medicine with Dr. James Thomas, of Royal Centre, and in the winter of 1868 attended lecture at Rush Medical College, Chicago. In 1869, he entered the medical college at Detroit, from which he graduated June 29, 1870. He then came to Winamac, and engaged in practice, in which he has been very successful. At the time of his location here, he was about $1,000 in debt for books, schooling, etc., and in addition to this, was embarrassed by having to pay his father $200 per year from the time he was sixteen until his majority. He has also been compelled to pay upward of $15,000 surety forfeited by friends; yet, in spite of all this, he has, through his extensive practice, secured for himself a comfortable home. The Doctor was married August 24, 1870, to Miss Nackey C. Cotner, who bore him three children, who all died in infancy. The mother died July 4, 1873. December 24, 1874, the Doctor married Miss Mollie E. Fruchey, who was born in Putnam County, Ohio, June 7, 1849. To this union have been born three children - Harry J. (deceased), William H. and Eugene L. The Doctor is a Mason, and an Odd Fellow, and votes with the Democratic party.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - City of Winamac" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883

G.W. THOMPSON, M.D., brother of Dr. W.H. Thompson, was born in Cass County, Ind., April 27, 1849. He began life for himself at the age of sixteen, paying his parents $200 per annum for his time until twenty-one. He commenced the study of medicine in 1869, under Dr. Thomas of Royal Centre, but finished under his brother W.H. The fall of 1872, he entered Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis, attended two terms and graduated February 28, 1873. He then entered into partnership with his brothe in Winamac, and has been in successful practice ever since. March 3, 1881, he received the ad eundem degree from the re-organized Indiana Medical College known as Butler University; the winter of 1881-82, he attended Rush Medical College, Chicago, graduating February 22, 1882. The doctor began life as a poor boy, but through devotion to his practice has accumulated valuable property. He is a member of the A.F. & A.M., the Royal Arcanum, the I.O.O.F. and of the Christian Church. He was married, July 24, 1873, to Miss Nancy, daughter of J.B. Agnew, Sr. He has served two terms as County Coroner, and in the fall of 1882 was re-elected to the same office. He makes surgery and diseases of the eye and ear a specialty, and for the past ten years has had the almost exclusive patronage of the county in these particular cases.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - City of Winamac" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883

J.D. VURPILLAT is a native of Upper Canada, born April 23, 1843. His parents, Joseph and Magdalene Vurpillat, were natives of France, and had born to them a family of nine children, only seven of whom are now living. The family emigrated from Canada to the United States in 1850, and settled in Tippecanoe Township, Pulaski County, ind., where the father began working at his trade (carpentering) and farming. In 1860, they removed to Logansport, where the mother died in March, 1862, and the spring of 1864, Mr. Vurpillat and family returned to Pulaski County. The fall of that year, he went south to work at his trade for the Government, and the succeeding winter, died at Johnsonville, Tenn. J.D. Vurpillat received a good seminary education, and the greater part of his life has been passed in Pulaski County. When quite a young man, he became a merchant of Wimamac, first in partnership with L. Hoffman, in the hardware and grocery trade, but since January, 1872, he has conducted this business entirely alone. With commendable energy and enterprise he erected his fine brick business block on the corner of Main and Monticello streets in 1882, and this is one of the finest buildings in the county. It is a three story structure, 46x90 feet, in the upper story of which is Vurpillat Hall, while the second floor is devoted to offices. On the first floor in the corner front is situated the Citizen’s Bank of Winamac, while Mr. Vurpillat’s large stock of hardware and groceries extends clear around the bank and fronts on both streets. The owner is a Democrat and a member of the Roman Catholic Church. In August, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Caley, and to them have been born five children - Francis J., Aaron P., Charley A., Annie E., and Magdalene.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - City of Winamac" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883

SIMON WEYAND was born in Cass County, Ind., May 9, 1839, and is one of the six children living, in a family of eight, born to Daniel and Eliza (Beckley) Weyand, natives of Pennsylvania, and born respectively May 11, 1807, and May 19, 1811. Daniel Weyand learned the trade of a hatter; at this majority, he went to Marion County, Ohio, engaged in farming and was there married, June 29, 1830. In 1836, he located in Cass County, Ind., then an almost unpopulated district, entered Government land, and was one of the earliest settlers of northwestern Indiana. He and wife are yet living in Boone Township, adjoining the southern line of this county, and Mr. Weyand has been in what is now Pulaski County when it did not contain a single white inhabitant. Simon Weyand received in his youth a good common school and academical education. In 1862, he went to Oregon and was for four years engaged in teaching and clerking. In 1866, he went to California and was there also employed a year in teaching. The fall of 1867, he returned and entered the law office of Hon. D.P. Baldwin, of Logansport. The spring of 1869, he came to Winamac and engaged in law practice, and in 1878, was elected Prosecuting Attorney, serving until 1880. In 1876, in partnership with T.W. Thomas, he began compiling abstracts, and in 1880, withdrew from the practice of law and has since devoted himself entirely to the abstract business, and has now the only complete set of abstract books in the county. He is a Democrat and a member of the Masonic fraternity. He was married, March 15, 1871, to Miss Emily Guss, who was born in Pulaski County May 15, 1848, and to this union have been born two children - Marshall (deceased) and Dora.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - City of Winamac" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883

C.D. WOOD, proprietor of the Winamac Mills, was born August 27, 1846, in Darke County, Ohio. His grandparents, John and Elizabeth (Harper) Wood, were natives of the Old Dominion and were born respectively May 27, 1770, and December 24, 1774. They were the parents of a family of thirteen sons and four daughters, the tenth born being Jacob Wood, father of the subject of this sketch. His birth occurred May 9, 1809, and December 15, 1831, he was married in Montgomery County, Ohio, to Nancy Bartmess, who was born in Washington County, Md., in the year 1813. Mrs. Wood’s father, Philip Bartmess, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1770, and his father, John Bartmess, was a native of Germany. Jacob Wood and family moved from Ohio to Jasper County, Ind., in 1861, and from there to Pulaski, Pulaski County, in 1869, where he amassed a comfortable fortune. He was a local minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he died October 7, 1875. His widow is yet living, and resides with her son, C.D. Wood, in Winamac. The subject of this biography learned the miller’s trade in his father’s mill, at Pulaski, and in 1877, he and his brother purchased the steam mills in Winamac, and engaged actively in the manufacture of flour; at the present he is entirely alone. Mr. Wood is one of five living children in a family of eight; was reared in Ohio and Indiana, receiving an academical education, and has been twice married. First in 1872 to Miss Hannah Brown, who died April 10, 1879. He was married to his present wife, Miss Sarah Frain, September 3, 1882. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the Royal Arcanum, and one of Winamac’s best business men. The family name “Wood,” originated in England many generations back, and was derived from the occupation of the progenitor, who was a keeper of the King’s woods.

"Counties of White and Pulaski Counties, Indiana - City of Winamac" by F.A. Battey & Co. - published in 1883

J.K. BOYLES is a native of Ohio, and was born October 19, 1835. He is the son of James and Rachel (Campbell) Boyles, the former a native of Washington County, and the latter of Fayette County, Penn., and of Irish and Scotch descent respectively. They moved to Cass County, in 1842, and to Pulaski County, in 1864, locating in Monroe Township, where they died, the father aged eighty years, one month and ten days. J.K. Boyles was married at Logansport, to Miss Emma Julian , March 31, 1864. She is a native of Clinton County, and her parents, Nathan and Rachel (Baker) Julian, were long residents of Cass County, where they died, near Logansport. For the first year after marriage, Mr. Boyles rented his father’s farm, and then bought eighty acres in this township. Of this he has sold eighteen acres. He owns forth acres in Starke County, Ind., and five acres of timber on Section 16, this township. Mr. Boyles was for ten years Superintendent of the County Farm of Pulaski. He and wife are members of the Catholic Church and parents of seven children - Francis X. (deceased), Albert E., Martha M. (deceased), Ernest J., Myrtle A., Victor G., and Lucy M. (deceased).