Jacob Pretorious, Sr., was born and educated in Germany, living there until eighteen years old. Emigrating then to the United States, he located in New York, and the following year his parents crossed the ocean and joined him in the Empire state. Later the entire family moved to Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and there Jacob Pretorious, Sr., married Catherine Schultz, a native of Germany, who came with her parents to America at the age of twenty years. In 1851 he came with his family to Indiana, journeying with teams to Wabash county, at times being obliged to cut his way through the dense forest. He located on eighty acres now owned and occupied by his son, the subject of this sketch, and immediately began its improvement. He met with fine suc¬cess in his pioneer labors, and subsequently purchased another tract of eighty acres in Paw Paw township, and continued his agricultural operations. The land roundabout was in its primitive condition when he bought it. After he had cleared an opening, he built a round log house and stable, and soon was enabled to make other needed improvements. There were no saw mills near, and he was forced to split plank for the floors of his cabin. He afterwards gave three big walnut trees for Urbana's first upright saw mill. When he had his original purchase well improved, he bought forty acres of land in Urbana, Wabash county, and on the farm which he there improved he and his wife spent their remaining years.
The eldest son of his parents, Jacob Pretorious was about three years old when he was brought to Paw Paw township from Ohio. As a boy he helped his father on the farm, attending school when opportunity offered until thirteen years old. He obtained practical knowledge and experience of agriculture while young and chose that occupation as his life work. Being a youth of nineteen years when his father bought the second eighty-acre tract of the old home farm, he assisted in clearing off the timber. After his marriage he farmed for his father, for two years receiving one-third of the crops, but later having two-thirds of each crop for his share. Mr. Pretorious first purchased eighty acres of land from his father, and subsequently bought the remainder of the home farm, giving in payment for the last eighty acres $2,000 and the forty-four acres of land in Urbana, which had previously come into his possession. Mr. Pretorious also owned for a while forty acres of land in Huntington county, Indiana, but sold it to his son-in-law, Peter Fleck. Mr. Pretorious has constantly added to the original improvements of his place, and himself hauled all of the tile used on the farm with the exception of two loads hauled by one of his sons-in-law, Henry Grimm, who worked as hard at the tiling as if the farm had been his own. In addition to general farming Mr. Pretorious was for many years engaged in feeding stock, a branch of agriculture that he found both pleasant and profitable.
On April 18, 1872, Mr. Pretorious married Mary E. Carns, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Persing) Carns, neither of whom are now living. Mrs. Pretorious died March 7, 1911, leaving six children, namely: Clara, wife of Martin Weck, has two children, Ruth and Marie; Anna, married Peter Fleck, and they are the parents of three children, Alma, Homer E., and Mary; Sarah, wife of Charles Ade, has three children, Thelma, Russell F. and Gladys; Matilda, wife of Henry Grimm; Clarence, living in Paw Paw township, on the forty acres of the home farm lying on the Laketon road, married Jessie Welker; and Ezra Franklin, who married Nondis Schultz, and has one child, Josephine.
Mr. Pretorious is a director of the Farmers' State Bank at Urbana. Politically he is a democrat, and religiously he is a member of the German Evangelical church at Urbana.
"History of Wabash County, Indiana"
Clarkson W. Weesner
Lewis Publishing Co.
Chicago and New York
published in 1914
A history of the medical profession in the county would be incomplete without mention being made of Dr. John H. Renner. In his day he was known far and near, and his kindly face and his varied activities of kindness and professional service are still gratefully remembered by his former patients. No night was ever too cold or stormy and no roads too bad for him to travel out in response to a call for his professional ability.
John H. Renner was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, received his early education there, subsequently took a course of study at Otterbein University, and began the study of medicine at Starling Medical College in Columbus, Ohio. He finished his study of medicine at the Chicago Medical College, where he was granted his degree of doctor of medicine. His practice was first established at West Baltimore, in Ohio, and three years later, in 1886, he moved to Wabash county, locating at Lagro. His office was with Dr. R. Toby until the latter moved out to Illinois four years later. Dr. Renner then practiced alone until his son was graduated in medicine, and they worked in partnership under the name of Drs. John H. and M. E. Renner for ten years. The son then moved to Urbana, in this county, and the father continued his active work in the field of medicine until his death in 1901.
Dr. John H. Renner first married Mary Catherine De Rumple, whose people came from Pennsylvania. There were two children by that marriage: Dr. Maly E. and Jennie, now Mrs. F. M. Keith. Mrs. Catherine Renner died in West Baltimore, Ohio, in 1863. The senior Dr. Renner later married Jennie McVicker, who is still living. The children by that union were: J. Charles, Samuel S., James and Joseph, twins; Robert D., Sadie, now Mrs. M. McNown, and Uriah.
Dr. M. E. Renner has lived in Lagro township since 1867. He was born near Dayton, Montgomery county, Ohio, February 23, 1860. The first seven years of his life were spent in Ohio, and he grew up to manhood in Wabash county. The public schools furnished the foundation of his educational equipment, and subsequently he began reading medicine under the preceptorship of his father, in whose office he remained for two years, and quite often went out on professional rounds with the older doctor, and thus acquired a great deal by observation as well as by study of books. Another experience of his young manhood which should be noted was that three years were spent in the office of the old Lagro Express, one of the early newspapers of Wabash county. It was in the days which antedated by many years the modern newspaper facilities, and the young man learned to stick type at the case, worked the old hand press, did reporting, wrote editorials, and did all the other miscellaneous detail connected with getting out a country newspaper. From his father's office he entered the medical department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he continued until graduated M. D. with the class of 1881. That year he returned to Lagro, became junior member of the firm of Renner & Renner, and father and son practiced together for ten years. During that time, according to the records of the old Fort Wayne College of Medicine, Dr. M. E. Renner held the chair of professor of physiology in 1883-84-85-86. Dr. Renner, after ten years association with his father, left Lagro and located at the village of Urbana, which was his home for twenty-two years. He is best remembered for his work in that vicinity, since he returned to Lagro only recently, in May, 1913, though the prestige of his in Albany, New York, for two years, the father working diligently to get money enough to move his family to Ohio after he had paid his debts. He earned three shillings a day cutting cord wood during much of that time, and each night when he returned home he carried a bundle of dry wood for the next day's usage. In the early thirties they came to Ohio, settling in Tuscarawas county, and there he leased land for some time, at the end of the time moving to Wabash county, Indiana, where he bought eighty acres for $360.00. He went in debt for the land, and in order to make a payment on it he remained in Wabash, working by the day. For two years he worked thus and then the family moved to the farm in Paw Paw township. Later he bought forty acres in Lagro township. Jacob Eiler died at Urbana, aged seventy, and the mother died some years later on the old home farm, having made her home with her son, Jacob Eiler, from the death of her husband until she passed away.
Jacob Eiler was long regarded as one of the substantial citizens of Wabash county, and he had a prominent place in his community in his latter years. He was a man of splendid physical strength, and coming into Wabash county at a time when ague was prevalent and few escaped its ravages from season to season, he never experienced an attack of that malady. He worked hard all his days, and though he was penniless when he settled here, he was worth more than $10,000 when he retired from active farm life. He and his wife were the parents of four children. Jacob is a resident of Urbana; John is located at Muncie, where he is prominent in business; Henry is mentioned in a later paragraph as the subject of this family review; and Philipina, the wife of Phil Keller, is a resident of Wabash. The first child, Jacob, was born in Germany. John was born in New York, and the other two in Ohio.
Henry Eiler was a child of about nine years when the family moved into Wabash county, Indiana, making their way via Lake Erie and the canal, and he settled with the family on the farm in Paw Paw township as soon as it was possible for them to arrange for it. He had little or no schooling as a boy, and helped with the farm work from the first. The family lived in a small log cabin that still stands on the old place, and Mr. Eiler has vivid recollections of the cold winters spent in that little home, when the snow blew through the chinks in the wall and to keep warm was a task indeed. Many a morning when he and his brothers awakened they crept from their blankets to find them covered with snow drifts that had seeped in through the night and covered them quietly, but they were healthy and strong, blessed with stout constitutions and unpampered by excess of comfort, so that sleeping beneath a snow drift wrought them no hardship, and little discomfort, since they slept soundly beneath their chilly coverings.
When Henry Eiler was twenty years old he enlisted in Company B, Forty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Regiment, with Captain Goodman at the head of his company. He served through the entire period of hostilities, once being taken prisoner while out for-aging for chickens. This happened at New Iberia, Louisiana, and he was taken to Alexander, in Louisiana, and six weeks later he was exchanged and joined his regiment. He passed through the Vicksburg campaign and saw much service up to the time when his regiment was mustered out at Baton Rouge in October, 1865. He was also at Mobile, Alabama. He then returned to Wabash county and took up life where he had left off four years before.
On March 4, 1868, Mr. Eiler was married to Miss Sophia Pretorius, a daughter of Jacob Pretorius, a family that is mentioned at some length elsewhere in this work. She died on September 15, 1892, leaving children as follows: Mary, the wife of Peter Haupert, now deceased, and she left six children when she died, Ida, Ross, Laurence, Joseph, Ory and an infant deceased. Sarah Eiler was the second child of the family; she died at the age of three years; John married Clara Rautenkranz and their children are Gerald, Laura, Matilda and Mary; Henry married Ursa Alger and their children are Myrtle, Beulah and Donald; Jacob, who married Rose Signs, has four children, Franklin, Carl, Irma and Lelah; Ann Eiler died at the age of twenty years.
After his marriage Mr. Eiler moved to the farm he now occupies. After the death of the father he bought out the other heirs, and he is now the sole owner of the old home place. He has carried forward the work of development that his father inaugurated on the place long years ago, and the farm today is one of the thrifty and presentable looking ones of the township, reflecting in a large measure the spirit of thoroughness and progressiveness that mark its owner.
Mr. Eiler is a republican and a member of the G. A. R. at Wabash. He is a member of the St. Peter's Evangelical church of Urbana, and takes a generous interest in the work of the church. He is especially devoted to his membership in the G. A. R., and finds much pleasure in his attendance at the annual encampments, many of which he has attended in various parts of the country.
"History of Wabash County, Indiana"
Clarkson W. Weesner
Lewis Publishing Co.
Chicago and New York
published in 1914
The parents of Mr. Conrad, second cousins and natives of Germany, were both born in 1800, and in their native land lived on a small farm. In 1846 the father disposed of his holdings, gathered his family about him and sailed for the United States, where he purchased a farm amid the high hills and heavy woods of Tuscarawas county, Ohio. This continued to be his home until 1864, at which time he came to Wabash county, Indiana, here purchasing eighty acres of land, of which forty had been cleared, from Michael Becker. He continued to reside here and develop a productive farm until his death, at the age of seventy-four years, having gained a material competence through his energy anti perseverance and holding the respect and esteem of his numerous acquaintances by reason of his many sterling qualities of mind and heart. Part of his old home still stands, having been greatly improved and added to, and now forms the residence of Daniel Conrad. The mother passed away when eighty-five years of age, and had the following children: Catherine, deceased, who was the wife of Fred Wassem; Julia Ann, who died a maiden; Elizabeth, deceased, who was the wife of Jacob Shultz; Caroline, who was the wife of Mike Goss of Ohio; Charles, who is deceased; Henry, who is a resident of Pennsylvania; and Daniel, of this review.
Daniel Conrad was a child of four years when brought to the United States by his parents, the journey across the ocean requiring thirty-three days in a sailing vessel. His boyhood and youth were passed among the hills of Ohio, and the highest hill in the state was near his old home in Tuscarawas. The district school in which he secured most of his education was not a pretentious structure, as there were cracks in the wall that one could see through, but it was beautifully located between the woods and hills, a good spring of water was easily reached, and the children were a sturdy lot to whom sickness was a complete stranger. When he was not attending school, Mr. Conrad was engaged in assisting his father clear the home place, and so he continued until reaching the age of eighteen years, at which time he came to Wabash county to make his home with his sister, Mrs. Shultz, who was living one mile south of Urbana. When Mr. Conrad's family came to Indiana, four years later, he went to make his home with them. For some years Mr. Conrad turned his hand to whatever honorable occupation presented itself, for the most part being engaged in general farming, although for a long period he operated a threshing machine, and for eight years a clover huller. In November, 1870, he founded a home of his own when he married Miss Catherine Pretorius, daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Shultz) Pretorius, a review of this family being found in the review of Jacob and George Pretorius, brothers of Mrs. Conrad, in another part of this work. After his marriage Mr. Conrad purchased a small farm near the one he now occupies, and while residing there had his home in a little log house. Subsequently he moved to his present place, which he purchased about 1887 after the death of his mother. He cleared much of this property, and now has ninety-seven and one-half acres under cultivation, this land being devoted to general farming. Mr. Conrad's ventures have proved successful, for he has been energetic and enterprising, and his activities have been directed intelligently and along modern lines. As a man he is esteemed for his integrity, his honorable dealings and his fidelity to friendship and business engagements, while as a citizen he is known as one who at all times is ready to assist in forwarding movements making for the betterment of his community morally, financially or along the lines of education. Many years have passed since he assisted his fellow-pioneers in the building of their primitive log homes, yet his step is still firm and his mind alert and none take greater interest in the trend of the times or in matters of real importance. Throughout his life he has been a democrat, but his activities in politics have been confined to his support of friends. His religious connection is with the German Lutheran church.
Mr. and Mrs. Conrad were the parents of ten children, as follows: Lena, who married Fred Roudenkranz, of Urbana, Indiana, and has two children, Carl and Eunice; Charles, of Indianapolis, who married Eva Weitner; George, of North Manchester, Indiana, who married Myrta Elliott, and has one son, Lloyd; Daniel, a resident of Paw Paw township, who married Pearl Baker, and has two children, Duert and Vera; Fred, who married Catherine Miller, and has five children, Marie, Gerald, Laura, Edith and William, and resides in Noble township; Katie, who married Peter Arshel, of Huntington, Indiana, and has four children, Edith, Lucille, Howard and Mary; Clarence, who married Bertha Wensel, of Lagro township, and has two children, Louise and Paul; Henry, of Indianapolis; and Albert and Joseph.
"History of Wabash County, Indiana"
Clarkson W. Weesner
Lewis Publishing Co.
Chicago and New York
published in 1914
To avoid any further trouble he changed his name, giving his name as Speicher, in remembrance of the building in which he was concealed. As he was compelled to keep his real name a secret for so long a time, it is not definitely known just what it was.
Being an educated man, he was soon asked to teach this farmer's children. Then later the neighbors wanted their children taught also. Thus he became the village schoolmaster. When death made invasion into their midst they turned to the schoolmaster for a short funeral service, or at least a prayer. They soon found that he could preach as well as teach, and thus he became their minister.
A few years later he married a princess, and the family was considered of very high standing, one of his sons later becoming the German ruler's bodyguard.
When he died he was highly embalmed and his body put into a vault, where it remained a hundred years, at which time the body was taken out and looked upon, he being of the royal line. At this time it is said that his grandson kissed the face of his grandfather, the first Speicher.
His sons also married along the royal line, though not so wealthy. There is a story told of the Austrian invasion into Switzerland, in which a descendant of the first Speicher is said to have broken ranks when the Swiss were about defeated, and, turning back to his comrades, said, "Remember my family if I fall", and rushing forward with his rude instrument of war, something like a spear, he with his hands and with this weapon mowed them down as they came to him until he was standing nearly alone to his waist in blood and dead bodies. Seeing his courage, the others rushed forward, and the Austrians were frightened and defeated.
The father of John Speicher, whose history we are about to sketch, was for many years the mayor of the city of Berne, Switzerland.
John Speicher was born in the canton of Berne, Switzerland, June 20, 1808. He was educated in Berne, and served faithfully as a soldier in the Swiss army for a term of years. In his father's family there were three boys and two girls. The father decided to give all his wealth to the younger son, Benjamin. So the others, having to shift for themselves, went to Germany and later to America. After the father's death, however, the other children each got one thousand dollars by contending for it.
It is this youngest son's descendants that are now to be found in Switzerland. They were very extravagant, having fine coaches, maid and men servants. They also had their swell receptions. Thus they were soon reduced to poverty, and to this day those who have been at Berne find them still in the old castle, but all has become dilapidated, and they are living in poverty and ignorance, with their fellow men in Switzerland.
When John Speicher had served his term of years in the army he determined to go to America, whence came fabulous stories of freedom and plenty, and there investigate the chances of bettering his condition. Leaving his native land unattended, he went to Germany, thence to France, where he took passage in a three-mast vessel which was bound for New York. The brave little vessel encountered many heavy storms and sixty days were consumed in the voyage, but at last land was sighted and the grateful passengers gave a prayer of thanksgiving. He at once went to Holmes County, Ohio, where he secured a position in a mill, remaining four years, and learning to speak the English language. He soon saw that America was the poor man's country and he thought of his friends at home who were toiling against adverse circumstances, so he returned to Switzerland with glowing accounts of his adopted land and induced about one hundred to return with him, among which company was his brother Christ, and his sweetheart, Miss Elizabeth Krebs, to whom he was united in bond of matrimony, October 11, 1834, soon after reaching Ohio. Soon after this he purchased forty acres of land in Holmes county and built a grist mill of his own, as he had thoroughly learned this trade, ere he was called "Honest John Speicher, the miller."
Sixteen children were born to them, eleven sons and five daughters. One daughter died in infancy, but the others all grew to manhood and womanhood. In 1852 he disposed of his property in Ohio and moved to Indiana, locating in Wabash county. He made this journey on the Erie and Wabash Canal. He purchased about two hundred acres of slightly improved land in Lagro township, which is now located about one mile east of Urbana, and made it his home for many years, or to the time of his death, in the year 1879. The entire county was then in the early stages of development, there being no railroads, and Wabash was only a small town. They often walked to Huntington or Ft. Wayne to do their shopping. Mr. Speicher was energetic and accumulated a great deal of property, owning at one time about one thousand acres of land.
He had strong political convictions, and although he had identified himself with the whigs, at the advent of the new anti-slavery republican party he cast his vote for their first candidate, John C. Fremont. Two of his sons were laid on the altar of his country in the war of the rebellion which soon followed. They were John and Frederick. His was a deeply religious nature, and when he spoke the name of God he uncovered his head in reverence. The Bible was also very sacred to him and it is said that at one time when a minister entered his home and thoughtlessly laid his silk hat on the Word of God, lying on the stand, he brushed it off, saying, "Excuse me, but nothing should lie on this Book." Through his generosity a church was placed not far from his home, on the estate of one of his sons, which has since been removed to Urbana, being the Church of the Evangelical Association in that place.
Joseph Benjamin Speicher, the sixth son of John Speicher, was born in Holmes county, Ohio, March 25, 1841. He came with his parents to Wabash county in 1852, in which county his entire life was spent. When quite a young man he learned the carpenter trade, by working with his older brother Samuel and later with his brother-in-law, Peter Mattern. He was a very diligent worker and for as much as a year at a time never lost a day. He spent most of his time at his trade until he was thirty years old, when on May 4, 1871, he was united in matrimony with Miss Katherine Richer, daughter of John and Magdalene Richer, one of the early settlers of Miami county, residing near Peru. At this time he settled on an eighty acre farm which he had purchased of his father. Four daughters and one son were born to them. They are Clara, of Chicago; Lewis, residing near Bolivar, having been united with Inez Morford, in 1907, and to which three children have been born, namely, Eva Katherine, Paul Lewis, and Joseph Eugene. The other three daughters are Martha, Esther and Ruth.
He like his father was an ardent republican up to the year 1885, when he heard of the prohibition party, and that it stood for the destruction of the liquor traffic. He immediately announced to his friends and neighbors that he would vote that ticket, and although they plead with him long and hard, and though the cause was a very unpopular one, he could not be persuaded from his purpose, and remained faithful to the prohibition cause to the time of his death.
He became very much interested in Sunday school work about the time that his own little flock were old enough to go to Sunday school, and acted in the capacity as superintendent for many years. Later he fell in with workers in the organized Sunday school work and attended a number of the State, National and International Conventions of that body, which took him to such cities as Boston, Denver, Colorado, and Atlanta, Georgia.
In 1898 he attended the international convention in London, England. He sailed on July 1, on the steamship Catalonia of the Cunard line, celebrating the fourth of July on shipboard, in midocean. It was on this night that he experienced the thrilling experience of "a fire at sea." Having a brave band of men and women on board, who gave the captain and brave crew no extra trouble but who assembled on the deck for prayer and to await the outcome, the seamen were enabled by toiling all night long to raise the burning bales of cotton from the hold of the ship and throw them overboard, and thus their lives were spared, for which they devoutly thanked God. It was at this time that he traveled through England, Germany and France into Switzerland, to see what might be found of the old Speicher estate, being the only one of the Speicher descendants thus far to return to the land of their nativity. He found them living in ignorance and far "behind the times," as we would say, but anxious to come to America, "the land of blessing," as they say.
For a number of years he held the office of superintendent of the eleventh district in the Sunday school work, and in traveling over this territory in the interest of the work he was sometimes away from home for several days at a time and always on Sunday, as then he visited the rural Sunday schools, striving to encourage them in the work of training the young in the study of the Book of Books. He held this office up to the time of his death and only gave up the long Sunday trips when he was physically unable for the drives. When in his last sickness his only regret was that he had not been more efficient and been able to do more for his Master. His very soul was wrapped up in this work, and no doubt Eternity will tell of the good that was accomplished. He was well known in this capacity in Wabash, Huntington, Miami, Fulton, Kosciusko and Whitley counties. "Yea, they rest from their labors and their works do follow them."
At the time of his death he was living on the old Speicher homestead farm which he had purchased about fifteen years before his death, and where his widow and daughters still reside.
"History of Wabash County, Indiana"
Clarkson W. Weesner
Lewis Publishing Co.
Chicago and New York
published in 1914
Valentine M. Mattern was born June 17, 1843, in Germany, his parents being Valentine and Elizabeth (Beamer) Mattern, who both passed away in the Fatherland, the mother dying when he was still an infant, and the father meeting death at the age of seventy years, in 1878. Valentine Mattern followed farming during the greater part of his life, was an industrious, hard-working citizen, and became the owner of seventy acres of land in different parts of his country. He and his wife were the parents of six children, as follows: John, who is deceased; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Wilhelm Snyder and is now deceased; Valentine M., of this review; Carl, who died in young manhood, in Germany; and Peter and Adam, who are both deceased.
The public schools of his native land furnished Valentine M. Mattern with his educational training, and he was reared to traits of honesty and integrity and to the vocation of farmer. He was an ambitious and determined youth, and soon, like thousands of others of his countrymen, seeing no future ahead of him in Germany, he decided to try his fortunes in the United States. Accordingly, three days before Christmas, 1868, he left the shores of the Fatherland, and January 12, 1869, arrived safely at the port of New York, from whence he immediately made his way to Indiana. At Plymouth, Marshall county, he met his brother, John, who had preceded him to this country some years and who was the owner of a farm in the vicinity of Bremen. Mr. Mattern accompanied his brother to his farm, where he remained for a short time, and soon secured employment among the people of that region, commanding good wages because of his willingness and ability. For seven years he accepted such honorable employment as he could find, working as a farm hand and in sawmills, etc., and a1so during this time was engaged to some extent in buying and selling Marshall county land.
On January 26,1876, Mr. Mattern was united in marriage with Miss Julia Wassem, daughter of Fred and Catherine (Conrad) Wassem. He had saved some $700 or $800 when he came to the United States, and by the time he was married he had increased his capital to $1,800, but was compelled to go into debt to pay for his first eighty acres of land, for which he paid $3,000. This property was located in Noble township and had but few improvements, but Mr. Mattern cleared and ditched it, put in numerous improvements and erected buildings, and later added forty acres by purchase, which was followed by another forty acre addition. There he continued to reside for twenty-eight years, when he retired from active pursuits, turned his property over to his children, and went to live in his comfortable home at Urbana. Mr. Mattern had erected two sets of buildings and made his farm one of the most attractive and valuable 160-acre tracts in the county. He devoted the greater part of his time to general farming, but also met with well-merited success in raising hogs, cattle and colts, for which he always received topnotch prices in the markets. He still is the owner of the 160-acre farm, and has eight acres at Urbana, where his home is located. He is a stockholder in the Farmers State Bank of Urbana, and has always encouraged local enterprises and assisted movements for the general welfare. He is a democrat in his political views, but has never been an office seeker; having believed that he could serve his community better as a good, public-spirited citizen, leaving the activities and doubtful emoluments of the political arena to others. With his family he attends the Evangelical church at Urbana, and has been a liberal contributor to its movements. Those with whom he has had business dealings know him as a man of honor and integrity, who has great respect for commercial ethics. During his residence here of nearly forty years he has become acquainted with people in all walks and conditions of life, and the general esteem in which he is held is sufficient evidence of his true worth and fidelity.
Mr. and Mrs. Mattern are the parents of the following children, who have been given good educational advantages and have fitted into their proper places in the community, a credit to themselves, their section and their parents: Elizabeth, who is the wife of John Carnes, and a resident of Paw Paw township; Catherine, who is the wife of Adam Keefaber, who is engaged in operating a part of Mr. Mattern's old homestead in Noble township; John, who married Elizabeth Danner and is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits in Paw Paw township; Rose, who became the wife of Harvey Haupert, and lives near Treaty, Indiana; William, who married Lula Lutz, and resides on part of the Noble township farm owned by our subject; Carrie is now Mrs. Roy Haupert and a resident of Lagro township, this county; and Carl, who married Gladys Smith, is engaged in farming in Noble township.
"History of Wabash County, Indiana"
Clarkson W. Weesner
Lewis Publishing Co.
Chicago and New York
published in 1914
The Hettmansperger family have been identified with Wabash county for half a century or more, and the parents of this well known Lagro township citizen were Chris and Barbara (Geiger) Hettmansperger, both natives of Germany, where they were married, and where all their children except the three youngest were born. The father was a blacksmith, followed his trade industriously, and by close economy managed to accumulate a small hoard of capital. With those means the family emigrated to the United States, there being four children at the time. One of these died at sea and was buried from the ship. That trip, accomplished in an old sailing vessel, required one hundred and sixty-six days. The family went from the Atlantic coast to Wisconsin and settled in that state in a portion which was still a wilderness and the father engaged in farming some eight or nine years. He then returned to his native land, once more resumed his trade, but his experience in the new world had put new ideas into his head, and he was unable to divorce himself from the land of freedom. Social conditions and economic conditions as well were disagreeable, and one day when he asked his good wife whether she would like to return to the land of freedom she answered, "I would rather start today than tomorrow," and so after about two years in Germany they again set out for America. This time the journey was made on one of the early steamers then crossing the Atlantic, and required only sixty-six days, comparatively brief with respect to the former journey, but exceedingly long when measured by the time of ocean steamship at the present time. The family on their second return to America, came to Wabash county, Indiana, where the father rented a farm in Noble township, five miles south of Wabash. Subsequently he located as a renter on the Phillip Alber farm, just north of Wabash, and with his savings eventually bought eight acres located on Chippewa Pike, three and a half miles north of Wabash. During the winter seasons, he often helped the old pioneer blacksmith, Phil Boechtel whose shop was nearby. After he had paid for his eighty acres, he and a cousin Fred Hettmansperger bought one hundred and sixty acres in partnership, and in order to secure the place he put a mortgage on his eighty acre farm. The timberland was all paid for except about three hundred dollars, when hard times set in, and not only the new land but the old farm were lost to Mr. Hettmansperger, and he had to begin all over again. During the next ten years he was once more reduced to the necessity of farming as a renter, but he was steadily getting ahead in the world, and with a ripe fund of experience, which set him permanently on the road to prosperity. Finally he bought one hundred and ten acres, one mile north and three-quarters of a mile east of Urbana that being the old Dunfee farm. He continued to manage that place actively until about 1893, when he sold out and retired to the village of Urbana, where both he and his wife died. Her death occurred when sixty-three years of age, and he lived to be seventy-three.
The elder Chris Hettmansperger was what his neighbors called a "red hot democrat." He often took an active part in the campaign in behalf of other candidates on the ticket, but never sought an office himself. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, as follows: Jacob, who resides in Wabash; Fred, of Roann; Charles, the child which died at sea; Katherine, who is Mrs. George Klein, a resident of Wabash; Chris; Ernest, who resides at Elkhart; and Philip, of Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
Chris Hettmansperger, Jr., was born in Baden Baden, Germany, February 8, 1856, and was about eight months of age when the family set out for the United States the second time. Growing up in Wabash county, and with a district schooling, he has from early years been a hard worker, and has earned all his present substantial prosperity. His school days put together would comprise hardly six months, but he is a man of thorough practical education, and has the ability to judge a steer or see into the prospects of a business deal as quickly as any of his contemporaries. In the early days he helped clear up the home farm, and at the age of twenty-five left home, and on December 28, 1881, married Mary Roush, a daughter of Abraham and Charlotte Roush, a well known family of farming people in this county. To the marriage of Mr. Hettmansperger and wife have been born the following children: Anna, wife of Charles Keefaber, of Wabash, and their three children are Roy, Helen and George; John married Anna Sparling, and is a farmer who lives near Treaty, this county, and has one child, Paulina; George married May McKinley, lives in Wabash county, and their one child is Benjamin; Walter married Ethel Long, lives in Wabash, and has one child, Mary; Homer, is his father's assistant on the farm; Garl lives at home; Miss Charlotte is the youngest and all the children were well educated, their parents having taken special pains to afford them all the advantages of the home schools.
After his marriage Mr. Hettmansperger remained at home for a few months, and in the following spring rented the old Jerry Flinn farm of one hundred acres, half a mile north of Urbana. He remained on that place two years, then got together his stock and other products, had a sale; and with the proceeds moved to Urbana and bought a home, and for the following three years was employed in the saw mill. A few years later he again resumed farming and rented the Fred Mowery farm one mile south of Urbana, living there two years. The next three years were spent on the farm of his mother-in-law in Lagro township, and he and Ben Wolfe then went in as partners in a stock farm, their operations being carried on the Wolfe farm on four hundred acres in Lagro township. Mr. Hettmansperger spent thirteen years in charge and general supervision of that large estate, and by hard work impaired is a practical and successful general farmer. He has remodeled all the buildings, has put up a good stable, and all the old rail fences have been replaced with strong wire fencing, and during the twenty years that he has owned the place he has spent more money for tile than the original cost of the farm. He understands farming in all its departments, and has a singular ability in getting the greatest resources out of a given amount of land. There is a large annual crop of corn on the Gurtner farm, and like most of the successful agriculturists of Wabash county he prefers selling it "on the hoof to selling it on the cob."
Mr. and Mrs. Gurtner are members of the Christian church, and he is affiliated with the Masonic Order at Wabash and the Grand Army Post in the same city. A self-made man in the fullest sense of the word, he started life as a poor boy, and has more than held his own from the time he was seven years of age.
"History of Wabash County, Indiana"
Clarkson W. Weesner
Lewis Publishing Co.
Chicago and New York
published in 1914
Col. Polk was born in New Castle, Henry county, Indiana, a son of James and Finel (Stewart) Polk, who came to this state from North Carolina in their young days. In his boyhood Colonel Polk attended the local schools, and he was employed in various mercantile establishments as a boy in his teens. Later he was employed in a clerical capacity by various county officials and up to the year 1855 he devoted much of his time to that class of work. In that year he was appointed deputy recorder under T. B. McCarty, and he continued thus occupied until the war broke out. He promptly enlisted for three months' service as a private of Company K, Eighth Indiana, and when the three months had expired, the regiment was reorganized for three years of service. He was commissioned captain of Company F, and in that capacity he participated in the activities at Pea Ridge, Vicksburg and Western Louisiana. Just before the battle of Fort Esperendez he received his commission as major, promotion coming for valor and gallantry in service. He was at the battles in and about Mobile, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and assigned to the command of his regiment. The regiment then joined General Sheridan's Division, at that time operating in the Shenandoah Valley, and when peace was declared he was in Hawkesville, Georgia. Though he had previous to that been commissioned Colonel, his regiment had been reduced below the minimum, so that he never was in command as Colonel.
With the close of the war he returned to Wabash county, and for a time he was employed in the State Auditor's office at Indianapolis. In 1866 he was elected auditor of Wabash county, and he continued to serve in that office until he died in 1875. The character of his work was such as to fully warrant his return to the office with each succeeding year and he was regarded as one of the most valuable officials the county ever had.
Colonel Polk was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he was long affiliated with the Methodist church, in which he was active and interested.
At Wabash, on February 28, 1858, Colonel Polk was married to Miss Jane Kelly, the daughter of William and Catherine (Cameron) Kelly, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively. The children born to the Colonel and his wife were as follows: Jennie, the wife of Fred Groffe, of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Thomas, a resident of New Orleans; and Margaret, who remains at home with her widowed mother in Wabash.
Mrs. Polk and her daughter are popular and prominent, enjoying the genuine regard of a wide circle of Wabash people who have known them for a good many years and esteem them for their many excellent qualities.
"History of Wabash County, Indiana"
Clarkson W. Weesner
Lewis Publishing Co.
Chicago and New York
published in 1914
Mr. Heeter was born on the old Heeter homestead, near North Manchester, Indiana; August 3, 1869, and was there educated in the public schools. He was brought up to habits of industry and honesty, traits which always characterized his nature, and was thoroughly trained in agricultural matters, having decided to spend his life as a tiller of the soil. After his marriage he settled on a farm of eighty acres, which he had secured from his father, and in addition to this cultivated a part of the old homestead. He was a persevering and active worker and understood fully the use of improved machinery and modern methods, with the result that his ventures proved successful and he was rapidly becoming one of the substantial men of his community, when, January 26, 1904, death called him. A democrat in politics, Mr. Heeter was in thorough sympathy with the principles of his party, but was not bigoted and always was tolerant of the opinions of others. His citizenship was worthy of emulation, and he supported loyally movements for good roads and others which his judgment and foresight told him were for the benefit of his community. In his home life he was a loving husband and indulgent father, and his home always came ahead of any clubs or fraternal organizations. Few men have had a wider circle of friends and few have been more deserving of them.
On October 10, 1891, Mr. Heeter was married to Miss Melvina Karn, who survives him and still makes the old homestead her abiding place. She is a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Landis) Karn, early settlers of Wabash county and prominent agricultural people here. Mrs. Heeter had two brothers - Jacob and Dan, the former of whom is deceased and four sisters - Mary, Ellen, Lydia and Ann - of whom Mary and Lydia have passed away. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Heeter; Mary, born August 6, 1892, and Forest, born May 7, 1894:, both at home. The latter, an energetic and progressive young farmer, has charge of the operation of the home farm of eighty acres, and is proving himself a good manager and thorough business man. Mrs. Heeter is a member of the Church of the Brethren, which she attends at North Manchester. She is widely and favorably known in this vicinity, where she takes an interest in social and religious work and, like her late husband, is the center of a wide circle of warm and appreciative friends.
"History of Wabash County, Indiana"
Clarkson W. Weesner
Lewis Publishing Co.
Chicago and New York
published in 1914
His father, George Butterbaugh, was born and reared in Pennsylvania. As a young man he lived for a while in Ohio, and was there married. In 1839 he came with his family to Indiana, locating first at Rose Hill, just across the line from Wabash county, in Kosciusko county. Taking up one hundred and sixty acres of heavily timbered land, he lived for a time in a tent, but later erected a set of log buildings. At the end of thirteen years he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land near Silver Lake, and immediately began to clear a farm, almost the entire tract having been covered with timber when he bought it. He remained there just a year, during which time he put considerable in the proposed Eel River Railroad, and lost his entire investment. Moving to Miami county, Indiana, in 1853, he purchased three hundred and twelve acres of land, most of which was cleared, and continued his agricultural labors. Selling that property in 1863, he retired from active pursuits, making his home with his children until his death in 1878.
The maiden name of the wife of George Butterbaugh was Mary Clemmons. She was born in 1817 and died in 1847 in Indiana. Ten children were born of their union, of whom but two are now, in 1914, living, namely: Catherine, wife of Joseph Bitting, a veteran of the Civil war; and Jacob.
Brought up beneath the parental roof-tree, Jacob Butterbaugh obtained his early education in the pioneer schools, and while yet young became familiar with the manual labor of the farm, which he helped to clear and improve. In 1862 he offered his services to his country, enlisting in Company D, Fifty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under command of Captain A. A. Eggleston and Colonel Mansfield. With his regiment he was sent directly from Indianapolis to Vicksburg, and during the siege of that city he was wounded. On December 8, 1863, he was mustered out at New Orleans, and returned home. Resuming his chosen occupation, Mr. Butterbaugh was for many years actively engaged in agricultural pursuits. In common with his brothers, he received $2,800 from the parental estate, and later bought from his father his present farm of one hundred and twelve acres in Paw Paw township, it having been a part of the old McHenry farm. The land was mostly in its primitive wilderness, but by dint of persevering courage and industry he cleared it, and erected all the necessary buildings for carrying on general farming. Having accumulated a fair share of this world's goods Mr. Butterbaugh retired from active business cares several years ago, and is now enjoying a well-earned leisure. Mr. Butterbaugh is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons; of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and of the Grand Army of the Republic, belonging to the Post at Roann.
Mr. Butterbaugh married October 9, 1859, Charlotte Uplinger, who was born December 25, 1833, in Franklin county, West Virginia, and died July 4, 1907, in Wabash county, Indiana. Her parents, Cornelius and Judy (Darby) Uplinger, moved from Virginia to Ohio, and from the latter state about 1849 moved to Indiana, where Mr. Uplinger followed his trade of a wagon maker for many years, living near Silver Lake. Mr. and Mrs. Butterbaugh became the parents of five children, namely: Martha Ellen, Samuel, Ambrose, Elvira A. and James M. Martha Ellen lived but ten months. Samuel married Effie M. Jack, who died in December, 1890, leaving two children, Ruth T. and Jack G. Ruth T. Jack married A. R. Toney of Aurora, Illinois, and has two children, Arthur and Maxine. Ambrose Butterbaugh married Edith McCoy, and they have six children, namely: Flossie and Floyd, twins; Fara; Frank; Jessie and May. Of these children Flossie married James Deardorff; Floyd married Walter Wayde, who is now deceased, and their two children are Paul and Dorothy; Fara is the wife of Oliver Dehaven and has one child, Ambrose Samuel Dehaven; Frank married Katie Whistler; while Jessie is the wife of J. Hollenback and the mother of two children, Charles and Josephine. James Butterbaugh, the youngest of Mr. Butterbaugh's children, married Mrs. Mary S. Smith Huston, a widow. By her first marriage she had three children: Nellie, Lula and Aletha. James Butterbaugh and wife have one child by their present marriage, Mary Audra Butterbaugh.
Mr. Butterbaugh and his sons have oil interests in Ohio, and Miss Elvira T. Butterbaugh owns land in Texas. To all lovers of music the name of Butterbaugh is familiar through the association of Mr. Butterbaugh's son and grandson with various bands and orchestras, more especially with the Danta band, which under the direction of Professor Danta tours the country.
"History of Wabash County, Indiana"
Clarkson W. Weesner
Lewis Publishing Co.
Chicago and New York
published in 1914
J. E. Long is a son of Samuel and Marjorie (Richards) Long, and some additional facts of interest with regard to the family history will be found elsewhere in this publication in connection with the sketch of Schuyler C. Long. Samuel Long, who was born in Pennsylvania, came to Wabash county with his parents, Jacob and Elizabeth Long. The latter founded the home in Noble township south of Wabash, in the midst of the woods, but subsequently moved north of Wabash and from there to what is known as "Half Acre," now in Paw Paw township. Both the grandparents died there, the grandmother first and followed about twenty years later by the grandfather. Their six children were: Solomon, Jacob, Samuel, John, Emanuel and Josiah.
When the family migration was accomplished into Wabash county, Samuel Long was a young man, and his practical career began with his residence in Wabash county. His wife, Marjorie Richards, was a daughter of Josiah and Eunice (Dunfee) Richards, who were also early settlers of Wabash county, having moved from Ohio and spending the rest of their years in the former locality. Samuel and Marjorie Long began their married life at "Half Acre" and the log cabin which was their original home is still standing, one of the oldest landmarks of pioneer days in this section of Wabash county. When the cabin was built it was surrounded by dense woods on all sides, and the little household looked out upon the wilderness, and participated in all its experiences and hardships. Samuel Long at first only had eighty acres, but subsequently bought another eighty acres across the road from his brother Jacob. The latter place had some good buildings and Samuel moved from the log house to the new home and lived there until his death at the age of sixty-six. His widow is still living in venerable years, and occupies the old home. The children of Samuel and Marjorie were: Josiah Edward; Eunice, who is Mrs. Daniel Deardorf; Alexander; Samuel; Grant; Schuyler C.; Irvin; Ezra and Asher, the last two being twins.
Josiah Edward Long was born in the old log cabin above described, at the locality known as "Half Acre," on December 8, 1857. His boyhood was spent in that locality, and his recollections cover many scenes and incidents which no longer have a place in Wabash county life. The school which he attended as a boy was kept in a log cabin, he sat on a slab bench, with his feet on a puncheon floor, and warmed his hands and toes at a big fireplace at one end of the room. Until he was past his majority he remained at home and bore a part in its work and management, and in April, 1882, occurred his marriage to Lucetta Staver. She is a daughter of Dr. Daniel and Sarah (Bickel) Staver, an early family of Wabash county. Her parents were married in Ohio and on coming to Indiana located on the land now occupied by Mr. J. E. Long. Her father became one of the large land owners in this part of Wabash county, and while farming was his most profitable occupation and a considerable part of the Long farm was cleared up under his management, he also followed the profession of veterinarian at a time when there were very few qualified to practice as doctors of domestic animals in this part of Indiana. He made his own medicines, and was very frequently called for professional service all over the country. Both father and mother Staver died at the old Staver farm, now owned by Mr. Long, and their deaths occurred only a few weeks apart. After his marriage Mr. Long spent one year in the old log house at Half Acre, and then bought his present farm from the Staver heirs. For fifteen years his life was a busy one as a farmer and stock dealer and shipper, but in 1911 he retired from the stock business, and now rents out his fields. The Long homestead has excellent improvements, including a commodious house, barns and other farm equipments, and these have all been put up under his direction.
Mr. and Mrs. Long have three children: Blanche, who is the wife of Howard Morford of Chester township, and they have one son, Wayne; Lettie; and Cleo. Mr. Long has affiliated with the Masonic Order in the Lodge at Wabash for the past thirty-three years. A progressive Republican in politics, he has always interested himself in matters of local concern, and in 1908 was Republican candidate for the office of county treasurer. Besides his extensive interests as a farmer, he is stockholder and director in the Farmers State Bank at Urbana. For many years he was one of the Long brothers who operated a threshing outfit all over Wabash county, but finally sold his interest in that business to George Pretorious.
"History of Wabash County, Indiana"
Clarkson W. Weesner
Lewis Publishing Co.
Chicago and New York
published in 1914