George and Barbara Lavengood were the parents of a large family, fourteen children having been born and reared in their home. All of them were reared in Ohio, and they all reached years of maturity. The father came to Ohio from his native state as a lad of four years, and he continued a resident of that state until the year 1866, when the family followed George, Daniel and John here, whence they had come two years previously, as has been stated previously.

The fourteen children of the parents are here named in the order of their birth. Elizabeth, deceased; John; George, deceased; Thomas; Barbara, deceased; Daniel; Eva, deceased; Jacob, also deceased; Samuel; Mary; William, deceased, as is also Zadoc and Levi.

Daniel Lavengood on the sixth day of February, 1865, enlisted at Wabash in the 153rd Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, together with his brothers George and John, who had accompanied him here the year previous. They served from then until the 4th day of September, 1865, when they were discharged from the service at Louisville, Kentucky.

When Daniel Lavengood was thirty years of age he married, though up to that time he had maintained his residence with his mother. He chose Sarah Faust for his wife, a girl of Ohio birth and the daughter of Eli Faust of that state, who afterwards brought his family to Miami county, Indiana, and there settled. The marriage of Daniel and Sarah Lavengood took place in 1872, and to them have been born seven children, of whom brief mention is here made as follows: Emma, the first born, died in infancy; George Elmore died at the age of eighteen months; Clara Ellen married James Reynolds, and to them was born one child - Ethel. She married again in 1911, Jacob B. Lavengood becoming her husband, and they have one child, Rufus, and live in Ohio. Charles R. is the fourth child of his parents; John married Leona Smith, of Kokomo, and lives in South Bend; they have two children - Francis L. and Wanda. Cora Alice married Orval Jones and has two children - Dorothy and Mary; they live in Wabash county. Mary May, the youngest, lives at home with her father, the mother having died on December 8, 1906, at the age of sixty years.

The family lived for some years on a Noble township farm of two hundred acres, for which they paid $30.00 the acre, the land then being in a partly improved condition. The house has been remodeled and a new barn has been built, and the place is one that had all the comforts of modern times. This was the old home place, and in 1870 Daniel Lavengood bought forty acres of the old place and for fourteen years lived on it. This he later traded for a farm of 120 acres in Waltz township, and his daughter Cora and her husband now live there. The place is one that has been well improved, being properly fenced and ditched, and is partly cleared, with suitable buildings erected thereon. In 1898 Mr. Lavengood came to his present location in Noble township, and here he has fifteen acres of nicely improved land, with modern buildings and all conveniences. A fine orchard yields an abundant crop annually and in Wabash he finds a ready market for its product. Mr. Lavengood is enjoying this little place and has a great deal of pleasure in its care and keeping.

Mr. Lavengood has been all his days a good citizen, and one who has enjoyed the esteem and friendship of his fellowmen wherever he has gone. He has long been a member of the Christian church, and has served the church in Noble township as a deacon for many years.

"History of Wabash County, Indiana"
Clarkson W. Weesner
Lewis Publishing Co.
Chicago and New York
published in 1914

William Kalb, a native of Germany, was but six months old when brought to the United States by his parents, who located first in Pennsylvania, from there moving to Crawford county, Ohio, where they spent their remaining days, the father dying in the 60's, and the mother a few months later. He was reared in Crawford county, Ohio, from the age of six years, and when he attained his majority purchased a tract of unbroken land and there began life as a farmer. The land, one hundred and sixty acres, was heavily wooded, and he had first to clear an opening in which to erect a log cabin. Wild turkeys were more plentiful than the barnyard fowls, and on them and the deer which roamed through the forest the family larder was often supplied. He subsequently moved with his family to Bucyrus, Ohio, where, some eighteen or twenty years later, both he and his wife died, her death occurring in 1906, and his a few months later.

The maiden name of the wife of William Kalb was Katie Jacoby. She was a daughter of Jonathan and Katie (Joost) Jacoby, who removed from their native state, Pennsylvania, to Ohio, and there resided the remainder of their lives. The name Jacoby means James, and the famous James boys were relatives of Mrs. William Kalb, and their father often visited at her father's home. Mr. and Mrs. William Kalb were the parents of nine children, as follows: Abe; Aaron; Mrs. Sarah Gottfried; Benjamin, the subject of this brief biographical sketch; Katie; Henry; Wesley; Mrs. Sophia Berger; and Susan, wife of Henry Voltz.

Born in the old log cabin erected by his father in Crawford county, Ohio, Benjamin Kalb was there bred and educated, as a boy and youth attending the district school, and becoming intimately acquainted with the various branches of agriculture on the home farm. Leaving Ohio, he settled first in Howard county, Indiana, where he purchased forty acres of land, which he devoted principally to the raising of potatoes. Selling out at the end of twelve years, Mr. Kalb purchased from William Fries eighty acres of the farm he now owns and occupies, and later bought from Fred Speicher sixty acres, and from Thomas Oliver twenty acres. Here he is carrying on general farming, inelnoing the raising of swine, with most gratifying results, his land being fertile and well adapted to farming. Mr. Kalb usually puts from thirty to forty acres of his land in potatoes, each year raising about five thousand bushels. For this branch of agriculture he is well equipped, his land being well drained, he having spent more for the tiling of it than he paid for the first eighty acres he bought. He has also all of the most approved modern machinery for potato raising, including a planter, a sprayer, a digger, and a sorter, the latter being an invention of his own. His work is so conveniently arranged, and so systematized, that he can load a car of six hundred bushels in less than a day, his appliances and equipments being both labor and time savers, and invariably meeting the approval and commendation of all buyers and visitors.

Mr. Kalb has been twice married. He married first Ellen Bartholomew, who died in the spring of 1902, leaving four children, namely: Rena, wife of Henry Wise, of Urbana; Celesta, wife of George Wood, and they have one child, Mabel; Neely, managing one of his father's farms, married Marie Miller; and Walter. Mr. Kalb married second, April 3, 1906, Mrs. Ella Sholty, widow of Grant Sholty, and daughter of Humphrey and Louisa (Geiger) Roser, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively, and both of German descent. By her first marriage Mrs. Kalb had four children, namely: Ethel, wife of George Meyer, of Kokomo, Indiana; Vert and Verna, twins; and Paul. Mr. Kalb, by his second marriage, had one daughter, Here Matilda, who was born in 1908 and died September 23, 1913.

"History of Wabash County, Indiana"
Clarkson W. Weesner
Lewis Publishing Co.
Chicago and New York
published in 1914

Burvia Alden Houser was born at Somerset, Wabash county, Indiana, February 25, 1866, a son of James Houser, who in young manhood became one of the early settlers of the county. Like a number of his fellow practitioners Dr. Houser was a product of the farm, his boyhood days being passed on the homestead near Somerset, where he received his primary scholastic training in the district schools. Later this was supplemented by attendance at the Academy at Amboy, and he took up the study of medicine in the office of Dr. L. Oneal at Somerset. He matriculated in 1888 at the Indiana Medical College at Indianapolis, graduating in 1890, and in the year started practice at Somerset with his preceptor, continuing thus and alone until his coming to Wabash in 1904. At Wabash he was successful in building up a lucrative professional business and in establishing himself firmly in the confidence of the people. His knowledge of the science of medicine was comprehensive and accurate, due to the fact that he had been a close student from early manhood, and always kept in touch with the progress and improvements of medical practice in later years. His best energies were devoted to the profession and his pronounced ability gained him a position in the front ranks of the leading practitioners of Wabash county. Many honors in connection with his profession were conferred upon him, including his election to the presidency of the Wabash County Pension Board in 1905. He also served as president of the Indiana Club of Wabash and of the Wabash Club, was a Knight Templar Mason, a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He was also well known in business and financial circles at Wabash, and was a member of the directing board of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of that city since its organization.

On January 30, 1886, Dr. Houser married Miss Anna Hooper, of Converse, Indiana. To their marriage were born two daughters: Ruth, and one who died at the age of two years. Dr. Houser's parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Houser, also survive him and reside on the south side.

"History of Wabash County, Indiana"
Clarkson W. Weesner
Lewis Publishing Co.
Chicago and New York
published in 1914

Christian Speicher was a native of Bern, Switzerland, a son of John Speicher. He was a lad of fourteen years when he accompanied his father to the United States in search of an opportunity to better his condition, the family locating in Holmes county, Ohio. There Christian Speicher met and married Miss Annie Steiner, in 1841, she having been born in 1812, and they became the parents of the following named children: John, who died February 25, 1896; William; Katie; Christian; Samuel; Fred; Peter and Daniel. Mr. Speicher continued to be successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits in Holmes county, Ohio, until 1865, in which year he removed with his family to Wabash county, Indiana, and settled on land in Lagro township. Subsequently, however, he made removal to Chester township, and this locality continued to be his home until the time of his death, December 15, 1892, the mother surviving until October, 1901. For some time after their arrival they resided in a modest plank house, but as the years passed and his means permitted, Mr. Speicher improved his home, erected new buildings and made many improvements on his property. He and his wife were devout members of the Reformed church and reared their children carefully in that faith. He was a democrat in politics and took a keen interest in public affairs, although he never found time to enter actively into politics. However, he was ever ready to assist any movement which promised the betterment of his community, was a stanch advocate of good roads, built several corduroy highways, and did much in the way of clearing the land from timber. His general farming and stock raising operations were successful, because he brought to his work a thorough knowledge of farming in all its branches, an energetic and enterprising nature, and a courageous spirit that would not brook defeat. His death removed from his community a man who had honestly won his fellow-citizens' respect.

Samuel C. Speicher, son of Christian and Annie (Steiner) Speicher, was born May 20, 1848, in Holmes county, Ohio. He was there educated in the district schools and reared to young manhood, and one of his earliest recollections of that section is of a settler who lived with his family in an old log shack and made his bed on a pile of brush thrown in a corner of this rude home. He was a sturdy lad of seventeen years when the family came to Wabash county, and here his training as an agriculturist continued until he reached his majority, at which time he decided to fend for himself. For some years he was engaged in farming in various communities, for himself and others, but finally decided to settle down and establish a home of his own. The lady of his choice was Miss Samantha Bohnstedt, daughter of Gottlieb and Elizabeth (Swallen) Bohnstedt, whom he married March 20, 1884, at Calhoun, Richland county, Illinois. After their marriage the young couple began housekeeping on their present property, a tract of eighty acres which Mr. Speicher had purchased in 1876, and in the following year their present home was erected, the addition thereto being built in 1894. Their farm is known as "Cha-so-to Ma-e-thel." Mr. Speicher now is the owner of 148 acres of good land, all accumulated through his own honest efforts, and has one of the handsomest farms in the community. He has devoted the greater part of his time to general farming, but has also met with success in selling cream from his herd of Jersey cows during the last ten years. He likewise has a fine herd of Short Horn cattle, a number of which he ships to the markets each year, and in all his ventures has been successful. As a business man he bears the reputation of a man of the strictest integrity, who has never taken advantage of another's misfortune. Mrs. Speicher, who was born January 6, 1866, is an excellent business woman and has been of great assistance to her husband.

Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Speicher, as follows: Florence A., born April 9, 1885; Elizabeth Anna, born August 3, 1886; Otto Christian, born October 4, 1888; Theresa Eliza, born July 8, 1890, who died April 28, 1904; Laura May, born August 20, 1893; Charles O. W., born August 29, 1895; Carol Evangeline, born May 7, 1897, who died April 12, 1912; Isaac, born October 31, 1901, who died young; and Elijah Benjamin, born December 12, 1904, who died in infancy. Mr. Speicher's record as a business man is one well worthy of emulation, for he has risen from obscurity to a position among his community's substantial citizens solely through the force of his own energy and perseverance. As a citizen his standing is no less high, and his popularity is shown by his wide circle of appreciative friends and the general respect and esteem in which he is held by the people in the locality in which he has lived for so many years.

"History of Wabash County, Indiana"
Clarkson W. Weesner
Lewis Publishing Co.
Chicago and New York
published in 1914

Aaron Mandelbaum grew up in Wabash, attended the public schools, graduating from the high school in 1896, and after reading law privately for about six months with J. D. Conner, Jr., he entered the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Mr. Mandelbaum completed his studies and was granted the degree LL. B. in 1900. Admitted to the Wabash county bar in the same year, instead of taking up active practice he turned his attention to merchandising, and from 1901 to 1907 was associated with Louis Wolf in the retail grocery and wholesale flour business. Since 1907 he had been in active practice as a lawyer, and gained the reputation and recognition and patronage which are the sure marks of success.

He had been honored with official positions, being elected city attorney and held that office from January, 1910, to January, 1913. In November, 1912, he was elected prosecuting attorney for the twenty-seventh judicial circuit, and his record in that office is familiar to all the citizens of Wabash county. Mr. Mandelbaum was an active worker in the democratic party. He died July 20, 1914.

"History of Wabash County, Indiana"
Clarkson W. Weesner
Lewis Publishing Co.
Chicago and New York
published in 1914

H. Flickinger received an ordinary public school education in the locality of his birth, and grew up to agricultural pursuits and to habits of industry and thrift. With his parents he removed to Laurence county, Indiana, but during the Civil War came to Wabash county, Indiana, and here, not long afterward, he was married to Miss Marguerite Isenour, the daughter of Phil and Phoebe (Elston) Isenour. There were seven children in Mrs. Flickinger's family, of whom three are deceased, as are also her parents. Some time after his marriage, Mr. Flickinger purchased a farm in the woods of Michigan, and there continued to make his home for some years, residing on several properties which he cleared from the timber and put under cultivation. However, he eventually returned to Wabash county, and, locating in Waltz township, took up a tract of land which furnished the nucleus for his present handsome property of 159 acres. This he has cleared and cultivated himself, and his efforts have met with a full measure of success. In his career Mr. Flickinger has demonstrated that the surest roads to prosperity are those of industry, honesty, perseverance and determination, and while he has been attaining material success, he has also won the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens through his honorable and upright dealing in all the affairs of life. For a number of years he operated a threshing outfit, with some success, but is now confining his activities to general farming and stockraising. Although he has reached the time of life when most men are content to rest from their labors, he is still alert and active, and continues in the management of his daily affairs with as much ability and enthusiasm as he did in the years when it was necessary for him to do so to make a livelihood. His buildings are of a substantial character, and are equipped with all modern comforts and conveniences, and the entire appearance of the property gives evidence of his ability as a farmer.

Mr. and Mrs. Flickinger have four living children, as follows: Emma, who married Otto Pearson, the son of Nathan Pearson; Charles, who married Grace Schlesser; Clara, who married Henry White; and Cora, who married William Putnam. These children all reside in Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Flickinger are consistent members of the Brethren church. He is a stalwart democrat in his political views, and has ably served his fellow-citizens in the office of township supervisor, where he displayed his public spirit and high ideals of the responsibilities of public office.

"History of Wabash County, Indiana"
Clarkson W. Weesner
Lewis Publishing Co.
Chicago and New York
published in 1914

Mr. Ulery was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, February 16, 1829, and is a son of Stephen and Anna (Christian) Ulery, the family consisting of six children, of whom but two survive, Mr. Ulery and Mrs. Elizabeth Heeter. Mr. Ulery's brother, Samuel Ulery, came to Indiana as early as the year 1835, settled in Kosciusko county near to Wabash, and there has resided for many years, being engaged in farming pursuits for many years. He is now dead. Jacob Ulery was educated in the pioneer public schools of Montgomery county, Ohio, there grew to manhood as a farmer's son and engaged in agricultural pursuits when he joined the world's workers. He was married in his native county to Miss Christina Heeter, daughter of Henry Heeter, of that county, and one year after their union they packed their household effects in an old fashioned "prairie schooner," drawn by four horses, and made the difficult and tedious trip overland to the frontier of Indiana. They were accompanied by the parents of Mr. Ulery, who subsequently located on a farm in Kosciusko county, Indiana, and there passed away.

Upon coming to Wabash county, Mr. Ulery took up 320 acres of land in Pleasant township, all located in woods so dense that he was compelled to clear a space before he could build the little log cabin that served as the first family home. Later, as the years passed, this was replaced by a more pretentious residence, and Mr. Ulery has gradually seen the primitive homes of the county disappear, one by one, until today there is hardly to be found an example of that mode of life. His experiences were much the same as those which fell to the lot of the usual pioneer, his life being filled to the limit with the labors incidental to the transforming of a forest into a productive farm, but this he has accomplished through hard and unceasing toil, until today he has one of the valuable and highly-cultivated tracts of this part of the county. The buildings here have all been erected by Mr. Ulery, who has made other improvements of a substantial character, and although he has now reached an age when most men feel they have earned a life of repose and comfort, he still exhibits a lively interest in the cultivation of his land, and takes an active part therein.

Mrs. Ulery died in 1901, in the faith of the Dunkard church, of which her husband is a member. They were the parents of ten children, the first born in Ohio and the others on the Wabash county homestead, and of these two are now deceased. In politics Mr. Ulery is a republican and has always stanchly supported that party's principles and candidates, although he has never been an office seeker on his own account. He is the oldest active thresher in the state, and owns and operates two threshing outfits. He also owns over 700 acres of land.

"History of Wabash County, Indiana"
Clarkson W. Weesner
Lewis Publishing Co.
Chicago and New York
published in 1914

On the farm that he now occupies in Waltz township, Jacob W. Binkerd was born October 28, 1865. His parents were Andrew and Elizabeth (Wiles) Binkerd. His father, who was of German stock, was reared in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and in 1844 came to Indiana. He married Miss Wiles in Wabash county, and they became the parents of six sons and one daughter. Andrew Binkerd died in January, 1900, after a long and active career as a farmer and one of the valued citizens of Wabash county. Dr. Adam Binkerd, a brother of Andrew, served as post surgeon during the Civil war, and was at one time superintendent of schools in the city of Cincinnati.

Jacob Binkerd was educated in Wabash county, grew up in this county, and had a good training in the principles of industry and right living both as an individual and as a member of a social community. With the exception of about nine years spent in the State of Washington, Mr. Binkerd has been a resident of Wabash county all his active career. When he started out to make his own way he accepted any honest employment which would serve to advance him, and in Washington took up a claim and conducted farming according to the customs and practices of the northwestern state for seven years. On returning to Wabash county, he located on the old homestead where he was born, and where he now has one of the best cultivated and most valuable places in the township. A few years ago the former residence was burned, and he has since replaced it with a large modern house, fitted up with the improvements which are characteristic of the better homes in Wabash county, and there are many other points about the Binkerd homestead which attract notice and indicate the progressive methods employed by the owner. When his father, Andrew, first came to Indiana he settled in Miami county, and the Waltz township homestead in Wabash county was first entered from the government by a man named Eckelberger, who sold it to Dr. Holms, who in turn subsequently sold ninety acres of the place to Andrew Binkerd.

During his residence in the state of Washington Mr. Jacob Binkerd married Sarah Shroyer. Her parents, Henry and Elizabeth Shroyer, were married in Leesburg, Ohio, and she was one of a family of nine children, six brothers and three sisters. Her father was born in Highland county, Ohio, and died in Wabash county, Indiana, June 10, 1904. He was a son of George and Margaret Shroyer. Mr. and Mrs. Binkerd have been the parents of seven children, the first three of whom were born in the State of Washington, named as follows: Ethel, born January 23, 1894; Bessie, born January 24, 1896; Mabel, born October 31, 1897; Andrew, born July 18, 1899; Hazel, born June 28, 1900; Josephine, born January 10, 1904; and Pauline, born November 18, 1905. The children all have had their education in Wabash county, and the younger ones are still attending the local public school. Mr. and Mrs. Binkerd and their children are members of the Baptist church. Like his father before him he is a Republican in politics, and is a friend of good government, a worker for community welfare, and always ready to bear his share in any movement for the community's progress.

"History of Wabash County, Indiana"
Clarkson W. Weesner
Lewis Publishing Co.
Chicago and New York
published in 1914

Born in Miami county, Indiana, December 16, 1862, he was a son of Edwin and Margaret (Kennedy) Alexander. His father was a cooper and never worked at any other trade. He was born in the state of New York and came to Indiana in early life. After getting a fair start as a cooper he enlisted for service in an Indiana regiment and went to the front to fight the cause of freedom. He was captured and put in the notorious rebel prison at Andersonville, and while there suffered death along with many other northern prisoners. This left his family in a destitute condition, and the mother, who was a native of Virginia, had a hard time to take care of her little family for some years, but in 1872 received a pension from the government amounting to eighteen hundred dollars, and that was invested in forty acres of land in Miami county.

There were six children in the family, briefly mentioned as follows: Martha, who married B. S. Shaw; Emma, who married Matt Colgan; Laura, who died at the age of eighteen; Alice, who died at twenty-two; John K.; and Eliza, who died when six years old.

Some time after reaching manhood J. K. Alexander acquired the forty acre farm in Miami county, located in Butler township, and continued its cultivation, improving it in many ways by fencing and ditching and building, until he sold out and in 1906 bought the one hundred and twenty acres in Waltz township of Wabash county. This farm had good improvements, comprising the buildings which are now found upon it, but Mr. Alexander has carried on the work and has brought his place to a state of productive value hardly surpassed by any similar farm in the vicinity.

Mr. Alexander married Irma Knight, a daughter of James and Rebecca (Waisner) Knight. Her father was born in Ohio and her mother in Indiana, the former dying in Miami county November, 1906, where her mother is still living. Mrs. Alexander had the following brothers and sisters: Warren, who married Christiana Seifert; Rosa, who married James Draper; William, who married Ollie Cunningham; Ida, who married W. W. Younce; Roy, who married Zella Salts; Alvah, who married Nellie Blue; Earl, who married Gertrude Barnhard; Seibert, who married Della Guthrie; and Edward, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander have the following children: Esther, born October 9, 1893; Edgar, born March 23, 1896; Paul, born September 14, 1898; Gertrude R., born April 22, 1903 and who died at the age of three years on April 28, 1906; Martha Mildred, born October 7, 1905, and died July 31, 1906; Robert C., born March 16, 1907; Carl R., born November 19, 1909; and Donald Joseph, born February 11, 1913. The parents have taken much pains in rearing and educating these children, the older ones having already finished their education and being ready for the active responsibilities of life. The family have membership in the Catholic church, and Mr. Alexander has taken much part in public affairs of a local nature. While his father was a republican, Mr. Alexander has given consistent support to the democratic interests. During his residence in Miami county he served as assessor of Butler township, and also for one term was supervisor of the township.

"History of Wabash County, Indiana"
Clarkson W. Weesner
Lewis Publishing Co.
Chicago and New York
published in 1914

Mr. Walker was a native of the state of Ohio, his birth occurring about the year 1817. George Walker, his father, has been long since deceased. As a boy he assisted his father with the farm work and attended the district schools when they were in session during the short winter terms, and early in life started out for himself, electing to follow agricultural pursuits as his life work. While still a young man he married Miss Maria Williams, and to this union the following named children were born: Emeline, who married Theodore Van Arsdale and is now deceased; Martha Jane, deceased, who married John Brown, and after his death Saul Switzer; James; Archie, a resident of Warsaw; Peter, deceased; John, residing south of Wabash; and Sadie, now Mrs. Astor Clements, of Chicago. Long before the outbreak of hostilities between the North and the South, John Walker migrated to Indiana, and for a time resided in Kosciusko county, but subsequently moved to Miami county and later came to Wabash county, locating just east of Liberty Mills. He did not remain on this property long, however, but returned to Kosciusko county, where he continued farming for several years. He then again came to Wabash county and purchased a quarter-section of land near Servia, in Chester township, about 1861. Only about twenty-four acres of this land was then improved, but with the aid of his sons he cleared about as much more, and near the close of the Civil war disposed of this and again went to Kosciusko county. There he spent his remaining years, dying in 1907. Mrs. Walker passed away in 1904, and both are now at rest in the cemetery near Pierceton. Mr. Walker's years of industry enabled him to overcome all obstacles and work his way steadily upward to affluence. He was thus able to leave his family in comfortable circumstances, but more valuable than the property which they inherited was his untarnished name.

"History of Wabash County, Indiana"
Clarkson W. Weesner
Lewis Publishing Co.
Chicago and New York
published in 1914

General farming and stockraising, with Hereford cattle preferred, have been Mr. Walker's occupations throughout life, and from time to time he has added to his property until at present he is the owner of ninety-two acres of well-cultivated land. A good residence, substantial barns, commodious outbuildings, improved machinery, good stock and well-tilled fields all attest the enterprise of the owner, whose efforts have been consecutive and well directed, bringing him a full measure of success for his labors. In political faith he is of independent policies regarding local affairs, but nationally espouses the doctrines of the democratic party. Although interested in local matters, Mr. Walker has never held office, preferring to confine his attentions to his private interests. He is a consistent member of the Christian church and attends services at Servia.

"History of Wabash County, Indiana"
Clarkson W. Weesner
Lewis Publishing Co.
Chicago and New York
published in 1914

Darius McDonald was born in Darke county, Ohio, and came to Wabash county in young manhood, settling on a farm in Waltz township, to which he devoted his attention during the remaining years of his life. He was a man of industry and integrity, and during his agricultural career attained a fair measure of success. He was a democrat in his political views, but never cared for the doubtful honors of the political arena. Both he and his honored wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They were the parents of the following children: Viola, who became the wife of Major Stewart; Fannie, who married Fred Powers; Emma, who became the wife of Edgar Lane; Lula, who married Charles Beach; Fred, who married Fern Inyard; Grace, who is the wife of Frank Barnhill; Clarence, who is single and a resident of Waltz township: Myrtle, who died at the age of eighteen years, and Alonzo, who is the oldest.

Alonzo McDonald, more familiarly known, perhaps, as "Lon" McDonald, was given his educational training in the public schools of Waltz township, and was reared to agricultural pursuits and to traits of honesty and industry. He remained under the parental roof until reaching his majority, at which time he faced the world on his own account, and since then has made his own way in the world. In 1896 he came to his present farm, formerly the old Bowman farm, and here he has erected new buildings and installed numerous improvements which make this one of the valuable farms of the township. It comprises 120 acres, all under a high state of cultivation, and the excellent results that are being attained by Mr. McDonald speak volumes for his ability and energy. His activities have ever been characterized by a strict adherence to the highest business ethics, and those who haw had dealings with him have the utmost confidence in his integrity. Mr. McDonald is a democrat, but like his father has had no desire for public office.

Mr. McDonald was married in 1890 to Miss Minnie L. Bowman, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Crow) Bowman, and to this union there have been born two children: Raymond, born December 1, 1895, educated in the public schools, and now his father's able assistant on the home farm; and Lucile, born September 23, 1901, who is attending the public school. Mrs. McDonald's mother was born November 19, 1832, in Putnam county, Ohio, and died in Wabash county, February 13, 1894. She was married in Putnam county, Ohio, and accompanied her husband to Wabash county, in 1856, his death occurring here May 10, 1895. Both were members of the Christian church and died in that faith.

"History of Wabash County, Indiana"
Clarkson W. Weesner
Lewis Publishing Co.
Chicago and New York
published in 1914

Andrew K. English was born in Bath county, Kentucky, and as a young man accompanied his parents to Rush county, Indiana, where he established himself on a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was married to Nancy Brown, and they became the parents of two children: John A., who is now deceased; and Daniel Francis, who married Jemima Slife. After the death of his first wife Mr. English was married (second) to Mary Ann Hilligoss, who was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, and they became the parents of seven children, as follows: James H., deceased, born in Rusk county; Joseph William, deceased, born in Rusk county, married Mary G. Stevens, of Pennsylvania; Johanna, born in Rusk county, died when about two years old; Elizabeth, deceased, born in Rusk county; and Mary Ellen, Rhoda and Andrew, all born in Wabash county. In October, 1849, Andrew K. English came to Wabash county, and upon his arrival purchased the farm in Waltz township which is now the home of his son, and which had been entered from the Government by William Hancock. His first purchase was a property of eighty acres, at that time covered with a heavy growth of timber. The first family home was a log cabin, in addition to which there was a small log stable, but as the years passed and Mr. English prospered these rude structures were replaced by more modern and comfortable buildings. He added to his property until he had 120 acres, and at the time of his death was considered one of the substantial men of his community. He was industrious, thrifty and energetic, honorable in his business dealings and loyal in his friendships, and won and held the respect and esteem of those with whom he came into contact. In politics he was a democrat, although he preferred to devote his time to his farming interests rather than to mix actively in public affairs. He passed away in December, 1896, and the mother followed him to the grave two years later on January 9, 1899.

Andrew English was given ordinary educational advantages in the district schools of Waltz township, and grew up on the farm, which he has never left. He assisted his father in clearing and cultivating the land and in erecting the buildings, and has continued the work where his father left off. Like his father, he is a democrat, but public life has held out no attractions to him, he preferring to remain just what he is, an energetic and progressive tiller of the soil. His sisters, Mary Ellen and Rhoda, also live at the old homestead, which they have never left. All are held in high esteem in this community, where they have numerous appreciative friends.

"History of Wabash County, Indiana"
Clarkson W. Weesner
Lewis Publishing Co.
Chicago and New York
published in 1914

John Ridenour and his faithful wife ended their days on this place, and it should be said that when they departed from the scenes where they had long been familiar actors, the wilderness farm they had elected to improve presented a vastly different aspect to that of their early residence.

Benton Ridenour remained on the home farm until he was twenty-seven years of age. He then married Sarah A. Niccum, the daughter of Michael Niccum, and they established their home on a farm that the young husband bought in Noble township. Though he was one who was lacking in education to a great extent, he proved himself a good business man, and before he quitted his father's farm to establish a home of his own he had saved $2,000, and he used this to apply on his purchase of a 120 acre farm. The remaining $2,000 he borrowed from his father, and while many who knew of the transaction declared he would never be able to pay the debt on the farm, it is a fact that he had saved the amount from his earnings on the place and paid it before the note fell due.

In 1904 Mr. Ridenour moved from the farm to near the city of Wabash, in Linlawn, and here he has since resided. He has a comfortable residence on the place, which he has remodeled since he took possession. Twenty-one acres comprise the acreage of this p1ace, and that is quite enough to occupy Mr. Ridenour's time.

On May 16, 1913, Mrs. Ridenour died at the home of the family, leaving a family of five sons and three daughters. John, the eldest, is unmarried. Homer married Alta Eltzroth. Henry L. married Harriet Stauffer. Leonard Guy and Eldo are unmarried. Blanche, Lola and Edith, the daughters, are also unmarried.

Mrs. Ridenour was long a member of the Christian church, and Mr. Ridenour attended there also, though he was reared in the Lutheran faith by his parents. The family are highly esteemed in the community and have a wide circle of friends hereabouts.

"History of Wabash County, Indiana"
Clarkson W. Weesner
Lewis Publishing Co.
Chicago and New York
published in 1914