Blackford County Biography Ref. Page

HON. JOHN T. STRANGE, State Senator and leading legist of Marion, Indiana, is a native of Grant county, having been born in Monroe township, April 7, 1850, a son of George and Lydia (Duckwall) Strange, pioneers of this county. Mr. Strange was reared on the home farm and attended school at the pioneer log schoolhouse. His educational opportunities were meager, but by dint of diligent study he prepared himself for teaching, and at eighteen years of age was given his first school. In 1872 he entered Wabash College, at Crawfordsville, Indiana, and graduated therefrom in 1877. After his college work, he applied himself to the study of law, and in the fall of 1877 was admitted to the bar of Grant county, soon attaining high rank in his profession. Mr. Strange has taken an active interest in polities, and in 1896 became a delegate to the National Democratic Convention, held at Chicago. He is at present a member of the Indiana Legislature, and during the recent session of that body was an influential man in the Upper House.

On July 3rd, 1879, Senator Strange was married to Miss Emma Bobbs, daughter of Dr. A. J. and Mary (Cook) Bobbs. Two children were born to this union, Esther and John, the latter dying in infancy. Esther is now the wife of Dr. G. G. Eckhart, of Marion, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work.

"BLACKFORD AND GRANT COUNTIES INDIANA, A CHRONICLE OF THEIR PEOPLE PAST AND PRESENT WITH FAMILY LINEAGE AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS"; Complied Under the Editorial Supervision of BENJAMIN G. SHINN; vol. II ; THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY; CHICAGO AND NEW YORK; 1914
Submitted by:Peggy Karol and Karen Overholt

JAMES W. WESTFALL. One of the progressive real estate dealers and substantial citizens of Marion is James W. Westfall, a life-long resident of the county, and the business associate of Frank Mullen, concerning whom extended mention is made in a sketch of him appearing elsewhere in this work. Mr. Westfall has had experience in the business of farming sufficient to place him in the class of successful agricultural men, the best years of his business career thus far having been given to that industry, for it was not until 1911 that he engaged in the real estate business with Mr. Mullen. The success he has already met with in this field of enterprise is a most flattering one, justified amply by his wide experience with and knowledge of farming lands in Indiana, in which he deals largely.

Born in Franklin township, Grant county, Indiana, on April 14, 1868, James W. Westfall is the son of James and Angeline Westfall, both native born Ohioans, who came to Grant county in an early day of their life. James Westfall, Sr., was a farming man, and for some years he lived on the old Steele farm, later making his home on the fine old place known as the Judge Paulus Farm, also in Franklin township. When James W. Westfall, Jr., was but ten months old the father died, but the mother survived until 1911. They had six children, four of whom are living today, and are named as follows: George T., the oldest, lives on a farm near to Landisville, in Grant county; Mrs. Libby Tippit, living at Wabash, Indiana; Mrs. Lulu Warner, living near Hartford City, Indiana, and James W. Westfall, of this review.

Mr. Westfall was educated the country schools, and he lived the life of a rural man until 1903 when he moved to Marion and established a residence here. For ten years he lived in Wayne township, Huntington county, near to the Grant county line, and there he owned and operated a fine farm. He still owns a farm of one hundred and twenty acres and one of one hundred and ninety-four acres, both of them situated in Washington township. After he gave up active operation of his farms, he established himself in Marion and thereafter gave his entire attention to the directing of the affairs of these two country places until two years ago, when he became associated with Mr. Mullen in their present real estate enterprise. Mr. Westfall still finds some time to look after his country affairs, but his main interests are in the real estate business. Indiana farming properties are the specialty of this firm, as well as some western and southern lands, and the two years in which they have been operating they have achieved a considerable success.

Mr. Westfall is a stanch Republican, and though never an office seeker, he has done good work for the party interests in his community wherever he has been, and has in many ways demonstrated the high character of his citizenship. He is a member of the First Christian Church at Marion, of which he is a deacon and a trustee, and his wife likewise has membership in that church body.

Mr. Westfall was married in March, 1891, to Miss Minnie M. Hunt, the daughter of J. M. Hunt, long a resident of Rush county, Indiana. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Westfall,�Orla R. Westfall.

THOMAS C. KIMBALL. A life of kindly capable service to the community and to hundreds of individuals came to a close with the death of Dr. Thomas C. Kimball at his home in Marion in 1906. Among his contemporaries it is doubtful if any medical man enjoyed greater love and respect among so many people in Grant county as Dr. Kimball. He possessed broad human sympathies, and it was love as well as duty that kept him at work so many years in a profession which more than any other is one of personal service. For a number of years his son, Glen D. Kimball, was associated with the father in general practice and in the management of the Marion hospital, and the younger Dr. Kimball is still one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Grant county.

Dr. Thomas C. Kimball was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, in 1844, a son of Moses and Louisa Jane Kimball. Moses Kimball, a farmer, came from Ohio to Miami county, Indiana. Thomas C. Kimball was a soldier during the war between the states, a private in Company I of the Eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. After the war he studied medicine, was engaged in practice in Miami county for some years, and in 1883 moved to Marion and continued his profession there until his death. Dr. Kimball was one of twelve chief surgeons with the rank of major appointed by President McKinley for the United States volunteer troops during the Spanish-American war. He was always an active Republican, and was the first pension examiner for the district of which Marion was the center, and held the office from his first appointment until his death excepting four years during the first Cleveland administration. In Masonry he attained thirty-two degrees of the Scottish Rite.

With his son Dr. Glen D. Kimball the elder Kimball in 1896 founded the Marion Hospital, and it remained practically under their management until his death. A great deal of his time and means were spent in maintaining this valuable institution, and in the earlier years it was a work of philanthropy, since the hospital did not become self-supporting until recent years.

Dr. Thomas C. Kimball married Louisa J. Vinnedge, who was born in Indiana, and is now living in Chicago with a son. Their four children were: India, wife of J. L. Hoover of Hartford City, Indiana; Dr. Glen D. of Marion; Carl V. Kimball, a lumber merchant in Chicago; E. A. Kimball, Columbus City, Indiana.

Glen D. Kimball, M. D., son of the late Dr. Thomas C. Kimball, and the only member of the family still living in Marion, was born in 1870. He finished his literary education at Marion, was a student in Notre Dame University at South Bend, and in 1892 was graduated M. D. from the Rush Medical College in Chicago. After three years at Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. Kimball returned to Marion and took up the work of founding the Marion Hospital in association with his father. Besides his services in connection with the hospital and in caring for his large private practice, Dr. Kimball is county health officer and county coroner, and in 1903 was elected to the lower house of the Indiana legislature. He is one of the active Republicans of Grant county. On October 22, 1902, Dr. Kimball married Minnie Murdoff, daughter of Ashley Murdoff of Marion. Mrs. Kimball has a prominent part in Marion musical affairs.

ADAM WOLFE. The late Adam Wolfe, for many years a merchant of Muncie, Indiana, and one of the best known and most highly esteemed men of his day, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, on December 9, 1807. He was of German ancestry, his paternal grandfather having come from Germany prior to the days of the American Revolution, and settled in Little York, Pennsylvania, where he married a German lady, afterward removing to Washington county, that state. There the family continued to reside through the generations.

Adam Wolfe was the son of John and Catherine (Devore) Wolfe, the mother of Irish parentage, and he was one of their eleven children, all of whom reached years of maturity and most of whom reared goodly families. While yet in his infancy, the parents of Adam Wolfe moved from the place that had so long represented the ancestral abiding place of the Wolfe family in America and came to Coshocton, Ohio. There the boy, in company with his brothers and sisters, gained an acquaintance with the simpler branches of learning, spelling and the Three R's, as the term goes, making up the sum and substance of his training in books. His time was mostly employed on the home farm until he reached the age of twenty-one. His father died then, and the young man, taking the event somewhat in the light of a release from his connection with the farm, planned to gratify a long cherished ambition to engage in mercantile activities. He accordingly set up in business at New Guilford, in Coshocton county, and there he remained until May, 1830, when he lost all his capital through the dishonesty of his partner.

Mr. Wolfe then removed to Westfield, Delaware county, and there he established another store. Here he was engaged until 1841, when he went into the pork packing business, and again misfortune overtook him. He lost his entire savings and when he adjusted his affairs, found himself in debt to the sum of several thousand dollars. From 1842 until 1855 Mr. Wolfe was engaged in the manufacture and sale of fanning mills in connection with the mercantile business, and during this period he amassed a fortune of more than $100,000.

Having debtors in Indiana and also having opened three stores in that state, Mr. Wolfe resolved in 1855 to move to Muncie. There he engaged in merchandise activities, also entering the banking business at Marion and at Columbia City. Prosperity still smiled upon his enterprises, and he found himself, besides the owner and proprietor of two banks, the owner of five stores in the state, all in excellent condition, and located in the counties of Delaware, Madison, Grant, Huntington and Blackford. All of these he continued to own and operate to his profit until he died at his home in Muncie, Indiana, on March 8, 1892.

Mr. Wolfe was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and had passed all chairs of the subordinate lodge, being at the time of his death connected with the Encampment. He was a lifelong Democrat, and cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson. His large business interests prevented him from entering into politics to any degree, and though he was often urged to enter the lists for public office, he never consented to do so. His church membership was maintained in the Universalist church.

On April 26, 1832, Mr. Wolfe was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Elliott, the daughter of Samuel Elliott, of New York. Seven children were born to them, four of whom reached years of maturity, but Mrs. Jason Willson, of Marion, Indiana, is the only surviving member of Mr. Wolfe's family.

Mr. Wolfe was continuously engaged in business for a full half century, and the success he experienced in a financial way, if in no other, proved his possession of extraordinary business abilities. He gained his wealth honorably and he used it worthily as long as he lived, engaging largely in both public and private charities and assisting most commendably in the building of schools, colleges and churches. His life was fruitful, and he is remembered affectionately in the communities where he was best known.

SAMUEL LEER. One of the finest stock farms in Liberty township, on section twenty, has been in the possession and under the enterprising management of Samuel Leer for the past quarter of a century. His neighbors testify as to his efficiency as a farmer, who makes his business pay, and yet does not fail to provide liberally for the comforts and attractive things of life. The Woodlawn Farm, as his estate is called, is run on a system, pays generous returns on capital and labor invested, and is a home for a family which through many years have enjoyed the highest personal esteem.

Though he has spent practically all his life in Grant county, Samuel Leer was born in Fayette county, of this state, August 21, 1862. His parents were Samuel and Mary (Williams) Leer. The father was a native of Kentucky, while the mother was born in Fayette county, Indiana. Samuel Leer, Sr., moved from Kentucky to Fayette county when a boy, was married in Fayette, and in 1863 transferred his home to Grant county, locating on a farm in Green township, one mile east, and half a mile south of Point Isabel. He had owned a farm in Fayette county, and selling that he invested the proceeds in two hundred and sixty-nine acres in Green township, and that continued to be his home until his death in 1876. The mother is still living, having her home in Marion. There are six children now living: Mary J., wife of John A. Jackson; Lydia, wife of Luther T. Hale of Marion; William, who lives on the old homestead in Green township; Malinda, wife of Alfred Fay Kemmer of Liberty township; Samuel; and Charles, of Green township.

One year of age when the family came to Grant county, Samuel Leer was reared on the old homestead in Green township, and while a boy there spent his winters in the district schools. He continued alternately between farm and school until he was seventeen years of age. He then remained at home, assisting in cultivating the farm, under the general supervision of his widowed mother, until he was twenty-four years old. He was then married to Laura B. Cavault. She was born and reared in Green township. Their two children are: Fred E., a graduate of the common schools, and formerly a student in the Marion Normal, now engaged in farming in Liberty township; Anna L., wife of Fred M. Elbert, and she is also a graduate of the local schools. They have twin girls, Maxine and Pauline. Mrs. Leer died in 1891. Later Mr. Leer married Sarah J. Cavault, a daughter of Jared Cavault. Their one child is Wayne E., born June 5, 1897, and a graduate of the common schools, and having already completed two years in the Fairmount Academy.

Mr. Leer moved to his present farm in 1888. He is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres, located five miles west of Fairmount, and it easily ranks among the best farms in the township. Mr. Leer is affiliated with the Point Isabel Lodge, I. O. O. F., and is a past noble grand. Both he and his wife are members of the Rebekahs, at Hackelman, and Mrs. Leer served as the first noble grand of the Point Isabel Lodge, and both she and her husband are members of the Grand Lodge of the state. In politics Mr. Leer is a Democrat. As a farmer he does much in the stock business. He buys cattle by the carload, ships them to his farm, prepares for market, feeding his own crops, and buying much besides, and when his steers are ready for market, he ships direct to Buffalo, New York.

HENRY WESER. Along the highways of Green township lie many pleasant farmsteads with their wood lots, variegated grain fields and meadows, and the barns and dwellings which crown the picture of honest thrift and profitable industry. One of these is the Catalpa Grove Stock and Grain Farm of Henry Weser, located on section nine. Its owner is a practical man of modern agriculture, and out of his own industry and the assistance of a capable wife has produced all the prosperity which they enjoy.

Henry Weser is a native of Indiana, born in Ripley county, March 1, 1858, a son of Christian and Elizabeth (Yantman) Weser. Both parents were born, reared, educated, and married in Germany, came to the United States when young people about twenty years old, locating in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and four years later moving to Ripley county, Indiana, about 1848. In 1881 the family moved to Howard county, where the father spent the remainder of his days. There are six living children of the Weser family: Philip, of Indianapolis; Ed. Of Kokomo; Lizzie, wife of F. H. Schultz, of Dayton, Ohio; Josephine, wife of Christ Brier, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Joseph, of Indianapolis; and Henry.

On a farm in Ripley county, Indiana, Henry Weser was reared to manhood and from there moved to Howard county. His education was obtained in the common schools of Ripley county. After following various occupations, chiefly farming, for some years, he was married on March 10, 1886. The name of his wife was Susan S. Martin, who was born in Howard county, May 22, 1867, grew up and attended the public schools of that county, and belonged to a well known family there. On March 25, 1886, only a few days after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Weser moved to Green township in Grant county, locating on a place two and a quarter miles south of Swayzee. They lived there and prospered for about seventeen years, and on December 3, 1903, located on their present estate of one hundred and twenty acres, four miles south and a mile and a half west of Swayzee. Their home is the old McClain farm, and in improvements and crops measures well up to the best farms to be found in Green township. Mr. and Mrs. Weser began their married career with little capital, and all they have has been made by their united efforts.

Mr. and Mrs. Weser have seven children, named as follows: Clara E. is the wife of John E. Hannah, of Howard county, and they have one child, Burle; Frank is a graduate of the common schools is still unmarried and lives at home; Edna B. is the wife of William Reneker and has one child, Agnes; May E. is a graduate of the common schools and the Swayzee high schools; George A. graduated from the common schools; Orpha T. and Josephine B. are the youngest of the family. Mr. Weser is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Improved Order of Redmen. In politics he is a Socialist, and has never interested himself actively in party affairs, although at one time he was candidate for county commissioner from his district in Grant county. He is a stock holder in Intelligencer, a Socialist publication issued at Marion.

JOHN A. PETERSON. As a breeder and raiser of fine horses, particularly the Percheron and Belgian Breeds, John A. Peterson has a reputation far beyond the limits of Grant county. The Prairie Grove Stock Farm, in section ten of Green township, one mile west and three and a half miles south of Swayzee, is a model place of its kind, and its improvements and adaptations to the uses of modern stock raising are the results of an exceptional degree of enterprise on the part of Mr. Peterson. Mr. Peterson began his career in this county as a school teacher, and by shrewd management and square dealing has come to be regarded as one of the wealthiest and most influential citizens of Green township.

John A. Peterson has spent all his life in Grant county, and was born on section ten of Green township, where he now lives. His birthday was April 21, 1862, and he is a son of Ralph Van Dyne Peterson and Viannah (Jones) Peterson. The parents were both from Adams county, Ohio, where they were born, reared, educated and married. They moved to Grant county in 1860, locating on section fifteen of Green township, where the father cleared out a place in the midst of the woods, built a cabin, and thus founded the home of the Petersons in Grant county. This old homestead is now owned by John A. Peterson, and the father and mother lived there the remainder of their days. The father was a member of the Church of Christ, and an officer in that denomination. He prospered as a farmer and business man, but never took much interest in politics. There were seven children in the family, five of whom are living, and two died young, one aged six years and one aged one year and six months. Julia is the wife of Thomas J. Cobbler, and was formerly a teacher in Liberty township. John A. is the next in order of age; James A. R. Peterson is a farmer in Green township; Birdie L. is the wife of B. F. Leisure of Madison county; Mahlon B., after graduating from the common schools of Grant county, studied in the College of Medicine and Surgery at Chicago. Prior to that he took the course in the Chiropractic School at Davenport, Iowa, and is now a practitioner in the latter school of medicine in Chicago.

John A. Peterson spent the years of his childhood and youth on the home farm, and all his memories and associations center about this old place. While growing up he attended the common schools, and later was a student in the Marion Normal College and in the Kokomo Normal School. With this excellent educational preparation, he began teaching when he was nineteen and for twenty-three consecutive years was identified with the work of the school room, and there is hardly a locality in this section of Indiana, where Mr. Peterson does not meet some of his old pupils, who have grateful memories of him as a teacher. During his early career as a teacher he spent his summers in attending school, but later took up farming and thus alternated in the two vocations for a number of years.

On February 5, 1902, Mr. Peterson married Gertrude A. Leisure, who was born in Green township, a daughter of Nathan J. Leisure, one of the prominent men of this county. She received her education in the common schools of Green township. They are the parents of two sons, Ralph E., born July 18, 1904, and John G., born June 7, 1907.

Mr. Peterson and wife are members of the church of Christ at Leisure, in Madison county, and his fraternal associations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a Democrat in politics, but has not taken much part in party affairs. His home estate in Green township comprises five hundred and fifty acres of land, all of which is highly unproved and is regarded as one of the best farms in this part of Grant county. His interests include many relations and activities outside of his home farm. He is one of the directors in the First National Bank at Swayzee, a stock holder in the Farmers Trust & Savings Company at Marion, one of the stock holders and directors in the Farmers National Life Insurance Company of America. At Swayzee he maintains a breeding barn, and for more than twenty years has been successful as a horse breeder, making a specialty of the thoroughbred Percheron and Belgian horses. Mr. Peterson is the owner of more than twenty thousand dollars worth of business and residence property in Danville, Illinois, while his wife owns an interest in a section of land in Pulaski county, Indiana. Mr. Peterson got his start towards this ample success by teaching school. He invested wisely his earnings, and has always maintained an unimpeachable reputation for honest dealings, so that his success has been worthily won. Among his other properties he owns a building in Muncie, Indiana and he and his family reside in a very attractive and comfortable home. He employs a Studebaker automobile for both business and pleasure.

Deb Murray