Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

T.P. Bicknell, M.D., deceased,---Although not a resident of De Kalb County, there are few who will be longer remembered by the early settlers than Dr. Bicknell. He was a native of Chenango County, N.Y., and received his education in his native State. In 1846, realizing the more favorable opportunities offered a young man in the West, he moved to Northern Indiana and settled in Lisbon, Noble County, at that time little more than an wilderness. Being a skillful physician, he soon gained a wide reputation in Noble, De Kalb, Steuben and surrounding counties, and he was obliged to ride night and day in all kinds of weather. From constant exposure his health became impaired and for several years he was unable to engage in active practice. Such was the confidence reposed in him and his skill that when he was unable to visit patients they were brought to him from miles away on cots. In 1854 Dr. Bicknell was elected to represent Noble County in the convention to revise the Constitution of the State of Indiana, and was the youngest member of the convention. In 1861 he was the first Examining Surgeon appointed in his district, and was twice appointed by Governor Morton as Surgeon (first of the Thirtieth and second of the forty-fourth Regiment), but was obliged to decline on account of his health. Dr. Bicknell died in 1863, leaving a large circle of friends to mourn his loss. He was married in New York to Lydia Myers, and to them were born three children---Hattie, Thompson O. and H. M. Mrs. Bicknell resides in Fort Wayne.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

James W. Bishop was born in Jackson Township, July 10, 1842, and has always lived on his father’s old homestead. His parents, Willis and Mary Bishop, with two children, came to De Kalb County from Richland County, Ohio in October, 1836, arriving here the 20th of the month. He located on section 26, then a piece of wild land, and lived here till his death, Sept. 22, 1875. His widow is still loving on the old homestead with her son James. They had a family of four sons, two born in Ohio and two in De Kalb County---John W., William, who died in May 1860; Willis and James W. Mr. Bishop was a useful, active citizen, and lived a life of industry, making a good home for his family and giving his children a start in life. John W. and James. W. own the homestead jointly. The former was born in Richland County, Ohio, Feb. 20, 1833, and has never married, making his home in his brother’s family. James W. went West when a young man and spent four years, and on his return settled down to a quiet, agricultural life. He was married July 7, 1878, to Mary Mullen, a native of Jackson Township, born Sept. 1, 1858, daughter of Daniel and Hester Mullen. They have three children---Martha E., Ophia J. and Charles C. Mr. Bishop is a good, practical farmer, and a citizen fully alive to all the material interests of the township, taking an especial interest in the cause of education, although other cause are not neglected by him.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Benjamin F. Blair, druggist and grocer, Newville, Ind., was born in Lorain County, Ohio, Feb. 3, 1833, a son of John Blair. Who brought his family to De Kalb County in the fall of 1835 and settled in Concord Township. They made the journey by teams, having two spans of horses and one yoke of oxen. They often made but one mile in a day, the road being through the black swamp, and the trip was a long and tedious one. At that time the country was inhabited by Indians, but they were friendly and rarely made them any trouble. Our subject was reared in the woods of De Kalb County, and early learned the duties of a pioneer life. His educational advantages were limited, as schools were few and his services were needed at home. The land settled on by the Blair family has all been cleared, and is the present site of the town of St. Joesph. Aug. 23, 1863, Mr. Blair was married to Caroline A. Dodge, a native of Newville, born Feb. 9, 1840, daughter of Anthony Dodge, a pioneer of this township. They have two children---Belle and Don Juan. In 1862 he moved to Newville and bought and shipped stock from that time till 1876. In the spring of 1884 he engaged in his present business, and carries a full and complete stock of drugs, medicines, paints, oils, groceries, etc. He has a good trade, which is constantly increasing, having by his genial and accommodating manner won the confidence and esteem of the entire community. He was elected County Commissioner in 1876, and made an efficient and reliable officer.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

General L. J. Blair, one of the most prominent attorneys of De Kalb County, is a native of Franklin County, Ohio, and was born Dec. 29, 1829. When he was six years of age his parents moved to De Kalb County, and here he was reared on a farm, and in his early manhood was engaged in rafting. His early education was limited to the country schools, but having an insatiable thirst for knowledge, he bade defiance to all difficulties, and in his youth determined to make the profession of law his life-work. He devoted his leisure hours to such books a he could procure, and when nineteen years of age was given the use of Reuben J. Dawson’s law library. He then became more diligent in his study, and in 1855 was admitted to the bar, and from that time till after the breaking out of the civil war practiced in De Kalb County. In July, 1862, he recruited a company, which was assigned as Company H, to the Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry, and was commissioned its Captain. The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland under the command of General Thomas and subsequently General Rosecarns. He participated in many of the more important battles; at Chickamauga had command of the regiment. After the battles of Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, in which battles he was engaged, he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. He participated in all the engagements of the Atlanta campaign, and marched with Sherman to the sea. After the battle at Savannah was promoted to Brigadier-General. He was present when General Johnston surrendered, and at the grand review of Sherman’s army. After the close of the war he returned to De Kalb County, where he has since pursued his profession.

He is one of the most eloquent orators and most powerful advocates before the bar in the State of Indiana, holding his audience spellbound from the commencement to the close of his argument. He is purely a self-made man, and has won his place at the head of the fraternity by his indomitable will, which allowed no obstacle to stand between him and success. The General was married March 10, 1853, to Mary, daughter of Manly Bruce, of Geauga County, Ohio. They have two daughters and one son.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

William L. Blair, farmer, section 1, Wilmington Township, was born in Lorain County, Ohio, Nov. 27, 1832, a son of John and Margaret (Douglas) Blair. His parents moved to De Kalb County in the fall of 1835 and settled in Concord Township. At the time were but eight families in the present limits of De Kalb County, seven of them in Concord Township. The Indians were frequent visitors at the Blair house, and at one time our subject’s sister turned an empty barrel over him while she ran to the field to tell the men of their approach. He was reared to the life of a pioneer, and early began assisting to clear the land, having but limited educational privileges. The first school, he attended was taught by Benjamin Alton in a log house on land now owned by Chris Crusa. Mr. Blair was married Oct. 19, 1859, to Amy Aldrich. They have two children ---Corwin, and Lena, wife of George Corcoran, now of Dennison, Tex. Mr. Blair is a member of no religious denomination, but is a firm believer in trying to benefit and upbuild humanity. He has several relics of the olden time. One, a cane cut from an apple-tree in the first orchard in De Kalb County. It was set out by his father in the spring of 1836 on the old homestead, on the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 15. Another is a Mexican dollar bearing date 1826, which his father obtained while keeping tavern in Ohio; and still a third is a red cedar cane cut from Mt. Vernon near the tomb of Washington, in 1876. There are the same number of knots in this cane as there are States in the Union. Mr. Blair has had it mounted with gold.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Achilles Blaker, deceased, was born in Pennsylvania about 1803, a son of Jesse Blaker. In 1834 he moved to Maumee County, Ohio, where he followed blacksmithing several years. He built one mile of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad in 1852, and the same fall took a three-mile contract on the same road three and a half miles east of Butler at the State line. He moved his family to Butler in the spring of 1855, and the following spring bought the Butler House of John Rose. This building had four rooms, two below and two above, separated by board partitions. It was used for hotel, church, dancing-hall and public meetings for some years. Mr. Blaker was a public-spirited, and energetic man, and was influential in advancing many of the improvements of the town of Butler. He was married three times; first to Susan Meers, by whom he had one child---Susan, who married J. M. Howard, and died in LaSalle County, Ill., in December, 1884, leaving a family. Mrs. Blaker died in Pennsylvania, and he then married Mary Walton, who at her death left three children---George, of Maumee, Ohio; William, of Lafayette, Ind., and Arabelle, wife of Col. J. D. McKain, of Marseilles, Ill. His third marriage was to Mrs. Eliza Scottow, a native of Gloucestershire, England, born in 1817, widow of John Scottow. She came to America in June, 1832. Mr. Blaker died Feb. 6, 1868, aged sixty-two years.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

David W. Blaker, section 18, Stafford Township, was born in Lycoming County, Pa., May 19, 1830, a son of Jesse Blaker, a native of Bucks County, Pa., and what was called a Hickory Quaker. He enlisted in the war of 1812, but the war closed before he was called into service. David W. lost his mother when he was seven years old, and before he was nine years old began to take care of himself. Before he was fourteen years old he found himself 200 miles from home without friends, barefooted and with no shoes nor money. He worked on the canal nearly a year and then at the blacksmith’s trade fourteen years. In 1853 he came to De Kalb County and located at Butler, where he worked at his trade for the contractors of the Lake Shore Railroad. He remained in Butler till 1867, working at his trade with the exception of one year, when he was associated with his brother in a meat market and grocery. In the spring of 1867 he settled on his farm, which at that time contained eighty acres of land, partially run down, but by diligence and care he has made it equal to any farm in the township. He now owns 120 acres of fine land, and his crops are among the best in the county. He was married July 4, 1852, to Ethilinda Fowler, of Flat Rock, Wayne Co., Mich., and to them have been born ten children, but five of whom are living---George W., Frederick D., Ella M.B., William L. and James C. George married Emma Flickinger and lives in this township. Mr. and Mrs. Blaker are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

John Blaker, proprietor livery stable, Butler, Ind., was born in Lycoming county, Pa., Jan. 10,1825, a son of Jesse Blaker, a native of Bucks County, Pa., of German descent, his ancestors coming to America with William Penn. The father died in February, 1872, in the ninety-fifth year of his age. John Blaker was reared on a farm; his parents being in limited circumstances, he had very limited educational advantages. He earned his own living after fourteen years of age. He came to Indiana in the year 1855, settled in Wilmington Township on what is now known as the Colgrove farm. The following year he moved to Butler where he has since resided. J.A. Moore and Eli Strauss are the only men now living in Butler who were here when he came. For several years Mr. Blaker dealt largely in stock, also carried on a livery stable, bought and shipped produce, wool, etc.; in 1877 he abandoned all other branches of business, and has since given his entire attention to livery. He has a good business, having constantly horses suitable for ladies or gentlemen to drive, also suitable for horseback riding; he has buggies and carriages of all descriptions, and is ready at any time to fill an order for single or double harness. Mr. Blaker was married July 20, 1848, to Mercy, daughter of Jonathan and Mary Hall. Eleven of their twelve children are living---Mary E., Sarah A., Lucy J., Achilles, Christiann, Chester, Jesse, John, Ella, Frank and Hattie. Frank is the only boy remaining at home, and assists his father in the livery.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

James Arnold Blodgett is a native of Wayne County, Ohio, born March 30, 1836, the third son of James and Elizabeth (Howard) Blodgett, native of Lower Canada, and early settlers of Wayne County, Ohio; later moved to Putnam County where the father died about 1838. In 1842 the mother moved with her family to De Kalb County, Ind., and located in Wilmington Township near the present site of Butler. Six years later she moved to the farm in Union Township, now owned by our subject, where she lived till her death in 1872, aged about seventy-six years. She was the mother of five children, three of whom are living---Azube, wife of Zopher Johnson; Perry and James A. Our subject was but six years of age when his mother came to Indiana, and was, therefore, reared and educated in this county. He remained with his mother till manhood and assisted in the cultivation of the farm. He now owns the homestead, which contains eighty acres of fine land, and his improvements are among the best in the county. He is an energetic and enterprising farmer, and is also one of the most successful stock-raisers in the township. He was married in 1868 to Lillian L., daughter of John and Elizabeth Moser, native of Maryland and early settlers of De Kalb County. To them have been born two children, but one of whom is living---James W., born Jan. 4, 1871. S.E. died in infancy. Mr. Blodgett has served as Constable of his township and as Road Supervisor.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Otis S. Blood is a native of Ohio, born Jan. 15, 1842, and in 1846 accompanied his parents, Albert N. and Sophia Blood, to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Newville Township. Here he was reared and educated, remaining with his parents till the breaking out of the Rebellion. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in Company F, Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served till Nov. 23, 1864. After his return home he engaged in agricultural pursuits, locating on the old homestead where he has since live. He was married Dec. 13, 1867, to Leah Culler, a native of Massillon, Ohio, daughter of Joseph Culler. His father, Albert N. Blood, was a local preacher of the United Brethren church. He served his township as Trustee and Assessor several terms. His three sons were all soldiers in the war; the eldest, Elias, died in the hospital, and the youngest died at home from the effects of disease contracted in the service. He died March 1, 1863, and his wife is now living in Hicksville.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Michael Boland, Auburn, Ind., was born in Toledo, Ohio, December, 1853, a son of Patrick and Bridget (Owens) Boland. By an accident he lost his left arm when an infant, by falling asleep on the track of the M.S. & N. Ind. Railroad Company. He was given a good education, attending the Toledo public schools, and later the Toledo Commercial college, from which he graduated when sixteen years of age. In September, 1871, he entered the office of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad at Archibald, Ohio, to learn telegraphy. In 1872 the company gave him the charge of their office at Corunna, De Kalb Co., Ind. He filled the position till the fall of 1876, when he was elected on the Democratic ticket, Recorder of De Kalb County, a position he held by re-election eight years. In the fall of 1883 he became a stockholder in the First National Bank, Auburn, and in January, 1884, was elected one of its Directors. He was married Oct. 31, 1875, to Lottie, daughter of George W. McMiller of Corunna. They have two children---Jessie B. and George C. Mr. Boland is entitled to much credit for this official and business career in De Kalb County. By his integrity and strict attention to business he has gained an excellent reputation, and his genial and pleasant intercourse with his fellowmen has made him many friends throughout the county.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Nicholas Bontrager, farmer, section 36, Franklin Township, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Nov 19, 1838, a son of Joseph Bontrager. In the fall of 1852 his father moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled in Troy Township, where he died in December, 1879. Nicholas Bontrager was reared a farmer, and has always followed that vocation. He remained at home till the braking out of the war of the Rebellion, when he enlisted in Company F, Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry, under Captain Gunsenhouser. He participated in seven battles, but a was on detached service the most of the time. He now draws a pension for injuries received. Mr. Bontrager was married Dec. 30, 1877, to Elizabeth J. Hantz, daughter of Jesse Hantz, of Steuben County, Ind. They have three children---Amy A., Joseph A. and Jesse H. Mr. Bontrager settled on the farm where he now lives Feb. 5, 1884. He now owns forty acres of good land, with a pleasant residence and comfortable farm buildings. Mrs. Bontrager is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

John S. Boots, one of the leading farmers and fruit-growers, and a representative man of Jackson Township, resides on section 35. Of the 260 acres of land, which his farm contains, 160 are under an advanced state of cultivation. He pays special attention to the raising of fruit, having three orchards planted by his own hands, and every variety of fruit grown in this climate can be found in its season on Mr. Boot’s farm. His vineyard is without doubt the finest in the county. In 1881 he received a diploma from the Indiana State Board of Agriculture for the finest display of apples. His residence is commodious, and is conveniently arranged with all the modern improvements. Mr. Boots was born in Smithfield Township, Jefferson Co., Ohio, Oct 5, 1822, a son of James and Sarah (Springer) Boots, his father of Scotch and Holland, and his mother of English and Irish descent. His father died in 1855 and his mother in 1877. In 1827 his parents moved to Copeland County, Ohio. He remained with them till manhood, and April 12, 1849, married Eliza Ambrose, a native of Bedford County, Pa., born Feb. 22, 1823, a daughter of John and Barbara (Folck) Ambrose. May 6, following, Mr. Boots started for the West in search of a place to locate. He entered his present farm and returned to Ohio, and June 20, started with his wife for the wilds of Indiana. To them were born six children--- Sarah J., wife of Daniel Butler; Amanda S.; James A.; Ida, wife of George Balch; William R. and John T. Aug. 26 1866, Mrs. Boots died, and Feb. 22, 1868 Mr. Boots married Matilda Hall, a native of Seneca County, Ohio, born March 18, 1835, a daughter of John and Sophia (Harper) Hall. They have three children---Perley, Elsie C. and Myrtle. Mr. Boots is one of the most enterprising and progressive men of the township. He has been Road Supervisor many years, and has made his district famous for its good roads. The Northeastern Indiana Agricultural and Horticultural Societies each gave $25 to the district having the best roads, and Mr. Boots won both for his district, No. 5. He is a very positive and decided man in his opinions, and his outspoken manner often offends, but nevertheless he is highly esteemed and respected for his upright character and honest integrity. As a School Director he has been a very efficient worker, and in all his relations to the town and county has been a public-spirited, philanthropic benefactor.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

William M. Boughan, Justice of the Peace of Auburn, De Kalb Co., Ind., moved to Auburn, De Kalb County, in December, 1868, and became associated with Charles Klotz in the dry goods and clothing business; remained in that business until the fall of 1871, when he was appointed station and ticket agent at Auburn Junction for the Eel River Railroad, now called the Wabash; remained in that office until 1873, when he became associated with V.A. Beard in the grocery business, under the firm name of Beard & Co. In 1875 he retired from the firm and the same fall was appointed ticket agent for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at Auburn; remained in that office until the fall of 1876, when, upon the death of his wife, he resigned his office and went to St. Louis, Mo.; returned to Auburn in November and married a second wife. He was in no particular business until the summer of 1880, when he was appointed target man at Auburn Junction for the Baltimore & Ohio, Lake Shore & Michigan Southern and Wabash railroads, which office he retained until the fall 1883. Being elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, he resigned his position with the railroads to attend to the duties of his office, in which he is still engaged. Mr. Boughan was born in Ross County, Ohio, Nov. 12, 1815. When four year old, he with his parents, moved to Union County, Ohio, where, Nov. 29, 1835, he was married to Nancy Dixon, from Loudon County, Va. There, on the same farm, he remained for forty years, having held several important offices of trust; served as Constable, Sheriff, Trustee, School Director, and nine years as Justice of the Peace. He was Captain of an Independent Rifle Company for fourteen years, during which time the war between Mexico and the United States came on, and he as Captain, with 100 men, fully armed and equipped, volunteered to go to Mexico, but the Governor would not let them go. He remained in Union County, Ohio, till March, 1860, when he moved to Richland County, in southern Illinois, and carried on farming. Dec. 1, 1861, he volunteered in the service of the United States and raised a company of 100 men, of which he was made Captain. Dec. 10, 1861, he received a commission for Governor Yates as Captain of Company G, Sixty-third Illinois Infantry, and served in that capacity during the war; was offered promotion quite a number of times, which he refused, choosing rather to stay with the men he had enlisted. He participated in twenty-six battles, the names of which are all engraved on the sheath of his saber, which he still retains. He was mustered out of the service at Goldsboro, N.C., April 9, 1865, after going the entire route with Sherman through the interior of Georgia and other States to the sea. After going to Washington City and settling up with the Government, he returned to his home in Illinois. He was wounded three times, but none were very serious. He came to Auburn, as before stated, in 1868, and in 1876 his wife died. They had ten children, five of whom, two sons and three daughters are living. In the winter of the same year he married Isabel F. Lanum. In 1880 she died, and he married Jane L. Goldey, with whom he is now living.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Cyrus Bowman, Postmaster, Waterloo, farmer and stock-raiser, a son of John and Matilda Bowman, was born in Van Buren, Onondaga County, N.Y., Nov. 9, 1818. His father was a native of New Jersey, and his mother of Connecticut. Mr. Bowman lived with his parents till he was twenty-one years old, and worked on his father’s farm. He then came to this county where he spent three years a single life, clearing land, splitting rails, by the job, etc., and in the meantime cleared twenty acres of 160 given him by his father, entered in the fall of 1838. He then returned to his home in New York, where, June 15, 1843, he married Miss Rachel Waterman, a native of Van Buren, N.Y. In the fall of 1843 he and his wife moved to this county, built a cabin in the woods where they lived until her death, Oct. 17, 1855. To them were born two children---Harriet Matilda, who died Oct. 8, 1855, aged nearly eleven years, and Rosa G., born June 19, 1851, now the wife of Phineas D. Childs, of Fairfield Township. Sept. 4, 1858, Mr. Bowman was married to Sarah Ann Smith, his present wife, a native of Stark County, Ohio, but an early settler in this county, They have two children---Archie S., born July 1, 1859, a farmer of Cass County, Mich., and Fred C., born Nov. 1, 1866. Fred is still at home, and superintends the work of the farm. Mr. and Mrs. Bowman are now on the shady side of life very pleasantly situated, both of them of strict integrity, and loved and respected by all their acquaintances.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

JAMES BOWMAN. In a person of this venerable pioneer farmer, now deceased, we have a sample of a worthy race of people to whom the country is largely indebted for its development and progress. He was not a showy man, simply a plain, industrious tiller of the soil, who worked hard to get a start in the world, provided well for his family, did his duty to his fellow men and made a good neighbor and citizen. To such as he Indiana owes much. Here and there,scattered over the state in every county, on well-tilled acres, they toiled and worked, cleared, grubbed and ditched, fought the forces of nature in the way of swamps and dense forests, gradually making headway until in time we see the beautiful and highly cultivated farms as the result of their arduous labors. Such were the pioneer farmers. They did not figure in public life. Their names were seldom mentioned in the papers, they lived quiet and unpretentious lives, but it was their work and their self-sacrifice that was gradually building up the state, adding to its wealth and beauty, until it became one of the finest agricultural regions in the world. Mr. Bowman was a public-spirited man in all that term implied, was ever interested in enterprises tending to promote the general welfare and withheld his support from no movement for the good of the locality so long honored by his residence. His personal relations with his fellow men were ever mutually pleasant and agreeable, and he was highly regarded by all, having been easily approached, obliging and straightforward in all the relations of life.

James Bowman, who during his life was one of the best known citizens of Waterloo and vicinity and an honored pioneer of Franklin township, DeKalb county, Indiana. He came of a long line of sterling ancestors, the first members of the Bowman family having come to this country from Holland. Their remains now lie buried near Albany, New York. To them was born a son, Peter, whose wife's Christian name was Mary, and they lie buried in Belle Isle cemetery in the town of Van Buren, NY. Peter and Mary Bowman had four children, three daughters and a son, the latter named John, having been born at Trenton, New Jersey, on April 15, 1789. When he was but five years old his parents moved to New York State and there he married Matilda Minner, who was born on September 9, 1787, in Connecticut. They became the parents of twelve children, all of whom grew to maturity. The mother of these children died in 1854 and the father subsequently married his first wife's sister, Sallie. His death occurred in 1869. The fourth of the children in order of birth was James, the immediate subject of this sketch.

James Bowman was reared to maturity on the home farm in New York and received his education in the common schools. Shortly after his marriage, which occurred in 1839, he and his wife started west via the Lake Erie Canal and Lake Erie to Toledo, from when they drove overland with ox team to Franklin township, DeKalb county, Indiana. Here he began the struggle common to the pioneer settlers of the frontier west, and in the creation of a home and the clearing and improvement of the farm he received the able cooperation and assistance of his wife. The farm which was thus located and improved has been since owned and occupied by his grandson, James Hodges, and mother, Mrs. A. J. Sinclair. In the spring of 1851 Mr. Bowman moved to what is now the northeast edge of Waterloo, where he built a home and also erected a saw mill. At that time heavy timber covered the greater part of the land now the site of Waterloo and much of this timber was worked up in the mill owned by Mr. Bowman. he was a successful man in everything to which he addressed himself and as he prospered financially he contributed to the growth and development of the community in every way possible, giving liberally of his means to the erection of churches, school houses, and in other ways contributing to the welfare of the citizens. For nearly twenty-nine years during his later life he was disabled by paralysis to such an extent as to be confined to a chair. However, during these nearly three decades he was always patient and cheerful and to the last maintained a deep interest in everything about him. His mind was as bright in his last years as at any period in his life, and he always managed his own business affairs. He was made of those sterling qualities out of which the frontier settlers of the middle West were made and to him is due the gratitude of present generations for what he did in the way of opening up and clearing the way for the later splendid civilization which has characterized this section of the state.

On September 26, 1839, in Onondaga county, New York, James Bowman married Rebecca Jane Bort, who was born probably in Onondaga county, the daughter of Christian and Susan (Quackenbush) Bort. To their union were born eight children, of whom five are now living, namely: Mrs. A. J. Sinclair, Mrs. James P. McCague, Mrs. C. E. Montavon, Charles and Frank, all of whom are living in Waterloo.

Submitted by: Eliza Funk
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
B.F. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, 1914.

Adam Boyer, section 19, Franklin Township, came from Ohio with his father Peter Boyer, in 1836. The following fall, after assisting his father to build a log cabin and clear a small patch of ground, he returned to Ohio, but in March, 1837, came again to De Kalb County, accompanied by his brother-in-law, Daniel Kepler. He made his home with his brother Michael, who came in 1836, till his marriage, Jan. 11, 1838, to Rebecca Holden, daughter of Samuel Holden, in 1837. He built a log cabin, but notwithstanding their inconveniences they made the best of his circumstances, and with the energy of youth and the hope and happiness of newly married life passed the winter in comparative comfort. Their household effects were limited, but in the spring of 1839 he returned to Southern Indiana for furniture belonging to his wife. In 1840 he returned to De Kalb County and settled where he now lives. To Mr. and Mrs. Boyer have been born five children; but four are living---Elimina, wife of Andrew Duncan; Balis H.; Mary Ann, wife of R.J. Fisk; Irene, wife of A. T. Smith. Their youngest son, Ira, died Dec. 21 1873, in the nineteenth year of his age.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Balis H. Boyer, section 10, Smithfield Township, bought his farm in 1863 of Samuel Strugh. He is a son of Adam and Rebecca (Holden) Boyer, early settlers of Franklin Township. He was born in Highland County, Ohio, April 17, 1840. He was reared on the old homestead, receiving a good education in the common schools. He was married to Susan Oberlin, daughter of David Oberlin, early residents of Franklin Township. She was born in Stark County, Ohio, in 1843. Mr. and Mrs. Boyer have four children---Warren J., Mary M., Adam D., and Francis M., all living in Smithfield Township.

Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
History of De Kalb County, Indiana.
Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.