John Fisher lived upon his father's farm until past twenty years of age, when he was united in marriage with Miss Charity Bills, who was born in Seneca county, Ohio, March 6, 1828, and there acquired a good education. This union was graced with seven children, viz.: Robert, born January 13, 1847, and now the husband of Ruth Knoop; Lydia A. , wife of Jacob Fisher, who is, however, of no consanguinity; Frank, born in 1851, is married to Charlotte Fisher and resides in Huntington, Indiana; Salome, wife of Peter Catlet, residing in Wayne township; John, deceased; Marshall, who married Ada Stauffer, and resides in the state of Washington; Silas is married to Elizabeth Parrot and lives in Jackson township. In 1854 Mr. Fisher came to Kosciusko county, and here was a continuous resident up to the date of his death. He had inherited, as had his brothers, a quarter-section of land, and in 1852 settled on his farm, which he cleared up and handsomely improved. In 1856 the father made a clearing sale and appointed John as auctioneer. At that time the latter was a modest young man, but this initiation proved a turning point in his career and led to his adoption of auctioneering as a vocation. Since 1856 Mr. Fisher conducted twenty-three hundred public vendues, and his services were in demand for miles around, his average being about one hundred sales per annum. During his residence in Jackson township he took part in many log-rollings and house raisings and was an important factor in advancing the general prosperity of the township.

In politics Mr. Fisher was a Democrat, as are also his sons. He served as justice of the peace for eight years, he being a very popular man in the township, and having been elected in a district that usually was carried by a Republican majority of sixty. He also served as one of the three trustees of his township in the early days, and an one occasion settled up an estate of fifty-two thousand dollars, which occupied his attention for several years. Fraternally Mr. Fisher was made a Mason in 1856 and at the time of his death held membership in the lodge at Sidney, Indiana, in which he held the position of tyler. When the Patrons of Husbandry were flourishing he was an active member and was one of the organizers of the state grange. Mrs. Fisher has long been a member of the Christian church, to the support of which Mr. Fisher was a liberal contributor.

In January, 1901, Mr. Fisher had the misfortune to lose his dwelling and its contents by fire, but, being a man not easily disheartened, he soon recovered from the effects of the disaster. He was widely known in Kosciusko and adjoining counties, and being a gentleman of more than ordinary intelligence was greatly esteemed wherever known. His death occurred on the 2d of May, 1902, its cause being paralysis. His funeral took place May 4th, and was one of the largest ever held in the township.

Progressive Men and Women of Kosciusko County, Indiana
B. F. Bowen, Publisher
Logansport, Indiana
1902

GILES MILLER.
Few farmers in Jackson township, Kosciusko county, Indiana, have been more successful in reaping a reward for his toil and industry than Giles Miller, whose neat appearing tract of sixty-one acres is the admiration of the entire neighborhood. Giles Miller is a son of Lewis, and Lettie (Gordon) Miller and was born in Clark county, Ohio, December 28, 1830. Jacob Miller, grandfather of Giles, was a native of Germany, but when a small boy was brought to the United States by his parents, who settled in Pennsylvania, and there Jacob grew to manhood and married a native of his own country. He served in the Revolutionary war. From Pennsylvania the grandfather and family migrated to Ohio, was there married, and had born to him eight children: Frederick, Lewis, Jacob, Samuel, Polly, Catherine, Barbara and Rachael.

Lewis Miller was reared in Clark county, Ohio, and there married Lettie Gordon, a daughter of Richard and Susan (Garst) Gordon. The Gordon family were also of German origin, while the Garst family came from Holland. Lewis Miller and wife and children came to Kosciusko county, Indiana, in 1846, locating in Clay (now Lake) township, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of wild land, but also owned two hundred and twenty acres in Van Wert county, Ohio. Although a mechanic, and more than ordinarily handy with tools, he was a very successful agriculturist and died on his Lake township farm in 1865, one of the most honored of the early settlers of the township. Lewis and Susan Miller were the parents of fifteen children, namely: Andrew, Rebecca, Giles, Catherine, Phoebe, Sallie, Mazy, Julia A., Mary, Lucinda, Richard, Aaron, Guilford, Delilah, Samuel and Peter; of these there are four still living: Giles, Catherine, Sal1ie and Richard.

Giles Mil1er was a youth of seventeen years when he came to Kosciusko county, Indiana, but he even then knew how to handle an ax and greatly aided in clearing up the new farm all overgrown with hard timber, and so continued until he was twenty-one years old. At this age he began working out on his own account, taking jobs at clearing.

In 1855 Giles Miller married Miss Lucinda Leffel, a daughter of William and Julia Leffel. Mr. Miller had saved some of his earnings, but for the first year of his wedded life lived all a rented farm, when he and his father bought a farm of sixty-one acres deep in the forest, of which they took occupancy in the fall of 1856, cleared up and lived on until 1864, when Giles returned to the old homestead, on which he has since made his home. To Giles and Lucinda (Leffel) Miller have been born eight children, viz.: Sarah J., who is the wife of Henry Hinkle, of North Manchester; George A., who married Miss Ida Vance, the latter being now deceased; A. L., who married Flora Bolin and is living in ,Castle Rock, Minnesota; William L., who married Clara Butterbaugh, and lives in Seward township, Kosciusko county; Charles H., who married Lizzie Duke and lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Mary E., still single; Samuel E., deceased twin of Mary E.; Esta E., born in 1880, is married to Blanche Richard, is a painter by trade, and lives in North Manchester.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the United Brethren church, in which Mr. MillIer has been a trustee for many years. In politics Mr. Miller was for a long time a Democrat, but later became a Prohibitionist; yet he voted for McKinley at the last presidential election. He is wide1y known throughout Jackson township and is highly respected wherever known.

Progressive Men and Women of Kosciusko County, Indiana
B. F. Bowen, Publisher
Logansport, Indiana
1902

ROBERT HAINES.
It is the custom with many farmers, even in this day of known advantage in putting all corn and hay raised on a farm into stock, to sell the grain which they raise and only deal to a limited extent in live stock. Time has shown that this course is unwise, and those farmers who sti1l stick to that obsolete custom are the losers. It is found that the best results are obtained from making the sale of live stock the first consideration, and it is not necessary to point out that most of the successful farmers have adopted long ago this practice. Aside from the improvement of the farm and perhaps the dealings in farms, it is probably the fact that the great majority of the wealthiest farmers have obtained all or nearly all of their wealth from their dealings in live stock. Such at least has been the case with the subject of this memoir. He is a native of Franklin county, Ohio, having been born there October 8, 1852, and is the son of Joseph and Elizabeth I. Haines. The grandfather of subject was a native of the Keystone state and removed to Ohio back in the pioneer period. He was a farmer and in the course of his life amassed a large property. His son Joseph, the father of subject, was reared on the farm and received the usual education in the subscription schools. There was no general school fund at that time for the support of schools, and all parents, who wished their children to have the benefits of an instructor were required to pay so much for the term for each child they sent to a teacher employed by others. These schools were called subscription schools. Joseph was educated in one of them, which had rude slab seats and was built of logs. To Joseph's marriage these children were born: Robert, subject; Volney, who died in youth; Joseph M., who married Miss Clara Garvin and is a Methodist Episcopal minister, stationed at Garrett, Indiana; Jane, who wedded George Gochnour and lives in this township; John, who married Ida Cox and resides in Marshall county, Indiana; Amanda, who became the wife of Wesley Eaton and is deceased; Isabelle, wife of Isaac Cox, a resident of Seward township; Mary, who wedded Edward Cook and lives in Mishawaka, Indiana; Frank, who lives with his father in Harrison township. Joseph Haines moved his family from Ohio to Indiana in 1872 and bought eighty acres in Harrison township, being the farm where he now lives. He has led a quiet and industrious life, and now himself and wife are among the old and faithful land marks of this portion of the state. He has been a member of the church nearly all his life and his moral character is above question. He is now seventy-two years of age and his good and faithful wife is sixty-seven years old. They are liked and highly respected by all who know them. Robert was reared on his father's farm and received a good education in the schools of Ohio and Indiana. When he attained the age of twenty-one years he began to learn the cooper's trade, working at the same in the winters and farming in the summers. This trade he had learned from his father, who had also learned it in his early years. In 1878 Robert met and married Miss Alice, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Wirick, and to this marriage one child was born, Ora, who died when thirteen years of age. His first wife having died in 1879, he chose for his second wife, in 1884, Miss Maggie Justice, daughter of William Justice, and they have these children: Anna, who married Harry Meredith and lives in Clay township; Artie, John, Joseph, Nettie, Mattie, Edith and Walter. After his marriage Robert first rented land and a little later moved back home. Soon afterward he secured a threshing machine and has followed that business for fourteen years. During this time he sold his farm, and is now engaged in farming his brother's place. He is an expert stock man and has made the most of his money in that business. He ships three or four bunches of hogs each year and touches nothing but the finest grades. He also deals in blooded cattle and horses, Normans among the latter. He is a Democrat, but does not take much interest in politics. He sometimes votes for the candidates of the other' party on local offices. He belongs to the Methodist church and is active in the Sunday school.

Progressive Men and Women of Kosciusko County, Indiana
B. F. Bowen, Publisher
Logansport, Indiana
1902

REV. THOMAS WILEY, DECEASED.
The profession of the ministry is the highest that man can follow. It is thus regarded in all portions of the world, even among savages, who have their spirit doctors, among all peoples of the earth the calling is the same, no matter what the re1igion. As there is no country that does not have its religion, even though it may not be Christian, so the minister or priest, or whatever title he may have, stands at the head of the community. His calling is regarded as necessary as any other, and all find consolation in his expert teachings. The Christian minister gives himself up to the cause of the Master, studies his will, and communes with him in spirit, and is thus rendered competent to counsel and advise. His judgment of living and of dying, based upon the teaching of Holy Writ, is conclusive to the sinner, who looks to him for a way to reach salvation through Christ. The subject of this sketch followed this holy calling and was a true servant of God and interpreter of his word. He was born in Henry county, Kentucky, February 3, 1827, and was the son of Benjamin and Patsey (Thorn) Wiley. The Wiley famil y were of Irish descent and natives of Kentucky, where they settled at a very early day. They moved from Kentucky to Morgan county, Indiana, when that portion of the state was yet a dense woods. In Kentucky and Indiana the subject of this sketch was reared to manhood and educated. He was even in his youth of a pious disposition, and upon reaching years of maturity determined to join the army of the ministry and spend his life in the service of the Master. He believed that it was not good for man to live alone, and accordingly was united in marriage with Miss Sarah E. Scott, of Morgan county, and soon afterward came to Kosciusko county and settled in Franklin township, near Senstopol, in 1856. He bought one hundred and nine acres on section 5 the following year. Upon this farm he continued to reside until the day of his death. His first wife dying January 20, 1873, without issue, he married, March 10, 1874, Miss Cynthia Cramer, the daughter of Sylvester B. and Elizabeth (Dent) Cramer. She was born November 30, 1837. The Cramer family originated in Maryland and were of Germanic descent. Sylvester B. Cramer was born near where the city of Baltimore now stands, and when a young man was taken to Belmont county, Ohio, and was there reared on his father's farm. He received a common-school education and upon reaching manhood was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Dent, a neighbor, and to them were born two children: Cynthia A and George D. The latter married Miss Isabella Fulton and now lives on a farm in Belmont county, Ohio. The mother of these two children died November 8, 1839, and the father marrying the second time Cynthia was taken to raise by an aunt. She was given fair advantages and was apt and quick at her books, and after finishing the common branches attended one term at the Lebanon Normal School. At the age of twenty-one years she began to teach school as a means of supporting herself and continued thus until 1868 in that vicinity, when she came to this county. During this time she read a great deal, cultivated her mind and made herself proficient as a teacher. Expecting to follow teaching as a life profession, she did not spare herself and acquired wide and varied learning. After coming to this county she continued teaching until 1873, when her hand was sought in marriage by Rev. Mr. Wiley. Upon the consummation of this union she gave up teaching and came to live on the farm, and here she has resided until the present time. She sympathized with her husband in his church work, and was a true companion to him in his holy calling. They lived happily together, loving and laboring, until he was accidentally killed by a horse on August 21, 1891, at Claypool, since which melancholy event she has remained on the farm. He was a local minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in 1873 was ordained local deacon by Bishop Merrill at Logansport, Indiana. He made farming his business, but filled appointments, and was an earnest and eloquent orator, filled with the zeal that belongs to those who see by faith. He married a great many couples who came to him from many quarters. Although he had been reared a Democrat, he became a stanch Republican and was an active worker in his party. He left the Democracy in 1856 and voted for John C. Fremont for president, the first candidate of the newly-formed Republican party. He was at all times a leader in public questions and a moulder of opinion, and his splendid character was everywhere recognized and appreciated. His widow is a very intelligent Christian lady and resides in her home near Mentone. On her farm live James E. Gill and wife, relatives, renting the farm and occupying part of the house. She is well known and, has the highest respect of everybody. Mr. Gill is a native of Kosciusko county, Indiana, born March 3, 1874, a son of James E. and Martha Ann (Cole) Gill. He was educated in the country schoo1s and is an agriculturist. He wedded Miss Della Ingalls, daughter of Albert and Louisa ( Shipley) Gill, and they have two little daughters, Ethel and Jessie. Mrs. Gill received a good education and is an affable and genial lady, being a most fitting companion for Mrs. Wiley.

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Progressive Men and Women of Kosciusko County, Indiana
B. F. Bowen, Publisher
Logansport, Indiana
1902

HENRY D. RING.
No people that go to make up our cosmopolitan civilization have better habits of life than those who came originally from the great German empire. The descendants of those people are distinguished for their thrift and honesty, and these two qualities in the inhabitants of any country will in the end alone make that country great. When with these two qualities is coupled the other quality of sound sense, which all the German descendants possess, there are afforded such qualities as will enrich any land and place it at the top of the countries of the world in the scale of elevated humanity. Of this excellent people came the subject of this brief memoir. He comes of a race that produced the famous "Iron Chancellor," the greatest statesman, all things considered, that ever walked this footstool. He comes of a race that is famous for its original investigations in the problems of civilized life -such men as Goethe and Heckel. The Germanic blood is found in many of the greatest men and women of this and former years, and the subject of this sketch may well be proud of his descent from such a race. He was born in Germany June 4, 1828, and is thus an old man, whose days on earth are drawing to a close. His parents were Henry and Caroline (Snyder) Ring, who lived at Waldeck, Germany. The parents were both natives of that country and d that blood, and passed their entire lives there. Henry D., before he had attained his majority, concluded to cross the ocean and find a home in America. Accordingly he boarded a sailing vessel and after many weeks spent in tossing on the Atlantic was landed safe and sound at New York on July 3, 1846, having been out since May l0th. He began to learn the cabinetmaker's trade, but as he could not stand that sort of work he started out and after walking about one hundred miles in search of work he finally secured a job on the Pennsylvania canal at eight dollars per month. After a time he left this work and. went to Philadelphia and hired out for one year for one hundred and twenty dollars. At the conclusion of this period he hired out for fifteen dollars per month and continued thus until the fall of 1850, when he came west to Cincinnati, where he worked in a buggy factory for six months at ten dollars per month and board. It was near Tiffin, Ohio, that he first saw corn planted. He worked on a farm there for some time, clearing off the trees and stumps and tilling the soil. In 1854 he married Miss Catherine Hopper and at that time had only one hundred dollars saved up. After his marriage he worked for three or four years at the cabinetmaker's and carpenter's trades, first receiving ten dollars and then fifteen dollars per month. In 1856 his wife died and he later married Miss Sarah Rinehold. By his first wife he had one child: Ezra, born June 2, 1856. By his second wife he had five children: Mary, Ella, William, Calvin and John, all of whom, excepting Mary, are living. On the 28th day of September, 1864, Mr. Ring enlisted in the Union army and saw service for nearly a year. He participated in several important movements, and was engaged in the battle of Bentonville, North Carolina. When the war ended he returned to his family in Ohio, but in November, 1867, came to Indiana and bought the farm on which he now resides. It was then covered with heavy woods, which has been removed by Mr. Ring. His second wife having died, he married Mrs. Nancy Sloane in April, 1891. He belongs to the Lutheran church, while his wife is a Methodist. He is a Democrat, but takes little interest in politics. He makes his money mainly out of general farming. He is an industrious and honest man and has the respect of all who know him.

Progressive Men and Women of Kosciusko County, Indiana
B. F. Bowen, Publisher
Logansport, Indiana
1902

JAMES S. SMITH, M. D.
This gallant ex-soldier and now eminent physician at Warsaw, Indiana, was born in Fulton county, Ohio, October 12, 1845. His father was the Rev. Joel R. Smith, a farmer by calling, but likewise a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, who was a native of Pennsylvania, being born in Columbia county, April 18, 1810. His mother, who bore the maiden name of Hannah Adams, was also born in the same county and state, March 13, 1813. In 1859 the family came to Kosciusko county, Indiana, and settled six miles west of Warsaw on the Tippecanoe river, on the farm on which Dr. Smith passed his youthful years until his enlistment, and there the mother passed away at sixty-seven years of age. Rev. Joel R. Smith, the father, who had been a local preacher for over sixty years, survived his wife until he reached the patriarchal age of eighty-three, and is still well remembered by many of the old citizens of Kosciusko county. He had charge of the circuit, but was more generally known as a local preacher and as the assessor of his township, in which capacity he served several terms, being in politics a stanch Republican. He lived in retirement for several years, but never lost his enthusiasm in his church work, although he was extremely liberal in his views of religious affairs.

James S. Smith was but fourteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to Kosciusko county, and here lived on the home farm until August 18, 1862, when he enlisted in Company K, Seventy-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Chapman commanding. Company K was from Warsaw, had not yet been filled to its complement when the regiment was sent to the front and the company was left to follow, when full, to Bowling Green, Kentucky. However, on arriving at Munfordsville, where Colonel Wilder was in charge of the post, the company, with others, was captured by the Confederate general, Braxton Bragg, but \vas at once paroled and sent home. Young Smith's seventeenth birthday was passed as a paroled prisoner of war. He was exchanged, however, thirty days later and rejoined his regiment near Nashville, Tennessee.

Mr. Smith took part, as a private, in all the marches, skirmishes and engagements in which his regiment had a share until he was mustered out of the service. He fought at Stone River, Tennessee, was in the Atlanta campaign, went with Sherman on his march through Georgia to the sea, and marched all the way from Louisville, Kentucky, to Washington, D. C., to take part in the grand review - a sight the parallel of which has never been seen - and was mustered out June 9,1865. The hottest fights that Mr. Smith was in were at Jonesboro, Georgia, and in front of Atlanta, where the men were as close together as men could get. He was wounded at Missionary Ridge by a buck shot going through his throat and just grazing the windpipe, but he never left his regiment, never was in hospital, nor ever in an ambulance, but came out of the army a stouter man than when he entered it. He was not yet, however, twenty years old.

Mr. Smith commenced the study of medicine about this time with Dr. H. M. Cowgill, an old and experienced physician at Warsaw. Dr. Smith began practice in association with Dr. Cowgill at Atwood, in his old neighborhood, and for ten years met with abundant success, and then entered the Physio-Medical College at Cincinnati, from which he was graduated with the class of 1880. Dr. Smith moved to Nappanee, Elkhart county, in 1875, and was the second resident of the town. He secured the establishment of the post-office at that place and was appointed the first postmaster, having already had five years' experience in this line while a resident of Atwood. The Doctor practiced medicine and served as postmaster at Nappanee until 1879, when he came to Warsaw, where he has had a remunerative clientele of the best citizens from that time until the present, and has won a reputation that is unexcelled by any other physician and surgeon in the county of Kosciusko. His practice in Warsaw has now extended through a period of over twenty-two years in this city alone. The Doctor also stands very high in the esteem of his brother practitioners of the city and county, the greater number of whom are almost in daily consultation with him in order to avail themselves of his advice and to gain lessons from his long experience. The Doctor is also a member of the National Physio-Medical Association, to which he has contributed many valuable papers on the technicalities of the science of medicine and his clinical experience. He keeps in touch with all the advances made in medicine and surgery, subscribes to the better class of periodicals published in the interest of the profession, and is, besides, we1l read in general literature as well as the profound and more obstruse works on philosophy, history, etc., with which his library is replete.

The Doctor was first married, in 1866, to Miss Mary A. Lutes, of Kosciusko county, and two children were born to this union, viz.: Clarence W., "Smith, the printer," and Rosa, wife of E. W. Kinsey, a banker at Claypool, Kosciusko county. On September 10, 1882, Dr. Smith married Miss Philena Duvall, of Claypool, but no children have come to bless this union. The Doctor and wife, however, have adopted a daughter, Goldie V., whom they took tender their care when an infant and who is now a school girl thirteen years old.

Dr. Smith is a member of Henry Chipman Post, G. A. R., attended the national encampments of the order at Cincinnati and Chicago, and has several times attended the reunions of his old regiment, the Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry. In politics the Doctor in his earlier manhood was a Republican, but latterly has been inclined to advocate the doctrines of the Prohibition party. His religion is based upon the Bible as interpreted by the Church of God, which is not a definitely organized church body, but rather a local congregational society. This society strictly complies with all the ordinances of the New Testament, even to the washing of each other's feet. This congregation has its camping grounds on the shores of Yellow Creek lake, four miles south of Burket, commonly known as Central Camp Meeting of the Church of God, other meetings being at Moundsville, West Virginia (where are also the publishing association and the Bible house), and in California. The camp on Yellow Creek lake comprises about thirty acres and is the site of a large boarding-house owned by the congregation, which is the resort at certain seasons of the year of many ministers and adherents of the Church of God. The regular annual meetings are held from August 15th to August 20th, and these Dr. Smith never fails to attend. The grounds are very enticing and lovely. On February 4, 1902, Dr. Smith was appointed coroner of Kosciusko county, which position he at present fills.

Progressive Men and Women of Kosciusko County, Indiana
B. F. Bowen, Publisher
Logansport, Indiana
1902

MARION M. LATIMER.
Among those who have distinguished themselves in the active duties of life in this county is the subject of this memoir. He comes of a splendid family, one that has always been strong for right living and industrious habits, for education and morality, and for all that contributes to the welfare of the commonwealth. Many years ago the grandfather of the subject crossed the ocean from England and settled in the Nutmeg state. There he resided for some time, but finally came to this county and here lived the remainder of his days. His son, Lyman L., was reared on his father's farms, partly in Connecticut and partly in this state. Upon reaching manhood he met and married Miss Susan Hartman. At first he entered a store at Warsaw and served as a clerk for a number of years, but then came to Palestine and went into business for himself with a general stock of goods, and thus continued some years. He died December 4, 1862. His marriage had occurred June 5, 1853. The Hartmans were of German descent and originated in this country in Pennsylvania, thence removed to Ohio, and from there came to the Hoosier state. To Lyman Latimer and wife the following children were born: Lemuel L., who wedded Miss Alice Bickle, and is now in the hardware business with his brother; Marion M,. subject; Tillie, deceased; Norman N., who married first Mollie Bybee, and, second, Gina Baker and is a hardware merchant in Mentone; Hannah became the wife of William Baker and resides in Harrison township; Sofia is unmarried and lives with her mother in Mentone. Lyman Latimer was a man of much force of character and was a useful and honorable citizen. At the time of his death he left a comfortable estate, and also a good name which his children are using to their credit. He was a charter member of Kosciusko Lodge No. 62, I. O. O. F., organized January 9, 1849.

Marion M. Latimer was born in the village of Palestine, April 11I, 1856, and was reared on his father's farm. He was well educated and concluded to follow farming as his, life's occupation. He remained with his mother on the farm after her marriage to Christian Sarber until he was twenty-four years old, when on January 13, 1881, he was united in marriage with Miss Ready Bybee, daughter of Washington Bybee and sister of Allen Bybee. To this union two children were born: Lyndes Levi, born June 16, 1882, wedded Miss Kellie Lyon, April 19, 1902, and Minnie Mary, born November 11, 1885. Both children have been well educated. Mr. Latimer has done well since his marriage, and his wife has had not a little to do with his success, as all good women will. At present he owns two hundred and fifty-one acres of excellent land and takes much interest in the rearing of graded cattle and hogs. He makes the most of his income from his shipments of hogs. He has always been active and full of business life and is a fine representative of the American farmer and stock-raiser. He is a Republican and is interested in his party's success, but does not take an active part, nor is he an office seeker, though he would grace any office within the gift of the county. He, is a member of the National Detective Association, is widely known and is everywhere highly respected for his many good qualities.

Progressive Men and Women of Kosciusko County, Indiana
B. F. Bowen, Publisher
Logansport, Indiana
1902

CAPT. ANDREW GEROW WOOD
The thriving city of Warsaw, Kosciusko county, Indiana, has been the arena in which many a contest has been had among the gladiators of the bar; and among these intellectual athletes Andrew Gerow Wood has invariably borne off the laurels in all contests in which he has engaged and now heads the eminent legal firm of Wood & Bowser, of this city. Besides these civic victories, Mr. Wood was a gallant officer throughout the late Civil war.

Andrew G. Wood was born in Marysville, Union county, Ohio, January 16, 1835, and is a son of Dr. Ira and Margaret (Hawley) Wood, of whom the former was born in New York and the latter near Canton, Ohio. Dr. Ira Wood came west when still a single young man, was married in Ohio, and was called from earth at the early age of thirty-nine years, leaving his widow with five children. Mrs. Wood sustained herself and reared her children by keeping a select boarding house, many of her patrons being eminent citizens. In 1852 Mrs. Margaret (Hawley) Wood was united in marriage for the second time, the fortunate man who won her being John Fleck, of New California, Ohio, where they resided until the death of Mr. Fleck, which occurred in 1872. The disconsolate widow then returned to Marysville, where she passed the remainder of her life, dying at the age of seventy-six, in 1882, in the first frame house ever built in Marysville, and which had been erected by her first husband, Dr. Ira Wood. She had reared three children beside Andrew Gerow, namely: John, a dealer in drugs at Marysville; Hilas, a contractor in the same town; and Harvey, a merchant at Marysville, at Bellefontaine, Ohio, and at Knoxville, Tennessee. Through his mother, Andrew G. Wood is connected with the famous Rev. Hosea Bigclaw, of the early Methodist Episcopal church in Ohio.

Andrew G. Wood was a student at the Ohio Wesleyan University at the time of his mother's second marriage and was then seventeen years old. At eighteen he became a clerk in Milford Centre, Union county, and at twenty married Miss Rose A. Reed, of the same town, and at once removed to Waterloo, Black Hawk county, Iowa, and engaged in general merchandising under the firm name of Elwell & Wood, their principal trade being with the Indians, the Sioux, who were clustered around Spirit Lake. He had invested two thousand one hundred dollars in this undertaking, and in two years added two thousand seven hundred dollars to his original capital. The inclemency of the weather, which was very rigorous during the winter season, caused his return to Ohio. In 1837 he re-engaged at Milford Centre in merchandising under the firm name at Wood & Red, investing all his capital, hut at the end of three years had lost it all. He next entered the law office of Cole & Lawrence, the leading attorneys-at-law in Marysville, diligently devoted himself to study, and was admitted to the bar in 1860.

At the eruption of the smoldering fires that resulted in the Civil war, Mr. Wood responded to the first call for volunteers and enlisted in Company H, Thirteenth Ohio Infantry, for three-months service. The regiment was assigned to the fie1d in West Virginia under Co1. Samuel Piatt (brother of Don Piatt), the regiment afterward being under the command of Colonel Hawkins, and took part in the battles of Phillippi, Carnifix Ferry and Greenbrier. For meritorious conduct on the field, he was promoted to be second lieutenant of his company, and after other valiant service under Colonel Hawkins and General Buell was commissioned by Governor Morton as first lieutenant. He then raised Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-third Indiana Infantry, at Greensburg, and with it saw service at Resaca and all through the Atlanta campaign, including Jonesboro, Kenesaw Mountain, and back to Franklin, Nashville and thence to Wise's Forks and Kingston, North Carolina, and a dozen other points, during the greater part of the time baying command of his company. In the Atlanta campaign also he was an aide on the staff of Gen. John C. McQueston, and on that of General Strickland, and in North Carolina was made judge advocate of courts martial at Salisbury from May until September, 1865. Many grave charges were brought before him, including that of murder, and among other culprits one young lady was found guilty of manslaughter and fined one thousand dollars.

Captain Wood was honorably discharged from the service in September, 1865, and November 11, 1865, came to Warsaw, then the third town of any importance in northern Indiana, and here several of his wife's relatives had their abode. Here he resumed the practice of the law, first on his sole account, next as the head of the firm of Wood & Brubaker Bros., and finally formed his present co-partnership. In each case his partner had read law under him and had been admitted to the bar from his office. Mr. Wood practices in all the courts, state and federal, and has met with a dazzling success that bas placed him among the most eminent legal lights of the state - a success so great that it can hardly be enlarged upon ill the limited space that can be spared in these pages.

Mr. Wood has long been an active and popular member of the Democratic party and has at different times been its nominee for responsible positions of a legal character, such as prosecuting attorney, judge of the district court, etc., but his party was always the weaker of the two dominant parties of his district. He has served as delegate to county, state, district and congressional conventions, and for thirty years was chairman of the Democratic county committee and also member of the state committee. In 1866-7 he was editor of the Warsaw Union the Democratic organ of northern Indiana, and in this capacity wielded a powerful influence in molding public opinion on many matters besides politics. He has served two terms as member of the city council and was the first Democrat that ever had this honor.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Wood has been crowned by the birth of four children, namely: Trella, wife of Abe Brubaker, cashier of the State Bank; Jennie, wife of O. P. Ebersole, an attorney at Ft. Wayne; Emma, wife of O. D. Baker, a commercial salesman residing in Warsaw, and Nettie, wife of Otto Philpott, superintendent of the cemetery in the same city.

Fraternal1y Mr. Wood was initiated as an Odd Fellow at Marysvil1e, Ohio, in 1857, became a charter member of Lake City Lodge at Warsaw in 1874; has passed all the chairs, has represented the subordinate lodge in the grand lodge; has been financial secretary of his lodge for seven years, and seven years a trustee. He is also a member of Hackelman Encampment No. 37, and a captain of Canton No.5, Uniform Rank, and has attended the national canton. Capt. Wood was a charter member of Henry Chapin Past, G. A. R., in 1868, has served as post commander and has attended two national encampments, one at Columbus, Ohio, and one at Chicago, Illinois, and is likewise a member of the Loyal Legion Commandery of Indiana. Capt. Wood was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church, but in maturer years became an Episcopalian, while Mrs. Wood is a elevated adherent of the Presbyterian faith. Mrs. Wood is likewise a Daughter of Rebekah in the Odd Fellows order and a member of the Woman's Relief Corps, auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic. Socially Mr. and Mrs. Wood stand very high in the best circles of Warsaw and it is the delight of the Captain and his wife to entertain their numerous friends at their elegant home, where a liberal hospitality and a gracious reception are always extended to the guest and where the Captain enjoys to the utmost a game at chess in his well-appointed library when he meets an opponent worthy of his steel .

Progressive Men and Women of Kosciusko County, Indiana
B. F. Bowen, Publisher
Logansport, Indiana
1902

SAMUEL S. ROBINSON
The family of which this well-known citizen is a worthy representative came to this country originally from Ireland, his father, William Robinson, having been born there. The latter located in Kentucky. The Miller family, of which the subject's mother was a representative, were from Pennsylvania and were of German descent. In Kentucky William Robinson and Nancy Miller met and were married, for the Millers had moved to that state. This was about the beginning of the nineteenth century. To the marriage of this couple the following children were born: Henry, William, Robert, John, Sarah, Anna, George, James, Samuel, Andrew, two that died in infancy, Eliza and Nancy. William Robinson was a large farmer and stock raiser. At one time, it is related, he brought home with him a slave girl to help his wife in her domestic duties, but the wife refused to have her help at all, as she was unalterably opposed to slavery. The result was that no slaves were owned by Mr. Robinson. In fact, so great became his own abhorrence of the institution of slavery that he sold out in Kentucky in 1829 and came to Indiana, locating in Tippecanoe county. He entered a tract of three hundred and twenty acres of woodland, and began the task of clearing the same. He lived there until 1839, when he sold out and moved to Kosciusko county and settled in what is now Seward township. The land is now owned by J. P. and S. M. Robinson and Benjamin F. Day. They came from near Lafayette, Indiana, in wagons. At that time there were a few people living in and around Akron, and from that point the family were obliged to cut their way through the woods to reach their farm. It was covered with dense timber and wild animals were plentiful. In 1838 the men had come here, bought the land, cleared a small patch, and erected a small log cabin. Here William and his wife lived until their respective deaths. They became prominent in the township and had the highest respect of all. They were members of the Presbyterian church, as their respective families had been for several generations. Wil1iam became prominent and was identified with the growth of this section of the state. He assisted in viewing the roads, building bridges and in handling the affairs of the early schools and the township. At his death he left a comfortable estate and a name which all people respected.

Samuel S. Robinson was born in Franklin county, Kentucky, March 24, 1824, and was reared upon his father's farm in the woods. He received a. limited education and was kept at work pretty steadily, clearing off the trees and stumps and tilling the soil. He was not permitted to get lonesome for want of something to do, and remained with his father until he was twenty years old, when the latter gave him his time and hired him on the farm, about this time the subject married Miss Eliza A. Paxton, and by her had two sons and two daughters, viz.: Harriet E., who became the wife of Isaac Lyons and lives in Kansas; Wilson D., who died in childhood; Olive M., who died in infancy; Millard F., who married Miss Nettie Gison and lives in Kansas. Upon the death of his first wife Mr. Robinson wedded Mary A. Graham and had by her five children: Anson E., unmarried; Austin M., married, lives in Texas; Alfred E. married Agnes Lucas and lives in Kansas; Eliza S., who became the wife of Samuel R. Sands and resides in Toledo, Ohio; Mary E., unmarried. His second wife dying, Mr. Robinson wedded Mrs. Ruhamah W. Brown, widow of Smith Brown and daughter of Henry and Betsey (Tappen) Clark. She was born February 23, 1835, her parents being natives of New York. Shewas brought west in 1843, and upon reaching womanhood married Mr. Brown, and to that wedding one child was born: Owen F. Brown, who married Effie Sands and lives in Seward township. His second wife was a Miss Spangle.

When Samuel Robinson first started out for himself his father assisted him somewhat in a material way, and to this he has added until he is in good circumstances. In the spring of 1889 he moved from the farm in Seward township to Silver Lake and bought the brick house where he now resides. This he has improved until he now has a fine residence. He looks after his farm and takes life easier than he did formerly. He and his excellent wife are now far advanced in life and in the natural course of events must soon pass away, but they will have the satisfaction of knowing that the world is better for their having lived. Mr. Robinson has voted the Republican ticket since the party was first organized, voting for John C. Fremont and all of the subsequent presidential candidates of that party down to the present. He is much interested in politics and rejoices in the success of his party. Since he was eighteen years old he was a member of the Presbyterian church, but now he and wife are members of the Lutheran church, he being a deacon in the Lutheran church of Silver Lake at this time. He is a high-minded Christian citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have in their possession a valuable relic in the shape of an old parchment deed to land, dated August 10, 1837, and bearing the signature of Martin Van Buren, the president of the United States.

The following reference to Smith Brown, the former husband of Mrs. Robinson, wil1 be appreciated by the readers of this volume: When the war of the Rebellion broke out in all its fury this man offered his services to his country. He was filled with patriotism and felt that every man, if necessary, should go forth to fight to sustain the union of the states. At that time he resided on a fortyacre farm in DeKalb county, and though he had a wife and son, the latter only a few weeks old, he determined to enlist. This he did, and as he kissed his wife good-bye neither then thought that they would never meet again. He entered the Fifth Indiana Battery and marched away to the field of war. On April 13, 1862, he was laid away under the sod in the sunny South, never to return to his wife and little son. The small farm was partially cleared and was encumbered, but his widow went bravely to work to free it and also improve it. The son is now a reputable citizen and the mother is the wife of Samuel S. Robinson. She assisted with her own hands in clearing off the trees, burning the brush and tilling the soil. She now owns one hundred and twenty-rour acres in Seward township, the most of which was bought by her own earnings.

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Progressive Men and Women of Kosciusko County, Indiana
B. F. Bowen, Publisher
Logansport, Indiana
1902