Monroe Paulus was born a mile and a half east of Silver Lake in Clay Township, February 5, 1858, son of Daniel and Maria A. (Miller) Paulus. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and his mother of Maryland, and after their marriage they lived in Montgomery County, Ohio, and in 1841 moved to Kosciusko County and settled in the wild woods, where they had a log cabin home until they could provide themselves with one of greater comforts. Daniel Paulus and his brother Jacob were the first merchants in what is now Silver Lake Village, and they were the founders of that town, the town being laid out on land owned by Jacob. Their old store, a hewed log structure, stood until 1884. Daniel Paulus and wife both died in 1886. They had their home on the farm where Monroe was born until 1864, when they moved to the Village of Silver Lake. Daniel Paulus was a democrat and a very active man of his party. He and his wife had the following children: Jacob M., Annie, David, Catherine, Henry, Mary A., Susannah, Elizabeth, Lydia, Monroe and Sarah. Five of these children are still living.

Monroe Paulus grew up at Silver Lake, and after finishing his education went to work in a saw mill. He also had a splendid experience in grist and flour mills and in a butter tub factory. For three years he was in the saw mill business in Eastern Tennessee and for two and a half years was superintendent of the Nettleton hardwood Lumber Business. He also spent two and a half years in the far west, in Utah, in the milling business.

In January, 1898, Mr. Paulus married Alice Funk, a native of Kosciusko County. After his marriage Mr. Paulus spent another period of two and a half years in the saw mill business in the State of Mississippi. On returning to Lake Township he resumed farming, and has since steadily devoted his time to his place of eighty-five acres three-quarters of a mile north of Silver Lake.

He and his wife have four children: Cloice, who is married and lives on the home farm and has twin sons, Corlyss and Corlyle; Glenn, a graduate of high school, now serving with the American forces in the war against Germany; Meta, a graduate of the Silver Lake High School, and now a student in the South Bend College; and Thelma, who is in the second year of the local high school.

Mr. Paulus is affiliated with Deming Lodge No. 88, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at North Manchester, and is also a Past Noble Grand and a member of the Grand Lodge of the Odd Fellows, his local affiliation being with Silver Lake Lodge No. 576. In politics he is a democrat and it was as a member of that party, but chiefly as the man best fitted for the place, that his fellow citizens chose him for the responsibilities of township trustee.

Submitted by: Cheryl Hawley
Source: History of Kosciusko County
Date posted: 12/6/98

FRANCIS A. PLACE
BY COL. J.B. DODGE

Francis A. Place was born in North Manchester, Wabash Co., Ind., on the 5th of November, 1850. His parents were prominent members of the Society of Friends, and his father, in the old days of slavery and anti-slavery, or, in other words, of underground railroads, was prominent as one of the principle route agents or superintendents of the main line running from the Ohio River to Canada. Like all of his denomination, he was a conscientious believer in the doctrine that "all men were created free and equal," and that oppression and slavery were wrong, and believing, he never hesitated at risking his property or his life (for in those days it was dangerous business to assist the flying fugitive from slavery) in helping the hunted slaves on toward a land where he was beyond the reach of the taskmaster. The subject of this sketch had all the opportunities to be had at an excellent common school to acquire an education, and they were well improved. On the 24th day of July, `869, he was united in marriage with Miss Bie C. Hoover, of Wabash County. They have one child, a daughter. He had studied the art of photography, and March 4, 1875, they came to Warsaw to make it their home. Mr. Place at once commenced work at his profession in company with J.J. Martin. The partnership was dissolved in June afterward, since which time he has continued the business by himself. The clearness and expression of his pictures make them not only a credit to him, but render them objects of beauty, of which any artist might be proud. He is a patient, careful worker, and with his present advanced position in his art, a few more years will place him in the front rank, without a superior.

Source: "Combination Atlas Map of Kosciusko County Indiana" by Kingman Brothers, 1879.
Submitted by: Cheryl Hawley
9/28/98

ISAAC M. POWELL, Prairie Township.

Isaac M. Powell was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, in the year 1829. His father, John Powell, was born in 1801 in the same county, and married Miss Dorotha Morris (a native of Virginia) in 1825. The subject of this sketch enjoyed such educational advantages as were afforded by the common schools of early days, and was remarkable for the assiduity with which he pursued his studies. Throughout his school life his conduct was such that he never received chastisement or rebuke from his teacher. He was reared a farmer boy, and early conceived a desire to adopt that pursuit as his vocation in life. In 1832, he removed with his parents to the prairies of Elkhart County, Indiana, and in March, 1833, located with them in Kosciusko County, on the farm which he now owns and occupies. In 1854, he was united in marriage with Miss Adeline Summy, a native of Kosciusko County, and the daughter of Frederick Summy, Esq., who was born in Union County, Ind., in 1809. For nearly half a century, Mr. Powell has been a resident of Kosciusko County, and has taken an active part in the cultivation of its soil and the development of its resources. He has never felt an ambition to figure in political life, and, beyond filling local offices in his township, has never served in a public capacity. He devotes his time and attention to farming, with an energy that has brought forth rich fruit, and placed him among the best farmers of the county. In the support of public enterprises and private charities, none are more generous than he. He is recognized throughout the community as a man of integrity and sterling worth. He lives at peace with all men, and was never involved in litigation or a personal quarrel. To bless his wedded life, there were six children, viz., Nelson W., Warren J., Mary A., John, Dorotha and Fred, of whom John and Dorotha are deceased.

Source: "Combination Atlas Map of Kosciusko County Indiana" by Kingman Brothers, 1879.
Submitted by: Cheryl Hawley
9/28/98

JOHN POWELL -- Prairie Township.
By Col. J. B. Dodge

One of the very first settlers in, and one of the most respected citizens of this county, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, on the 17th day of June, 1801. His parents, Moses Powell, and Rebecca, his wife, nee Meredith, were originally from Virginia, and they were among the pioneers of Fairfield County. The duties of pioneer life interfere sadly with the acquirement of knowledge from books, but lead to an intimate acquiantance with the works of the Creator, and the study of Nature pursued under circumstances that compel the closest attention to all its lessons, gives a breadth of mind, a clearness of insight and a quickness of perception that, perhaps, can be acquired in no other way. The subject of this sketch was an excellent illustration of the truth of this, and was one of the best specimens of that hardy race of pioneers that have caused what was a howling wilderness, when they first penetrated its wilds, to literally blossom as the rose. On the 22d of March, 1829, he was united in marriage with Miss Dorothy Morris, a native of Virginia, at Lancaster, in Fairfield Co., Ohio. They have three living children - Isaac M., who resides on the old homestead; John C., who lives in Iowa, and Cassa A., who is the wife of Hiram Hall, Esq., of this county. On the 20th of March, 1832, he started, with his ox-team, to explore the then almost unknown unknown "St. Joseph country, " as this entire part of this State was then called. Fourteen days were consumed in making a trip that can now be made in as many hours, and Mr. Powell found himself on Elkhart Prairie, near where Goshen is now. There was a small settlement there, and he at once secured a tract of land and, as soon as possible, got it planted with corn.

After making two or three exploring expeditions, he made up his mind that Big Turkey Creek Prairie, was about as good a country as he could find, and he went back to Ohio after his family, and started to return with them on the 15th of September, 1832. When near the crossing of Blue River, in the eastern part of Whitley County, he had the misfortune to break his wagon. He was compelled to leave his wife and little ones in the woods, without a white person within ten miles that they knew of, Indians and wild beasts roaming everywhere, while he went on to Goshen and procured another wagon and returned for them, which he accomplished safely.

On the 31st of March, 1833, he moved his family into a cabin on the farm one mile north of Galveston, this country, where he afterward died. His family was the first white family to move on to Big Turkey Creek Prairie.

On the 8th of November, 1874, Mr. Powell departed this life full of years, respected and honored by all who knew him. Mrs. Powell, now over seventy-three years of age, still lives on the same piece of land that she and her husband moved on to in 1833, in good health and spirits, still retaining all her faculties, more so than usual by those of her years. Mr. And Mrs. Powell both became members of the Baptist Church after they came to this county, and have always lived consistent, Christian lives. Mr. Powell was never and aspirant for any political position, but was always a man of positive convictions, and fearless in asserting them. He was very successful in the management of his affairs, and left a splendid farm of about three hundred acres of very fine land to his widow and children.

Source: "Combination Atlas Map of Kosciusko County Indiana" by Kingman Brothers, 1879.
Submitted by: Cheryl Hawley
9/28/98