IRVIN H. ULSH. A practical agriculturist, giving close attention to the management of his farm, Irvin H. Ulsh of Seward Township is meeting with well earned success in his work and is a popular and highly esteemed citizen in his community. His farm lies three and a half miles southwest of Claypool.

Mr. Ulsh was born in Miami County, Indiana, June 19, 1859, and is a son of Benjamin and Lydia (Lautsenhizer) Ulsh. His parents were both born in Pennsylvania, but were married after they came to Indiana and then settled in Kosciusko County on the farm now owned by C. M. Regnaous. Much of the land of this farm was cleared by the senior Ulsh, and he lived there until he went to Texas in 1884. He was a soldier of the Civil War, serving in the Union Army for nine months, and it was at the close of that struggle that he settled in Seward Township. He died in Texas, while his wife passed away at North Manchester in 1865. They had three children: Irvin H.; M. J.; who is married and lives at Laketon, Indiana; and Viola H., who died in Oklahoma.

Irvin H. Ulsh was about six and a half years old when his mother died, and that was the first important loss and handicap which he had to overcome in his early life. As a boy he attended school at North Manchester, Laketon and in Seward Township, and took most of the studies taught in the common schools. He was at home until twenty-one, and gave to his father all that he made. He started out for himself as an agriculturist and at the age of twenty-nine married Mrs. Eliza M. Caldwell, whose maiden name was Nelson. Her first husband was Joshua Caldwell. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ulsh lived a half mile west of Claypool, where he farmed five years, and then sold out and came to his present place, where he owns eighty acres of good land. In addition to general farming, Mr. Ulsh has had a very unusual success as a poultryman. He has raised chickens and produced eggs on a large scale, and has developed a high class utility flock.

Mr. Ulsh has two sons, Irvin V. and Benjamin F. The older son is a graduate of the common schools and also attended the Claypool High School. He is a Seward Township farmer, and married Ollie M. Foster. The younger son married Miss Parker and also lives in Seward Township. In political belief Mr. Ulsh is a socialist.

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

Deb Murray