Huntington County, Indiana - Biographical sketches (10 of 11 so headed), 1887

THOMAS BOLINGER, a citizen of Warren Township, is a native of Ashland County, Ohio, where he was born March 31, 1838, being the next youngest in a family of eight children born to Henry and Mary (Carmoney) Bolinger, who were both natives of Dauphin County, Penn. They emigrated from Ohio to this county and State, September, 1853, settling on the farm, on which they continued residents until their death. Our immediate subject was reared to almost manhood in his native county. He received a common school education, all obtained in Ohio. Upon coming to this county, he at once engaged in teaching, and followed that at intervals for some time, since which he has made farming his occupation. June 13, 1869, his marriage with Letitia A. Barnes was solemnized. Mrs. Bolmger was a daughter of Peter and Mary (Lewis) Barnes, who were natives of Virginia. Mrs. Barnes was born February 10th, 1843. Mr. Bolinger has been a successful farmer. He now owns 230 acres of well improved land, the accumulation of his own industry and economy. He and wife are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. In politics, he has always been a staunchDemocrat, and has been honored with an election to the offaces ot County Surveyor, Justice of Peace, two terms, and Township Trustee in 1886, and is the present incumbent of that position. Since 1884, Mr. Bolinger has occupied the pulpit of the local churches, preaching and filling regular appointments at the churches in the Zion charge, and has conducted and assisted in several protracted efforts. With the exception of twenty acres, owned by his brother Philip Bolinger, the old homestead is in the possession of our subject.

ANDREW G. BROOKOVER, farmer of Warren Township, is a native of Brown County, Ohio, born near Aberdeen, December 39, 1838, being the eldest of a family of ten children, born to George W. and Eliza J . (Guffin) Brookover. They were natives of Brown County, Ohio, and Bracken County, Ky., respectively, the former of German descent, his paternal grandfather, Jacob Brookover, being a native-born German, emigrating to the then Colony of Maryland, later removed to Frederick County, Va., of which he continued a resident until his death. His son, Aseal Brookover, paternal grandfather of our immendiate subject, was born in Maryland, July 1, 1775. He grew to manhood in his native State, from whence he removed to Mason County, Ky. Before coming to that place he had married Margaret GuflBn in Virgmia. In 1801 he removed to Brown County, Ohio, where Geo. W. Brookover, father of our subject, was born June 1, 1816. The latter came to Indiana in September, 1855, locating immediately in Warren Township, of which he continued a resident until his death, which occurred October 2, 1879. He was united in marriage with Eliza J. Guffin, February 14, 1838, in Bracken County, Ky. His widow still survives him and makes her home at Huntington. Our immediate subject grew to manhood and has always lived in Warren Township since the settlement of the family in the county. He received a common school education in the schools of the vicinity. September 25, 1862, his marriage with Cordelia A. Lewis was solemnized, and to their union seven children have been born, of whom these six are now living: Eva 0., Ulysses G., Cora A., Iva D., Jessie I., and Guy Lewis. The deceased child was Ina May. Mr. Brookover has always made farming his occupation, and he has been very successful. He now owns 285 acres of well improved land. He is a member of the Church of God. His politics are Republican, and he always manifests a good live interest in the political affairs of the county and community in which he lives. Mrs. Brookover was born in Rush County, Ind., July 6, 1844, and is a daughter of Thomas S. and Elizabeth (Summers) Lewis. They were born January 8, 1831, and September 23, 1823, in Bracken and Bath Counties, Kentucky, respectively. They came to this county in 1851, and have ever since resided in Warren Township. Mr. Brookover is one of the leading men of Huntington County, and is highly psteemed by those who know him.

NEHEMIAH BROWN, of. Warren Township, is a native of Preble County, Ohio, born near the village of Camden, March 6, 1828, being the eldest of a family of two children born to Isaiah M. and Mary (Thompson) Brown, the former, a native of New

Jersey, was born October, 1805, the son of Clayton Brown, who was also a native of Nt^w Jersey. The latter a native of Pennsylvania, was born June 16, 1805, from whence the family removed to Ohio about 1816, where the father of our immediate subject grew to manhood, receiving what was for those days a fair education. Shortly after attaining his majority he was united in marriage with Mary Thompson . This marriage was of comparatively short duration, his wife dying October 6, 1830. In the spring of 1833, Martha A. Silver became his wife. In the fall of 1848, he emigrated to Indiana, reaching Huntington County, the first of November that year, and he continued a resident of this county until his death, which occurred April 16, 1857. His last wife survived him, and died at the house of her daughter, in Missouri, July 18, 1883, at the age of seventy-eight years. He was a man of considerable local prominence and was honored with an election to the office of Township Trustee. He was an active member in the Society of Friends, and lived a true and devout Christian life. The two children by his first marriage were Nehemiah and Charles, who became with their father residents of Huntington County, and have since remained such. The former, the subject of our sketch, received a common school education in his native State and county suflBcient to enable him to take charge of the neighborhood schools, upon coming to this county. He remained at home and assisted his parents until he attained the age of twenty-four, when June 10, 1853, his and Sarah Moore's nuptials were celebrated, and to their union six children have been born, of whom these five are now living: Mary J., now Matron of the Ladies' Hall at the Valparaiso Normal School; Albert, who married Annie Sprinkle; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Cyrus Stultz; Laura E. and Emma L. He has alw-ays made farming his occupation and he has been very successful. He now own 200 acres of well improved land. He is a member of the Friend's Church, a man of pronounced temperance views and as such casts his ballot for and with the cause of the Prohibition party, and is a warm advocate of the principles of that party. He was one of the principal stockholders, and was largely instrumental in having the Huntington and Maple Grove Pike Road constructed, serving as its superintendent six years. Mrs. Brown is a daughter of John and Margaret (Evans) Moore, who were among the early settlers of this vicinity. She was born February 27, 1831. John C. Brown and family, came to the county and settled in Warren Township about 1853, and lived here until his death in 1872. He was the father of a large family of children, most of whom have removed from the county, only one descendant, a daughter, Mary, wife of J. F. Smith still living here.

JOHN T. COOK, a citizen of Warren Township, and one of its earliest settlers, is a native of Kent County, Delaware, where he was born, October 27, 1815, being the only child born to James and Sarah (Taylor) Cook, who were also natives of Delaware. Our subject grew to manhood in his native State receiving a limited education in consequence of the poor facilities of those days. Upon attaining his majority he emigrated to Indiana and first located in Rush County, of which he remained a resident for six years, when in January, 1842, he removed to this county and settled on the farm, where he has since lived. The country was then a wilderness of woods which abounded in game of all kinds. May 11, 1837, his marriage with Mary Morris was solemnized, and to their union seven children were born, of whom these four are now living: Hugh, who married Margaret Vorse; James, whose wife was Eliza J. Ransom; Camilus, whose consort was Elizabeth Vorse, and William, who married Amelia Davis. Oliver, whose wife was Serf Blood, since deceased; John, deceased, lost his life in the service of his country, and Charles, deceased. February 8, 1853, Mr. Cook suffered the bereavement of losing his beloved wife. July 26, 1853, his and Lurana (Baugher) Kerns nuptials were celebrated and three children have been born to them: Minerva now Mrs. David Kincade; Octava, widow of John King, and Artemessa, deceased. Mr. Cook has always made farming his occupation and he has been very successful. He is the proprietor of a fine, well improved farm of 160 acres, all the accumulation of his own industry and economy, and may take rank as one of the self-made men. He and wife are members of the Adventist Church commonly known as Soul Sleepers. In politics he has always been a Republican and he always manifests a good live interest in the political affairs of the county and community in which he lives, where he enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him.

LINUS EBERHART, of Warren Township, is a native of Hohrnzollern, Prussia, where he was born September 16, 1833, being the third in a family of five children, born to Michael and Barbara (Henger) Eberhart. Our subject grew to manhood in his native country, receiving a good education in the German and Latin languages. In 1852, he emigrated to the United States, first locating in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, where he lived until the spring of 1855, when he settled just over the west line of Huntington County, Chester Township, in Wabash County, living there until I860, when he removed to the farm on which he now resides. In 1854 his parents followed him to this country, but his father died at New York with cholera. October 7, 1858, his marriage with Elizabeth Ade, was solemnized, and to their union nine children have been born: Eliza, now Mrs. Clayton Rodkey; Christina K., wife of Samuel L. Emley; John, unmarried; Emanuel, who married Jane Emley; Lydia M., William F., Emma A., Jacob H. and Simon F. He has always made farming his occupation, in connection with which he shipped and manufactured staves for a number of years, and he has been very successful. He now owns a fine, well improved farm of eighty acres. He and wife are members of the Evangelical

Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Democrat, and the good condition of the roads of the township is due to his having filled the position of Road Supervisor for a number of years.

DR. CHARLES W. FRY, physician and surgeon, at Bracken, is a native of Crawford County, Ohio, where he was born March 1, 1853, being the eldest of a family of four children born to Jacob and Ellen (Cross) Fry, who were natives of Tuscarawas and Wayne Counties, Ohio, respectively. They migrated to Indiana, and Huntington County, in the year 1861, settling in Clear Creek Township, since which time they have remained residents of the county. Our immediate subject grew co manhood in this county receiving a common school education, supplemented by attendance at the Mt. Union College, Stark County, Ohio. In 1873, he engaged in teaching, which he continued until 1875, when he commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Shaffer, under whose tutorage he continued until 1878, during which time, in the winter of '76 and '77, he took a course of lectures at the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery. He also at intervals taught school. In the winter of 1885 and '80 he took a second course at the same school, graduating from that institution in the spring of the latter year, since which time he has devoted his entire attention to the practice of his profession. May 3, 1885, his marriage with Ettie GriflSn was solemnized. While young in the profession he has been quite successful, and enjoys a good remunerative practice. In politics he is a staunch Republican, and he always manifests a good live interest in the political affairs of the county and community in which he lives. Dr. Fry is a member of the Huntington County Medical Society.

DAVID LICHTEJTWALTER, a leading citizen of Warren Township, is a native of Starke County, Ohio, born near Canton, June 17, 1819, being the third in a family of nine children born to Daniel and Rachael (Bear) Lichten waiter, who were both born in Pennsylvania, the former of Swiss descent. Our immediate subject was reared in his native county, remaining at home and assisting his parents on the farm until he attained the age of eighteen years, receiving a limited education in the primitive log school houses of those days, which was greatly supplemented by reading and study without the aid of a teacher, becoming sufficently well qualified to engage as an instructor, which he did two terms. Upon arriving at the age of eighteen he began learning the carpenter trade, serving an apprenticeship of two years. He continued to follow that for about fourteen years. May 18, 1842, his marriage with Matilda Kelt was solemnized, and to their union twelve children have been born, of whom these six are now living: Rachel, widow of H. D. Fox; James, who married Laurella Gorsage; Matilda, Lillie, Sadie, wife of J. C. Henry, and Lincoln. John, the eldest son, lost his life in his country's cause, at Fort Donaldson, the first fight after his enlistment.

August^ 1861. After a three years' residence at Crestline, Ohio, he removed to Piercton, Kosciusko County, 1855, coming there contracting to bridge a mill pond in that vicinity for the Pittsburg Railway. He continued to reside there until June, 1873, when he removed to his present residence. November, 1861, he realized the necessity of the preservation of our Union, and enlisted in Company I, Forty- Seventh Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry, entering the service as principal musician, continuing in that capacity until October, 1863, when he was discharged on account of disability. Since coming to Huntington County he made saw milling his occupation, but has now retired from that business, and devotes his entire attention to farming, and has been very successful. He now owns 180 acres of improved land. He belongs to the I. O. O. F. and Masonic fraternities, but is now on demit from them. He also is a member of the G. A. R. His political views are Republican, and while a resident of Kosciusko County was honored with an election to the office of Justice of the Peace. Mr. Lichtenwalter has never entirely recovered his health, and the government in recognition of his services, assists him with a pension at the rate of $4 per month.

ELIAS SPRINKLE, merchant at Bracken, established his business in 1878. He carries a stock of about $2,000, doing an annual business of about $5,000. He is the senior rnember of the firm of Sprinkle & Son. Mr. Sprinkle is a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, where he was born August 11, 1824, being the sixth in a family of eight children, born to Michael and Mary M. (Muntz) Sprinkle,who were both natives of Maryland; the former lived to be seventy-three years old and died in Ashland County, Ohio, his widow survived him, coming with our immediate subject to Indiana in 1854, where she lived until 1876, when she died at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. May 4, 1845, the nuptials of Mr. Sprinkle's marriage with Catherine Bolinger, celebrated, and to their union these three children have been born: Benjamin F., who married Flora A. Myers; Thos. A., whose wife was Mary A. Brodbeck, and Mary J., now Mrs. Henry P. Myers. Upon settling in Huntington County, Mr. Sprinkle engaged in work at the carpenter's trade, wbich he followed until 1877, in connection with which he farmed some. From a business point of view he has been reasonably successful. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, he is a Republican. While a resident of Wabash County, he was Assessor, and in former years was honored with an election to the office of Township Trustee for Warren Township.

Lafayette SULT, a leading and one of the most enterprising citizens of Warren Township, was born July 39, 1843, in Morris County, Ohio, the youngest son of a family of six sons and four daughters, born to Daniel and Barbara (Tergarden)

Suit, who were both natives of Lehigh and Westmoreland Counties, Penn., respectively. They came to Ohio in a very early day, from whence in the year 1855, they removed to Indiana and Huntington County, first locating and continuing to live the rest of their days on the land now owned and occupied by our subject. LaFayette grew to manhood in this county, receiving a limited education in consequence of the poor facilities afforded the children of his day. At the early age of eighteen years, he alive to the necessity of the preservation of our Union, gallantly enlisted as a volunteer, August B, 1861, in Company C, Thirty- Fourth Indiana Regiment, where he served until September 12, 1863, when he was honorably discharged at Helena, Ark., on account of disability. October, 1863, he re-entered the service in Company D, One Hundred and Thirtieth Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, from which he was mustered out as First Duty Sergeant, on the staff of Capt. A. S. Purviance, December, 1865. Anterior to entering the service he had learned the tinner's trade; after his return he followed that business for about six years, when for a period of five years immediately subsequent he was engaged in contracting and constructing public work, since which time he has made farming and stock raising his occupation. October 31, 1865, his marriage with Harriet C. Clark was solemnized, by whom he is the father of seven children, these six now living: William D., Cora L., Minnie J., Melvin W., Solomon T., and Robert J. F. William D., the eldest, is engaged in the drug business at Bippus, having the finest store in the village, which he estabUshed in June, 1885, and by his courteous and obliging manner and straightforward dealing has been enabled to build up a good remunerative trade. From a business point of view Mr. Suit has been successful. He is the proprietor of a fine farm of seventy-seven acres and a member of the I. 0. O. F. In politics, he is an ardent Republican and always warmly advocates the principles of that party, and may be found always working for its success. He was honored with an election to the office of Justice of the Peace, April, 1881, which bespeaks his popularity as the party is largely in the minority.

GEORGE D. TREMBLY, physician and surgeon at the village of Bippus, is a native of Whitley County, Ind., born January 29, 1846, being the next eldest of seven children born to John b. and Ellen D. (Witt) Trembly, who were natives of New Jersey and Ohio, respectively, they having settled in Whitley County about 181:4. Our immediate subject was reared to manhood m his native county. He received a high school education supplemented by one year's attendance at Mendota College, Mendota, 111. In 1872 he began reading medicine with C. Sender, with whom he remained three years, during which time he took two courses of lectures at the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, graduating from that institution February, 187o,he then returned to Whitley County and entered into partnership with

Dr. E. Merriman, which continued two years, when he removed to Bracken, where he remained engaged in th« practice of his profession until the spring of 1885, when he located at Bippus. April 15, 1875, his marriage with?-Martha Bechtel was solemnized, and to their union five children have been born, of whom these three are now living: Clara A., James R. L. and an infant boy. Mrs. Trembly, a native of Whitley County, a daughter of Martin and Maria (First) Bechtel, natives of Ohio, and early settlers of Whitley County, was born November 33, 181:7. October, 1864, Mr. Trembly enlisted for a term of one year in the service of his country, but owing to sickness and the way hostilities were arranged he never saw active service, and was discharged May, 1865, on account of the close of the war. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity and also belongs to the Huntington County Medical Society, and filled the position of President of that association for the year of 1886. He formerly belonged to the Wabash County Medical Society before an organization of that kind was perfected in this county. He enjoys a good remunerative practice. In politics he is a Democrat, and he always manifests a good live interest in the political affairs of the county and community in which he lives. After his return from the army his physical health being greatly impaired, he then engaged in teaching, which he followed at intervals, during which time he was enabled to save some means which he subsequently used in paying his expenses while pursuing his study of medicine, but that was soon expended, and he was enabled to complete his education by borrowing of his friends. His literary and medical education are almost entirely the fruits of his own energy, industry and economy.

JACOB WETHERS, a prominent citizen of Warren Township, is a native of Wayne County, Ohio, where he was born, February 5, 1843, being the next eldest in a family of seven children, three boys and four girls born to Jacob and Kathrina (Howenstine) Wethers, who were of German descent, born in Switzerland near the boundary of Germany, where their marriage occurred. The former had made a visit to the United States, prior to his marriage, but only remained one year, when he returned to his native country: Upon coming back to the United States, he first located in Pensylvania, where he lived seven years and worked in the iron works, when in 1844 he emigrated to Wayne County, Ohio, living there one year, when he came to Huntington County, and settled in Warren Township, of which he continued a resident until his death which occurred November, 1870. He was what might be termed one of the earliest or pioneer settlers of Warren Township. The country was a wilderness of woods, abounding in game of all kinds. He experienced all the diiBculties incident to pioneer life. Our immediate subject grew to manhood in this county, receiving a common education, greatly supplemented in later years by read- ing. He remained at home and assisted his parents on the farm until he attained the age of twenty years, when he worked for about four years by the month, when he purchased a farm November 1, 1868, his marriage with Charlotta A. Rice was solemnized, and to their union four children have been born of whom these three are now hving: Elizabeth A., born January 6, 1870; William F., born December 11, 1876; John F,, born January 7, 1883. He has always made farming his occupation, and he has been very successful. He now owns eighty acres of well improved land. He and wife are members of the EvangeUcal Lutheran Church. In politics, he is a Republican, and he always manifests a good live interest in political affairs.