Miami County, Indiana - Biographical sketches (6 of 9 so headed), 1887

RICHARD C. CRANE, a native of Preble County, Ohio, was born December 8, 1834, to George and Elizabeth (Batey) Crane, natives respectivelv of Penns\lvania and New York, who emigrated to Indiana in the year 1S48, and located on the farm owned and managed by our subject. Mr. Crane was married in February, 1855, to Sarah Hall, a native of Ohio, to whom were born these children, whose names are as follows: Mariah Jane, Catharine, Vioma, Laura, Belle, Maiy Elizabeth, Armintha and William, four of whom are still living. He was again married January i, 1878, to Miss Mary Miller, a native of Miami County, and to this union three children have been born, the names of which are as follows: Fannie, Lvdia and Georse. He was reared on the farm and received a common school education. He is the owner of 154 acres of land in Harrison township, which he is improving rapidly and which is under a high state of cultivation. He alwa3S has taken an active part in the political affairs of the vicinity in which he resides, and at the polls votes the Democratic ticket.'

DANIEL F. DEISCH, a son of John Philip and Catharine F. (Kull) Deisch, was born in Hocking County, Ohio, on the i6th of March, 1848. The father and mother were both natives of German v, coming to this country about 1830. They were married in Ohio and settled in Hocking County, where three of their famih' of twelve were born. In 1850 they moved to Miami County settling in Washington Township. In about 1S58 they moved to Clay Township where Daniel Deisch, the subject of this sketch, was raised on his father's farm, receiving a good common school education. Remaining and helping his father on the farm until he was twentv-eight, He was on the i6th day of March, 1876, married to Rebecca Ann Murden, a daughter of Thomas W. and Cvnthia Ann (Smith) Murden, a native of Miami Countv. being born there on the 6th of November, 1857, and a lady of English descent. To this union were born six children: Charles Oliver, George F., Matilda B., Cora Adell, Osie Filora and an infant. All are living. Mr. D. began business in Marion where he was married, and in 1879 came to McGrawsville where he now has a large general store, the Post- office, and is tlie Railroad Agent. He also deals in grain and slock. Coining to this county when all was new and nearly wilderness, Mr. D. has seen the great change that has made the country- what it is. He is an industrious, enterprising young merchant and a No. i citizen.

EZRA T. LAMB, the son of George and Susannah (Thomas) Lamb, was born the 30th of April, 1850, in Jackson Township, Miami County, Indiana. Both were of English descent, the greatgrandfather of Mr. Lamb coming from England. The father was born in North Carolina in 1824, and the whole family removed to Madison County, Indiana. But it was in Grant County that the father and mother met and were married in 1849. They settled in the woods east of Amboy and there began life, and raised their family of nine children, whose names are as follows: Ezra, Mary E., ^Villiam N., Sarah M., Martha, Angelina, Asenath Jane, Walter H. and Harve}-. Of these Mar}- and Angeline haye since died. Mr. Ezra Lamb, the subject of this sketch was raised on his father's farm, there receiying an education sufficient to enable him to teach nine successive winters in the public schools of Indiana, and the last six years of his teaching he had a first-class certificate. The 23d of September, 1875, Mr. Lamb was married to Eliza Eppele, a lady of German descent, and one well esteemed, her parents both emigrating to this country from Germany. To this union were born iiye children, viz: Allie, born July 28, 1876; Charles, born January 30, 1879, died July 11, 1879; Alburtus G., born May 21, 1880; Henry S., born November 17, 1881; Ina J.,born November 9, 1883, and an infant son, born October 3, 1886. In the spring of 1886 IVIr. Lamb moved to the farm where he now lives, in Section 27. Mr. and Mrs. Lamb are members of the Friend or Quaker Church at Amboy. Beginning life in fair circumstances Mr. Lamb has worked hard and more than doubled his means. He is an enterprising, energetic young fanner and his family is respected by all who know them.

MRS. ELIZABETH PLOTNER, a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, was born April 2, 1842. At the age of si.\ she emigrated to Peru Township, Miami County, with her parents, George and Susan (Yeazel) Rhineberger, natives of Ohio. The father of our subject always followed the occupation of a farmer. The father died October 18, 1872, and the mother is residing in Indianapolis. Our subject was married January 7, 1864, to Mr. Samuel Plotner (deceased), to whom were born two sons, whose names are Frank O. and Harry, the former now residing in Iowa and the latter at home with his mother. The husband of the subject of this sketch was a stock dealer, and met his death by riding on top of a moving train and being precipitated to the ground while passing through a low covered bridge on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at Newark, Ohio, October 29, 1876. His life was insured for $2,000, besides a farm of 116 acres, which were left to the widow and her two sons, on which she now resides. Our subject has a tine farm in splendid cultivation in the northeast corner of Harrison Township, Miami County, of which she has entire management and which is tilled by a tenant.

ELI SCHROCK, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth, w-as born in Holmes County, Ohio, the 6th of March 1842. Both parents were of German descent. The father was born the 6th of March, 1804, and died the 6th of March 1858; the mother was born in September 1806, and is still living. There were twelve children in the old gentleman's family, viz: Catharine, Benjamin, Jacob, Isaac, Jonas, Susannah, Elizabeth, Joseph, Eli, Noah, Lydia and John, all born in Holmes County, Ohio. Benjamin and Susannah are now gone on before. All with the exception of three living right in southern Miami and northern Howard, and all have their share of this world's goods. Mr. Jacob Schrock in 1849, nioved to Indiana and settled on the line between Miami and Howard Count\-, and there the family were reared, and there Eli Schrock, the subject of this sketch, was reared, helping to clear away the forest and make a liome. Mr. Schrock had an education sufficient to enable him to teach t\vo terms in the public schools of the State. Although on account of having no schools, he did not go to school until at the age of 13, yet has improved his opportunities and gained a good education for that time. In 1863, Mr. Schrock was married to Elizabeth Schrock, a daughter of John and Mary (Sproll) Schrock. Both were of German descent and both are now living. To this union was born ten children, viz: Amanda, Lavinia, John, Mary Ann, Harvey, Noah, EH and Elizabeth, Emma and Willard. In 1877, Harvey was called away. In the spring of 1864 Mr. and Mrs. Schrock settled on the farm where he now lives, in Section 21, where he has since resided and there raised his family. Mr. and Mrs. Schrock are members of the Amish Church. Mr. Schrock began life in fair circumstances and has, by dint of industry and perseverance, gained a line farm of 115 acres, within lyi miles of North Grove. His family has grown to be respected throughout the township, and in 1884 the people of Harrison Township gave him their highest office, that of Township Trustee, and in 1886 he was re-elected. Mr. Schrock, is a thorough gentleman and expects to remain on the farm where he has spent the best part of his life in getting under the state of cultivation which it now is.

JONAS STINEMAN, a native of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, was born March 13, 1846, a son of Peter and Fannie (Hockstetter) Stineman, natives of Germany and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father emigrated to America at about the age of thirty, and landed in Canada where he remained for about fifteen years, and tlien came to the United States and stopped at Tuscarawas County, Ohio, wliere lie remained until 184S, when he came to Miami Count\- and remained upon the farm now owned by our subject until his death which occurred Februar}- 23, 1862. The mother's parents came from to the same county in Ohio when she was six years old, where she remained until her removal to Indiana with her husband and famih'. Jonas is the only living child of his father's family and w as reared upon the farm. His education was a moderate one and enabled him to obtain a license to teach school on several occasions. His marriage to Miss Lj-dia Christner, daughter of Peter and Barbara (Egle) Christner, was blessed with the birth of the following seven children: Peter, Fannie, S^arah, Christian, Ezra, Ira and Noah. This union was severed by the death of his beloved wife, on the 19th day of August, 1882, who died at the age of 31. His second marriage with Mrs. Barbara Metzler (Stahley) occurred December 13, 1885, and to this marriage one child has been born, the name of which is Irwin. His second wife is the mother of nine children by her first husband, Daniel Metzler (deceased), the names of whom are as follows: John, Jonas, Lizzie, David, Marv, Jessie, Fannie, Daniel (deceased), and Annie. Mr. Stineman is the possessor of 216 acres of fine farming land located in Harrison Township, Section 30, which is improved in a substantial manner, having erected a commodious two-story brick house and an enormous bank-barn, which gives his home a most aristrocratic appearance, besides, the soil is under the highest state of cultivation, being drained by ditches running in every needed direction. He and famiW are members of the Amish denomination of religious worshipers and are regular attendants at service. In former 3'ears he belonged^ to the Democratic party, but lalterlv is an advocate of the cause espoused bv the Prohibitionists. Our subject having came to this county when but two years of age has a just right to be classed among the old settlers, he having experienced the hardships of the pioneers of Miami County, and now has the satisfaction of knowing that he is one of the substantial farmers of Harrison Township. Mr. S. has in his possession a very interesting and valuable relic, which is a production of Zurich, Switzerland, in A. D., 1548. It is a German bible and was made by Christopher Froschour. The book has a great resemblance to those now published, although the works of to-dav represent considerable impro\ement. The stjde of binding is quite similar, although more cumbersome. It is a book that has been the propertj- of Mr. Jacob Forny, of Canada, and was purchased by the subject's father in about the year 1820, when he arri\ed in this countr\-. Illustrated.

WILLIAM C. YARNALL, native of Harrison County, Ohio, was born September 6, 1S41, the sixth child of William and Sarah (Spencer) Yarnall, natives of Ohio, who removed to Indiana in 1861, and located on a farm in Martin County, where they resided during the rest of their lives, his father having died in August 16, 1875. The mother is still living. In his twentieth \'ear he volunteered his services to his countrv, and enlisted in the Sixti-fifth Indiana Volunteer Regiment of Infantry in August, 1862, and continued in that service for three years, or until the close of the war. He entered as a private, and was mustered in at Evansville, Indiana, and took his departure for the South, where he landed on the Southern soil at Henderson, Kentucky, and participated in the following engagements with the enemy of the Union: At Madison, Kentucky-, he took his first hand in a skirmish with the Gra}' Coats, and the first engagement of note in which he took part was at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This experience was varied by several minor engagements, including Bowling Green, until 1863. The army crossed through Cumberland Gap, and were the first Union troops that set foot in Knoxville, Tennessee, where considerable scouting was indulged in for some time, and then the celebrated battle of Mission Ridge was placed on the list of our subject's engagements, and from there the regiment* proceeded to the siege of Knoxville, where they arrived a short time before the departure of the enemy. They then received a call from headquarters to report at Tunnell Hill, Georgia, to assist General Sherman in his celebrated campaign, and participated in the Buzzard Roost engagement, which was soon followed by the conflict at Resaca, and after numerous small encounters they next were in front at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain. After this series of engagements a call was issued by General Sherman for a true and tried -' orderly," and for heroic services and past bravery our subject was chosen for that position, he having made a record that warranted the appointment. In this position he was retained thronghout all the engagements of the war, being in company' with the noted general, and doing his errands until the good news came that " Peace was restored." He was exceptionally prompt and ever ready to do his duty, always at his post and never absent on account of sickness or disabilit}'. Mustered out at Greensborough, North Carolina, and was honorably discharged at Indianapolis. After the close of the war he labored around through the different parts of the State for some time, and then came to Miami County, where he has been a resident for about twenty years. In 1870 his marriage to Miss Mary A. Hooper, a daughter of Thomas H. and Sarepta (Woodruff) Hooper, was solemnized, to whom have been born two children - Charles Thomas and Will- iam C, the latter of whom was deceased wliile an infant six months of a<je. lie is an ardent advocate of the Republican party and its principles, and in 1884 he was the candidate of J^is party for the otlice of County Treasurer, and made a gallant race. He is a regular attendant of religious services, but never 3et has made a profession of religion. Until his departure for the war he was reared upon a farm and received a fair education, sutficient to enable him to teach the average common school.