Noble County, Indiana - The whole text, 1902 (part 21 of 21)

William Rose was born in Hocking township, Fairfield county, Ohio, and his wife was also a native of the Buckeye state. The)' were married in Pickaway county, Ohio, and came to Noble count}', Ind., in the fall of 1849, and '-iere passed the remainder of their earthly existence. They had a family of seven children and of these Mrs. Reidenbach was the third in order of birth. To Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Reidenbach have been born six children in the following order: William A., Rosetta O., Charles E., Wesley P., Ada M. and Mabel L.

Philip Reidenbach, the father of Jacob Reidenbach, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, German}-, and the mother of Jacob, Catherine Reidenbach, was also- a native of Ger- many. They were married in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and came to Noble county, lnd., in 1844, and here they both died. Of their nine children the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth.

Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Reidenbach are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. His social relations are all that can be desired, as they are respected by every member of the community in which the)- live.

Harrison Cramer

Of the 196.363 brave boys from Indiana who risked limb and life in the crushing out of the internecine rebellion against the mile! sway of the only free government that ever was vouchsafed to mankind, was the subject of this simple biographical sketch, who after the "cruel war was over" returned, like Cincinnatus of old and our own immortal Washington, "seized the plow, and greatly independent lived."

Harrison Cramer was born in Swan township, Noble county, lnd., April 8, 1842, and is a son of Conrad and Lydia (Timmerman 1 Cramer, the former of whom was a native of the state of New York, and the mother was a daughter of one of the early settlers of Noble county, lnd. Mrs. Lydia Cramer was the second wife of Conrad Cramer, by whom he had a large family of children, among whom the subject of this sketch was one of the earlier ones.

Conrad Cramer, on coming to Noble county, lnd., settled in Swan township, of which he was a resident until his death, July 17, 1878, and one of the most useful and honored citizens. It was here that he lost his first wife, ami here his second wife expired March 6, 1893. Conrad was in the eightieth year of his age when he died, and Mrs. Lydia Cramer was seventy-six years old when called to the "home beyond."

With the exception of the time passed in the service of his native country, Harrison Cramer has lived in the county of his birth, engaged in the pursuit of agriculture. October 8. 1861, he enlisted in the Fifth Indiana Battery and served until November 26, 1864. when he was honorably discharged During this long term of service he fought in the sanguinary battles of Perryville and Chickamauga and all through the Atlanta campaign of one hundred and twenty days, and covered himself with glory, as did many of the brave boys in blue from the Hoosier state. But the engagements mentioned do not by any means include all the struggles in which Mr. Cramer took part, as he shared in a number of skirmishes and minor battles not here enumerated.

The marriage of Mr. Cramer took place' in Swan township April 15, 1866, to Miss Lovina Homsher, who was born in Columbiana county. Ohio, December 17, 1842. This lady is a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Hawk) Homsher. who were natives of Pennsylvania and came to Noble county, lnd.. in 1850, and settled in Swan township, where Mrs. Homsher died in 1882 at the age of seventy-seven years, and Mr. Homsher in 1883, when at the advanced age of eighty-one years. Of their large family of eleven children Mrs. Cramer was the tenth in order of birth, and her natural amiability made her the pet of the family as well as of the neighbors among win an she passed her childhood.

The marriage of Mr. Cramer has been crowned with eight children, born in the following order: Samuel E., deceased; John; Lottie, who is the wife of Eli Hagg: Orpha, who is married to Edward Gump ; Otis ; Addie and Joseph, all still surviving, and all of whom have received diplomas; one child died in infancy.

Mr. Cramer's farm of one hundred and seven acres is improved with a handsome dwelling- constructed in modern style, while his farm buildings are conveniently arranged for the purpose for which they were devised and afford ample shelter for his live stock and boundless crops. His well cultivated acres are the admiration of all who pass by and the pride of the neighborhood. The greater part of the work which has produced this pleasant condition of rural happiness has been the work of his own hands and his skillful management.