Ramsay-Fox Round Barn and Farm

Prominent among the representative citizens of Marshall county is John W. Baugher, who, as the name indicates, is of German ancestry. The name originally was Von Bacher, and in the annals of the old country, it appears in connection with the history of the Napoleonic wars, and it is a family tradition that some of the ancestors of the subject fought under the great emperor. Mr. Baugher was born in Prussia in 1845, and when two years of age was brought by his parents, John and Magdalene Baugher, to the United States. The family first settled in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and after a residence there of twelve years, moved to Kosciusko county, Ind., where the parents were living at the breaking out of the late war. Whether the subject had inherited a taste for military life from his Prussian forefathers or not, the writer can not say, but certain it is, that his inclinations led him to enter the service of his adopted country, and he served as a gallant soldier throughout the war. He was connected, at various times, with the One Hundred and Eighteenth, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth and One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Indiana volunteers, and his military career was similar to that of the thousands of brave and patriotic men who risked their lives in defense of the National Union. At the close of the war Mr. Baugher went to northern Michigan, where for four years he was engaged in the manufacture of lumber. While there he attained proficiency as a sawyer, for which business he appears by nature to have been adapted. He returned to Indiana in 1869, and settled in Marshall county, where he has since resided, and of which he is in every respect a worth}' and popular citizen. He began the lumber business for himself about the year 1870, and the mill which he operated was located a few miles northwest of Plymouth. This mill, in 1879, was completely destroyed by fire, but Mr. Baugher, with that energy which has characterized his life, at once began to rebuild, and soon had a larger and much more complete mill in successful operation. This mill requires the labor of about twelve men, most of whom have been with Mr. Baugher for a term of years, and has a caoacity of 12,000 feet of lumber per day. It is supplied with the latest improved machinery, much of which is of Mr. Baugher's own invention. As a machinist, he is quite skilful, and has no superior in Marshall county, and but few anywhere. He has made the subject of mechanical appliances a specialty, and his judgment upon machinery is sound and founded upon scientific knowledge, instead of mere conjecture. Mr. Baugher has been a great reader, both of English and German authors, and though of limited early education, has managed to acquire a practical knowledge of affairs at large, and is well versed in general literature. Socially, "he is a hale fellow well met," and he numbers his friends by the score in all parts of the county. He is fond of traveling, and, including his army experience, he has visited nearly every state in the Union. He is a member of the K. of P., Odd Fellows, and stands high in the Masonic fraternity, having taken the degree of Sir Knight. Politically he is a democrat, and is looked upon as one of his party's leaders in this county. Mr. Baugher and Sarah Conklin, a native of Marshall county, were united in marriage in 1873, and to their union have been born two children, Frank and Norah.

Passage source: History of Indiana : Containing a History of Indiana and Biographical Sketches of Governors and Other Leading Men. Also a Statement of the Growth and Prosperity of Marshall County, Together with a Personal and Family Histry of Many of Its Citizens, published 1890.

Robert J. Evans claims to be the oldest settler of West township, and has literally seen the county grow out of the woods. He was born in Kentucky, April 24, 1825. His father, Joseph, was a native of Butler county, Penn., and his mother, Bidiah (Turner) Evans, was born in North Carolina. Grandparents were born in America, the father being of Irish, and the mother of Scotch, origin. At the early age of three years, the subject of this sketch was brought to Indiana by his parents, who settled in Franklin county in 1826, and remained there until 1835, when they removed to Marshall county, settling in West township, on what is known as the Sherland place. The countr}' was then entirely new, the nearest neighbor of the Evans family' beingThomas Singleton, who lived up on the La Porte road, that and the Michigan pike being the only roads in the county at that time. Plymouth then contained from four to six houses. Between the Evanses and the alleged town, a man named Murphy lived on what is known as the Wallace farm. The newly arrived family began farming at once, getting in five acres the first year (1836) . Mr. Evans says there were plenty of Indians (Pottawatamies) when his family came there. They were hunters by profession, lived in villages, the women doing what little work there was done. They were a lazy lot, true to their friends and never molested any one. Their relations with the settlers were of the friendliest character. Mr. Evans had little chance to get an education. There were no schools to attend until he was able to work, and when that time arrived he had to put in all his time helping to dig a living out of the wilderness. Hard work was of more importance in those days than education. At the age of twenty, Robert J. Evans was married to Lydia Thomas, whose parents lived near what is now Tyner City. They went to work on their own account at farming and kept it up until 1850, when Mr. Evans started to California, leaving his wife and family on the farm. When he arrived in northwest Missouri he was taken with fever and lay there fifty days. Owing to this sickness was obliged to return home. After farming there a few years more, he removed to the Wallace farm. Mr. Evans has occupied his present residence for fifteen years Of the thirteen children born to this devoted couple, eight are living, viz.: Larkin L., who married Frances Rogers, Marshall county; Josephine, wife of Wallace Pitcher, Missouri; Martha Alice, wife of Walter Rogers, St. Joe county; Mary E., wife of John F. Tindall, Hancock county; Viola, wife of Harry B. Joseph, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Robert L., who is unmarried, lives at home, also Albertus and Littie. In religious belief Mr. Evans is a spiritualist. He never had many educational advantages, but keeps posted by reading the papers. In politics he is independent, believing very earnestly that every man should hold himself in position to vote for the best interests of the community, which he certainly cannot always do if he keeps tied, without chance of change, to one particular party. He has never held any office except that of assessor, which has been conferred on him for eleven successive years. But this is his last year in that capacity. Mr. Evans has seen many of the ups and downs of life, many of its hardships and sorrows, he has also enjoyed many of its blessings and innocent pleasures. Mr. Evans was present at the organization of the county, and remembers that the meeting was held one and a half miles south of Plymouth, at Austehout's house. There were not over six people present.

Passage source: History of Indiana : Containing a History of Indiana and Biographical Sketches of Governors and Other Leading Men. Also a Statement of the Growth and Prosperity of Marshall County, Together with a Personal and Family Histry of Many of Its Citizens, published 1890.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on West Township - 5,967 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.