Troy Township Biographical Sketches (1892)

Columbia City Post ~ Wednesday, February 24, 1892
Troy Township. Biographical Sketches.

• JOSEPH SCOTT was born in Fayette county, Ohio, in 1817; came to Troy township in 1843. Robert Scott his father entered the land on which he resides. The subject of our sketch knows something of pioneer life as he came here when all was a dense forest around him. He erected his cabin, and later on his dwelling house; he is a substantial citizen and a democrat. His aged companion died in January last; both were consistent Presbyterians.
• JOSEPH SNODGRASS is a native Indianian, born in this township, and is a son of the famous pioneer John Snodgrass, as is also James Snodgrass. Joseph was a member of Company K, 139th Regiment, Ind. Vol. The Snodgrass boys are honest industrious citizens and “are chips out of the old block.” “Our Joe’ came near capturing the nomination for sheriff two years ago, and certainly no official mantle could fall on a better citizen or democrat.
• SAMUEL HOOVER is a Cumberland county, Penn., man, was a member of Co. F. 19th Ohio, served four years. He has resided here since 1872.
• SAMUEL WHITE is a Highland county, Ohio man; came to Indiana in 1841, being a resident here since 1872. He was a member of Co. I, 47th Ind., serving four years. He served one term as township trustee and is a republican.
• LEVI BELCH was born in Pennsylvania in 1824, came to Indiana in 1838; has been a citizen of Troy since 1841. Mr. Belch knows what pioneer life is. Settling in the midst of a heavy forest he soon made daylight shine upon his cabin. Mr. and Mrs. Belch are Presbyterians and charitable, influential citizens. Mr. Belch is a democrat, as is also his son George who lives near him. Mr. Belch raised a large family.
• W. H. PENTECOST is a native Indianian, and has been a resident of Troy for many years. The Pentecosts are intelligent citizens and sound democrats.
• JOHN MAYNARD is an Ohio man, has resided here but a short time, and is in well-to-do circumstances.
• ABRAM ELDER was born in Seneca county, Ohio; he is an old resident of Troy, and a substantial citizen. He is now the township trustee. The writer is indebted to him for valuable information and kind treatment.
• SAMUEL KNULL is one of the respectable citizens, and like Mr. Elder is a democrat.
• JACOB SMITH was born in Stark county, Ohio, and has been a resident here since 1859; being a reliable industrious citizen and in well-to-do circumstances.
• HENRY SNYDER was born in Richland county, Ohio, in 1836, he has been many years a resident of the township and is a generous whole souled gentleman and excellent host. He figures largely in politics, having served six years as a county commissioner, and his democracy is “all wool and a yard wide” and thick as a calf’s ear.
• LEANDER LOWER was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, being many years a resident of Whitley county, and has served four years as county sheriff. He is comfortably situated financially and socially.
• JONAS TAYLOR is a Whitley county man, and an old stand-by. He is an intelligent citizen, and like Mr. Lower is a full fledged all year around democrat and always above par.
• C. M. NOBLE is a Westville, Ohio man, coming here in 1851. He is a worthy citizen.
• ASA BILLS and wife are old residents. He is 86 years old, while Mrs. Bills who is in very poor health, is 81, more than the allotted four score. May their years to come be pleasant and enjoyable, and the kind wishes of an appreciative public attend them.
• FIELDING BARNES was born in Merar [sic] county, Ky., in 1807; came to Indiana in 1831. Residing in Stark county twelve years, coming to this township in 1843. Mr. Barnes is 85 years of age, and his aged companion is 81. They raised a large family, the names of the children are Zacharia, Phebe, Minerva, Lucy, Luke, Mary, Sarah, John H., Delilah and Maxey. Mr. Barnes did his marketing at first at Fort Wayne, and his milling at Oswego. He cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson in 1824, and for every democratic candidate since except Greely in 1872. He is for Cleveland now, and favors. W. F. McNagny for Congress. His sons Zach, Luke and John are substantial and influential citizens of Troy.
• The LAIDLAWS, MARRS and SMITHS are respectable families of North Troy. Mr. Laidlaw is an old timer, he aided in the construction of the first court house in Noble county, and has been actively engaged as a slab roofer for many years.
• F. B. BARBER and DAVID JAMES are old residents, and in well-to-do circumstances. Mr. James was born in Rhode Island, coming with his father to Ohio, at the age of seven years, and when nineteen years old he came to Indiana, having resided here since 1839, and has accumulated considerable property. His father William James died at the age of 88 years.
• JAMES BLANE [sic] was born in Ross county, Ohio in 1823; came with his father to Indiana in 1840. He was married to Jane Scott in 1844, settling on his present farm in 1847, and is an active intelligent citizen and a sterling democrat. Mr. Blaine [sic] is well known in this county and is a man of sound judgment and good business principles.
• The MARTINS, ESTLICKS, ANDERSONS and VANDERFORDS are very good industrious people. They deserve fair mention at any time.
• F. R. HALL is one of our firm democrats and a native of Ohio.
• JAMES BROWN also claims recognition as a citizen.
• JAMES KEENER, born in Ross county, Ohio in 1807, and has resided here since 1848. He says he is living on borrowed time and is ready to cross the dark river.
• JOHN HERMAN was born in Germany in 1829. Emigrating to America in 1852; residing in Tuscarawas county, Ohio some time, living here since 1858. He is a good farmer and a sound democrat.
• AMBROSE KEISTER was born in Noble county, Ind., Jan. 11th, 1847. His father Levi Keister is still a substantial resident of that county. The subject of this sketch has been a resident of Troy for twelve years past, and is a substantial wide-awake citizen and an Andrew Jackson democrat.
• SAMUEL TEMPLETON and wife are and entertaining young couple, as are R. R. SCOTT and wife. The parties are of fine families and full of promise.
• HENRY KYLE was born in Fort Wayne, Ind., residing here many years. He is in good financial circumstances and a strong democrat.
• JOHN GROVES is a Logan county, Ohio man and has resided here some years, has been a justice of the peace for four years. He owned the first threshing machine engine in the township, and has followed threshing for 23 years. He is married to Ann Eliza Harrison.
• JOHN HARRISON, deceased, was one of the oldest inhabitants in Troy. He and William Jameson and John McKehan started the first U. B. church building in Troy, but it was never finished and subsequently sold to the Presbyterians.
• J. M. SWAN was the first Presbyterian pastor of this class. Rev. Wm. Harker dropped dead in the pulpit of this church in August 1869.
• C. F. MARCHAND was born in Switzerland in 1833, and was brought to this country when two years of age by his parents. Mr. Marchand has by hard work and good management amassed a fortune, being now in independent circumstances. He is a man having sound financial business qualities and is a hospitable generous host, and a genuine tariff reform democrat. Few men in the county have been so successful. He has secured homes for all his children who appreciate the favor very much.
• WILSON AND PORTER CUNNINGHAM, sons of Thomas B. Cunningham, are good citizens. They were born in Kosciusko county, Ind., and like their father are strictly democratic. Porter is a good host and entertainer.
• ROBERT J. ELLIOTT was born in Greenbrier county, Virginia in 1818, and is 74 years old. He was the first trustee appointed under the new law in 1859, and has resided here 47 years. He cast his first vote for W. H. Harrison in 1840. He came from Virginia to Indiana in 1844; he is an old timer and well acquainted with township history. He attended an election in 1844, when there were but eleven votes polled, and as it required five men on the election board, only six men remained to “button hole” each other. They must have had a lively time. Mr. Elliott was a justice of the peace for five years. His wife Catherine Jones was born in Cumberland county, Penn., in 1824; they were married in 1844, and six children blessed their union, four of whom still live. Mr. Elliott is a republican.
• THOMAS ELLIOTT is another old resident here in good circumstances, and is well and favorably known. He is well acquainted with pioneer life, and has managed to acquire considerable property.
• SAMUEL WATERS is an Ohio man, and in possession of sound common sense. He came to Indiana before the ware, and is a good citizen.
• SOLOMON SHOEMAKER was born in Ohio in 1818; came to Indiana in 1843, and entered his own land. His son John A. was a member of Co. B, 74th Regiment, Ind. Vol. and died a soldier.
• G. W. HALDERBAUM and WM. THOMPSON are very good citizens. Mr. Thompson is an Ohio man, and was born in 1827. He came here in 1836 and taught school for many years. The above are both staunch republicans.
• LEVI ADAMS was born in Putnam county, N. Y., in 1816; moving to Delaware county, Ohio in 1831, and to Indiana in 1842; has been here 50 years, except a few years in Columbia City. He was three times elected to the office of surveyor, and three times as trustee, and has twice been appointed a notary public serving near eight years.
• GIDEON G. WILCOX was born in Hartford county, Conn. In 1805, and was brought by his parents to Ohio the same year, and to Indiana in 1862. Mr. Wilcox is a man of wonderful vitality for one of his years, and an honest intelligent citizen. As he is 87 years old he is the oldest man in the township.
• LEWIS ADAMS was born in Putnam county, N. Y., August 20th, 1810; when nineteen years old he left his native home for Ohio, removing to Indiana in 1840, and has remained here ever since. Mr. Adams is a man of fine intellect and education, and commanding presence. He is fully competent to talk on any subject of interest, having a mine of knowledge and useful information. He was once elected an associate judge, but the law changed and he never qualified. In 1856 he was elected as representative and served in the legislature of 1857 with honor to himself and credit to his party. He has figured conspicuously in the councils of his party and is a good leader. He was married to Harriet Brown, six children being born to them, three of whom are still living. His son Harold is engaged professionally at Tiffin, Ohio; a daughter is teaching school, and with a third he is living who is married to Edward Russel. Mrs. Adams died several years ago; her remains were interred in the Adams cemetery.
• NOTE. – Mr. Adams tells how Devils Lake in Etna township got its name. “Aaron Bennet, now an old resident of Etna township, was out coon hunting one night and a valuable dog of his treed a coon. Finally the coon left the tree and ran so fast, with the dog after it that Mr. Bennet thought the animal was ten or fifteen feet long, and as the coon tree was on the bank of this lake, both dog and coon were soon in the water where a sharp fight ensued, and as Mr. Bennet did not know what the animal was, he pronounced it a devil, as his dog was killed in the struggle.” This is doubtless correct as Mr. Adams is a man of truth, though he does not say it with any disrespect for any one.
• ROBERT TINKHAM is an old citizen of Troy. His father’s Joseph Tinkham’s house was used as a voting place for several years, but the house has fallen into decay. Robert Tinkham has always figured in matters of interest. He is a minister in the M. E. church. The church edifice is of brick, and situated near his house.
• JONATHAN SHOEMAKER was born in Somersett county, Penn., Jan. 17, 1808; he resided in Ohio a few years, coming to Indiana in 1845, and has lived here ever since. Mr. Shoemaker can remember when the soldiers of the war of 1812 marched through Pennsylvania, in war-like demeanor. His son Linton Shoemaker was a member of Co. B. 14th Regiment Ind. Vol. Inf’y. His body lies in the Troy Presbyterian cemetery. His wife Elizabeth Jenkins was born in Older Virginia in May 1812; her father John Jenkins served six months in the war of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker are well up in years, having traveled the rough pathway of life long together. The pioneers are not all gone yet. May happiness attend their pathway.
• GEORGE F. KISLER was born in Delaware county, Ohio, coming to Indiana when seventeen years old. He is now in well-to-do circumstances.
• MARION F. COYLE was born in Holms [sic] county, Ohio, and has been a resident of Troy for near 36 years. He is an honest hardworking citizen, and highly respected by his neighbors and friends.
• HENRY ROBINSON was born in Champaign county, Ohio, and came to this state in 1840. He was married to Lucy Ann Scott nee Strait, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio. They have been residents of Troy for many years, and are generous Christian people, members of the Free Methodist church. They reside in Lorane and are proprietors of the Robinson House.
• ISAAC HARTSOCK is quite an old citizen here, being among the first to come. He has been prominent in township affairs, is well known and respected for meritorious citizenship.
• ANDREW KENNER is a substantial citizen of the township, and is in comfortable circumstances.
• O. L. CUMMINS is an excellent citizen, in fair circumstances. He has served eight years as township trustee having been elected four times, and was a competent, honest official as his records show.
• RODNEY JAMES is one of the lively “git up and dust” citizens. In conversation he holds his own remarkably well, and is a boss hand to entertain a crowd. “There are no flies on Rodney.”
• The ELLIOTTS, TERMANS and ARMOLDS, are very good citizens, honest, conscientious and appreciative, always in readiness to perform a good act. They are old citizens, full of enterprise and activity.

There are many more citizens young and old, to be mentioned, but at present the writer has no facts in relation to their history, but in future they may all receive favorable notice. While canvassing Troy, the writer was fairly and generously treated. When ill treatment was received, I considered the source it came from, like the man "hijacked by a mule" and later on would be told that the "cute kind" were rather slack in mind, so that always healed the wound. So in the future these persons will be charitably treated from the fact that nought else can be expected of them, as they are not responsible for any lack of courtesy. - - W. B. Cassel.