An exploration of the people, places and events in the history of Whitley County, Indiana.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Whitley County History Books Online
Now, I've just discovered that Google Books has the 1907 History of Whitley County, Indiana by S. P. Kaler & R. H. Maring online. They say it was digitized a year ago, but I didn't find it until recently.
Both books are searchable online and can also be downloaded.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Becky is Recovering
Charlotte
Friday, January 30, 2009
Has Enlisted As A Red Cross Nurse (1917)
Miss Dora Miller, daughter of Henry Miller, of Thorncreek township, has enlisted as Red Cross nurse but she has not yet been called and it is her opinion that she probably will not be before spring or late winter. She is here at the present time visiting relatives but leaves Sunday for Clinton, Iowa where she has been living for several years, following her profession of trained nurse. Miss Miller is not worrying about the dangers of the submarine on the way over.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Celebrated Golden Wedding Anniversary (1917)
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Emery, of Washington Township, Have Traveled Life’s Journey Together for Fifty Years.
On Saturday, Dec. 29, 1917, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Emery, of Washington township, celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary – 50 years of married life. They were married in 1867 by Rev. Austin, long since dead and gone.
In 1844 Henry Emery came by wagon and ox team from his home in Wayne county, Ohio, near Wooster. They came by ox team until they reached the old Wabash and Maumee canal where they loaded their few worldly effects and traveled by boat until they reached Huntington. Here they spent the first night with John Kenauer.
Thomas was then two years old and he has resided in Washington township ever since. He says he can remember the Indians who came through on hunting expeditions and it was quite common during his early boyhood to see Indians going back and forth from the Little Wabash to those near Columbia City. At this time Washington township was just a mass of swamps and ague reigned supreme. They cleared a little ground and farmed around the swamps and conservation of food was a great item then because they did not have any to spare, and the early settler had to bear many hardships and sacrifices to make this the first township in Whitley county.
Mrs. Fannie Huffman Emery came to this county with her parents in 1848, she then being 4 years old, from their home in Darke county, Ohio. They came by wagons and drove what stock they had with them. They located in Washington township on the old Huffman homestead where Thomas Huffman now resides, and it was here that on Dec. 29, 1867, she was married. At the age of 5 years her father lost his life while digging a well and this left the mother with three small children to clear a home in the wilderness of Indiana.
On last Saturday, being the fiftieth anniversary they celebrated it in a quiet way at their home and those who were there were: Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Emery, Mr. and Mrs. J. Lee Emery and children, Lucille and Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. John E. Long and children, Emery and Marshall, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. H. Gross and children, Velma, Dorothy and Eudora, Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Emery and daughter, Marie, and Mr. and Mrs. Sid Hall and son, Glenn, of Huntington, Ind.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Wolfe-Schneider Wedding (1917)
Misses Alice and Esther Wolfe, employed at the Superior Garment factory, visited the fair at Bremen, Ind., during the week of Sept. 4th. Miss Alice returned Sunday, but Miss Esther Wolfe and Melvin L. Schneider, of Bremen, went to Kalamazoo, Mich., where they were married at 10 o’clock Monday morning, Sept. 10th by Rev. Alonzo B. Garman, of the German Lutheran church. The groom is a highly esteemed young man with a large circle of friends, and a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Schneider, of Bremen, Ind., a retired farmer. The groom is a fireman on the B. & O. railroad.
The bride also has a large circle of friends and is the daughter of Mrs. John Wolfe of this city. The bride is an industrious young lady and has been employed at the Superior Garment factory for the last 5 years. The bride was dressed in taffeta with Georgette crepe drape. She carried bridal roses, and a double ring ceremony was performed. The wedding was a surprise to the parents of the young couple as well as to their friends. A beautiful home is being furnished for them at Bremen, where they will make their future home. Congratulations are extended to the happy couple.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Kelly Buys Out Phil Farren (1917)
Wednesday morning, August Kelly, who has been in the tailoring business here for several years, bought out the half interest of Phil Farren in the Dry Cleaning plant owned by Mr. Farren and Joe Yontz. The new firm will now be known as Kelly & Yontz, and they expect to do all sorts of dry cleaning, handling suits, rugs, ladies dresses, and other goods which need to be washed. The equipment which Farren & Yontz have kept in the Otto Langohr shop in the Washburn block, will be moved to Mr. Kelly's shop in the Grisier room on Van Buren street. Mr. Farren will travel about selling clothes, pianos and talking machines.
The new combination of Kelly & Yontz is composed of two hustlers and they will doubtless continue to enjoy a big patronage, just as their predecessors did.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Swigarts Celebrated Golden Wedding (1917)
Mr. and Mrs. John Swigart, of Troy township, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, Sunday at Troy Cedar Lake. There were about a hundred and fifty friends, relatives and neighbors present. John Swigart and Sarah Burwell were married February 14, 1867, at Beech Chapel by Rev. Wells. Eight children were born to this union, four of whom survive; they are Mrs. Cora Yoder, of Ligonier, Mrs. William Ramsey of Thorncreek township, Mrs. Minnie Clark of Troy township, and J. L. Swigart of Joplin, Missouri. There are eleven grand children and 5 great grand children, and all were present except two grandsons, Oral Raymond Swigart, who is at Annapolis and Glen Swigart, of Detroit, Michigan. The only relatives from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Swigart of Joplin, Missouri.
A sumptuous picnic dinner was served at the noon hour, and the afternoon was spent in a social way, with music by a victrola, and bathing and boating.
Mr. and Mrs. Swigart received a number of presents from their friends, among them was a very large boquet [sic] of flowers from Mrs. Mary Sherwood, who was unable to be present, and also a big wedding cake, decorated very prettily with the year of their wedding on the top in colors, from Mrs. Charles Jaggar. They also received $15 in gold. After a most enjoyable day, the guests departed for their homes and wished Mr. and Mrs. Swigart many happy returns of their anniversary.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Another Couple Eloped to Michigan (1917)
Claude Moore, son of Mrs. William Hazen, residing just outside the corporation line near the Zuber Drain Tile company, and Miss Gladys Burnworth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Burnworth, of the south side, left Thursday morning for Kalamazoo, Mich., intending to secure a marriage license there and to be married. Mr. Moore is employed as shipping clerk at the Panhandle depot and is an ambitious young man with a bright future. His bride was employed at the Superior Garment factory and is a charming young lady. They have the best wishes of their local friends for a happy and prosperous life. They will reside here.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Attended Big Chicago Sale (1917)
James Galvin, of this city, and John Hammer, of Union township, attended the Maxwalton Shorthorn cattle sale at the stockyards in Chicago, June 7th. The sale was conducted by Carpenter 7 Ross, of Mansfield, Ohio, and amounted to $140,000. One hundred head of find bred registered Shorthorn cattle sold at this sale. The cattle averaged $1,400 per head and one of the fine bred cows was purchased by John Hammer who remained in Chicago over Friday.
Earl Marshal, bull, bred by Alexander Combrie, of New Machar, Scotland, sold for $1,550; Imperial Caledonai, bull, bred by William Anderson, Oldmeldrum, Scotland, sold at $7,000; Imperial Lorne, bull, bred in Scotland, sold for $2,500; Imperial Monteith Silver Star, bull, bred at Kippen Station, sold at $2,700; Proud Baronet, bred in Scotland, sold at $3,250; Imperial Mistress Edith, cow, bred by Mrs. C. W. Tindall, Lincs, England, sold to John Hammer, of Union township, at $1,350.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Laud & Tunker News (1917)
Laud News
- Mr. and Mrs. Allie Baker are the proud parents of a baby girl; her name is Celestine. Dr. White was in attendance.
- Fred Sweitzer, Fred Johnson, George Souder, A. Nei, of Innwood, Dr. and Mrs. Anderson, of Argus, and Mr. and Mrs. A. Staley, of Plymouth, all spent Sunday at the Dr. Farmer home.
- Dr. White and wife motored to Ft. Wanye, Monday.
- Mr. and Mrs. Dale White and two daughters and Mrs. Dr. White motored to Indianapolis, Saturday, to visit the latter's sister, Mrs. Jack Schaffer.
- The Catholic Ladies Sewing Circle will meet with Mrs. Ernest Phillips, west of the city, Thursday afternoon.
- John Moyer, of near Dayton, Ohio, is here visiting his cousin, Charles M. Stump. He says they have had a very cold, backward, wet spring and the corn there has just been planted. His wheat he says is over knee high to him and the prospect for a crop are good. He also raises tobacco and left Monday for home to begin the planting of 10 acres of it.
- Mr. and Mrs. Omar Anderson, of Fort Wayne, visited over Sunday with the latter's sister, Mrs. Harley Baker.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
More Boys Off To Training Camps (1917)
J. F. Binder received a letter Sunday from his brother, Homer, who is an engineer for the Allis Chalmers Company, of Milwaukee, Wis., stating that six young men and himself had been ordered to Ft. Sheridan, Illinois, to take three months training in the engineers corps. He also stated that out of 1,500 to 2,000 applicants from the city of Milwaukee only 300 were taken. The competition was very stiff and no one but those who were physically in excellent shape were accepted. He said he was going into the army with a light heart and did not dread nor fear the work. He expects to often see Russell Nowels, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Nowels, of the city, and Walter Ruch, grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Ruch, both of whom are at Ft. Sheridan.
Prof. Ross Tuttle, who has had charge of the manual training department of the local high school, left Sunday noon for Ft. Thomas, Ky. He recently enlisted in the army as a civil engineer or draftsman. The students who were taking work under Mr. Tuttle will complete their work themselves and it is thought that no instructor will be secured to complete the term which ends in the course of three weeks. Mr. Tuttle was accompanied to Ft. Thomas by Paul Pinkley, druggist at the Carter drug store. The latter enlisted in the medical department of the service and will also receive medical training before being taken into actual service.
Prof. Arthur Wilkinson, science teacher in the high school of this city, left a few days ago for the officers' training school. He completed his school work before leaving here and the examinations were held last Thursday.
In a complete list of enlistments published Sunday by the Journal-Gazette, the names of a few more Whitley county men who had not yet been mentioned appeared. In the list was Chester A. Lincoln, a young attorney at Churubusco, Lloyd F. Gates, superintendent of the Churubusco schools, Charles Hire, a son of Simon Hire, of Thorncreek township, and Gail F. Yontz, son of Mr. and Mrs. San Yontz of this city. Mr. Lincoln enlisted in the coast artillery, while the other young men all enlisted in the infantry. Mr. Hire has already gone to the training camp at Indianapolis, and Messrs Gates and Yontz will probably be requested to report soon.
News from Indianapolis is to the effect that the enlisted men are reporting at a lively rate, but some time will be required to do the clerical work and get the five thousand or more located in their quarters. It is said that when the first arrivals sat down to their first meal at the barracks and confronted some corn beef, rye bread and black coffee they looked down their noses and seemed to be mentally engaged. They probably were looking at a moving picture show in which the conspicuous features were the home table and home folks. But it is quite certain that the bill of fare will be better after the camp gets into regular working order, and the appetites of the boys will increase wonderfully after each work-out.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Perry-Tucker Marriage (1917)
A marriage license was issued Monday morning to Thomas Perry, son of William and Nora Perry, residing on the old S. J. Paige farm in Union township, and Miss Ione Tucker, daughter of James and Josephine Tucker of the same township, who reside near Coesse, Ind.
The young people were married at 11 o'clock at the Catholic parsonage, Rev. John F. Kohl, of that church officiating. They were attended by Chas. Adang and Miss Marie Perry, sister of the bride. Mr. and Mrs. Perry will reside on the farm of the groom, just west of town.
Mr. Perry is an energetic and industrious young farmer and is well thought of among his acquaintances. His bride is an accomplished young woman and is fully prepared to preside over a home of her own. They have the good wishes of their many friends.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Yeager-Brubaker Wedding (1917)
Cloyd L. Yeager, son of Clinton Yeager, near Sidney, and Miss Freda Brubake [sic], daughter of George Brubake [sic], near South Whitley, were married at Hillsdale, Mich., Saturday morning by Justice of the Peace C. M. Weaver, at the court house. They were unattended. They spent Saturday night and Sunday in Fort Wayne returning home Sunday evening. They will reside on the Yeager farm near Sidney.
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Note: The article header has her surname as Brubaker but the article has Brubake. I did not find a Freda Brubake/Brubaker in the 1910 census index in Whitley or Huntington County though there is one listed in Madison County, Indiana (page 197/10a) though the 1920 census there (page 71/14a) shows her as a widow named Freda Parker. So she obviously isn't the right person - based on the 1920 census for Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana (page 253/7a), which shows Cloyd Yeager and his wife Freda enumerated as lodgers in the household of R. E. Viland. Cloyd is 24 years old, married, born in Indiana, parents born in Indiana. Freda is 24 years old, married, born in Illinois, father born in Ohio and mother born in Illinois.
I haven't pursued the search any further to determine if her surname was Brubake or Brubaker.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Pook-Snyder Marriage (1917)
At eleven thirty o'clock Sunday forenoon at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Snyder, south of town occurred the wedding of their daughter, Miss Esther, to Mr. Edwin Pook, son of Chas. Pook, east of the city. Rev. Grimm of the St. John church south of Columbia City performed the ceremony after which an elegant wedding dinner was served.
The groom is a trackman on the Nickle Plate railroad and is held in high esteem by his employers. The bride is a charming and accomplished young lady with a host of friends who extend their heartiest congratulations to the happy young people. They will reside in South Whitley. This paper joins in the good wishes.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Beezley-Merley Marriage (1917)
Columbia City Post ~ Wednesday, May 30, 1917
Miss Nellie Beezley and Ross E. Merley were united in marriage Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the M. E. parsonage by Rev. J. T. Bean, of the M. E. church. The ring ceremony was performed in the presence of the mother of the groom, Elmer Beezley, the father of the bride, Everett Collins and Miss Dorothy Strong, of Huntington. Following the ceremony the newly married couple motored to Huntington where a wedding supper was served in their new home, 550 Wesley street.
The groom is an expert machinist employed by the Orton-Steinbrenner concern of Huntington. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Strong, of Huntington. Miss Beezley is the daughter of Mr. Elmer Beezley, of North Walnut street, and has a large circle of friends. She was for several years employed in the Mrs. M. L. Berry millinery store in this city. She is also a member of the M. E. church in this city and took an active part in the work.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Fisher-Wynkoop Marriage (1917)
Harry M. Fisher, son of Milton Wesley Fisher, of Wabash, Ind., and Miss Flossie Wynkoop, daughter of Gustavus Wynkoop of this city, were married Saturday afternoon at the home of Rev. L. A. Luckenbill. They were attended by the mother of the bride.
Mr. Fisher is employed in the offices of the Wabash railroad in the city of Wabash as cashier and is a young man of pleasing appearance and good business judgment. Miss Wynkoop has been employed at the Superior Garment factory for the past few years and is a charming young lady with a wide circle of acquaintances and friends. The young people will live in the city of Wabash, where they proceeded immediately following the wedding ceremony. They were accompanied by the bride's mother. We join in wishing the young people success.
A Honeymoon Trip and a Birthday Celebration (1917)
Harry G. Bollinger and Wife Home from Honeymoon
Mr. and Mrs. Harry G. Bollinger have arrived home from their month's honeymoon trip which was spent in the southeast part of this country. They visited in Florida for some time with Theodore Smith and other friends, and the trip was a very delightful one. Mr. and Mrs. Bollinger have gone to housekeeping in the Crist Swigart residence property on west Market street, which was furnished by the groom before the marriage.Watsons had Birthday Celebration
A number of relatives gathered at the J. R. Watson home to remind him and Miss Cora that they each have a birthday in the last two weeks so the surprise was made Sunday, Jan. 28. When they arrived home from church they found a grand dinner awaiting them. Those present were: Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Klingerman and daughter, Helen; Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Watson and children, Elsa and Howard; Dr. D. A. Watson and children, Mary and William; Mrs. Elmer Kemery and daughter, Blanch; Mrs. Ed Holycross and children, Ida and Leroy; Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Holycross, Mrs. Frank Clingaman, Mrs. Melvin Schuman, Miss Anna Klingaman, Cora Watson, Esther Holderbaum, Mr. Elijah Watson, Ralph Watson, Dallas Klingaman. - - A Guest.