Early Residents of Chester Township

Source: NMHS Newsletter Feb 2005. The greater number of the early residents of Chester Township were farmers but some were not. It is interesting to note the variety of occupations recognized in Helm's History of Wabash County.

Jesse Arnold, banker, North Manchester. Mr. Arnold is President of the Manchester Bank, which was established by himself and his brother, John, in 1871. He was born in Darke County, Ohio, October 24, 1831 and is the son of William and Margaret (Folkerth) Arnold. He was reared on a farm and educated in the common school. In March, 1852 he removed to Whitley County, Ind. And engaged in mercantile and milling pursuits and still owns large flouring mills in South Whitley and at Huntington, Ind. He was married in October, 1858 to Miss Sarah Thompson… Mr. Arnold is a successful business man and by his integrity has gained the confidence and esteem of all who know him. He was the Representative from Wabash County to the Fifty-first General Assembly of Indiana.

Franklin H. Bloomer, M. D. Pleasant View. Born in Fayette County, Ohio, May 6, 1847. His father, Elijah Bloomer, was born in Greene County, Ohio and his mother, whose maiden name was Nancy Hopkins was born in Virginia….Dr. Bloomer was reared on a farm and received a liberal education. He graduated at the Medical College of Ohio, at Cincinnati, and has since been engaged in the practice of medicine with marked success. On the 17^th of November, 1875 he was married to Miss Eliza McIlvain, a native of Champaign County, Ohio. In 1877 He located at Pleasant View, Chester Township.

He is a member of La Fountaine Masonic Lodge, Wabash Medical Society, and himself and wife are members of the Christian Church. In the fall of 1863 he enlisted in the Seventy-third Ohio Regiment, and took part in the Atlanta campaign and was with Gen Sherman on his march to the sea. He is now very pleasantly located in the village of Pleasant View, and enjoys an extensive, lucrative practice.

J. H. Butterbaugh, harness maker, North Manchester, was born in Ohio July 14, 1848 and in 1850 came with his parents to Wabash County, Ind., locating in Chester Township. He learned the harness maker's trade, at which he has ever since been engaged. In 1871 he engaged in business for himself, by an close attention and industry has built up a good trade sufficient to keep three workmen constantly employed. In December, 1873, he was married to Miss Buzzard. Her father, Jacob Buzzard and he mother, Betsey (Aster) Buzzard were both natives of Maryland. Mr. Butterbaugh and wife are members of the German Baptist Church.

Benjamin F. Clemans, attorney and Justice of the Peace, North Manchester. Benjamin F. Clemans was born in Preble County, Ohio, December 19, 1843. His parents, Cornelius and Saloma, removed with their family to this county in 1853. During the war, Benjamin enlisted in Company B, Forty-Seventh Indiana Volunteer Regiment and served two years as Quartermaster Sergeant, remaining in the army until the close of the war. On the 10^th of June, 1870 he married Miss Emma Benson, who died July 4, 1875. On the 25^th of December, 1879, Mr. Clemans married Miss Etta Travelbee. He was elected in the spring of 1878 to the office of Justice of the Peace and the following fall was admitted to the bar, and is now practicing law at North Manchester. He is a member of the Knights of Honor and both himself and wife are members of the Lutheran Church.

John J. Cowgill, boot and shoe dealer, North Manchester. John L. son of Benjamin W. and Rebecca Cowgill, was born in Clark County, Ohio, January 18, 1826. When but a boy he learned the shoemaker's trade with his father, who was engaged in that occupartion. He was married in 1843, to Miss Catherine Crill, … In 1845, Mr. Cowgill located in Wabash County, Ind., and in 1852 he left his family here and went to California, where he remained until 1860, returning to Wabash County in that year. In 1862, his wife died and in 1863 he wedded Miss Elizabeth Simpson. … Mr. Cowgill has a first-class boot and shoe establishment in North Manchester, and is a successful and popular business man.

J. J. Martin, artist, North Manchester, was born in Ohio June 20, 1841. His father, Samuel Martin, was a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother, who maiden name was Louisa Eckman was a native of Ohio. … Mr. Martin came to Wabash County with his parents at the age of four years and has resided at North Manchester ever since. He served the Union cause as a member of the Forty-seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteers. He participated in the siege of Island No. 10 and was honorably discharged from the service on account of disability. He was married in November, 1866 to Miss Mary E. Williams, native of Indiana and daughter of Clark and Eliza Williams. . .

They are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Martin is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Honor; recently joined the United Order of Honor and was a member of the Town Council of North Manchester during the year 1881. For the past eighteen years he has been the proprietor of a photograph gallery at North Manchester. He is an extensive dealer in photographer's stock, and carried a large supply of pure chemicals, apparatus, albumen paper, velvet frames, mats, molding, chromos, etc.

J. P. Noftzger, marble works, North Manchester, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, May 18, 1839 and came to Wabash County, Ind. In 1842 with his parents, Joseph and Amelia. He acquired a common school education and in young manhood he taught school and, at other time, clerked in stores. In 1867 he was married to Miss Anna C. Carson. … He was elected Trustee of Chester Township in 1878. Prior to this, he owned the bookstore in the post office, but sold out in 1879. He then engaged in the stone and marble trade in which business he is still engaged. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and also a member of the Knights of Honor.

Eli C. Ohmart, M. D. physician, North Manchester, is a son of Joel and Phebe (Frantz) Ohmart and was born May 6, 1859 in Pleasant Township… At the age of fourteen years the subject of this sketch began teaching school. Later he entered the Normal College at Valpariso, Ind. Where he graduated. He also attended the college at Oberlin, Ohio one year. He studied medicine with Dr. Winton and graduated from the medical college at Ann Arbor, Mich... He was married Sept. l, 1878, to Miss Minnie E. Dixson a native of La Porte, Ind.. Dr. Ohmart is the descendant of German ancestors….Dr. Ohmart is very pleasantly situated in the city of North Manchester and enjoys a large and lucrative practice.

Rufus A. Schoolcraft, dealer in pelts, North Manchester. Rufus A. Schoolcraft was born in Huntington County, Ind. April l6, 1841. His parents were both natives of Indiana… During the late war the subject of this biography enlisted for three years in the Forty seventh Indiana Regiment and took part in the battles of Champion Hill, the siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss. And other engagements of minor importance. He located in Wabash County in 1872. For the past eight years he has been engaged in buying and selling hides, furs, pelts, etc. In June, 1867 he was married to Miss M. J. Sickafoose whose parents, Samuel and Betsy Sickafoose, were both natives of Ohio…

James Wallace, Postmaster, North Manchester, was born in Randolph County, Ind., June 17, 1850. He is the son of Thomas and Lydia (Cowgill) Wallace. He came to Wabash County with his parents in 1856 and was reared and educated in North Manchester. His father died in 1874; his mother still resides here. Mr. Wallace was appointed Postmaster at North Manchester in May, 1880 by President Hayes, and has discharged the duties of the office with entire satisfaction to the public.

J.W. Williams is a prominent druggist and successful business man of North Manchester, Inc. J.W. Williams was born in Clark County, Ohio, February 7, 1824. His paternal grandfather, Enyon Williams was of Welsh descent and moved from North Carolina to Highland County, Ohio during the pioneer days of that section of the country. Enyon William was the father of eight children of whom Peter, the father of J. W. Williams was the oldest. Peter Williams was born in North Carolina and accompanied his parents to Highland County, Ohio, where they died.

During the year 1812, Peter Williams was married to Nancy Willis and they had five children, the youngest of whom was John W. J.W. Williams remained in his native county until reaching his thirteenth year, when he came to Wabash County, Ind. And located upon the present site of North Manchester although no town existed there at that time. Mr. Williams received a good common school education and during the years 1839 and 1840 attended a school in the village of Richmond, Ind. Upon his return from school he accepted a position in a general store at North Manchester owned by Asa Beauchamp.

In 1856, Mr. Williams began the drug business in North Manchester and has since succeeded in securing a large and lucrative trade. He has always been an energetic business man and although he had a profitable drug trade, during the years 1863 and 1864 he was a partner in a dry goods store in North Manchester owned and conducted by himself and D.B Wendell. From 1866 to 1869 Mr Williams was associated in business with Marshall and Tillman but since the latter firm was dissolved he has given his attention to the sale of drug.

Mr. Williams has been twice married. His first marriage occurred in 1844, the bride being Charity J. Kirk, a native of Virginia. They were the parents of five children, only one of whom survives, viz', Jirah Barlow, who has been associated in the drug store with his father since 1872. The first Mrs. Williams having died in 1856, Mr. Williams was again married April 5, 1857 to Miss Elizabeth Kohser, born near Strasburg, Germany, By the latter marriage, they had three children, two of whom survive.

Mr. Williams has served in the capacity of Justice of the Peace twelve years and also acted in the capacity of Township Clerk several years. He is a member of the Encampment and I. O. O. F. and has passed all the chairs of the Subordinate Lodge. To none of the many enterprising residents of North Manchester is that city more indebted for substantial encouragement than to J. W. Williams. Through a life of honest industry he has advanced from moderate circumstances to opulence and has dispended his bounty for the improvement of the town and to ameliorate the condition of those to whom fortune had been less kind than to himself instead of hoarding his gains and adding to a fortune already ample.

By the course he had pursued in life he had endeared himself to all who know him and his record as a business man, a friend and a Christian gentleman is stamped indelibly upon the memories of all while the advancement of public enterprises, to which he has lent encouragement is felt and appreciated by all his many acquaintances.

Since the above was prepared Mr. J. W. Williams has been summoned to surrender the enjoyments of this life. He died of dropsy February 14, 1884.

Dr. Horace Winton, physician and surgeon, North Manchester. This gentleman is of Welsh ancestry. His great grandfather, Matthew Winton, was a native of Wales and came to the United States at an early day, locating at Cincinnati, Ohio. He cut a road through the heavy timber which is still known as the "Winton Road." He also erected the first two story house in Cincinnati, and this building was used as a hotel - the first in the town. William R. Winton was the father of the subject of this sketch. He was one of the pioneers of Portland, Fountain Co., Ind. Where he located in 1828, and lived for one year amid the privations of border life. He acted as postmaster at Portland on a weekly salary of $1. He subsequently located at Crawfordsville, Ind. And was one of the first Trustees of Wabash College and one of the most liberal patrons of that institution.

He was a very able and successful physician. He removed to Wabash in 1850 and died there in 1873. His wife died in North Manchester in 1884. Dr. Horace Winton, the subject of this sketch was born in Crawfordsville, in June, 1831. In boyhood he was the private pupil of Dr. Thomas, then of Hamilton, Ohio, now deceased. Later he attended Miami University at Oxford, Ohio for two years and completed his educated with a four years' course at Wabash College, Crawfordsville. He read medicine with his father and subsequently attended Rush Medical College, Chicago and Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia graduating for the latter institution in 1865.

He entered upon the practice of his profession at North Manchester in 1856 and has built up a very satisfactory practice in the meantime. He is successful and skillful and has gained the confidence of all. In 1857 he was married to Miss Mary E. Boggs and they are the parents of four children. Both the Doctor and his wife are members of the Methodist Church. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Honor. He has twice filled all the chairs in the Odd Fellows Lodge and was Prelate of his Commandery in the Knight Templars' organization. He is associated with his brother, Dr. Charles Winton, in the practice of his profession.

Dr. Charles H. Winton, physician and surgeon, North Manchester was born in Dayton, Ind. July 20, 1814 and is the son of the late Dr. William R. Winton. He was educated in the academy at Wabash, Ind., and Wabash College at Crawfordsville, Ind. Graduating from the latter institution in 1865. He then read medicine with his father at Wabash, Ind., and afterward attended lectures at the Ohio Medical College. He subsequently engaged in the practice with his father and in 1869 located in the neighboring town of North Manchester and entered into partnership with his brother, Dr. Horace Winton.

In November, 1868 he was married to Miss Inez Lamoreux. This union was blessed with five children. Dr. Winton and wife are both members of the Lutheran Church and the Doctor is identified with the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Honor. As a physician he has been very successful and enjoys the confidence and esteem of the community in which he resides.