DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA
BIOGRAPHIES
Charles Tebbs Bonham
Charles Tebbs Bonham.
Shrewd business capacity, special adaptiveness to his vocation,
appreciation of his calling's many advantages and a firm belief in his
own ability to succeed, have placed Charles Tebbs Bonham among the
leading promoters of agriculture and stock raising in the Whitewater
vicinity of Hamilton county. From the fertile soil of this locality,
his hands have brought forth ample means and his present status among
his fellow-citizens is that of a financially strong and morally high
farmer. Mr. Bonham was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, July IO, 1878,
a son of John Hughes and Sarah (Hargitt) Bonham, both natives of
Dearborn county, Indiana. Mr. John H. Bonham engaged in the
agricultural business throughout his life and both he and Mrs. Bonham
are now living retired in Dearborn county, Indiana. He is a Democrat in
politics and takes great interest in political affairs. He is a member
of the Methodist Episcopal church and is accounted one of its most
charitable members. Mr. and Mrs. Bonham were the parents of five
children and they are as follows: Mary, who is the wife of John
Siefferman, of Dearborn county, Indiana; Charles T.; Nora, who is the
wife of Floyd Jackson, of Dearborn county; John, who resides in
Whitewater township, Hamilton county, Ohio, and Alta, who is the wife
of Charles Thomas, of Butler county, Ohio. Charles Tebbs Bonham
obtained his early education in the local schools of Dearborn county,
Indiana and upon the completion of his studies, returned home and
assisted in the agricultural operations of his father's farm. He
continued in this until 1903, when he rented one of his father's farms,
and engaged in business for himself. After continuing in this for nine
years he purchased a farm in Whitewater township, which he sold some
time later. He then purchased his present fine farm of 125 acres, where
he is now engaged in general farming. Mr. Bonham also makes a specialty
in raising high grade Jersey cattle for which he has more than local
fame. Politically, Mr. Bonham is a stanch Democrat, but never cared for
the eminence of office, preferring to devote his time to his home and
business. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church; his wife of
the Christian church, and all are active in the affairs of both. On
October 12, 1903, Mr. Bonham was united in marriage with Miss Mary
Bodle, a daughter of John and Bell (Henry) Bodle, well-known
agriculturists of Dearborn county, Indiana. Mr. Bodle is now living
retired with his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Bonham. To this
union have been born two children: Howard Eugene, and Olive Irene, both
living at home. In concluding this review of Mr. Bonham's life, will
say that he is a man of the highest integrity, and one who is known
throughout the community for his charity, fairness, and capability.
Source: Memoirs of the
Miami Valley By John Calvin Hover, Joseph Daniel Barnes
Leonard Amm
Leonard Amm. In the
history of St. Joseph county the name of Leonard Amm should not be
omitted, for through many years he has been one of the leading
agriculturists of Liberty township, progressive, enterprising and
persevering. Such qualities always win success, and to Mr. Amm they
have brought a handsome competence as the reward of his well directed
efforts. He is a native of Dearborn county. Indiana, born on the 27th
of March. 1855. a son of Andrew and Margaret (Kundinger) Amm. in whose
family were seven children, five sons and two daughters, and six are
now living: Adam, a farmer of Lincoln, Nebraska; Maggie, the wife of
Albert Miller, who is living retired in Cincinnati, Ohio; George, who
is married and resides in Dearborn county, Indiana, and with whom his
father resided; Fred, who is married and also follows farming in
Dearborn county; Leonard, whose name introduces this review; and
Lizzie, the wife of Adam Ester, an agriculturist of Dearborn county.
Mr. Amm, the father, was
born in the province of Byron, Germany, and after his marriage, with
his young wife he left home and native land on a sailing vessel bound
for New York, three weeks having passed ere the worn and weary
travelers sighted land. Their first permanent home was in Hamilton,
Ohio, but they subsequently removed to Dearborn county, Indiana, where
they became the owners of sixty acres of partially improved land, their
first home being a little log cabin, and this land is yet in the name
of Mr. Amm. From the time of his arrival in America he was a loyal and
devoted son of the republic, and would have served his adopted country
in the Civil war had he not been exempted therefrom on account of
having lost one of his fingers. He staunchly upheld the principles of
the Republican party, and was a worthy member of the German Lutheran
church, as was also his wife. She was born in the same place as her
husband, about 1823, and her death occurred in 1895, when she had
reached the age of seventy- two years. She was a kind and loving wife
and mother, and she now sleeps in Dearborn county, where a beautiful
stone stands sacred to her memory. Mr. Amm died May 27, 1907. at the
home of his son George, in Dearborn county, and he was interred on
Decoration Day. He was eighty-four years, four months and seventeen
days old at the time of his death, and he is buried beside his wife in
the county of Dearborn. His mind remained clear and was filled with
many pleasant memories of the past.
Leonard Amm, their son,
spent the early years of his life in his native county of Dearborn, and
has devoted his entire business life to agricultural pursuits. He is a
self educated man, and at the age of seventeen years he began the
battle of life for himself, receiving fifteen dollars a month in
compensation for his farm labor. When he had reached the age of
twenty-one years he came to Liberty township, St.
Joseph county, his first employer here being Peter Geyer, on whose farm
he worked for four years. He was an industrious lad, and having saved
his wages was enabled on the expiration of that period to purchase
forty acres of land, only about five of which had been cleared, and he
was obliged to go in debt for a part of the farm. As the years grew
apace success rewarded his well directed efforts, and he was soon able
to clear his indebtedness and to also purchase thirty-seven acres just
across the road, while later he became the owner of forty-two acres
where his house stands. He subsequently sold his first purchase of
forty acres, and his farm now consists of one hundred and twenty acres,
all excellent land and under a fine state of cultivation.
On the 10th of August,
1879, Mr. Amm was united in marriage to Miss Nancy E. Newcomer, and
their five children, three sons and two daughters, are: Elmer G., who
is an employee of the Armour Company in South Bend. He received his
diploma from the common schools with the class of 1899, and married
Miss Ida Harmon, by whom he has three children, Clarence, Merrill and
Milbourn L. He gives his political support to the Republican party, and
the family are members of the Lutheran church. Edmund D. resides with
his brother Elmer in South Bend. He was a member of the class of 1900,
and also spent two years in the high school of North Liberty. Celestia,
who is pursuing her studies in the eighth grade and is also receiving
musical instruction ; Lodema, a member of the seventh grade and also a
music pupil; and Sterling Albert, the youngest of the family, who is a
bright little lad in the fourth grade. Mrs. Amm was born in Liberty
township January 21, 1859, and is the sixth 'of the seven children born
to Samuel and Susanna (Stump) Newcomer. Six of the number are now
living: John, a retired farmer of Liberty township; Katie, the wife of
Christopher Eisenmanger, a retired farmer of Marshall county, Indiana:
Mary, the wife of Albert Harmon, also of Marshall county; Eliza, wife
of Moses Kaser, a farmer of Union township, St. Joseph county; Nancy
E., the wife of Mr. Amm: and Samuel, who is married and resides on a
farm in Marshall county, Indiana. Mr. Newcomer, the father, was born in
Holmes county. Ohio, April 2, 1821, and died in 1897, in* Liberty
township. In true pioneer style he journeyed from his native state to
St. Joseph county, Indiana, where he purchased one hundred and sixty
acres of land in the dense timber, and the first home was the primitive
log cabin so common in the early days. He was a Jackson Democrat in his
political affiliations, while religiously he was a Mennonite. Mrs.
Newcomer claimed Pennsylvania as the state of her nativity, her natal
day being the 10th of August, 1823, and her death occurred at the home
of her daughter, Mrs. Amm, May 20, 1906. In 1904 an organization for
the reunion of the Newcomer family was instituted, their meetings to be
held yearly, and in 1905 the reunion was held at the home of Mrs. Amm,
at which one hundred and twenty of the relatives were present. On that
occasion photographs of her mother and children, also her mother and
grandchildren and her mother and great grandchildren were taken. This
is the only organization of the kind known to exist in Liberty township.
Mr. and Mrs. Amm began
their married life on the little forty acre tract purchased by the
husband, and although their capital was then extremely limited their
diligence and careful management have enabled them with the passing
years to acquire a competence and to become leading agriculturists in
the township. Their pleasant home is known as "Mapleridge Farm." Mr.
Amm is a stanch Republican in his political affiliations, having cast
his first presidential vote for R. B. Hayes, and he has ever since
supported its presidential candidates. He is a member of the advisory
board of Liberty township, and both he and his wife are members of the
German Lutheran church. Mrs. Amm recently went on an extended trip to
Pennsylvania, where she visited relatives and viewed the beautiful
scenes of the Keystone state.
Source: A History of St.
Joseph County, Indiana By Timothy Edward Howard
Anson Thatcher
Anson Thatcher resides on
section 17, Kirklin Township, where he has a fine farm of 280 acres,
and also owns ninety-eight acres on section 18. He came to Clinton
County in December, 1865, and lived in Johnson Township until the
following spring, when he moved to his present farm. A small frame
house was on his farm, and it was partly under cultivation. He has
greatly improved his farm, and in 1883 built an upright part to his
residence and a fine frame barn. He has 1,000 feet of tiling, good
fences, and his buildings are among the best in the township. Mr.
Thatcher was born in Dearborn County, Indiana, December 8, 1836, a son
of Harvey and Milly (Barre) Thatcher. His father was born in New York
State, in 1804, and when a boy accompanied his father, Elijah Thatcher,
to Dearborn County, Indiana. Elijah Thatcher was killed by falling from
a fence on which he was sitting talking to a neighbor; the rail turning
threw him to the ground and broke his neck. Harvey Thatcher died in
1863. He was a devoted Christian man, and in politics was a Whig. The
mother of our subject was born in Virginia, eight miles from the Blue
Ridge Mountains, in 1806, and when a child accompanied her parents to
Dearborn County, Indiana, and was there married about 1825. She is
still living on the old homestead. The family consisted of twelve
children—Eliza J.,Ezra D., Elijah (deceased), Clarissa (deceased),
Anson, Catherine, Mary A., Samuel, Susannah. J., William and Elizabeth
O. When Anson Thatcher was nine years old his parents moved to Fayette
County, and there he was reared, living there until 1865, although he
had spent one summer in Clinton County prior to his removal here,
coming in 1862 and working by the month, making his home with his
brother Elijah. He was married June 23, 1863, to Phoebe Hinesley, who
was born in Clinton County, Indiana, May, 1845. Her father was an early
settler of Clinton County, it being his home thirty-eight years. Her
mother died when she was but two years old. Mr. Thatcher has one
son—Francis E., who was born September 10, 1865, and married Essie
Ward. Mr. Thatcher had but limited educational advantages, and feeling
the disadvantage of waiting until manhood to acquire his education his
son has been given the benefit of the best schools, attending La
Fayette College several terms. Mr. Thatcher is a representative man of
his township, being enterprising and public spirited. In politics he is
a Republican.
Source: History of
Clinton County, Indiana By Ill Inter-state Publishing Company
Virgil H. Whipple
WHIPPLE, VIRGIL H.,
Farmer, Sec. 14; Harvard P. O. ; born in Franklin Co.. Mass., town of
New Salem, March 27, 1810; came to the town of Dunham, (IL) 1844; owns
160 acres of land two and a half miles from Harvard (IL). Married Jane
Durant March 14, 1848; she was born in Dearborn Co., Ind.; had nine
children- four boys and five girls ; lost two boys and one girl.
[Source: 1877 Directory of McHenry County, IL - Transcribed by K.
Torp]