Starke County, Indiana
Biographies
William H. Snyder
He who is careful in small things and
who earns a reputation for honesty and reliability by strictly keeping
the promises he has made, is already on the road to a successful and
useful life. As a sound, upright and reliable man there is none more worthy the name than
"William H. Snyder, of Ora, Starke County, Indiana. He was born at
Columbus, Indiana, December 19, 1854 and is a son of James B. and
Maritta (Thompson) Snyder, natives of Virginia arid Indiana,
respectively. The father at the age of twenty-three years moved from Ohio to Columbus, Indiana, and the
same year (1853) was united in marriage
to Miss Thompson and here William H. was born. Soon after this the family moved back to Ohio where the
second child, Mary Ellen, was born, and then the family moved to Minnesota
where they remained one year, during . which time, the wife and mother (Maritta)
died. Mr. Snyder, with his two children,
then went back to Ohio, his former home, and while there married for his second wife Miss Julia Miller, and
soon afterward started again for Minnesota, but was detained for three
months at Wabash, Indiana, by the sickness of his wife and upon resuming his journey
was again detained for the same
reason in Cook County, Illinois, where he finally concluded to remain and where he farmed for two years. He then
gave up the idea of going to Minnesota
and concluded to locate in Michigan, but on the way to that State stopped in Marshall County, Indiana, where
he rented a farm for two years and
also worked at his trade, that of shoemaking. At the end of the two
years be moved to Pulaski
County and there rented a farm for two years, succeeding which he lived for eleven years in Starke
County, then went back to Pulaski County where he bought a farm and lived
for twelve years and then bought a farm and village property at Ora,
Indiana and here still resides and operates a livery barn. Honest, industrious and
persevering, he has accumulated a fair share of this world's goods, and in all
his business dealings bears the name of an honest man.
William H. Snyder, his son and our
subject was married at the age of nineteen years to Miss Sarah Brown who was
born in Starke County, Indiana, and bore her husband five children;
Nellie, Dora and Nora (twins) living, James and Harvey, deceased. The latter was
born in Pulaski County and the others in Starke County. Mr. Snyder
farmed in these two others in
Starke County. Mr. Snyder farmed in these two counties until 1883 when he moved to Illinois where he
continued that occupation five years. In 1882 he and his wife separated and in 1888
were legally divorced. In 1891 he
was united in marriage to Miss Lillie French who bore him three
children and died. The
children were Pearlie, Hattie and an infant unnamed. Upon his return to Starke County Mr. Snyder
farmed for one year and then moved to Ora and opened a saloon which he
conducted three years and then formed a partnership with Charles Reiubolt and they
are now engaged in carrying on agriculture,
undertaking and the saloon business and are doing a business of $8,000 per annum. Mr. Snyder is a man of
good address and makes a good citizen.
He takes an interest in all movements that meet the wishes of the public. In politics he is a sound
Democrat.
Michael Kelley
The intelligence and ability
shown by Michael Kelley as a progressive tiller of the soil, and the interest he
has taken in the advancement of measures for the good of Starke County,
Indiana, caused him long since to be classed among the leading citizens of
his section. All that he has achieved or gained has principally come as the
result of his own efforts, and he deserves much credit for the determined way in
which he faced and overcame many difficulties. He is a native of the green
Isle of Erin, born September 29, 1845, and is a son of Rodger and Johanna
(Carroll) Kelley, natives of that country also. Led by the promises of the
western prairies of this country, the father, Rodger Kelley, came to America
in the spring of 1850, and landed
in the city of New Orleans, and in the fall of 1852, the mother, Johanna, with three children, Michael
being the youngest, came to this country also; lauded in the city of
Quebec, Dominion of Canada, and joined the husband and father in the city of
Hamilton, Ohio, at which place they remained for a short time. In the fall of
1856, they came to Starke County, Indiana, and purchased eighty acres of
land in North Bend Township, where both passed the remainder of their lives,
the father dying in 18(33, and the mother in 1873. Michael came to Starke
County, Indiana, with his parents when about eleven years of age, and his
youthful days were passed in helping his father till the soil. His scholastic
training was received in the common schools, and after the death of the
father, the farm was carried on by the children. Our subject has
resided in North Bend Township ever children. Our subject has resided
in North Bend Township ever since and is now the owner of two farms, one of 320
acres and one of 197 acres of land, besides some city property in Knox; all
the result of industry and good management on his part. His buildings are
all first-class and everything about
the place indicates that an experienced and skillful hand is at the
helm. Scarcely had he become
of age when he was elected Assessor of North Bend Township, giving general satisfaction, and
in the year 1874 was elected County
Recorder, and served two terms of four years each, filling that
position in a very
satisfactory manner, during which time he helped to prepare and write up a set of abstract books of
Starke County, which is considered to be as good a piece of work as there is in
the State. Aside from these eight years, he has resided on his farm, with
the exception of about one year spent in Winamac, Indiana. On the 1st day of
June, 1876, Mr. Kelley was married to Miss Josephine M. Malauy, a native of
Racine, Wisconsin, and seven children
have been given them: John, Leo, Eva, Agues, Jennie, Anastasia and Mabel. Mr. Kelley is a member of the
Knights of Maccabees at Monterey, and he and Mrs. Kelley are members of the
Catholic Church. In politics He is a Democrat, and takes a deep interest
in political affairs. Uprightness and honesty have marked his career in life,
and he has the respect and confidence of all.
Samuel Koontz, Sr.
Since the year 1847, this worthy citizen has been a resident of Starke County, Indiana, and has made his home in
the vicinity of what is familiarly known as " Koontz's Lake." He comes of
worthy Pennsylvania Dutch stock which has never failed its country in time
of war or peace, and his ancestors were active participants in the struggles
with our hereditary enemy — Great Britain — during the Revolutionary War and
the War of 1812. He owes his nativity
to Northampton County, Pennsylvania, where he was born in the. year 1814, and remained under the shelter
of the parental roof until he was. twenty-one years of age, during which time
he had acquired a practical training as a tanner, a business he afterward
pursued in Ohio, from the time of his arrival there, in 1835; until his
removal to the section in which he now resides, in 1847. He was then a young man
of fine physique and possessed sufficient
penetration to realize that that portion of Starke County in the vicinity of Koontz's Lake was the ideal
spot on which to make a home for himself and his little family, and
there he and his descendants remain in undisputed possession of over 2,000 acres
of fine, arable laud. He first entered 600 acres of land which he tilled for some
time, then built thereon a sawmill, and after a time recalling his early
training as a tanner, he erected a tannery near the site of his present gristmill,
but upon finding this by no means a profitable investment, he, in 1850,
established his present gristmill. The erection of this mill was of great benefit
to the early settlers, who patronized it for forty miles around, and the United
States Government recognizing Mr. Koontz's efforts sent surveyors to the
scene who eventually conferred upon •Samuel Koontz, senior, his heirs and
assigns, forever, the sole right and ownership of all the waters known as Koontz's Lake,
in consideration of the fact that
this gristmill should be kept in active operation for the convenience
of the then present and
incoming settlers, ad infinitum. These considerations were carefully carried out by Mr. Koontz,
Sr., as long as he actively superintended the mill, and at present just as
faithfully by his son, Samuel Koontz, Jr., who has been in active charge since
18G2. When the great Civil War came
on Mr. Koontz, Sr., was an ardent supporter of the Union, was outspoken
in his views and taught his
children to love the grand old stars and stripes and the land which gave them birth. Mr.
Koontz has been married twice and by his first wife became the father of
eight children, two of whom survive, Samuel, Jr., and Daniel, and by his second
wife became the father of four children,
three daughters surviving. One is the wife of Attorney H. A. Woodworth, another the wife of P. C.
Woodworth, farmer, and the third is the wife of Jacob Paul, a successful and wealthy
farmer of Marshall County. Although Mr. Koontz has liberally endowed his
children with lands and money, yet he possess in his own right his old time
pleasant and comfortable home, with about 1,000 acres of some of the finest
land of which this country can boast, in adjacent portions of Starke, Marshall
and St. Joseph Counties. Although in his eightieth year, he is the picture
of health and vitality, a fine example 'of the correct mode of living and obeying
the laws of nature.
Samuel Koontz,
Jr.
This worthy son of a worthy father is an Ohioan by birth, and came with
his parents to Koontz's Lake
in 1847 when he was but three years of age. He grew up a sturdy youngster with a keen
intellect and practical views, arid at the age of eighteen years was
capable of taking complete charge of his father's mill, which he has operated most
successfully up to the present time. He has always stood high in the estimation
of his neighbors and fellow citizens, and has held a number of important
official positions, being elected in the fall
of 1890 to the position of County
Treasurer of Starke County. Although the county was overwhelmingly Democratic, Mr.
Koontz came very near running ahead
of every competitor. The most of his attention, however, is given to
his mill, which of late years
has been enlarged by the addition of a top story and fitted up with machinery of the rolling
mill process of the latest and most approved kinds. With its fine line of
machinery, it is no wonder that this mill has now the reputation of turning out
a grade of flour second to none.in the United States, and equaled (if at all)
by a very few. Its capacity is forty
barrels every twenty-four hours, and such is the demand that the mill has to be run unceasingly, and even then
the demand cannot be supplied. Mr.
Koontz has a pleasant home, beautifully located near his mill,
surrounded by fruit trees,
with a fine natural forest in the background, making a rural retreat fit for monarchs, and one highly
appreciated by Mr. Koontz and his interesting family, which consists of his
wife, a daughter, Laura, and a son, Edward, the latter of whom is a
first-class miller, having learned the trade under the able instruction of his father,
and now owns a clothing store in
Walkerton.
Simon Bybee
A well conducted newspaper is an
excellent educator, and not alone for this is it to be commended, for it is
also an excellent advertising agent, and wields a wide influence in shaping the
moral and political views of the people of the section in which it is issued. The
" North Judson News," is an admirably conducted paper in every way, and its
proprietor and editor, Simon Bybee,
who is also an attorney-at-law, is well fitted, both by education and experience, to conduct it successfully. He
is a native of Kosciusko County, Indiana, where he was born on the 21st of
February, 1851, a son of Pleasant and Nancy (De Witt) Bybee, he of Ross
County, Ohio, and she of Fayette County, Ohio. Pleasant Bybee immigrated
with his parents to Indiana in 1848,
and settled with them on a pioneer farm in Kosciusko County, where he was brought up to a thorough knowledge of
tilling the soil, and also to stock raising, in which his father was among the
very first to engage in that section of the State. In 1851 he took up his abode
near Sevastopol, Kosciusko County,
Indiana, and there made his home until his death, September 21, 1872, becoming one of the prominent
citizens of that section. His father was one of the early commissioners of that
county, and a veteran of the Mexican War. Pleasant Bybee was married in Fayette
County, Ohio. In 1870 he
removed to Fulton County, where he became a prosperous and influential citizen, and the owner of one of the
largest, best improved and most valuable farms of that section. He was called from
life in 1872, and his widow is
now a resident of North Judson. Simon Bybee spent his early life in the
healthful out door life of the farm
and in the public schools of Fulton County, and in Franklin College he received a liberal education. He
graduated from the above mentioned institution in 1879, and for six years
thereafter he was a minister of the Baptist Church at Kewanee, Indiana. During
this time he began the study of
law, in fact, had made law a partial study all his life, and in
September, 1886, was admitted
to the bar of Starke County, at North Judson, and at once began practicing that profession,
which he has since very successfully continued, being the only attorney of the
town. Since locating here, he
has been on the defense of nearly every noted criminal case in the
Circuit Court of the County,
about two hundred in all, and has conducted his cases to a successful issue in nearly
every instance. He has also practiced before the courts of Fulton, Pulaski and
Porter Counties, in fact, is among the most intelligent, shrewd and
successful lawyers of Northern Indiana, for he is a correct judge of men and
motives, is painstaking in the preparation of his cases, and is an eloquent, forcible
and convincing speaker. In
1892 Mr. Bybee was the Republicans candidate for Prosecuting Attorney
in the Forty-fourth Judicial
District, but even his extensive acquaintance and popularity, could not overcome the
Democratic majority, although he ran 700 votes ahead of his ticket. September
15, 1889, he established the " North Judson News, " a weekly paper, published
in the interests of all worthy enterprises
calculated to benefit the community, and it has attained a large circulation. It is a seven-column folio,
and is ably edited. Socially Mr. Bybee is a member of the A. F. & A.
M., the I. O. O. F., and the I. O. G. T. April 30, 1875, he was married to Miss
Melissa Bryant, a native
of Fulton County, Indiana, and a
daughter of Peter and Lucy (Nichols) Bryant. To them two children have been born:
Cecilla and Lulu. The eldest one
being now eighteen years of age, is the manager of the " News." Lulu,
the second, is a graduate of the North Judson High Schools, second, is
a graduate of the North Judson High Schools, and is well equipped to battle with the scientific problems of
the future. The entire family have their birthdays in February, a very rare
occurrence indeed.
Alfred I. Brooker
There is no more important business in a community or one in which its exponents are in greater demand than the
brick contractor, for the majority of buildings at the present day, are made
of this material, and it requires a man of undoubted intelligence, as well
as experience, to make a success of this line of work. Such a man is Alfred
I. Brooker, who is a manufacturer of considerable prominence. He is a
product of Litch field, Medina County,
Ohio, where he was born September 4, 1845, his parents, Warren and Mary A. (Kire) Brooker, having
been born in the Nutmeg State.
They removed to Medina, Ohio, about 1835 where Mr. Brooker entered and improved a farm, operating at the same
time a sawmill. He died in the fall
of 1878, at the age of seventy-six years, having been a "Whig and Republican politically throughout life. He
was a member of the Congregational Church, of which his widow, who survives
him, at the age of eighty- eight
years, is also a worthy member. To them twelve children were born, eleven of whom reached maturity : William,
who was a soldier of the Mexican war, and also served in the One-hundredth
Ohio Cavalry during the Civil war ; Warren was a musician in the Union Army
during the Rebellion; Mary A., (Kellogg)
of Ohio; Emeline (Reid), who died at Warsaw, Ohio; Lucius, who served in the One-hundredth Ohio
Cavalry, as Lieutenant; Nettie (Travers), who is dead; Hiram, who served in
the Thirty-eighth Ohio Infantry, and is now a resident of Indiana; Merritt
W., of Ohio; Jane, who has been married twice, and is now a Mrs. Nickson
of Michigan ; Fred, who died in Ohio, and a daughter that died in infancy.
The paternal grandfather, Warren
Brooker, was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, his ancestors having come from England. He was a farmer, and
lived to an advanced age, dying
in full communion with the Congregational Church. Alfred I. Brooker spent the healthy and happy life of the
farmer's boy until he attained his
thirteenth year, when he began the manufacture of brick with his
brother, Fred, being thus
employed during the summer months. At the age of fifteen, he took an interest in the business, and
in 1865, went to Toledo, Ohio, where he was engaged in the manufacture
of brick until about 1873, after which he worked for wages at Napoleon.
From that point he went to Defiance,
Ohio, in the spring of 1883, thence to Toledo, where lie started a brickyard for a brother, and successfully
operated it for five years. After the discovery of gas at Findlay, he went to
that point and opened a brickyard, of which he has been superintendent ever
since. Here he began operating an hydraulic plant, the first one to be
established outside the city of St. Louis. In April, 1890, he came to Porter County,
Indiana, built a plant, and has been its superintendent ever since. He is the
general superintendent of three flourishing plants, which have an annual
output of 28,000,000 brick, and he has a well established reputation for
being the best brick maker in the country. As a Republicans, he has taken an
active interest in the political affairs of his section, but his manifold
business interests would have prevented him from entering the political arena were
he so inclined.
Mr. Brooker has been married twice,
first to Mrs. Fannie (Viers) Button, a daughter of Elisha and Frances Viers,
the former of whom was of German origin. He and his wife reared one sou,
Henry, and two daughters: Delia and Fannie. To Mr. and Mrs. Brooker eight
children were given: Edith, who
died at the age of twenty-five years ; Nettie, who became the wife of
Scott Boss; Charles; Frances;
Grace; Harry and Homer. Mr. Brooker was left a widower in September, 1887, and he
afterward led to the altar, Georgia Aber, a native of Humboldt County,
California. Mr. Brooker and his present wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, as was his first wife before him. He is a worthy citizen,
progressive, public spirited and intelligent, and it is a well known fact that he is a
thorough master of the business to which his attention is directed.
Andrew J. Uncapher
Enterprise and energy go hand in hand with the successful growth and development of a community. Probably to no
other one man does Starke County,
Indiana, owe so much as to the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. For years he has been closely
identified with the county's best interests, and has contributed as much as any one man
of the county to its rapid growth
and development during the past few years. A man of unquestioned integrity, of shrewd business ability,
generous to a fault, and beloved by all who are fortunate to number him as an
acquaintance and friend, he has attained a success and commercial standing that is
second to none in Starke County. He is a product of Cole County,
Missouri, born July 30, 1842, being a sou of Israel and Margaret (Ult) Uncapher,
natives of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. His parents immigrated to
Marion County, Ohio, in 1837, being
among the early pioneers of that county, and after a residence of five years there, removed to the then far
western wilds of Missouri, but later returned to Ohio. Israel Uncapher was a
mechanic. In Ohio he was engaged in milling, but after settling in
Missouri, he engaged in farming. In 1853 he removed with his family to Starke
County, Indiana, settling near Grover-
town, when he followed farming until
his death in 1881. He was one of the pioneers of Starke County, highly esteemed
and respected, and for twelve years
served as Justice of the Peace in Oregon Township. He was also one of the first Township Clerks of Oregon
Township. His wife survives him. , Andrew J. Uncapher, the immediate subject
of this sketch, was about eleven years of age when his parents moved to
Starke County. His boyhood was passed
upon the old homestead, where he assisted in the improvement of the farm from its wild state. He early learned
the lesson of hard work, and the arduous duties imposed upon him in those
early days of his career instilled into him habits of industry, which were in
no small degree responsible for the success in life he has since attained. He
depended upon the pioneer schools for what education he was enabled to
receive, consequently the broadening and development of a fine intellect has been
acquired principally from experience in business and judicious reading. He
remained on the homestead with his father until he had attained his majority,
when he began life for himself on a capital which consisted wholly of plenty
of energy and a will to succeed. When twenty-one years of age he went west,
and later returned and canvassed for books, making $100 to $150 per mouth.
He then sold sewing machines, making
S50 per week, and soon afterward built one school house, taking it from the stump for §501. Succeeding
this, he taught the Home School one term, and at the same time planted and
grew five acres of potatoes and got 500 bushels, which he sold in the patch
for $250. He bought and shipped potatoes east by the car, making §100
per week, and then built and commenced the general merchandise business. A few
mouths previous to this, he had
married Mary E. McCormick, and they worked heart and hand together, Mary E. being engaged to her husband while
he was in the store. Up to4 this
time there has never been one unpleasant word between them. All has been love and success. Mr. Uncapher, while
growing up to manhood, studied and
tried to put in practice how to become a perfect man, and how to take
the best care of himself. His preferred drink was cold water, best care
of himself. His preferred drink was cold water, the example his father had taught him. He has never used
tobacco in any way, never uttered an oath in his remembrance in his life;
never drank one quart of intoxicating liquors in his life, always kept out of
wicked company, and always tried to make home pleasant.
Mr. Uncapher has had a most happy
religious experience. He felt called to do something for God, and was so
impressed, that he donated the land necessary for a cemetery, and his little son,
Charley, was the first to be buried therein. Soon after this, both Mr. Uncapher and
wife were converted and were baptized while at the general conference of the
United Brethren Church held at Indian
Village, Indiana, by Elden Fletcher Thomas. Since his conversion he has been very useful in church circles, as
Sunday School superintendent, class
leader, delegate to conferences and conventions, and in many other ways
has proved his love for God,
the church and humanity. At
present Mr. Uncapher has a building 24x110 feet in ground area, two stories high, and carries a complete stock
of general merchandise of from $5,000
to $10,000. In addition to his mercantile interests, he has also been active and successful in other lines of
trade, and owning over 3,000 acres of land in Starke and Marshall Counties,
besides a sub-division in Chicago, with substantial structures thereon. When he
engaged in business at Grovertown but little over twenty-five years ago, he
had comparatively nothing, while to-day he is the possessor of property
valued at more than $100,000. No deserving person ever called upon Andrew
J. Uncapher and went away empty handed, but on the contrary had reason to
sing his praises of generosity of heart. Being a consistent member of the
United Brethren Church, his generous impulses have also been marked in this
respect, having practically built a handsome brick edifice, which was lately
dedicated free from debt, the cost of the same being from $2,500 to $3,000,
Mr. Uncapher having paid more than
one-half of its cost. He has also done much for the town in which he lives, having owned the land on which
Grovertown was founded, and is practically the father of the place. For twelve years
he served as Postmaster, and for
a similar length of time has served as express and ticket agent of the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago
railroad. In politics he has always been a Democrat, and while he is one of the
active workers of his party, he has never aspired to or held office, his varied
business interests being paramount to political preferment. His children are
Sidney A., Dora A., Ruea P., Cuba D., . who died at the age of thirteen; Charley
W., who died at the age of one year; Mary L., who died at the age of eleven
months; Albert J. and Mark E.
Pictorial and Biographical Record of
La Porte, Porter, Lake and Starke ... By Goodspeed firm, publishers,
Chicago (1892-1900)
