1890 History Biographies  

William Overmyer

William Overmyer a substantial farmer of Union township is a native of Perry county Ohio and son of Peter and Mary Overmyer parents born in Pennsylvania and New Jersey respectively

The father was a farmer by occupation served in the war of 1812 and by his first marriage with Mary Hode reared a family three members of which are still living namely the subject of this mention Ezekiel and Levi Overmyer both residents of Fulton county Ind Mrs Overmyer departed this life in Sandusky county Ohio and subsequently Mr Overmyer took to wife Mary Shiveley who bore him the following children Mrs Catherine Boyer Mrs Maria Overmyer Mrs Mary J Boyer Mrs Ellen Hubbard Henry H Chauncy and Mrs Isabella Meyer all of whom reside in the state of Ohio

William Overmyer whose name introduces this biography was born on the 19th day of May 1826 and grew to manhood in his native state attending the common schools at intervals during the years of his minority On attaining his majority he engaged in farming which has been his life work

In 1853 he moved to Indiana settling in Pulaski county where he cleared a farm upon which he resided until his removal to Marshall county in the spring of 1878 He settled where he now lives in Union township and has a comfortable home the result of his unaided efforts He is a man of strict morals an earnest Christian and as a member of the United Brethren church has been the means of accomplishing much good in the community

Mr Overmyer's first marriage which was solemnized in 1852 with Mary C Ernsperger daughter of Jacob and Mary Ann Ernsperger was blessed with the birth of several children of whom the following are living viz Mary A wife of SS Smith of Fulton county Frank P Ida M and Georgiana the last three living at home A daughter Fannie Bell whose death occurred in Stark county May 23 1887 was married to Willis Burkett by whom she had one child Ethel C born August 31 1885 Mrs Overmyer died in 1876

Subsequently Mr Overmyer married a second wife in the person of Mrs Bowersocks whose death occurred in 1881 To this marriage was born one son Eugene whose birth occurred October 1 1877 In 1882

Mr Overmyer married his present wife whose maiden name was Elizabeth Snyder daughter of William and Sarah Hiller Snyder of Dauphin county Penn There has been no issue to this marriage Pg. 421-422

O R Porter

O R Porter merchant and township trustee was born Union township Ind October 17 1863 and is the son of and Catherine Platz Porter natives of Ohio

Oliver and Catherine Porter moved from their native state to St county Ind thence to Marshall county about the year settling in Union township

They had a family of eight four of whom are now living viz William H, Ellen, O R, and Alsa L

Mr Porter was a man of local prominence and death which occurred in 1871 was deeply lamented by all knew him His widow still survives

The subject of biography received his early educational training in the schools and after taking a course in the Northern Indiana at Valparaiso engaged in teaching which calling he with flattering success for several years He abandoned the profession and in 1889 established his business at the village of Marmont where he carries on a lucrative trade in general merchandise

In 1885 he married Maud Oyler daughter of Henry and Matilde Barnett a union blessed with the birth of two children Oliver and Arthur

Mr Porter was elected trustee of Union township in 1890 Pg. 422

William Shaw

Among the substantial farmers and representative men of Marshall county is William Shaw of Marmont who was born in Richland count Ohio December 1 1822 the son of Henry and Margaret Williams Shaw both natives of Pennsylvania

The father was a carpenter by trade and a pioneer of Richland county having settled in Mansfield as early as the year 1812 during the war of which year he experienced all the vicissitudes and dangers incident to a life on the frontier He subsequently became a resident of Hancock county Ohio when that part of the state was a wilderness and after residing there and elsewhere for a number of years came to Indiana in 1842 settling in Wabash county where he cleared a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits Ten years later he moved to Stark county where his death occurred in the year 1870

Mr Shaw was a man of great physical strength and endurance and a representative pioneer of the period in which he lived His wife whom he married in Richland county Ohio died in 1870 They reared a family of nine children five of whom are living viz Stephen, William, Joseph, Mrs Elizabeth Rist and Henry B

The immediate subject of this mention was reared to manhood in Ohio obtained his educational training in such schools as the country at that time offered and began ife for himself as a teacher in which calling he continued with good success for a number of years

He came to Wabash county Ind with his parents in 1842 and in 1848 was married in Noble county to Miss Mary Gilchrist daughter of john Gilchrist a pioneer of Richland county Ohio who moved to Kosciusko county Ind in an early day

Mrs Shaw died in Kosciusko county September 1852 after which Mr Shaw again resumed the profession of teaching and continued the same for some time in Marshall county at a place known as Burr Oak Flats

He subsequently engaged in farming and in 1863 moved to his present place in Union township where he has a beautiful farm under a high state of cultivation

M Shaw's second marriage was solemnized August 14 1854 with Miss Nancy Thompson daughter of Job and Sarah Thompson of Marshall county where the family settled as early as 1837 moving here from Kentucky

o Mr and Mrs Shaw have been born five children whose names are as follows Charity wife of Charles Stoble, Stephen A who married Elizabeth Given, James C merchant at Burr Oak married Elizabeth Butler, Della deceased and Alexander B

Politically Mr Shaw is a democrat and as such has been a potent factor in local politics having represented Marshall county in the legislature of 1883 He has filled various official positions in the township in which he resides in all of which he has discharged his duties in an able and satisfactory manner

Fraternally he to the Improved Order of Red Men and in his views is quite liberal adhering to no particular church or but believing implicitly in a kind and overruling Deity Pg.423-424

Celestion E Thornburg

Celestion E Thornburg an intelligent young farmer of Union township son of Harvey and Mary Jane Rogers Thornburg was born in Van Wert county Ohio on the 14th day of July 1863 When ten months of age his parents moved to Marshall county Ind

He worked on his father's farm in the summer and attended school in winter and at the age of eighteen began to teach in the district school His profession of teaching he continued with flattering success for a number of years As a teacher he soon earned the name of a capable painstaking instructor

In 1886 he located upon a farm in Union township since which time his attention has mainly been given to agricultural pursuits

In 1890 he was a candidate for trustee on the democratic ticket and was defeated for said office through sectional strife by but one vote He is also engaged in selling agricultural implements

In 1886 he was united in marriage to Miss Laura B Grossman daughter of David L Grossman a union blessed with the birth of two children Harvey D Thornburg and Gladis Thornburg

Mr Thornburg is a member of the IOOF belonging to the Maxinkuckee lodge No 373 and Plymouth encampment No 113 Pg. 425

Abraham Voreis

Abraham Voreis deceased was a native of Indiana born Rush county December 28 1830 He came to Marshall early in the thirties received a fair educational training in country schools and began his life work as a farmer as such until his death

He was married in 1864 to Miss Henderson daughter of Nathan and Ellen Jacobs Henderson natives respectively of Maryland and Kentucky Mr and Mrs Henderson were married in the southern part of Indiana they lived until 1835 when they came to Marshall county located above Wolf Creek Green township moving later Union township where they lived until their respective occurrence

They were both consistent members of the Methodist church but after her husband's death Mrs. Henderson the Christian with which connection she continued during the remainder of her life

After his marriage Mr Voreis settled Union township on the farm now occupied by his widow was his home until his death in 1874

He was a democrat in political belief a member of Maxinkuckee grange Patrons Husbandry and in all the relations of life to substantial trustworthy citizen

The following are the names of the children born to Mr and Mrs Voreis Charles, John, Lillie, Florence pg. 427

John M Voreis

John M Voreis farmer and stock raiser whose brief sketch is herewith presented in Rush county Ind August 9 1829 and is the son of John H and Phoebe Morris Voreis

The father was a native of Ohio and became a resident of Marshall county in the year 1837 settling in Union township where he purchased a quarter section of land and cleared the farm He became one of the leading men of the township was a local politician of the democratic party and as such filled several important official positions including that of county commissioner to which he was elected in 1862 He was three times married to Matilda Counted by whom he had one child deceased By his second marriage to Phoebe Morris had five children namely William of Nebraska Milton deceased Abraham deceased Elizabeth and John To his third marriage and were born the following children George, Benjamin, Rachel and Louisa wife of Samuel Loring of this county

John Voreis was John reared to manhood principally in Union township received ractical English education in the common school and life for himself as a farmer which useful calling is still still He resides in the old home place and is justly esteemed as one of the substantial citizens of the community of which he has for so many years been an honored member

He is a democrat in politics but not a partisan preferring to give his attention to his farming interests which are large and constantly increasing

Mr Voreis was married in the year 1867 to Miss Agnes McElvaine daughter of Robert McElvaine of Plymouth a union blessed with the birth of five children Mary Jessie Albertus Abraham Roscoe and Robert Pg. 427-428

Leonard Wilson

Leonard Wilson a highly respected citizen of Union township is a native of Ohio born in Shelby county that state on the 9th day of April 1841

His parents Abijah and Elizabeth Wilson were natives of New York and Virginia respectively He moved to Pulaski county Ind in 1841 where Mr Wilson followed farming and brick making and where he resided until his removal to Marshall county in 1863 He located in Union township and for some time thereafter operated a saw mill near Lake Maxinkuckee in connection with agricultural pursuits He has a republican in politics and a man highly respected in the community where he resided His death occurred in the year 1881 His wife who is still living is the mother of nine children of whom grew to maturity five now living viz John, Isaac, Leonard, George and James

Leonard Wilson was reared agricultural pursuits in Pulaski county and obtained a school education

In 1862 he entered the army as private Company B Eighty seventh Indiana infantry with which served until the close of the and war While in service he has participated in a number of bloody battles including Spring Hill Perryville Chickamauga Mission Ridge and many others one of which he received a painful wound

At the expiration of his term of service he returned to Indiana and in 1865 became a resident of Marshall county settling in Union township engaged in his present vocation of farming in which he met with well deserved success

In 1871 Miss Mary E Ruggles daughter of George and Elizabeth Hittle Ruggles became his wife to which were born five children names are as follows Lillie May,Albert Lawrence, Lester Adelbert, Lewis and Glyde Otis

Mr Wilson is a republican in politics an active member of the P of H fraternity which he has filled nearly every office and belongs to post No 260 GAR of Plymouth He and his wife are with the Protestant Methodist church Pg. 428

History of Indiana: Containing a History of Indiana and Biographical Sketches of Governors and Other Leading Men. Also a Statement of the Growth and Prosperity of Marshall County, Together with a Personal and Family History of Many of Its Citizens, Volume 2 Brant, Fuller, 1890

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