B

Baughman, John Alfred

Some of the best land of Noble County is in Noble Township, so there also are found some of the best and most progressive farmers. One of them is John A. Baughman, who has lived in that locality for over forty years, and though he started life with practically no capital, he has make good in every sense of the word and is now owner of one of the excellent places in his locality. Mr. Baughman was born in Richland County, Ohio, November 26, 1855, a son of Gideon and Margaret (Swiggart) Baughman. The Baughmans originally came from Germany and were early settlers in the colony of Virginia. Gideon Baughman was a son of Henry and Susan (Trumbull) Baughman. Margaret Swiggart was a daughter of John and Barbara Swiggart, early residents of Stark County, Ohio. John Swiggart was born in 1779 and served as a captain in the War of 1812 and was the first school teacher in Monroe Township of Richland County, Ohio. Gideon Baughman, and wife were reared and married in Ohio, the former being a native of Ashland County and the latter of Stark County. They lived there for many years and in 1876 moved to Noble County, Indiana, spending the rest of their lives in this county. They were members of the Lutheran Church. The father was a Democrat. Of six children two are still living: Susan, widow of Archie Collins, living in Ohio, and John A. The four deceased were Michael, Martin L., Henry M. and Elizabeth, the latter the wife of John Oller. John A. Baughman spent the first twenty years of his life in his native county in Ohio and was educated in the common schools. Soon after he came to Noble County he married on August 19, 1877, Melissa J. Rivir. She was born in Noble County, April 19, 1861, and was educated in the common schools. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Baughman rented his father’s farm until his means had increased as a result of their mutual thrift and industry to a point where he could buy the farm, and he has spent practically all his adult life in this one locality. Mr. and Mrs. Baughman had three children. Clyde, the oldest, completed the work of the common schools and also attended Valparaiso College and Hillsdale College in Michigan, and is now a railroad employee. Chauncey, a graduate of the common schools and of Valparaiso College, is a farmer and teacher in Noble Township. Iva, who is the wife of Floy Stureman, of Noble Township, also attended Valparaiso and Terre Haute colleges. Mr. Baughman has been quite active in the affairs of the democratic party in his locality. He is engaged in general farming and the livestock business and has 88 ½ acres, all of which he manages with a high degree of productiveness. Noble Twp.

transcribed and submitted by Penny North

Bittikoffer, J.

    J. BITTIKOFFER, jeweler, is a native of Switzerland, where he learned his trade of watch maker and jeweler.  He came to America in 1858, and settled in Crawford County, Ohio, where he remained about one year; thence to Fort Wayne, Ind., where he was engaged at his trade until 1865, when he came to Kendallville, and soon after engaged in the jewelry business, to which he has since devotd his attention.  Mr. Bittikoffer, in addition to carrying a fine stock of watches, clocks and jewelry, is a proficient workman in repairing, to which department he gives especial attention.  He is a member of the Masonic order, advanced to Knight Templar, and an enterprising, progressive citizen.  Mr. Bittioffer was married in 1864, in Fort Wyane, to Miss Katherina Wolf.  They have six children -- Fred O., Rosa, John, Lillie and Louie (twins), and Katherina.

Goodspeed, Weston A, Richard Collins, Thomas R. Marshall, W. L. Matthews; Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana: historical and biographical; Chicago, F. A. Battey & Co., 1882, p. 298.

Black, Harry

Harry Black is now the active head of what is probably the oldest mercantile establishment at Albion, and one of the oldest in one location and under the direction of one family in Northeast Indiana.

The Black family has been in Noble County for over fifty years.  The ancestry goes bak several generations to about the time of the Revolutionary war, when a German boy came to this country and settled in Pennsylvania.  This German immigrant was the father of Peter Black, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1787.  Peter B lack serve as a loyal soldier in the War of 1812.  His son Owen Black was born in Pennsylvania in 1813, and grew up in Richland County, Ohio.  Owen Black came to Albion, Indiana, in 1856, and in the fall of that year established a partnership with Mr. Love in general merchandising.  Three or four years later he conducted the business himself, and was at its head until 1862.  In that year Samuel Foster became a member of the firm.  In 1863 the store was burned and Owen Black then re-established the business or himself under the name Black & Son.  This title was continued until 1870, when, upon the death of his son and business partner, another son, Jackson D. Black, was taken in.  Finally Owen Black retired, and the firm was Black & Brother for a number of years.  Finally Jackson D. Black took over the business alone and continued it until about 1905, when he took in his son, and the firm has since been conducted as J. D. Black & Son.

Jackson D. Black was born in Richland County, Ohio, April 3, 1846, and died at Albion, May 9, 1916.

Mr. Harry Black is a son of Jackson D. Black and was born at Albion in December, 1879.  His brother, Albert Black, associated with the business, was called to the army May 15, 1918, and was an instructor at Camp Perry, Ohio, with the title of captain.  He was discharged January, 1919, and is now at home in the same business.

Harry Black married Miss Bertha Belt.  They have three living children:  Harry D., born in 1907; Marian, born in 1911; and John, born in 1915.  Mr. Black is a democrat in politics.  The Black mercantile firm is regarded as a fixture and landmark at Albion, and has been doing business in one location for sixty-two years.

Bertha Belt, wife of Harry Black, is the daughter of Edwin Belt, who came to Noble County from Newark,Ohio.  He married Eugenia Kline, daughter of John and Louisa (Potts) Kline.  The Potts family were pioneers of Noble County, locating here emore than eighty years ago. 

Harry Black, History of Northeast Indiana, © 1884, Vol 2, pg. 15.

Brace, James A.

    JAMES A. BRACE, contractor and builder, is a native of Monroe County, N. Y.  He learned his trade in Elmira, N. Y., following it after his apprenticeship, for three years, in that State.  He then came to Ohio, and for five years was engaged in the prosecution of his business at Springfield.  In 1858, he came to Kendallville, where he has since been identified, and where he is now recognized as one of the leading contractors and superintendents.  Kendallville has had many of its public buildings erected under his supervision, and all over northern Indiana he has erected superior structures.  Among the many, we briefly name the La Grange County Jail, the Mitchell, Able and Brust, Blck and Krueger Blocks, of Kendallville; many of the public blocks of Ligonier, and in 1881 he secured a contract on the Warsaw Court House.  Mr. Brace has served on the Council, and been City Marshal of Kendallville.  He is a genial and enterprising citizen, and possesses superior business qualifications.  He is a Master Mason, and a member of the K. of H.  He was married, 1862, to Miss Phedora Decker.  They have two children -- Howard and Adah L.

Goodspeed, Weston A, Richard Collins, Thomas R. Marshall, W. L. Matthews; Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana: historical and biographical; Chicago, F. A. Battey & Co., 1882, p. 298-299

U. C. BROUSE

U. C. Brouse, present mayor of Kendallville, has been a resident of Noble County all his life, was a practical and progressive farmer in Allen Township for a number of years, and has been identified with business affairs at Kendallville as a merchant and in other relations. 

His father, Curtis Brouse, who is now living retired at Kendallville, was born in Medina County, Ohio, October 20, 1840.  He was fourteen years of age when he came to Noble County, and he lived in Allen Township until he retired from his farm.  He was educated in the district schools, and in August, 1861, at the age of twenty-one, enlisted in Company F of the Thirtieth Indiana Infantry.  He saw active service for twenty-one months.  At the battle of Stone River he was shot through the left lung, and lay on the field of battle until the night of the second day before he was discovered and taken to a hospital.  On account of his wound he received his honorable discharge May 11, 1863, and then returned to Noble County.  For practically a half century he was engaged in farming and stock raising, and has always been active in local affairs, serving as trustee of Allen Township and two terms as a county commissioner.  He is a republican and a member of Nelson Post No. 69, Grand Army of the Republic, July 1, 1864, Curtis Brouse married Elvira E. Matthews.  She was born in Grant County, Indiana, May 7, 1846.

U. C. Brouse, only child of his parents, was born on the farm in Allen Township, June 1, 1865.  While a boy he attended the local schools and also the public schools at Kendallville.  Being an only child he saw his duty on the home farm, and for many years conducted the place of 140 acres, doing a successful diversified farming business, raising registered hogs of the Chester White strain, and some fine wool sheep.  On retiring from the farm he was in the grocery business at Kendallville for five years.  For the past ten years he has been secretary of the Fair Association at Kendallville, and has been one of the leaders in that organization from the first.  In the fall of 1917 Mr. Brouse was elected mayor, and has given Kendallville a very progressive municipal administration.  He is a republican and has served as a member of the Central Committee of Noble County.  He is also a member of the State Board of Agriculture.  Fraternally his affiliations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of the Maccabees.

Mr. Brouse married Miss Jennie Tyler, also a native of Allen Township, and they grew up in the same community.  Mr. and Mrs. Brouse have one son, of whom they are justly proud.  This son, Don Brouse, born August 19, 1895, is a graduate of the Kendallville High School and had two years in Purdue University.  He is now with the American Army in France, as second lieutenant in Company H of the 335th Infantry, Eight-Fourth Division.

Biography of U. C. Brouse, History of Northeast Indiana, © 1884, Vol. 2, Pg. 4

Bruce, Charles H.

Charles H. Bruce has lived at Ashley for over a quarter of a century, and has been a man of great usefulness in that community.  He is a lawyer by profession and training, for man years was in the railroad service at Ashley and elsewhere, and is now serving the town and surrounding community effectively in the office of postmaster.

Mr. Bruce was born in Noble County, Indiana, March 31, 1854, a son of Charles F. and Sarah A. (Hammond) Bruce.  His father was born at the head of Skaneateles Lake in New York in 1823, and his mother was born in the same year at Lockport, New York.  The paternal grandfather, Ezra Bruce, came to Noble County about 1838, after a residence in Erie, Pennsylvania, and acquired government land in Swan Township.  Ezra and his wife Susannah spent their last years in Noble County.  Charles F. Bruce was only a boy when brought to Noble County, and he grew up here, followed farming, and at one time kept the tavern in Swan Township.  He was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church.  He and his wife had eight children, of whom Charles H. is the only survivor.  Two died in infancy and the others were named Edward, Alice, Anna, Luella and William.  Charles F. Bruce died in 1882, and his widow survived him and passed away at the age of eighty-three.  She lived at Kendallville, but her death occurred while visiting her son at Ashley.

Charles H. Bruce spent his boyhood on the old homestead, and after the public schools entered Oberlin College in Ohio, where he graduated in the law department.  For a number of years he ws a skillful telegraph operator, employed by the Wabash Railway Company.  He was located at various places and at different times was at Kalamazoo, Mendon and Cedar Springs in Michigan.  In 1893 he came to Ashley, where he began the practice of law, and for several years was also chief clerk in the Wabash Machine Shops.  He has been one of the leading spirits in community affairs there.  He served about six years as city clerk of Ashley, and s now serving his fifth year as postmaster.  He is a democrat in politics an is affiliated with Ashley Lodge No. 614, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Ashley Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, Kendallville Commandery, Knight Templars, and also the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.  He an his family attend the Christian Church.

In 1882 Mr. Bruce married Miss Lyda Chittenden of Lenawee County, Michigan.  Their only daughter is Bessie, a graduate of the Ashley High School and the wife of Jay Gage of Ashley.  Mr. and Mrs. Gage have one child. Grace.

Charles H. Bruce, History of Northeast Indiana, © 1884, Vol. 2, pgs. 14-15

Buchtel, Irven O. - M.D.

A physician and surgeon of the homeopathic school whose skill and abilities are widely appreciated over DeKalb County, Doctor Buchtel has practiced at Auburn many years and is a native of Northeast Indiana.

He was born at Ligonier August 6, 1862, a son of Charles C. and Sarah E. (Simmons) Buchtel.  His parents were both natives of Stark County, Ohio, were married in that state, and coming to Indiana located in Ligonier, where they spent the rest of their lives.  The father was a carpenter and contractor, was active in local affairs, serving as constable and member of the regulators, and was a democrat in politics, while his wife was a member of the Christian Church.  Doctor Buchtel is one of six children and he has two brothers still living:  S. E., a merchant at Knightstown, Indiana, and C. W., in business at Cleveland, Ohio.

Doctor Buchtel grew up at Ligonier, graduated from the high school there, and attended Buchtel College, now Akron University, in Ohio, where he received his Bachelor of Sciene degree and took his medical work in the Hahnemann Medical College in Chicago.  He also had three years experience and training in New York City and one year in Chicago.  Doctor Buchtel is a member of the Institute of Homeopathy and the American Association of Orificial Surgeons.  He is treasurer of the Auburn School Board, a democrat in politics, is a member of the Masonic lodge, the Commercial Club and a stockholder in the City National Bank of Auburn.  April 28, 1889, Doctor Buchtel married Nettie E. Dowell.  They have a daughter, Lucille, who has graduated from the Auburn High School and is at home. 

Irven O. Buchtel, M. D., History of Northeast Indiana, © 1884, Vol. 2, Pg. 7-8.

Bunyan, W. & J. R.

    W. & J. R. BUNYAN, druggists, are sons of Robert and Hellen (Russell) Bunyan, who came from Saratoga County, N. Y., to Lima, La Grange County, Ind., at an early date, settling upon a farm . Here the mother died in 1856, their father, subsequently removing to Batavial, Ill., in 1859, where he remained until his death, in 1864.  The family consisted of four children: the subjects of this sketch, Mrs. Kate E. Reed, of Kendallville, and Mrs. Helen M. Ostrander, of Kalamazoo, Mich.  W. and J. R. Bunyan, are natives of Saratoga County, N. Y., and until 1859 were assocated upon the home farm, in La Grange County, after their removal thither.  In 1859, they began their business career in Kendallville, where they have been continuously engaged up to the present writing, and now represent one of the oldest and most substantil drug houses in Northern Indiana.  William has taken a leading interest in politics, and in 1872 was elected State Representative from the counties of Noble and La Grange, which position of honor he filled most credibly for four years.  He was married, in August, 1870, to Miss Cornelia R. Hudson, of Noble County.  They have had one child, Mable Grace, deceased.  J. R. Bunyan was united in marriage, in 1858, to Miss Rebecca Barnum, of West Unity, Ohio; they have five children -- Winnifred, Robert, George B., Walter W. and James R.  He is a membmer of the K. of H. and Chosen Friends.  Has served the township two terms as Trustee.  

Goodspeed, Weston A, Richard Collins, Thomas R. Marshall, W. L. Matthews; Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana: historical and biographical; Chicago, F. A. Battey & Co., 1882, p. 299.

Burgwitz, H.

    H. BURGWITZ, grocer, is the successor to G. C. Glatte, deceased, who came to Kendallville in 1854, and about 1857, started the "Pioneer" grocery house, which business he successfully conducted until his death in January, 1879.  Mr. Glatte was a prominent and respected citizen and business man, and served as a member of the City Council; his wife, whose maiden name was Miss Laura Grate, is still living in Kendallville; she has three children - Bertha, Willie and Charles.  Mr. Burgwitz is a native of Berlin, Germany; he came to America in 1877, and was associated with Mr. Glatte until his death, subsequently managing the business for the estate until 1881, when he became the owner.  He carries a full line of groceries, crockery, etc., and has a thriving trade.  Mr. Burgwitz is a member of the K. of H., and in Masonry is a Knight Templar. 

Goodspeed, Weston A, Richard Collins, Thomas R. Marshall, W. L. Matthews; Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana: historical and biographical; Chicago, F. A. Battey & Co., 1882, p. 298.