Biography of George W. Newcomer, pages 627 / 628.  History of De Kalb 
County, Indiana.  Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

George W. Newcomer, section 29, Franklin Township, was born in Columbiana 
County, Ohio, April 15, 1845, a son of Christian Newcomer, a native of 
Pennsylvania and an early settler of Columbiana County.  In 1847 his parents 
moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on section 29, Franklin Township, 
where he was reared.  At the time of their settlement in the county it was 
heavily timbered, and the trees had to be cut before a house could be built.  
A tree in front of the cabin was cut into shingles, and the stump was used as 
a table.  They were in limited circumstances, but possessed a degree of 
ambition and energy which over comes all obstacles and wins the victory over 
every battle in life, being undaunted by hardship. But seemingly strengthened 
with renewed vigor by each privation.  Our subject was early inured to the 
life of a frontier farmer, and initiated into the mysteries of clearing and 
breaking land.  His education consisted mainly of the rules of agriculture, 
as his services were required at home, and his attendance even at the early 
district school was limited to a few weeks in the winter.  After reaching 
manhood he began life for himself, and by following the lessons of industry 
and application learned in his youth, has been successful and now owns eighty 
acres of valuable land,  Mr. Newcomer is one of the representative men of the 
township, and has always contributed of his time and means for the advancement 
of every laudable enterprise.  He was married Aug. 4, 1872, to Barbara Van 
Horn, daughter of John Van Horn, of Greenville, Mich.  They have five 
children---Charles E., Mary M., Luna L., Arna O., and Elmer G.  In 
religious faith Mr. and Mrs. Newcomer are Mennonites.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com