Biography of George W. Newcomer, pages 450/451/452. History of DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914. Among the successful citizens of DeKalb county must be numbered him whose name appears at the head of this sketch. After a period of years, during which he indefatigably labored along agricultural lines, he was prospered to a gratifying degree and is now enabled to enjoy that rest which he so richly earned. He is a man of stanch and reliable make-up and has won and retains the highest regard of those who know him. George W. Newcomer, one of the well known and popular citizens of Waterloo, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, on the15th day of April, 1845, and is a son of Christian and Mary (Wolfe) Newcomer. Christian Newcomer, who was born in Pennsylvania, came to Columbiana county, Ohio, among its very early settlers. In 1847 the subject’s parents moved to DeKalb county, Indiana, settling on section 29, Franklin township, where the father entered eighty acres of government land at the regulation price of one dollar and a quarter and acre. At the time of their settlement not a stick of timber had been cut on the land and it was necessary to clear a spot before a cabin could be erected. A tree located on the site of the cabin was utilized for shingles, the stump of the same being converted into a table for family use. There they established their permanent home and reared their children, the father devoting his energies to the clearing of the land and the cultivation of the soil. Christian and Mary Newcomer were the parents of eleven children, of whom one died in infancy, ten grew to maturity, and five are still living. Of those who reached adult years the following mention may be made: Mrs. Nancy King lived in Waterloo until her death; Andrew died at the age of about twenty years; Peggy died in young womanhood, as did Kate; Barbara, who was the wife of Gabriel Miller, lived in different places in DeKalb county and is now deceased; Mrs. Mary Camp lives at Fairfield Center; Maria is the widow of Daniel Gingrich, and lives at Butler, this county; Joseph lives in Waterloo; George W. and Christian also live in Waterloo. George W. Newcomer had but little opportunity for receiving a school education in his youth, but he did learn the practical duties of the farm and also imbibed those habits of industry and perseverance, which were such important contributing elements to his subsequent success. He remained at home until his marriage in 1872, when he and his wife moved on to a tract of land, which he owned. This land represented years of the most rigid economy and strenuous effort on his part. He first secured five acres in Franklin township from his earnings and from the profits derived from this land he bought ten acres more and then repeating the process he finally bought ten acres at a time until he eventually owned forty-five acres of land. He later bought five acres more from his father from which to get timber to build a barn. He worked many days for twenty- five cents a day and saved money. The young couple started on their matrimonial career with very little in the way of home comforts and no luxuries, but by pluck, energy and good management they prospered until eventually Mr. Newcomer became the owner of two hundred and forty acres of land. This tract is now divided into three parcels of eighty acres each, on each of which is one of his sons. He is selling the land to these sons and one has already paid for his tract. In April 1901, Mr. Newcomer bought a comfortable and attractive home on the south edge of Uniontown on an eminence over looking the valley of Cedar Creek across from Waterloo and there he now resides. On April 4, 1872, Mr. Newcomer married Barbara Van Horn, who was born in Noble county, Indiana, the daughter of John and Annie (Rosenberger) Van Horn. Mr. and Mrs. Van Horn came for Chambersburg, Columbiana county, Ohio, to DeKalb county in the fall of 1853, driving through with teams to Noble county, this state. There they entered one hundred and sixty acres of land, none of which had been cleared, and erected a cabin, constructing the doors, bedsteads and utensils in the primitive manner customary in those days, the cooking being done by fireplace and the illumination of the cabin being provided by the old-fashioned grease lamp. Mrs. Newcomer’s mother died abut 1885 in Rich county, Kansas, and her father died about eleven months later at Aetna, Newaygo county Michigan. In Ohio John Van Horn had been employed in the coal mines at Chambersburg, but after coming to Indiana he devoted his entire attention to farming. He and his wife belonged to the Methodist church. In Ohio he had been a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, the membership being consistent from the fact that he was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion. Mr. and Mrs. Van Horn’s respective mothers bore the maiden names of Elizabeth Hanselman and Elizabeth Hunsaker. Mrs. Newcomer was reared in Noble county, Indiana, until fourteen years of age, when she came to DeKalb county and lived with her uncle, George Van horn, about three miles east of Waterloo, in Wilmington township, until her marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Newcomer have been born six children, namely: Charles E., born May 12, 1873, married Effie Mann, of Franklin township, the daughter of Jehu and Elizabeth Mann. To them have been born five children, Marion, Harold, Howard, Grace and Gladys. Charles E. Newcomer has bought eighty acres of land from his father; Lona L. is at home with her parents; Mary M., first married Ed. McKague, by whom one child was born, Blanche Irene. After Mr. McKague’s death she became the wife of John W. Brown, and they now lived in Franklin township, this county. Arna O., born February 7, 1879, married Ora Hodges, and lives on eighty acres of his father's farm, half of which he has paid for. He is the father of two daughters, Gertrude and Mildred. Ora Hodges was the daughter of James and Lois (Holcomb) Hodges; Elmer G. Newcomer, born October 22, 1882, married Junia Schultz, of Franklin township, the daughter of Allen and Amanda (Mann) Schultz, and to Mr. and Mrs. Newcomer have been born three children, Esther, Arthur and Ralph; Elmer G. Newcomer is operating eighty acres of his father’s farm with the view of purchasing the same; William L. Newcomer, born May 29, 1893, who married Mae Krum, daughter of Eugene and Della (Shultz) Krum, of Ashley, DeKalb county, on December 18, 1913, is assisting his brothers on the farm; Virgil and Vernon, twins born July 29, 1885, are both deceased one dying at birth and the other at the age of five months. Fraternally, Mr. Newcomer is a member of the Free and Accepted Mason, and he and his wife and daughter, Lona, are members of the Order of Eastern Star. A well balanced mind, sound and practical intelligence and mature judgment are among Mr. Newcomer’s prominent characteristics, to which may also be added a geniality and amiability of disposition which has won for him a large and loyal following among his acquaintances. Though now retired from active business pursuits, he still retains an intelligent interest in the welfare of the community and unreservedly gives his support to every movement for the educational, moral or material advancement of his fellow citizens. Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin Auburn, Indiana Agoodwin@ctlnet.com