Hostetter - David Hicks
Source: 1913 AW Bowen History of Montgomery County, Indiana p 1003
The
two most strongly marked characteristics of both the East and
the West are combined in the residents of Montgomery County,
Indiana. The enthusiastic enterprise which overleaps all obstacles
and makes possible almost any undertaking in the comparatively
new and vigorous states of the MIddle West is here tempered
by the stable and more careful policy that we have borrowed
from our eastern neighbors, and the combination is one of peculiar
force and power. It has been the means of placing this section
of the country on a par with the older East, at the same time
producing a reliability and certainty in business affairs which
is frequently lacking in the West. This happy combination of
characteristics was possessed to a notable degree by the late
David Hicks Hostetter, for many years one of the leading agriculturists
and stock men of the vicinity of Ladoga. Equally noted as a
citizen whose career conferred credit on the locality and whose
marked abilities and sterling qualities won for him more than
local repute, he held for a number of decades distinctive precedence
as one of hte most enterprising and progressive men of his section
of the county. Strong mental powers, invincible courage and
a determined purpose that hestitated at no opposition had so
entered into his composition as to render him a dominant factor
in local affairs. He was a man of sound judgment, keen discernment,
far seeing in what he undertook. His success in life was the
legitimate fruitage of consecutive effort, directed and controlled
by good judgment and correct principles.
David H. Hostetter
was a son of David and Mary (HICKS) Hostetter. He was born near
Circleville, in Pickaway Co, Ohio, Sept 27, 1822 and his death
occurred July 1, 1910, when almost 88 years of age. He was the
youngest of a family of 7 children, naely: Sherman, Beniah,
Mrs. Mary DAVIDSON, Mrs. Jane HICKATHORN, Mrs. Zerelda MARTIN
and Mahala Hostetter who died in infancy. The mother of these
children died when David H. was about two years old, and he
lived several years with his sister, Mrs. Hickathorn. His father
married again and together the family came to Indiana, when
our subject as 9 years old. Two children were born to the second
union, Lewis who d. when 19; and Lucky W, who d. about 1897
at Wellsville, Ks. There were 3 stepsisters, Mrs. Margaret ASHBY,
Mrs. Catherine HEDGES, Mrs. Elizabeth CARLYLE, and one step
brother, John BOYER. Our subject was reared with these children
and the strongest ties of affection always existed between them.
The family made the journey to Indiana in wagons. Some idea
of the bad conditions of the roads may be gained from the fact
that it required a week to travel from Indianapolis to Montgomery
County, a distance of 40 miles.
The country was then practically
a wilderness and sparsely settled. The obstacles encountered
during that journey can hardly be imagined by those who now
make the trip in two hours. The town of Ladoga was laid out
5 years after the family located here. The site at that time
was a partly cleared farm. From the date of his arrival here
David H. Hostetter spent the rest of his life within a mile
and a half of the farm where his father first settled, until
he moved into Ladoga about 1907. The family first located in
the So. half of Sec 22, Scott Twp, which land the father had
entered from the government, and there was only a small piece
of ground cleared about the little cabin he had built. Here
our subject grew to manhood and assisted with the hard work
of clearing and developing the farm, and he received such education
as the early day schools afforded. On Nov. 15, 1874, David H.
Hostetter was married to Amanda J. GRAYBILL, daughter of Samuel
and Lydia (ARNOLD) Graybill. She was born and reared in Scott
Twp. in which he rparents settled in 1836. Her father was b.
in Pa. and was a s/o Solomon and Mary (CLINE) Graybill. He went
to Roanoke, Va, where he and Lydia Arnold were marr. She was
a d/o David Arnold and wife. The Graybill family settled in
the wilderness and cleared their land and lived among the other
pioneers.
The children born to David H. Hostetter and wife were
three in number, namely: Lydia, Samuel Sherman and Emma Jane.
Mr. Hostetter became the owner of over 300 acres of valuable
and productive land and was a prosperous farmer. He did not
purchase his success at the cost of the higher things of life,
for he was a man of exemplary habits and fine character, and
he was admired and esteemed by all who knew him. He believed
thoroughly in the justice and wisdom of God and that true happiness
came through obedience to divine principles. He obeyed the command
"Love thy neighbor as thyself." This, and his great honesty,
clean habits and solicitude for his loved ones and faith in
his Savior was his religion. His honestly, industry and temperate
habits were rewarded by a long life and all the comforts of
old age. His life has left many precious memories to his family
and his many friends and those who in distress sought the aid
and advice, which to the worthy, was never denied. Mr. Hostetter was
a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He had two
brothers in the Indiana Legislature, SHerman and Beniah, also
one, Lucky, who became a member of the Kansas Legislature. Of
the children of our subject, Emma Jane is the wife of Dr. H.K.
WALTERHOUSE, and they live at Oakville, Delaware County, this
state and are the parents of one son, David Kemper Walterhouse;
Samuel Sherman Hostetter lives in Ladoga, married Lola RONK
and he is farming the old home place in Scott Twp; Lydia makes
her home in Ladoga with her mother. David H. Hostetter took
an active part in the development of this section of the state
and he was an intersted spectator of the transformation from
the wild woods to the highly improved farms of a later day.
He often related how he and other pioneers drove their livestock
to Lafayette, in Tippecanoe County, where they sold them and
with the money purchased groceries and other household supplies
which they brought back on the return trip. -- typed by kbz