History of Northeast Indiana LaGrange, Steuben, Noble, & DeKalb Counties Under the Editorial Supervision of: Ira Ford [LaGrange], Orville Stevens [Steuben], William H. McEwen [Noble], William H. McIntosh [DeKalb] The Lewis Publishing Company Chicago and New York 1920 WILLIAM J. MENGES. The farmer is a man who needs to be well informed upon many subjects if he hopes to make a success of his work. The day has passed when men sought only to "make a living" from their farms. Land is too valuable and the need for food is too urgent to permit of any such haphazard methods. The modern farmer needs to understand the chemical elements in his soil and how to supply any which may be lacking to bring it up to the highest degree of fertility. He has to know all about rotation of crops, and make such changes in the disposition of his fields as will preserve his soil from unnecessary deterioration. His buildings must be constructed so as to conform with state sanitary regulations, and he recognizes the practicality of installing improved machinery. In order to properly realize on his crops he must be posted as to markets and best methods of transportation. If he is a stock raiser as well as grain grower many other avenues of knowledge must be traveled by him. In fact the farmer never stops learning something about his work from the time he first goes on his farm until he leaves it for the last time. Yet, if he likes farming and appreciates its dignity and importance, in spite of the hard work and occasional reverses, he comes to recognize that he is the most independent man on earth, and that all other classes are looking to him for the most urgent necessity of life, food. One of the representative farmers of Steuben County, who not only has spent his entire life in the county but was born here, is William J. Menges, of Steuben Township. He was born on a farm adjoining his present one, in Steuben township, September 15, 1866, a son of Samuel Menges and grandson of Adam Menges and William wolf. Adam Menges was born in Pennsylvania, but came to Steuben County in 1853. His wife bore the maiden name of Huffvines. William Wolf, the maternal grandfather, was born in Loudon county, Virginia, August 6, 1805, and his wife, Catherine [Fetterhoof] Wolf, was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. After their marriage they moved to Ashland County, Ohio, and in 1864 to Steuben County, Indiana, settling on the northeast quarter of section 7, Steuben Township, where William Wolf developed into a prosperous farmer. He and his wife had the following children: John, Susanna, Andrew, Jacob, Adam, Joseph, Mary Ann, Catherine, Magdalena, William, Amos, Lydia, Front, Phoebe and Sarah, of whom Mary Ann, born in Columbiana County, Ohio, March 21, 1843, became the mother of William J. Menges. Samuel Menges was born in Wayne County, Ohio, January 26, 1840, but was only a lad when his father located in Steuben county, and he here attended the public schools. After attaining his majority he acquired a farm, all covered with timber, and had to clear a space in order to erect a log cabin in which to house his family. This pioneer farm has been developed by him and William j. Menges into the present magnificent rural property upon which the latter is residing. The little log cabin was in time replaced by a substantial residence that is still used. Other necessary buildings were erected by Samuel Menges, and he lived on this farm until he retired, when, during the spring of 1899, he moved to Angola, and there he died September 10, 1905. His widow survives him and lives at Angola. Their children were William J., whose name heads this review, and Ida, who married Morton Lemon. Samuel Menges was a consistent member of the United Brethren Church of Steuben Township. During the Civil war Samuel Menges responded to the call of his country, and enlisted during March, 1865, his regiment, the One Hundred and Fifty-Fifth Indiana Infantry, being detailed at Wilmington, Delaware, on provost duty. William J. Menges attended the local schools of his native township and assisted his father in conducting the farm. After his marriage in 1890 he rented the homestead for a few years, and then rented another farm located in Otsego Township, where he lived until 1897, in that year going to Angola, where he was in the draying business until 1901. Selling his business, he rented his present farm of 118 acres, leaving it in 1903 for a farm he bought in Pleasant Township. After the death of his father he sold his farm and bought the old homestead, where he has since resided. In 1907 his neighborhood was visited by a destructive cyclone and all of his buildings except the residence were blown down, but since then he has erected new ones and has improved the house. Here he carries on general farming and stock rearing, and is justly numbered among the leaders in his community. He belongs to the Baptist Church. On October 1, 1890, Mr. Menges was united in marriage with Jennie Stover, a daughter of Isaac and Emma [Tubbs] Stover. Isaac Stover was born in Ohio, and his wife was born in Huron county, of that state. In young manhood Mr. Stover came to Steuben County, Indiana, and became a farmer of Salem Township, where he died in 1869. He and his wife had the following children: George Stover and Mrs. Menges. The children of Mr. And Mrs. Menges are as follows: Zeno, who died when small; L.D., who married Olivia Lacy; and June. Submitted by: Joey Pedigo